Related Topics ► Other TopicsNew Jersey (NJ) Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure
New Jersey is important in the history of asbestos use in America for two reasons. First, there are several sites of naturally-occurring asbestos here. Second, New Jersey is known as a state where legal action against asbestos corporations helped turn the tide in favor of people who had suffered from asbestos-related diseases as a result of occupational exposure.
This occurred because a New Jersey lawyer named Karl Asch discovered what are now called the "Sumner Simpson Papers", while representing a group of plaintiffs who were employed at a Passaic asbestos plant owned by Raybestos-Manhattan. The discovery of these papers, found at Raybestos corporate office, proved that Raybestos had conspired with Johns-Manville to hide information about asbestos hazards from the public.
Prior to the discovery of the Sumner Simpson Papers, asbestos companies used the "state of the art" defense, claiming that they had not been aware of the hazards of asbestos exposure. They were able to do this because asbestos disease researcher Dr. Irving Selikoff presented findings on the relationship between asbestos and asbestos-related diseases in 1964. This allowed asbestos companies to deny responsibility of any asbestos exposure occurring before that date.
At-Risk Occupations and Locations in New Jersey
New Jersey workers have been exposed to asbestos at more than sixty different jobsites, including in shipyards, power plants, chemical plants, and oil refineries. These four industries have long been considered some of the most hazardous in terms of the possibility of asbestos exposure.
Among the list of chemical plants is DuPont Chemical, which has been involved in a large number of asbestos lawsuits brought by people suffering from asbestos-related diseases. Chemical plants may use several different types of asbestos, including brown (amosite) and blue (crocidolite) asbestos. These are considered more dangerous than other types of asbestos, and are particularly implicated in mesothelioma cases.
Workers in the oil industry are also at particularly high risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos-containing insulation was used very widely due to its excellent fire-proofing qualities. Protective equipment made from asbestos fabric was also commonly used.
In power plants, workers at particular risk include pipefitters, boilermakers, electricians, and other types of maintenance and repair workers. Asbestos fabric and other asbestos-containing materials were commonly used in power plants.
In shipyards, asbestos was very widely used in any areas of ships where extreme heat was probable, such as in boilers and furnaces. Not only shipyard workers, but also Navy personnel, suffer from very high rates of asbestos-related disease.
If you or someone you know works in one of these types of jobsites, it's very important to get regular check-ups to screen for signs of asbestos-related disease. This is important for legal reasons as well as health reasons. Note that these diseases have long latency periods, so even if your jobsite has been cleaned up, you may have been exposed two or more decades ago and still not show any signs of an asbestos disease.
Asbestos-related Deaths in New Jersey
Between 1980 and 2000, there were 2,828 asbestos-related deaths in New Jersey, with a large number of those a result of asbestosis.
Legal Resources for New Jersey Residents
New Jersey is ranked eighth in the nation for mesothelioma cases.
A particularly important asbestos case in New Jersey was filed in 2007, in Middlesex County. This case involved a woman who had been exposed to asbestos not through her own jobsite, but through that of her husband and children. She was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2002, and died following treatment attempts to prolong her life. The lawsuit claimed that she had been exposed to asbestos unknowingly while laundering clothes and rags used by her husband and children when working with asbestos-containing Bendix brakes. In the same year, the Environmental Protection Agency had released recommendations about asbestos safety when carrying out automotive repairs.
If you or a loved one has been affected by mesothelioma it's very important to know that the statute of limitations for New Jersey personal injury lawsuits is two years. According to the New Jersey discovery rule, this two year period begins when mesothelioma (or another problem) is diagnosed.
This means that from your diagnosis date, you have two years in which to contact an attorney and file legal action. If you do not do so within the two year period, you permanently lose your right to begin legal action, so it's crucial to ensure you do this within the statute period if you decide you want to bring a lawsuit against those responsible for your asbestos exposure.
The same statute and discovery rule applies in cases of wrongful death, as long as the statute of limitations period for personal injury had not expired while the person was still alive.
State Index
- Asbestos Testing for Oneida County Building Funded by Union
2008-11-20 15:50:02
The Oneida County Office Building in Utica, New York has recently tested negative for airborne asbestos. Apparently though, that isn't good enough for the union, which represents county employees. Uni ...Read More
- Asbestos Tests Show New Jersey Sports Field Poses No Risk
2008-11-20 15:36:54
Asbestos was discovered last month at a public area in Lyndhurst, New Jersey, which prompted concerns that there may be exposure risks for locals. Now, however, those fears have been allayed, as tests ...Read More - EPA and Vermont Working Together to Solve Asbestos Mine Problem
2008-11-20 15:19:39
State of Vermont officials have released a new statement about the urgent need for investigating the impact of an abandoned asbestos mine in Colchester. The mine, located near the towns of Eden and Lo ...Read More
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