Lawsuit Alleges Asbestos Exposed Chemical Worker Suffered Fatal Mesothelioma

A lawsuit was filed alleging that a former chemical operator at Hoffman-LaRoche in Nutley, New Jersey was exposed to asbestos fiber and died of mesothelioma. The lawsuit filed in New Jersey Superior Court asserts that he suffered injurious exposure to asbestos as a direct result of his exposure to asbestos fiber at work. The estate of the deceased worker brought the action against several manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos fiber.  As in other mesothelioma cases, this lawsuit alleges that those companies that mined, processed and sold asbestos-containing products knew of harmful effects of asbestos exposure and failed to provide those exposed with knowledge  concerning precautions.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer associated with asbestos exposure. The rates of asbestos related fatalities are predicted to continue to increase for decades to come. Despite public outcry, and the urging of physicians, asbestos is still not banned in the United States.

Asbestos was widely used in many industries for various purposes including insulation and fire and heat resistance.  In the chemical industry, these properties made asbestos useful to insulate pipes and heat equipment.  Workers in chemical plants worked around asbestos every day and many were exposed to asbestos fibers in the course of their daily work.  Chemical plant workers are high on the list of those most likely to be diagnosed with mesothelioma and asbestosis, diseases caused by inhaled asbestos fibers.

Anyone exposed to asbestos fibers has an increased risk of developing a number of life-threatening diseases during their lifetime.  Those diseases include cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma.