Family Blames Father’s Mesothelioma on Asbestos-Contaminated Artificial Snow

Though most deaths from mesothelioma are caused by occupational exposure to asbestos, that is not always the case. Many people have been sickened by second-hand exposure to asbestos brought home on their loved ones’ work clothing, or from having lived close to an asbestos mine or processing location. In a case that makes clear exactly how deadly exposure to asbestos can be, a family has filed suit against the manufacturer of an artificial snow product used to decorate their Christmas tree each year. They say that the asbestos in the product is what caused his untimely death.

Holiday Decorating Materials Blamed for Man’s Mesothelioma

The lawsuit filed by the family of Larry Petrie blames Snow Drift, an asbestos-containing holiday decoration product, for the mesothelioma that claimed his life in July of 2018. Their claim acknowledges that the lifelong California resident had been exposed to asbestos from several sources, including while working at the Mare Island Naval shipyard, while working on automobile brakes as a teen, and while working as a pipefitter on Naval ships. 

In addition to seeking compensation from manufacturers whose asbestos-contaminated products Mr. Petrie had worked with, his survivors point to his family’s use of Snow Drift to decorate at Christmas each year, detailing how in the 1950s he and his siblings would play and have “snowball” fights with the carcinogenic product. They are seeking compensation for the damages that he suffered, as well as for their own losses following his untimely death.

Artificial Snow Manufacturer Denied Summary Judgment in Mesothelioma Lawsuit

The Novelis Corporation asked the court to dismiss the mesothelioma lawsuit filed against them, arguing that the family could not prove that their Snow Drift product was a substantial factor in causing Mr. Petrie’s illness and that they owed no duty to him in the 1950s because it was not foreseeable that non-occupational exposure to asbestos could be harmful. The court denied this assertion and allowed the case to move forward to be heard by a jury.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma, determining the source of your asbestos exposure is just the first step in seeking justice. For more information, contact the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net today at 1-800-692-8608.

Written by Terri Oppenheimer

Terri Heimann Oppenheimer is the head writer of our Mesothelioma.net news blog. She graduated from the College of William and Mary with a degree in English. Terri believes that knowledge is power and she is committed to sharing news about the impact of mesothelioma, the latest research and medical breakthroughs, and victims’ stories.

Learn more about and contact Terri