When a person is diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related disease, one of the first things they do is try to figure out how they got sick: where did their asbestos exposure come from. In the case of Christine Slonim, the answer to that question remained a mystery until she and her husband Eric realized that the Moviola film editing machines that he had serviced from nearly twenty years were contaminated with the carcinogenic material. As is typical of so many companies accused of causing asbestos exposure, the companies whose equipment they blame for her illness have stood in the way of them proving their case, but a judge has now ruled in the couple’s favor.
Woman’s Mesothelioma Blamed on Second Hand Asbestos Exposure
Eric and Christine Slonim believe that Christine’s malignant mesothelioma is a result of second-hand exposure to asbestos resulting from Eric’s work. For nearly twenty years, from 1969 through the mid-1980s, he serviced Moviola film editing machines manufactured by J & R Film Co. and Magnasync/Moviola Corporation.
In order to prove their allegations so that a jury could decide on the companies’ liability for the mesothelioma caused by their equipment, the couple has asked both to produce Moviola machines so that the internal parts could be inspected to determine whether they contained asbestos. Rather than complying, both companies claimed not to have asbestos-containing Moviolas in their possession, and denied the relevance of the equipment.
Judge Orders Production and Testing of Equipment
As the companies maintained that they did not have the equipment sought by the Slonims and that therefore there was no proof that it contained mesothelioma-causing asbestos, the couple purchased similar equipment on E-bay that did test positive for asbestos. The defendants also admitted to having identified several of the machines, but argued that there was no way to tell whether they were the same type of machines, from the same period of time.
Upon hearing arguments from both sides, the judge ordered the movie companies to produce and test the machines based on testing protocols provided by the couple so that the mesothelioma lawsuit could continue for a jury to hear and decide upon.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma and you need help determining the source, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608.
