Charleston, West Virginia – A Canonsburg (PA) resident has filed a suit against 14 firms over claims that they are liable for his cancer diagnosis.
William DePaoli Jr., the plaintiff, says he was exposed on a daily basis to hazardous asbestos products during his job at different sites at and around W. Virginia. DePaoli Jr. filed his suit in the Kanawha County Circuit Court in Charleston, W. Virginia.
DePaoli says the defendant businesses caused him to contract a deadly cancer called malignant mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, but is almost always deadly. This cancer affects the victim’s mesothelium – the protective membrane lines the cavities of lung, chest and abdomen. It usually appears 30-40 years after the victim’s first exposure to asbestos fibers. In most cases, mesothelioma is caused by the victim’s history of occupational exposure to various asbestos products. However, even secondhand exposure to asbestos fibers could result in mesothelioma and other asbestos-related conditions. Secondhand exposure often takes place when any family member of an asbestos worker deals with his work clothing. The victims of secondary asbestos exposure are often the wives of asbestos workers as they used to wash their husband’s work clothes.
According to the suit, the defendant companies negligently failed to advise DePaoli regarding the hazardous characteristics of asbestos as well as asbestos-related products. The companies are also accused of: failing to or omitting to provide the plaintiff with the awareness as to what would be fairly sufficient and safe apparel; failing to provide the plaintiff with enough protection at workplace; failing to provide the workers with a safe working atmosphere; failing to place warning labels on their containers; failing to train the workers properly in safely handling asbestos products; and failing to recommend methods for improving the work atmosphere.
In his lawsuit, William DePaoli Jr. is asking for punitive damages and compensatory damages, in addition to pre-judgement and post-judgement interest. He is being represented by two West Virginia attorneys.
A visiting judge is overseeing this case.
William DePaoli Jr. names fourteen businesses as defendants in his lawsuit. They are: Crane Company; Beazer East Incorporated; Crown Cork & Seal Co Incorporated; George V Hamilton Incorporated; FB Wright Co; Goulds Pumps Incorporated; Imo Industries Incorporated; Grinnell Corp; Ingersoll Rand Co; Pittsburgh Gage and Supply; JH France Refractories Co; Vimasco Corp; United States Steel Corp; and Safety First Industries Incorporated.
