Navy Vet Gets More Time to Collect Evidence in Mesothelioma Case

The United States District Court in Tacoma, Washington has granted a Navy veteran diagnosed with mesothelioma more time to establish the facts in his personal injury lawsuit, despite the objections of the asbestos company he is accusing of negligence. Though Meriden Molded Plastic tried to have the case against them dismissed for lack of evidence that asbestos in their products caused his illness, the judge granted Ronald Behrmann the additional time he requested.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis Followed Thirty Years of Working on Ships

According to documents filed in his case, Ronald H. Berhmann’s 30-year career working onboard ships started in 1958 when he served as an electrician’s mate in the U.S. Navy, and then continued until 1988 when he retired from working as a Journeyman electrician and as a supervisor at the Lockheed Shipyard. During those years he worked on electrical components, many of which included a part called an arc chute that often contained asbestos.

In filing his mesothelioma lawsuit Mr. Behrmann named several companies as defendants, including the company that manufactured the arc chute part, Meriden Molded Plastic. He specifies that Meriden sold these parts to General Electric, Square D, Cutler Hammer and ABB, and that he was exposed to asbestos through his work on the equipment that those companies sold to the shipyard. Meriden filed a motion to dismiss the case against them, but Mr. Behrmann requested that the judge defer ruling because his legal team had not yet completed discovery.

Judge Agrees to Defer Decision in Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Though the judge hearing the mesothelioma lawsuit agreed with Meriden’s attorneys that Mr. Behrmann had not demonstrated their product’s role in his illness, he also acknowledged that the victim had declared that “critical information had not yet been disclosed,” and that outstanding information would include a “complete list of Meriden’s customers,” as well as additional information supporting his assertion of liability.  Based on that, the judge denied the motion for summary judgment and the case against Meriden will move on for a jury to consider.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, you need as much information as you can get about how and when you were exposed. For assistance in gathering this 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