Residents of the state of South Dakota are fortunate; only 31 cases of mesothelioma were diagnosed in the state between 1979 and 1999, while there are an estimated 3,700 mesothelioma lawsuits filed nationally each year. That’s why legal experts are paying close attention to a federal lawsuit that was recently filed by a noted South Dakota businessman. Frank Krohmer and his wife, Christine, have filed suit against more than 70 companies that they blame for his terminal diagnosis.
Plumbing Company President’s Mesothelioma Blamed on Occupational Exposure
Frank Krohmer is the president of Krohmer Plumbing, Inc., and he blames his mesothelioma diagnosis on occupational asbestos exposure experienced over his decades of working as a plumber and HVAC technician. His suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Pierre, South Dakota, names well-known companies including 3M Company, Armstrong International, General Electric, Goodyear Tire & Rubber, John Crane, Inc., and Paramount Global (formerly CBS and Viacom) as defendants.
Most of the companies listed in the Krohmers’ suit have been previously named in asbestos litigation filed by other victims, but at 437 pages and hundreds of filings, this case is expected to be the most procedurally complex federal lawsuit in the state’s history, as well as the largest product liability action by volume and number of defendants. It is anticipated that it will take years to resolve.
Plumbing and HVAC Workers Are Frequently Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
Krohmer Plumbing was founded by the Krohmers in Mitchell, South Dakota, in 1984, and the mesothelioma victim and his wife have expanded the business into two other cities. He has worked in the plumbing industry since 1972, years before the public was made aware of the dangers of asbestos, but well after the companies that the couple has named in their suit were made aware of the material’s health hazards.
Plumbing and HVAC work both rank high in the list of occupations that are at high risk for asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. Asbestos was used extensively to insulate heating appliances, as well as the products used to install, repair, and replace plumbing systems and pipes.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
