David A. Smith and his wife Judy Smith filed a lawsuit against 136 defendant companies in late August 2008, claiming that the companies and their asbestos products contributed to his present diagnoses of mesothelioma cancer and asbestosis.
Mesothelioma is a lethal cancer that attacks the mesothelium, a thin tissue lining in the chest cavity; asbestosis is a severe respiratory that involves scarring of lung tissue. Both diseases are caused by asbestos exposure.
Asbestos Insulation Work
The lawsuit was filed by the Smiths’ attorney David Chervenick of Goldberg, Persky & White, P.C. in Pittsburgh, where the Smiths now reside. The suit was filed in Kanawha Circuit Court in West Virginia, where David worked at various job sites doing asbestos insulation work for the Asbestos Workers Local 2 union.
Seeking Compensatory and Punitive Damages
In the 14-count suit, the Smiths seek both compensatory and punitive damages for themselves and for other similarly situated individuals. The case (Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-1640) will be assigned to a visiting judge.
David is now 70 years old. He is one of thousands of individuals who have initiated legal actions against the companies that mine asbestos or process and manufacture asbestos-containing products such as:
- paint
- shingles
- flooring
- gaskets
- brake linings
- wall texture
- drywall
- ceiling tiles
- insulation materials
- brick and cement products
People who worked with asbestos containing products — or were even in their vicinity — for extended periods were at grave risk of contracting an asbestos disease, including several types of lung cancer. The onset of asbestos diseases is usually years or decades.
(Source: The West Virginia Record)
Getting Legal Help
If a diagnosis of mesothelioma, asbestosis or another asbestos-disease has befallen you or your family member, it’s in your best interest to get legal counsel. Contact mesothelioma treatment centers to schedule a complimentary consultation with experienced asbestos attorneys who will fight to protect your rights. Our asbestos attorneys have helped many asbestos victims recover financial compensation for their losses.