Mesothelioma Case Filed Against DuPont

A wrongful death lawsuit has been filed against DuPont and 20 other companies for the passing of Ruby Neely, who died from the asbestos-related cancer mesothelioma.

Roger Neely, Ruby Neely’s son, filed the suit in Tennessee alleging his mother’s cancer was caused by asbestos fibers carried home on his father’s work clothes while employed at a nearby DuPont plant.

Roger Neely’s father, Lively Neely, worked at the DuPont plant in Old Hickory, Tennessee for 20 years. During his employment, he unknowingly exposed his wife and himself to asbestos fibers. Lively Neely actually reached a settlement with DuPont during the 1980s before passing from an asbestos-related illness. He worked with asbestos insulation and around asbestos-laden equipment while at DuPont.

Asbestos was used in a wide variety of manufacturing applications throughout the 20th century. While DuPont never manufactured asbestos-containing products, much of their equipment was insulated with asbestos.

In previous mesothelioma cases, company documents have shown that DuPont’s upper management was aware of the hazards associated with asbestos, but failed to notify employees. As a result, numerous lawsuits similar to Roger Neely’s have been filed against the company.

The Neely lawsuit claims DuPont failed to warn employees that asbestos could potentially be carried home on their skin and clothes. This form of asbestos exposure is known as secondhand exposure, which has affected thousands of families with relatives who worked with asbestos.

DuPont is currently the world’s fourth largest chemical company in terms of revenue. The company has expanded considerably and is now involved in the development of synthetic polymers such as nylon and Teflon.

Exposure to asbestos is the primary cause of mesothelioma cancer. For most patients, prognosis is poor as mesothelioma doctors often experience difficulty in treating the disease. Treatment options usually include palliative methods aimed at relieving pain for the patient.

Additional information about mesothelioma may be found through the Mesothelioma Center.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 at 11:03 am and is filed under Asbestos Exposure, Asbestos Litigation, Jobsite Exposure, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.