Lung Cancer Victims Sues Companies for Asbestos Exposure

By TopClassActions | October 11, 2013

Category: Pharmaceuticals

By Robert J. Boumis

lung cancer asbestos lawsuit Ronald and Elizabeth Lovejoy, a couple from Minnesota, have sued a number of corporations involved in asbestos manufacturing, alleging that Ronald Lovejoy’s health has suffered from asbestos exposure.

The defendants in the asbestos lawsuit include several dozen companies that were involved in asbestos mining, milling, manufacturing, and installation. The lawsuit alleges that such companies knew – or reasonably should have known – that their products could cause serious illness, like those that Mr. Lovejoy suffered. The asbestos lawsuit further alleges that the defendants failed to warn consumers, endangering the public.

Mr. Lovejoy worked in the United States Navy from 1959 to 1962. U.S. Navy ships from this time period often contained asbestos for fireproofing and insulation. This means that Navy personnel from this era have increased risk of asbestos-related diseases like those that Lovejoy eventually developed.

Additionally, after leaving the Navy, Lovejoy worked as a maintenance man at Regina Medical Center in Hasting Minnesota, from 1966 into the 1970s. Here, Lovejoy was exposed to asbestos during his daily work, as asbestos was still widely used as insulation at the time. The asbestos exposure lawsuit asserts that from his time in the Navy and during his tenure as a maintenance man, Lovejoy inhaled and ingested asbestos fibers and particles, which were produced by the various defendants.

Recently, Lovejoy was diagnosed with lung cancer and asbestosis. Asbestosis is an inflammation of the lung tissue, along with scarring. The disease is usually caused by exposure to asbestos. The damage from asbestosis leaves a patient with difficulty breathing and pain, similar to more familiar emphysema. Additionally, various forms of lung cancer have been linked with exposure to asbestos.

The asbestos exposure lawsuit alleges the defendants’ actions constitute several forms of legally-distinct negligence, breach of warranty, reckless conduct and conspiracy. The lawsuit seeks several forms of compensation, including compensatory damage for Ronald Lovejoy’s medical costs, lost of consortium for Elizabeth Lovejoy, and punitive damages.

The case is formally titled Ronald C. Lovejoy and Elizabeth Lovejoy v. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, et al., Case No. 1:13-cv-12299-JGD, Superior Court for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Department of the Trial Court.

Obtain a Free Asbestos Lawsuit Review

If you, or someone you care about, about suffered from mesothelioma, asbestosis, lung cancer or other asbestos-related disease, you’ve almost certainly found yourself in a challenging situation. Serious illnesses like cancer can entail massive medical costs, as well as lost wages. And unfortunately, the burden of coping can often fall to family members due to the prodigious mortality rate of asbestos-related cancers.

Coping with the loss of a loved one entails not only the massive emotional toll of such a situation, but also staggering medical costs, like medical bills, final expenses and lost income potential. Amidst these challenges, it’s perfectly normal to feel overwhelmed. But you need to remember that you have rights, and there are steps that you can take to regain control over your situation. You can start by visiting the Mesothelioma Asbestos Class Action Lawsuit Settlement Investigation and obtaining a free case review from an asbestos lawyer.