Family’s Mesothelioma Tragedy Extends to Another Sibling

There have been many individual victims of asbestos exposure, ranging from factor workers to baby powder users who have unknowingly breathed in the carcinogenic fibers and later been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma. But there are few families that have been impacted in the way that the Legendre family has. A recent court filing points to a fourth family member suffering an asbestos-related disease from long-ago exposure.

Mesothelioma and Other Lung Diseases Attributed to World War II Work

Stephen R. Legendre’s family is seeking compensation from the companies they blames for his malignant mesothelioma. It is not the first time that the family has been in court over asbestos exposure, as Stephen and his brothers filed a similar lawsuit on behalf of his sister, Mary Jane Wilde, who died of the rare asbestos-related disease. In both cases, the family points to the work that their father and brother performed at Avondale Shipyard between 1943 and 1945 as the cause of their illness. They claim that the men unknowingly carried asbestos fibers home on their work clothes and exposed the family to its risks, and that the shipyard had a duty to warn of its dangers. The shipyard argues that during those years the yard specifically worked on World War II Navy ships and that they are protected as government contractors.

Though Stephen and Mary Jane were the only siblings to be diagnosed with mesothelioma, they were not the only ones to have been impacted by asbestos. Percy Legendre, Sr. died of lung disease in the 1980s and another brother has been diagnosed with asbestosis. Each disease is associated with exposure to asbestos, a carcinogenic mineral that was widely used in shipbuilding, in insulation, in construction and in other high heat settings as a result of the strength and insulation that it adds. 

Asbestos’ Links to Mesothelioma Have Been Known for Decades

The Legendre’s mesothelioma ongoing lawsuit accuses the shipyard of negligence in failing to warn of the dangers posed by asbestos exposure. Though Avondale argues that it is protected by the federal laws regarding work done on behalf of the government, the family points to their inability to prove that Percy worked on military ships rather than private vessels. One way or another, the dangers of asbestos were known by that time and no protections were offered to the workers or to the families that they carried asbestos home to.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you may be entitled to seek compensation and 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