Charleston, West Virginia – A Barbour County, West Virginia man has filed an asbestos-related lawsuit, naming 25 different companies as defendants.

Jennings Bartlett and wife Beulah filed the suit on February 20 in Kanawha Circuit Court. Among the companies named is U.S. Steel, where Jennings Bartlett’s father once worked. Bartlett claimed he was exposed to asbestos dust because his father would arrive home after work with asbestos dust still present on his clothing.

This type of exposure is called secondary exposure, and typically occurs when workers bring asbestos dust home because they did not have access to protective equipment at work to prevent dust adhering to their clothing.

Bartlett says he was exposed to asbestos as a child, during a period in which his father worked at U.S. Steel as a welder. In addition he claims that performing mechanical work at several different automobile dealerships, garages, and similar businesses has contributed to his asbestos exposure.

The peak period of asbestos use was between the 1940s and 1980s, when the substance was a common component of several thousand construction and other materials.

Asbestos was commonly used in the automotive industry in brake pads and other components that required high heat resistance and thermal stability. Some industrial processes in the automotive and other industries also involved the use of heat-resistant protective clothing that was made with asbestos fabric, ironically exposing workers to harm via the same equipment that was supposed to be protecting them.

Bartlett has developed both asbestosis and mesothelioma. Both diseases are known to develop solely as a result of exposure to asbestos, and both are difficult to treat and ultimately incurable. Mesothelioma can develop after asbestos exposure of relatively short duration, while asbestosis tends to develop during periods of repeated exposure to inhalable asbestos dust.

The asbestos lawsuit filed by the Bartletts includes a total of twelve counts, and specifically names the following companies: Unarco, Johns-Manville, Raybestos, Manhattan, H.K. Porter, American Asbestos Textile Corp., Asten Hill Manufacturing Co., and Pneumo Abex Corporation, Friction Products Division and American Brake Block.

The lawsuit claims that these companies were part of a conspiracy that deliberately tried to suppress information relating to the hazards of asbestos exposure.

In addition to the claims made in conjunction with Jennings Bartlett’s asbestos-related diseases, Beulah Bartlett claims she has suffered loss of general services, companionship, and the society of her husband. They are seeking punitive as well as compensatory damages for the injuries they have suffered as a consequence of Jennings Bartlett’s asbestos exposure.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 10th, 2008 at 2:09 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.