Woman files lawsuit after husband’s mesothelioma death

Many North Carolina residents may have been exposed to asbestos in the early- to mid-1900s. Those who worked in factories, shipyards and other places where sheet metal was prominent often found out decades later that their exposure to asbestos led to mesothelioma, a deadly cancer. A union sheet metal worker who also served for several years as the union president died from asbestos exposure in June 2013, and his wife recently filed a wrongful death lawsuit against more than two dozen companies.

The lawsuit claims that the companies were negligent in allowing the man to become exposed to dangerously high levels of asbestos. The man was not warned about hazardous conditions that existed at the workplaces nor was he given appropriate protection. In addition, the lawsuit alleges that the companies did not comply with state and federal laws related to asbestos.

The man’s widow is seeking compensation for damages that she and her husband faced, including medical and funeral expenses, disability, pain and suffering, mental anguish, lost earnings and loss of support, affection and love. The amount she is seeking is unknown.

The man’s positions forced him to work for employers at various job sites throughout Mississippi and Louisiana for more than 30 years. He also held the position of union representative and president for an additional nine years.

Those who suffer mesothelioma from the workplace have legal rights. Mesothelioma is an incurable cancer that eventually leads to death. Previous employers can be tracked down and held liable for their negligence. In some cases, victims and their families have received millions of dollars in compensation for a variety of damages.

Source: The Louisiana Record, “Former union president dies of mesothelioma, widow seeks damages,” July 2, 2014.