Mesothelioma has been a known risk associated with the use of asbestos in the construction and military industries. As a result, many iron and shipyard workers were exposed to its carcinogenic effects.
However, last year a man who had worked as a deckhand at various drill sites in Louisiana from 1979 to 1985 filed suit after contracting mesothelioma and lung cancer associated with coming into contact with asbestos-containing products. This case was filed against every oil company that was linked to that particular deckhand, including BP Corporation North American, Buffalo Pumps Inc., Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LP, Chevron USA Inc., Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc., Dover Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., FMC Corp., Gardner Denver Inc., Goulds Pumps Inc., IMO Industries Inc., Ingersoll-Rand Corp., Marathon Oil Co., Montello Inc., Roper Pump Co., Shell Oil Co., SIHI Pumps Inc., Sulzer Pumps Inc., Union Carbide Corp., Viking Pump Inc. and Western Oceanic Services Inc.
Plaintiff alleged that defendants failed in numerous duties, which resulted in negligence, specifically, failure to properly:
- Institute safety procedures;
- Ventilate the work area;
- Warn the plaintiff of the dangers associated with the work area;
- Measure and control for levels of asbestos in the work area; and
- Report medical studies that discuss the hazards of asbestos.
As a result of his injuries, the plaintiff is seeking damages for:
- Medical costs;
- Lost earnings;
- Mental suffering;
- Loss of quality of life;
- Physical impairment and disfigurement; and
- Pain and suffering.
The Risk to Oil Refinery Workers
In refineries, crude oil (petroleum) is processed into gasoline, kerosene, and diesel. They typically have a complex network of piping to transport thick, boiled liquid between the various processing units. Asbestos has been traditionally used to insulate the equipment that comes into contact with this boiling liquid at the facilities.
Specifically, asbestos products are used for insulation materials, refinery equipment, thermal insulation where there are fire concerns, and in the construction of the facilities themselves and the production of protective clothing and equipment.
The Need for Experienced Representation
If you feel that you have developed health problems related to asbestos exposure, an experienced attorney can help you with your claim. Harrell & Nowak have been working with victims of asbestos exposure and have helped our clients significantly, obtaining the following results:
- Our firm has recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of clients.
- We have achieved a success rate of over 90 percent.
- Our lawyers have recovered over $2.5 million in hurricane insurance cases.
- Eric Nowak and Shirin Harrell were appointed as class counsel in Marshall vs. Air Liquide, an environmental hazards lawsuit in Civil District Court for Orleans Parish.
If you are suffering from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos, call the New Orleans mesothelioma lawyers at Harrell & Nowak to schedule a no-obligation consultation with our attorneys.