While we presently know all too well of the severely harmful effects of inhaling asbestos dust and spores, manufactures and companies went along with “business as usual” for decades without being fully aware of just how harmful asbestos can be and without warning of the known health risks. Because of this, asbestos was a highly common component product used in manufacturing throughout most of the twentieth century.
Asbestos exposure related illnesses include asbestosis, mesothelioma, pleural plaque, pleural thickening and pleural effusions (fluid buildup between the lungs and chest cavity). Of all of these illnesses, asbestosis and mesothelioma are the most serious, and often eventually result in death. If a manufacturer or employer fails to properly guard against asbestos exposure, they may be held liable for the injuries that result from such exposure.
That is recently what happened to Celanese Corp., a polyester plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Celanese Corp. was sued after one of its employees, Dennis Seay, died from mesothelioma in 2014. Seay’s family filed a wrongful death lawsuit, alleging that Celanese Corp. failed to properly warn Seay of the risks associated with asbestos and failed to take necessary precautions to protect him from harm. The family alleges that Seay had no idea he was at risk of being injured, and that as a result of his mesothelioma, he spent the last year of his life in extreme pain as his lungs collapsed ten times and had to be drained of fluid buildup eleven times.
In order to recover money for their medical bills and to compensate the family for Seay’s pain and suffering, they filed their lawsuit in a nearby court. Unable to reach a settlement, both parties went to trial. According to lawyersandsettlements.com, the jury sided with Seay’s family, ordering Celanese Corp. to pay them a total of $14 million in damages.
If you or a family member have been injured by asbestos exposure, you may be entitled to substantial compensation for your injuries, as well as any emotional trauma and financial hardship caused by the illegal exposure. We have decades of experience in asbestos cases which has allowed us to recover millions of dollars in personal injury damages for our clients. Our number one priority is to zealously and expertly represent our clients, making sure that they are fully compensated for the fair value of their injuries. Call us 24/7 at 617-787-3700, or email us at info@gilhoylaw.com for your free and private consultation.
