Many people who are exposed to asbestos develop illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer years later. Those who were exposed in Minnesota and elsewhere may have potentially exposed their families to the asbestos contamination without knowing it. The afflicted family members who were exposed second hand may then be left dealing not only with the illnesses wrought on their family members who were directly exposed, but they may also fall ill themselves.
A woman from another state is suing more than 20 companies because she developed lung cancer. The woman claims that her father was a foundry and maintenance worker for 20 years. During that time, she claims that he worked for the defendants around asbestos-containing products.
She asserts that her father’s exposure to asbestos also exposed her to asbestos, leading to her lung cancer. According to her complaint, the defendants did not sufficiently warn the workers that the asbestos was hazardous. Furthermore, the defendants should have been aware that their products had the potential to cause harm.
Although more information is available today, asbestos should have always been handled with caution in the workplace. People in Minnesota who believe that they developed an illness due to asbestos exposure or working with asbestos-containing products may choose to seek legal recourse. Nothing can be done to change the past, but if the court finds that a company was negligent and is liable for an illness, a claimant may be awarded reimbursement for medical bills, monetary damages for the pain and suffering he or she is experiencing and any other related financial losses deemed appropriate by the court.
Source: cookcountyrecord.com, “Woman alleges secondary exposure to asbestos caused lung cancer”, Mark Reccek, March 4, 2015
