West Virginia – A Colorado woman who was diagnosed with mesothelioma has filed an asbestos-related lawsuit in Madison County Circuit Court in West Virginia.

Joann Dennett filed the lawsuit on July 23. Dennett says she was employed a number of different positions in several different locations throughout the country between 1958 and 2008, and at some point was exposed to asbestos.

Dennett was diagnosed with mesothelioma on August 12, 2007. She has filed suit against a total of 73 defendant companies, claiming her disease was wrongfully caused.

Among the 73 defendants are Bondex International, CBS, Chrysler, Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Trust, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, Goodyear, Honeywell International, Ingersoll-Rand, International Paper, John Crane, MetLife, Monsanto, Pfizer, Philips Electronics and Trane US.

Joan Dennett claims that at some point during her employment history, and during home or automotive repairs, she was exposed to airborne asbestos fibers being emitted by products she was working with or around. Inhalation of the fibers caused her to develop mesothelioma decades after the exposure.

According to Dennett’s lawsuit the defendants either knew or should have known of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure. The suit claims that her exposure was foreseeable and should have been anticipated by the defendants.

In addition, Joan Dennett’s lawsuit claims that the defendants continued to use asbestos in their products even though adequate substitutes for asbestos could be used. The lawsuit also claims that the defendants failed to provide warnings about asbestos exposure, or any instructions on how to work safely with their asbestos-containing products to prevent exposure from occurring.

As a result, Dennett alleges, she unknowingly continued to work with and around asbestos unaware she was being exposed to a dangerous substance, and without taking any safety precautions.

Due to the alleged negligence of the named defendants, Dennett claims she developed mesothelioma as a direct result of the asbestos exposure.

Dennett is seeking damages to help pay for mesothelioma treatment, as well as compensation for physical and mental pain and suffering, lost income, and lost earning capacity. She asks for at least $200,000 in compensatory damages. In addition her lawsuit seeks punitive damages to punish the defendants for “willful, wanton, intentional and reckless” behavior.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, July 29th, 2008 at 5:03 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.