Widow Files Mesothelioma Claim against Former Employers

New Orleans, Louisiana – A deceased electrician’s widow is filing a mesothelioma claim against the former employers of her husband over claims that the companies are liable for his mesothelioma diagnosis and consequent death.

Kathryn Swanson is suing individually and as the special executor of deceased Denis Swanson’s estate. She has filed a suit on 29th March in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana in New Orleans. The defendants are McDermott Incorporated and McDermott International Incorporated. Swanson accuses the defendants of violating the Jones Act. She also cites unseaworthiness.

Kathryn states that the defendants hired her husband Denis Swanson as a maintenance man, an electrician, and a crew member of the vessels operated and owned by the defendants.

During his employment, Denis inhaled or was exposed to asbestos fibers and dust, the lawsuit states. As a result, he developed malignant mesothelioma, a rare and serious cancer of the membrane that lines a number of internal body cavities, the plaintiff alleges. Denis ultimately died from mesothelioma a few months after his diagnosis, according to the complaint.

Kathryn Swanson claims that her husband’s asbestos exposure was a result of the defendants’ negligence. The defendants are accused of: gross negligence; failing to maintain their vessels and equipment in a reasonably safe manner; failing to provide the plaintiff’s husband with a safe work place; failing to warn the plaintiff’s husband of hazards of asbestos exposure; failing to provide the plaintiff with sufficient protective equipment; failing to reduce the asbestos exposure; and failing to test their vessels for the presence of asbestos.

In her lawsuit, Kathryn Swanson is seeking unspecified damages, including punitive damages, attorneys’ fees, court costs, interest, and all other reliefs to which she could be entitled.

Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a type of tumor of the mesothelium, the tissue that lines the lungs, stomach, heart, and other organs. It typically begins in the lungs. However, it may also begin in the heart or abdomen. Mesothelioma can be non-cancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Most people who develop mesothelioma have worked on occupations where they breathed in asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma generally takes two to four decades to start showing its symptoms.

Mesothelioma Law Firms

Mesothelioma law firms are law firms specializing in cases linked to asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma. By filing a mesothelioma claim through an experienced mesothelioma lawyer, the victims of asbestos exposure can ensure that they will receive the highest possible compensation from the responsible parties.

We have been successfully representing mesothelioma clients for over two decades. Please contact us at for a free consultation.