OTHER CAUSES OF ASBESTOS EXPOSURE

Asbestos has been extensively used due to its strength and heat resistance. However, it has been scientifically proven that it is a hazardous substance that causes mesothelioma. Therefore, it is important to know the sources of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Exposure from Automotive Parts

The automotive industry quickie expanded during the 20th century, leading to a great demand for asbestos-containing components like brakes, clutches and mufflers. However, despite knowing the hazards of this material, it was still utilized by manufacturers because of its heat-resistance properties and low cost. This led to wide exposure to automotive professionals mainly through breathing in or coming into contact with asbestos dust when working on brakes and clutches. Find out more about Asbestos Exposure from Automotive Parts.

Asbestos Exposure at Home

From the 1960s to 1970s, asbestos was extensively used in widely available building materials and automotive parts, such as brake linings and gaskets. Consumers handling these products during home renovations or routine vehicle maintenance unwittingly exposed themselves and their families to asbestos fibers. Homes and apartments constructed or renovated between the 1940s and 1980s likely contain asbestos in materials such as roofing materials, floor tiles, insulation, and other building components. Activities like cutting, sanding, or demolishing these materials can release hazardous asbestos fibers into the air, posing significant long-term health risks. Maintenance tasks involving home systems like furnaces, electrical wiring, plumbing, and insulation further increase exposure risks.

Manufacturers historically neglected to warn consumers adequately about asbestos dangers, promoting these products for their convenience and durability without disclosing health risks. Today, residual asbestos in older homes remains a potential health hazard if not handled with caution during renovations or maintenance. Read more about Asbestos Exposure at Home.

Asbestos Exposure from Laboratories

Those who have never been employed in industries using asbestos will still be at risk when exposed to the substance within laboratories. For instance, gloves, hoods, aprons and safety wear made from asbestos textiles or fibers; asbestos mats, cushions and screens used for handling hot equipment could all serve as sources of exposure to this hazardous material. Read more about Asbestos Exposure from Laboratories.

Asbestos Exposure from Firefighter Clothing and Equipment

The use of asbestos in firefighting clothing and equipment has posed significant health risks to firefighters and their families. Asbestos, known for its heat-resistant properties, was incorporated into various firefighting gear such as coats, hoods, fire suits, jackets, liners, boots, and gloves. This was intended to protect firefighters from the intense heat of fires and to prolong the durability of their equipment.

Unfortunately, the asbestos fibers embedded in these materials posed a hidden danger. Over time, as firefighters wore and moved in their protective gear, the asbestos fibers could become dislodged and released into the air. This daily exposure meant that firefighters unknowingly inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers, which could lead to serious health consequences later in life, including mesothelioma—a rare and aggressive form of cancer—as well as other asbestos-related diseases.

The issue was compounded by the fact that neither the fire departments nor the manufacturers of this protective clothing provided adequate warnings about the risks of asbestos exposure. As a result, firefighters not only faced occupational exposure themselves but also inadvertently brought asbestos fibers home on their clothing, putting their families at risk of secondary exposure.

Companies like Globe, Mine Safety Appliance, Midwest Glove, and others were involved in manufacturing and distributing asbestos-containing firefighting gear. Even larger corporations such as 3M supplied asbestos and asbestos-containing materials used in these products.

Read more about Asbestos Exposure from Firefighter Clothing and Equipment.

Asbestos Exposure from Navy Ships

Asbestos exposure aboard Navy ships has been a longstanding issue affecting countless sailors who served between the 1940s and 1990s. During this period, asbestos was extensively used in shipbuilding as insulation and fireproofing material, particularly in cramped and poorly ventilated spaces like boiler rooms and engineering compartments. Navy personnel from various ratings including boilertenders, machinist mates, electricians, firemen, and equipment operators regularly worked in these hazardous environments. They operated and maintained equipment such as boilers, pumps, valves, condensers, turbines, and other machinery crucial for ship operations. These components often contained asbestos insulation, gaskets, packing materials, and other asbestos-based products. Read more about Asbestos Exposure from Navy Ships.

Legal actions have been pivotal in seeking justice for affected veterans. Levy Konigsberg LLP has been at the forefront, representing Navy veterans and their families in asbestos litigation. For instance, the case of Douglas Pokorney against Foster Wheeler highlighted the significant asbestos exposure he endured while serving aboard the USS Roan. The jury’s decision to award $5 million in damages underscored Foster Wheeler’s liability for Mr. Pokorney’s exposure, rejecting attempts to shift responsibility to the Navy.

Asbestos Exposure from Plastics

Plastics had also been made out of asbestos. This material was included in molding compounds created through both compression and injection processes, which often consisted of granules with a dusty outer layer resembling powder. Typically, they were used in high temperature applications across various sectors, such as automobile production, aerospace engineering, and electrical works. Many people got exposed to asbestos while dealing with these plastics throughout their entire lifecycle: from working on raw materials milling operations packaging etcetera — every stage involved the risk of inhaling airborne fibers among employees. 

Major chemical companies like Union Carbide, Du Pont, and General Electric manufactured and distributed asbestos-containing plastics until at least the early 1980s, impacting workers and their families. Read more about Asbestos Exposure from Plastics.

Asbestos Exposure in the Railroad Industry

Throughout various functions within the railway industry, asbestos exposure has been a major occupational hazard for railroad workers. Brake linings, engines, insulation and other materials used in locomotives and railroads were made out of asbestos because of its ability to resist heat during the 20th century. Such tasks as cutting or sanding down asbestos-containing parts were carried out in the course of railway work thus releasing dust into air with fibers that caused mesothelioma when inhaled; besides this constant wearing away of materials also added up to continuous risk exposure points . Because it was widely employed throughout many different areas so all people who worked there including repairmen; conductors as well as maintenance staff could have breathed them while executing their duties.  Read more about Asbestos Exposure in the Railroad Industry.

Abex Corporation, Johns Manville or Electro-Motive Diesel are among several companies which have faced lawsuits over their involvement with asbestos related activities leading to huge payouts being awarded against them.

Asbestos Exposure from Talc Products

Asbestos may be present in talc, a naturally occurring mineral that is used in products, such as baby powder and cosmetics. From initial tests during the 1960s, several talc products including those made by well-known brands like Johnson & Johnson have proved positive for containing high amounts of asbestos fibers. The fact that this knowledge about dangers related to talc application existed within beauty care companies for a very long time becomes obvious upon analyzing the case studies. Even the slightest contact with asbestos-laden talc can carry severe health hazards like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. It is especially important to only use talcum powders that are proven to be asbestos-free. People who are exposed over a long period should seek medical attention on a regular basis for early diagnosis of any diseases related to asbestos. Consumers may also consider the use of corn flour-based powders. FDA provides more in depth information about this. Find out more about Asbestos Exposure from Talc.  

Levy Konigsberg has been one of the foremost campaigners against contamination of talc by asbestos since 1985. Over time, they have collected significant evidence through probing domestic contaminations and going to court against cosmetic firms liable for causing exposure to asbestos fibers. This type of exposure disproportionately affects women and has major health consequences.

Asbestos Exposure from the Telecommunications Sector

For many people working in the telecommunications sector, asbestos exposure has been a major concern at telephone exchanges and central office equipment sites. Dust from this hazardous mineral was released into the air when employees disturbed it by cutting, stripping, sawing or drilling among other tasks done while handling devices in these places.

Various materials and equipment such as asbestos cable bags, asbestos cable-hole covers (also known as “Transite” covers) and asbestos-containing ‘ebony’ power boards were some of the main sources of asbestos exposure at telephone exchanges and central offices. Asbestos was used widely for fireproofing insulation around wiring and cables among other applications because it is resistant to heat. Another area where telephone workers could come into contact with fibers is manholes located underground; these contain duct pipes made from asbestos. When wires or cables are pulled through such conduit systems which have fiber particles inside them then more individuals are put at risk of being affected by this dangerous substance. Read more about Asbestos Exposure from the Telecommunications Sector.

Hidden Industrial Asbestos Exposure

Areas near construction, mining or industrial sites often see individuals affected by asbestos exposure who didn’t have direct industrial or occupational backgrounds. Asbestos gets widely used in industries, such as shipbuilding and construction because it is fireproof which means that workers who deal with insulation materials, roofing components and other building products containing this substance are at a higher risk.

For instance, in the West Bank area of New Orleans there was community exposure when a company called Johns Manville used to manufacture pipes from asbestos cement and then gave away the leftover material for people to use in their homes without knowing about its dangers thus putting them more at risk. This is just one example among many others like it around the world. Also, according to EPA there have been numerous sites across America where vermiculite contaminated with Libby Montana mine’s asbestos was processed releasing fibers into neighboring communities without taking necessary precautions. Even office support staffs or food servers working at these establishments can come into contact every day with items containing asbestos that were used by fellow employees. Read more about Hidden Industrial Asbestos Exposure.

Levy Konigsberg has a team of lawyers who specialize in investigating individual work histories and living environments so as to trace sources of exposure towards different environments within which they might have lived or worked . Their knowledge helps victims know what is right for them as far as seeking compensation through various legal channels becomes concerned while also aiding their families navigate through complex legal terrains linked with diseases caused by this mineral. 

Take-Home Asbestos Exposure

Take-home asbestos exposure is when someone not directly exposed to asbestos at work gets mesothelioma after being exposed at home by a family member who does work with or around the harmful mineral. This kind of exposure has gained awareness recently as a major cause of asbestos-related diseases.

While it may be invisible without magnification, asbestos fibers easily stick onto people’s clothing, skin and hair if they come into contact with this material or its products. Once these workers go back to their houses from job sites where they deal with such substances like insulation sprayed on beams during construction work or brake linings made from compressed powders containing crocidolite blue asbestos , among other things; then there is high chances that many more areas will become contaminated too. Wives who wash clothes for their husbands have been found at greatest danger because while handling garments polluted by malignant fibers which cause cancer called mesothelioma they can breathe them in as well as swallow them.  Read more about Take-Home Asbestos Exposure.

Courts have recognized this problem legally; for example New Jersey Supreme Court held that owners of premises owe duties towards protecting visitors against foreseeable harms including take home exposures . The duty arises from the fact that employers using hazardous materials are required to keep them safely contained so that nobody comes into contact with such substances indirectly through secondary exposures like those involving spouses doing laundry.

Why Choose Levy Konigsberg?

Since the 1980s, Levy Konigsberg has evolved into a nationwide powerhouse for mesothelioma litigation in the U.S. Our national mesothelioma lawyers have represented numerous individuals and groups of workers, successfully securing multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts.

Our top-rated mesothelioma lawyers have:

• A massive knowledge of asbestos law and science
• Decades of experience to their legal practices
• Tried hundreds of asbestos and mesothelioma cases before juries
• Secured record mesothelioma and asbestos compensation verdicts
• Achieved some of the highest peer reviews and ratings available
• Helped hundreds of satisfied clients

Additionally, we offer:

• A caring and understanding approach to your case
• Personalized attention and counsel based on each unique case
• No upfront costs for handling your mesothelioma case
• Fast and efficient handling of your mesothelioma case
• Frequent case updates and reliable attorney accessibility

Understanding the science of asbestos exposure is an invaluable resource. One of the many benefits of our early involvement in mesothelioma litigation is our access to pioneering researchers and experts in this complex and ever-changing medical field. We put these experts to work on behalf of our clients, in the courtroom and in treatment of their disease.

Our lawyers bring to bear on every case a level of experience that can only come from decades of working together toward a common goal—maximum compensation for mesothelioma victims and their families.

Each new generation of mesothelioma attorneys at the firm acquires the skills, techniques, and knowledge of our senior partners through mentoring relationships. Not only does this benefit every lawyer, but it also benefits our clients in the form of consistently successful representation.

A Long History of Success in Mesothelioma Cases

Countless lawyers who advertise themselves as mesothelioma attorneys have never actually handled an asbestos case before. In fact, they refer them out to real mesothelioma lawyers for a fee.

That is not how we operate.

We are true, experienced mesothelioma attorneys who personally work on each case from beginning to end. We are always happy to meet our clients, whether at our New York, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Washington, or Maryland offices, at a client’s home or hospital, or anywhere in the country.

Our legal team has succeeded by negotiating tirelessly with manufacturers of asbestos products and their insurance companies, no matter how influential or uncooperative they are. We are even often able to recover compensation from companies that have long been bankrupt.

Most defense lawyers are familiar with our solid reputation and credentials and know in advance that we will not settle for less than the best possible offer. They know that we build every mesothelioma and asbestos case as if it is going to trial, and we have taken hundreds of cases to juries when a fair settlement had not been offered.

The mesothelioma attorneys at Levy Konigsberg have also served as lead counsel in major state and federal mass consolidation cases designed to benefit many hundreds of people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other types of asbestos-related diseases.

We are proud of the work our lawyers do on behalf of our clients, often in groundbreaking cases against the toughest defendants. Our law firm has obtained landmark asbestos and mesothelioma jury verdicts for exposures to welding rods, cable, asbestos gaskets and packing, commercial talc, and industrial equipment, including the first-ever jury verdicts against welding rod, cable, and commercial talk manufacturers.

Our law firm is frequently referenced by the legal press for our association with the largest and landmark asbestos and mesothelioma verdicts in virtually every category, including various jurisdictions, types of asbestos products involved, and forms of asbestos exposure.

We have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for victims of mesothelioma and asbestos cancers, and we are prepared to fight for you.

Providing Your Case with the Individual Attention It Deserves

Unfortunately, many law firms today use a generalized approach to handling cases of the same type, even those as complex as mesothelioma cases.

With a goal of cutting back on the time spent on each case, they use broad-brush practices and techniques to process cases as fast as they can, often risking the possibility of missing important details in a case and, thus, undermining the goal of negotiating the best possible compensation for their clients.

Contrary to such mentality, we treat every case as if it was our only one. We investigate each case with a team of lawyers, paralegals, and leading experts in the field, all while being in constant communication with the clients, to ensure that we have done everything we could to reach the full potential of each individual case.

In many courts, mesothelioma cases are treated urgently and given high priority. This is particularly true if the claimant is alive. In some jurisdictions, the entire case can be resolved within four to five months; in others, it can take longer.

Here, at Levy Konigsberg, our mesothelioma cancer attorneys do everything possible to avoid delays and move our clients’ cases as quickly as we can. We accomplish this in large part due to the coordinated work of our team members and the fact that every mesothelioma case goes through a strict control and supervision, including regular follow-ups and reviews by the lead lawyers.

Our mesothelioma attorneys update clients on a regular basis, so that they always know of every important development on their case and that it is being taken care of. Our lawyers and support staff take every phone call with a high level of priority and try to answer them on the spot.

If unavailable at that very moment, we call clients back as promptly as possible. It is not uncommon that our mesothelioma attorneys provide clients with their personal cell phone numbers to address any urgent questions that the clients may have in the future.

Reach Out to Our Award-Winning Mesothelioma Attorneys Today for a Free Consultation

Our mesothelioma attorneys fight for justice on behalf of innocent people, including the victims of deadly asbestos exposure. Companies that knew the threat asbestos poses must be held accountable for the illnesses and harm that resulted from their negligence. If you were exposed to asbestos, the mesothelioma lawyers at Levy Konigsberg are ready to help.

Our partners have been honored with an AV® Preeminent™ rating, the highest given, from the nationwide Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™. Year after year, our partners are designated by their peers as Super Lawyers® and as the Best Lawyers® in America.

While we are proud of our awards and accolades, our clients remain the central and most important part of our practice. Their satisfaction is our top priority. We understand that every client’s case is their whole life. Our attorneys treat each client with the care they deserve, addressing their unique needs and doing our utmost to help them put their life back together as much as possible.

We offer a free initial consultation, and cover the expenses of building your case, so there is no cost to you unless we recover compensation for you.

We have offices located in New York, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Washington, and Maryland. 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.

Cases of Asbestos Exposure

• Asbestos Exposure At Lilco
• Asbestos Exposure Bowline Powerhouse Haverstraw New York
• Asbestos Exposure Charles Pfizer Plant Brooklyn New York
• Asbestos Exposure Eastman Kodak Rochester New York
• Asbestos Exposure Kentile Floors Brooklyn New York
• Asbestos Exposure Roseton Generating Station Newburgh New York
• Asbestos Exposure Todd Shipyard Brooklyn Hoboken
• Asbestos Exposures Aes Hickling Generation Plant Corning New York
• Asbestos Exposures Aes Jennison Bainbridge New York
• Asbestos Exposures Albany Steam Station
• Asbestos Exposures Alcoa Massena New York
• Asbestos Exposures At Huntley Generating Station Tonawanda New York
• Asbestos Exposures Beesley Point Generating Station Cape May New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures Consolidated Shipbuilding Bronx New York
• Asbestos Exposures Danskammer Generation Station Newburgh New York
• Asbestos Exposures Dunkirk Generating Station New York
• Asbestos Exposures Federal Shipbuilding Drydock Kearny New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures Fitzpatrick Nuclear Plant Scriba New York
• Asbestos Exposures General Dynamics Plant Avenel New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures General Electric Schenectady New York
• Asbestos Exposures Ginna Nuclear Power Plant
• Asbestos Exposures Greenidge Generation Plant Dresden New York
• Asbestos Exposures Hudson Generating Station Jersey City New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures Kintigh Generating Station Barker New York
• Asbestos Exposures Military Shipyard Terminal Bayonne New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures Milliken Power Station Lansing New York
• Asbestos Exposures National Lead Company Sayreville New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures Nine Mile Point Nuclear Generating Station Oswego New York
• Asbestos Exposures Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station Forked River New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures Orange and Rockland’s Lovett Power Plant – Tompkins Cove, New York
• Asbestos Exposures Proctor Gamble Staten Island New York
• Asbestos Exposures Pseg Linden Generating Station Linden New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures Reynolds Metals Company Massena New York
• Asbestos Exposures Salem Nuclear Generating Station Hope Creek Generating Station Salem County New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures Samuel Carlson Generating Station Jamestown New York
• Asbestos Exposures Suffered Beebee Station Rochester New York
• Asbestos Exposures Suffered C R Huntley Generating Station Tonawanda New York
• Asbestos Exposures Suffered Indian Point Nuclear Plant Buchanan New York
• Asbestos Exposures Suffered Kearny Generating Station Kearny New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures Suffered Mercer Generating Station Hamilton New Jersey
• Asbestos Exposures Suffered Orange Rocklands Lovett Power Plant Tompkins Cove New York
• Asbestos Exposures Suffered Russell Station Rochester New York
• Asbestos Exposures Westover Power Station Johnson City New York

Mesothelioma News

• New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer Helps Obtain Ruling on Equipment Liability
• Levy Konigsberg Teams With Mesothelioma Clients to Help Get Talc Out Of Baby Powder
• Levy Konigsberg Co-Counsel In $750 million Baby Powder Punitive Damages Verdict Against J&J
• Levy Konigsberg Co-Counsel In $37 million Baby Powder Verdict Against J&J
• LK Wins $325 Million Mesothelioma Verdict Against Johnson & Johnson for Asbestos in Baby Powder (This case is currently awaiting final review on appeal)
• Boston Jury Awards $43.1 Million Verdict in Cigarette Smoking-Asbestos Exposure Lung Cancer Trial
• LK's Historic $117 Million Verdict in Johnson & Johnson's Baby Powder Mesothelioma Trial
• LK Wins Ruling Allowing Mesothelioma Ship Worker’s Case To Proceed in New York
• Levy Konigsberg Wins Ruling in Mesothelioma & Asbestos Brake Case
• LK Mesothelioma Department - Highlights and Lessons Learned in 2017
• A Letter of Gratitude To Our Dear Veterans
• LK Wins $16.5 Million Verdict In New York’s First Cosmetic Talc Trial Involving A Woman With Peritoneal Mesothelioma
• LK Wins Mesothelioma Ruling for Navy Serviceman and Family
• Mesothelioma Law Firm Collects $7.98 Million for Power Plant Worker
• Kayaking for Mesothelioma: Reflections on a Father-Son Trip
• Levy Konigsberg Wins Motion on Behalf of U.S.S. Roan Navy Veteran Who Developed Mesothelioma in New York
• New York City Judge Rules that Asbestos Lung Cancer Case Can Proceed to Trial – Levy Konigsberg, LLP Successfully Argues Defendant Waived their Right to Cross-Examine
• Levy Konigsberg Wins $7 Million Mesothelioma Verdict in NY’s First Ever Asbestos Contaminated Consumer Talcum Powder Trial

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.

NOTE: We have offices located in New York, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Washington, and Maryland. 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.

Since the 1970s, our founding partners were pioneers in championing the rights of asbestos and mesothelioma victims. In fact, Stan Levy was the first personal injury lawyer in the Northeast to pursue an asbestos case and one of the first mesothelioma attorneys in America.

Later, in 1985, he formed Levy Konigsberg with a mission to apply his extensive experience and legal knowledge to seek justice and financial compensation on behalf of asbestos and mesothelioma victims across the United States.

Find out whether you have a case by speaking to one of our experienced mesothelioma lawyers.