Mesothelioma is the deadliest asbestos-related disease, but it is just one of many serious illnesses caused by exposure to the toxic mineral. Asbestosis, a debilitating, progressive disease, can also lead to death, and that was the case for Timothy Murphy, who died of the disease after serving in the U.S. Navy and performing home repair projects for years. His widow, Audrey, has filed a wrongful death and survival claim against over a dozen companies that she accuses of negligence, product liability, and premises/contractor liability.
Widow’s Asbestosis Lawsuit Names Common Mesothelioma Defendants
Mesothelioma and lung cancer victims and survivors who file mesothelioma lawsuits generally name the same companies in their claims; the difference between defendants largely rests on what occupation they worked in during their exposure. The same is true for those whose work with asbestos-containing products led to asbestosis.
The work history that has been tied to Mr. Murphy’s asbestosis included working as a laborer in the engine rooms of U.S. Navy ships, and on the deck in Long Beach, and through his work on minor home repair projects, and many of the companies named have been named in thousands of other suits. They include Armstrong International, Carrier Corporation, Crane Company, and Metalclad Insulation.
Occupational Illnesses, Like Mesothelioma and Asbestosis, were Foreseeable
Like thousands of mesothelioma claimants before, the asbestosis widow asserts that the effect of the deadly fibers that entered his body after working with asbestos or asbestos-containing products was foreseeable. Whether the defendants manufactured, fabricated, sold, or serviced the products containing asbestos, Mrs. Murphy says that each of them had a duty to use reasonable care in manufacturing and to warn that their products were dangerous and unsafe.
Mrs. Murphy’s asbestosis claim, like thousands of mesothelioma and lung cancer claims before, notes that the defendants were aware that the original gaskets and packing supplied with their equipment would need to be removed and replaced with new ones, that heat and pressure would affect them and make them brittle, and that those operations would cause asbestos to be released into the air. She makes similar claims about insulation in equipment. Most importantly of all, she notes that since at least 1930, the defendants knew that asbestos and asbestos-containing products were hazardous. Her suit was filed in the Superior Court of the State of California.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or any other asbestos-related disease, the Patient Advocates at Mesothelioma.net are here to help. Contact us today at 1-800-692-8608 to learn more.
