The USS Patrick Henry (SSBN-599) was America’s second nuclear-powered fleet ballistic missile submarine. Though the vessel represented a critical advancement in Cold War naval technology, the Patrick Henry was built using asbestos-containing components. The toxic mineral included in virtually every one of her systems put the hundreds of sailors who served during her 24 years at serious
The USS Nathan Hale (SSBN-623) was a Lafayette-class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine that protected American interests during the Cold War, from 1963 to 1986. Though technologically advanced, the submarine was built a decade before the Navy learned of the dangers of asbestos, and the material was found throughout the submarine’s structure and equipment. Veterans who
Decades after the dangers of asbestos and its direct link to mesothelioma were made public, researchers are still learning how much damage the mineral causes. Beyond the rare form of cancer that attacks the mesothelium, scientists have found that asbestos also causes lung cancer, asbestosis, and other forms of cancer. Now, a CDC-funded report published in Open
People who’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases face more than illness. They also face medical expenses, pain and suffering, and harm to relationships. Filing a personal injury lawsuit gives them a way to seek financial compensation for these damages and hold companies accountable for the harm they’ve done through negligence. What Is Negligence in Personal Injury
The United States Navy destroyer USS George K. MacKenzie (DD-836) distinguished herself through three decades of distinguished service, from World War II through the Vietnam conflict. However, like virtually every warship constructed during the mid-20th century, the MacKenzie contained extensive amounts of asbestos throughout her structure. This toxic mineral, now recognized as causing mesothelioma and other disabling diseases, has
The USS Lionfish (SS-298) was one of the advanced Balao-class submarines engineered during World War II to counter Japanese naval forces across the Pacific Theater. While the vessel made invaluable her wartime contributions and represented technological improvements over earlier designs, she also contained asbestos that created serious health risks for naval personnel and shipyard employees who served aboard or
Founded in 1869 as Gray & Barton, Western Electric was one of America’s most prominent telecommunications equipment manufacturers. For over fifty years, the company used asbestos-containing materials in dozens of its products, creating widespread exposure risks for workers and their families. The company’s extensive use of this hazardous mineral from at least 1919 until 1974 resulted in
The USS Lewis and Clark (SSBN-644) was a Benjamin Franklin-class ballistic missile submarine that served the U.S. Navy from 1965 to 1992. Like other World War II and Cold War naval vessels, the ship was built using substantial amounts of asbestos that created serious health risks for the crew, as well as shipyard personnel who served her. These veterans
Few think of schools as mesothelioma risks, but the average age of U.S. school buildings is 49 years old. Roughly 38% were built before 1970 and 28% before 1950, when asbestos was commonly used in construction. In 2023, asbestos began falling from the walls and ceilings of Philadelphia’s 115-year-old Frankford High, leading to the building’s
The USS Charles B. Cecil (DD-835) sailed for the U.S. Navy from 1945 to 1973. A Gearing-class destroyer, her service record included atomic testing operations, Cold War missions, the Suez Crisis, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. Built before the mid-1970s, the ship’s structure made extensive use of asbestos-containing materials. As a result, numerous former