March 13, 2008, Charleston, West Virginia – A West Virginia man has filed an asbestos lawsuit against a total of 42 different companies that he claims are responsible for having exposed him to dangerous asbestos dust.

Charles Edward McLane filed the suit in the Kanawha Circuit Court, naming DuPont, Union Carbide, Goodrich Corporation, and others in the twelve count lawsuit.

McLane claims that his exposure to asbestos occurred as a result of dust created by the use of products manufactured by these companies. McLane also alleges in the suit that using the products caused injury to his lungs, respiratory system, and cardiovascular system, as a result of the exposure to asbestos and other harmful dusts.

In the short term, inhalation of asbestos dust causes lung irritation, but there are more serious consequences as a result of long term exposure. Exposure to asbestos is known to cause diseases such as asbestosis, a chronic lung inflammation, and mesothelioma, a rare but very aggressive and treatment-resistant cancer.

Another big name specifically mentioned in the suit is Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing, commonly known as 3M. The company was formerly a manufacturer of dusts masks as well as asbestos-containing products.

In the lawsuit McLane claims that he has suffered damage to his health because the masks manufactured and marketed by 3M did not provide the protection that the company claimed in their marketing material.

Among the allegations made by McLane is that 3M marketed the masks in such a way that he believed using the masks would protect him from asbestos and other harmful dusts, as well as fumes and other potential toxins. McLane says, however, that because he has developed health problems as a result of inhalation of asbestos and other harmful dusts, that the 3M products he used to provide protection did not work as 3M claimed.

In addition to the charges laid against 3M in the suit, McLane alleges that the other companies named, including DuPont, Union Carbide, Goodrich Corporation, and others, failed to warn him that there were dangers associated with exposure to asbestos and the other products he was working with.

The suit includes a total of twelve counts, including claims that McLane suffered serious injury, and great pain, suffering, and mental anguish. The suit also claims McLane has lost both earnings and income potential as a result of the damage done to his health.

McLane is seeking punitive as well as compensatory damages for loss of earnings, and physical pain and mental anguish.

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 27th, 2008 at 1:56 pm and is filed under Asbestos Litigation, West Virginia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.