A South Carolina judge and jury are hearing claims by a mesothelioma victim’s widow against John Crane, Inc. Melba Bolton is accusing the company of having recklessly exposed her late husband Curtis Bolton to gaskets and packing contaminated with asbestos during the years between 1971 and 1977 that he worked at the Celanese factory as a maintenance worker.
Lawsuit Points to John Crane’s Knowledge of Mesothelioma Risk
In accusing John Crane of recklessness in her husband’s death, the mesothelioma widow details how her husband was exposed to asbestos in John Crane’s products. She explains that the gaskets that were used in the company’s processes only lasted six months before wearing out, and after that happened the parts they were used in would be sent to Mr. Bolton’s department for their residue to be scraped off before new gaskets were installed. They assert that this created significant asbestos dust that he inhaled and which led to his illness.
In addition to explaining the mesothelioma victim’s exposure, the widow pointed to John Crane’s clear knowledge of the dangers of asbestos based on its membership in the American Society of Mechanical Engineers, and subsequent receipt of that group’s newsletters warning about the dangers of asbestos in the 1930s. She also pointed to the existence of an Illinois state law passed in 1938 regarding asbestosis, and the company’s failure to use its own research lab to test its products for the presence of asbestos.
John Crane Blames Mesothelioma on Other Asbestos-Contaminated Parts
In response to the mesothelioma claim, John Crane, Inc. argues that Mr. Bolton’s mesothelioma was not caused by its gaskets, but instead by asbestos in pipe insulation that was present in the factory, and which he also would have been exposed to. The insulation in the pipes was amosite asbestos, while the asbestos in the gaskets was chrysotile asbestos. The case is currently proceeding in the court.
If you or someone you love has been sickened by mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net can help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
