A NEW JERSEY WOMAN DIES OF MESOTHELIOMA CAUSED BY SECOND HAND ASBESTOS EXPOSURE FROM ASBESTOS-CONTAINING CAR BRAKES THAT HER HUSBAND AND CHILDREN REPAIRED FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS, DURING WHICH SHE LAUNDERED THEIR ASBESTOS-LADEN WORK CLOTHES.
NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, May 30, 2007 – The New Jersey mesothelioma lawyers at Levy Konigsberg LLP filed an lawsuit on behalf of a woman who died of mesothelioma caused by second hand asbestos exposure as a result of asbestos brake repairs performed by her husband and children. The woman was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2002 and died from the cancer shortly after some treatments were attempted at Virtua West Jersey Hospital. The lawsuit, filed in New Jersey’s Middlesex County, is set to proceed to trial this summer.
Asbestos dust from car brakes can be released into the air when an asbestos-containing brake disk or drum is removed from a vehicle. The dust is often invisible to the naked eye.
The brake work, which will be at issue in this trial, was performed by the woman’s husband and children on the family’s cars in the garage and driveway of their New Jersey home from the 1960s through the 1980s. During the trial, it will be argued that the brand predominately used in the brake work was Bendix asbestos brakes.
The woman unknowingly fell victim to second hand asbestos exposure as a result of her laundering the dusty clothes and the rags that were used by her husband and children after they performed the brake work. She would shake out the dirty clothes and dusty rags and then launder them. She performed the clean-up and laundry without realizing that she was in grave danger by being exposed to the asbestos-laden dust.
This lawsuit is coming on the heels of a new set of recommendations from the Environmental Protection Agency regarding car repairs and the importance of reducing or eliminating asbestos exposure from such work. In March, 2007, the EPA released a guideline brochure entitled “Current Best Practices for Preventing Asbestos Exposure among Brake and Clutch Repair Workers”, which is similar to guidance that EPA has been distributing since 1986. The EPA states in this publication that by using the recommended practices, home mechanics can minimize potential exposure to asbestos and reduce their potential risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. For example, the EPA recommends not using compressed air or dry rags for cleaning.
Symptoms of mesothelioma usually don’t appear until at least 15 years after the victim’s first asbestos exposure whether it is in workplace, the home environment or elsewhere. Exposure to asbestos, even for a short duration, can cause mesothelioma. Asbestos fibers are microscopic, and exposure can occur without one ever being aware of it.
Asbestos lawsuits, may be brought when mesothelioma occurs not only in the people working directly with asbestos products, but also in bystanders and family members who suffered from second hand asbestos exposure, as is the case here.
For over a quarter of a century, mesothelioma lawyers at Levy Konigsberg LLP have been among the pioneers of asbestos litigation in America. The firm’s attorneys have been recognized as nationwide leaders in representing the rights of mesothelioma victims and their families. Their clients have received some of the largest mesothelioma compensation verdicts in the country.
For more information about this or other mesothelioma lawsuits, please contact Levy Konigsberg LLP at 800-315-3806 or 1-800-MESO-LAW (1-800-637-6529), 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
ATTENTION: Mesothelioma has no known cure and often causes severe pain, suffering, and other types of damage, such as loss of consortium, and loss of income. Additionally, due to the exceedingly high cost of mesothelioma treatments, many families exhaust savings and accumulate financial debt in order to pay for the medical expenses of their family member.
Under the law of most states, pain and suffering from mesothelioma may be compensated through the award of money damages, usually obtained with the help of experienced mesothelioma attorneys. In some states other types of damages may also be recovered.
Asbestos litigation affords mesothelioma victims the opportunity to receive financial compensation and hold accountable the companies that caused their asbestos exposure.
IMPORTANT: If you or your family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should get in touch with a mesothelioma lawyer as early as possible to determine if you have a mesothelioma case and to:
- Preserve your rights to bring a legal action against the responsible parties within the limited time frame allowed by law, known as statute of limitations;
- Obtain maximum compensation in your case by being able to:
- Preserve evidence and establish facts of the asbestos exposure while the claimant is still alive and able to provide information;
- File and resolve a lawsuit against the responsible parties before they file for bankruptcy or, if they already have, to obtain compensation before their bankruptcy trust funds run out of money;
- Expedite your case, as courts tend to give higher priority to mesothelioma lawsuits where the claimant is still alive.
Find out whether you have a case by speaking to one of our experienced mesothelioma lawyers via our 24/7 toll-free hotline at 1-800-MESO-LAW (1-800-637-6529) or by submitting an email inquiry (see form above). Our attorneys will be quick to respond to you and happy to answer all of your questions.
NOTE: While our offices are located in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, many of our mesothelioma lawyers are licensed to practice law in a number of U.S. states and have the capability and extensive experience of representing mesothelioma clients throughout the United States. You are encouraged to contact us with any questions.
