Spouse of deceased worker files asbestos suit

NEW ORLEANS – A woman has filed suit against numerous companies for their involvement with asbestos-containing products after her husband died from mesothelioma.

Lydia R. Bolden, individually and on behalf of her deceased husband filed suit against Huntington Ingalls Industries, Albert Bossier Jr., American Motorists Insurance Company, Onebeacon America Insurance Co., Bollinger Gretna LLC, Union Carbide Corp., Foster Wheeler LLC, General Electric Company, Hopeman Brothers Inc., The McCarty Corp., Reilly Benton Company Inc., Taylor-Seidenbach Inc., CBS Corp., Rapid American Corp., Marquette Insulations Inc., and Maryland Casualty Company in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court on June 17.

The plaintiff claims her deceased husband worked in various positions from the 1960s through the 1980s that exposed him to dangerous amounts of asbestos and asbestos-containing products. Bolden contends the defendant knew of and concealed the inherent dangers involved in handling asbestos-containing products. The plaintiff alleges that this concealment of knowledge led to her husband's continued work with asbestos and eventual contraction of mesothelioma, which caused his death.

The defendant is accused of failing to reveal and knowingly concealing the inherent dangers in the use of asbestos, failing to provide necessary protection, failing to provide necessary showers, failing to provide respirable air, failing to reveal critical information including the potential to expose family members to asbestos through clothing of its workers, failing to segregate work areas so that workers would not be exposed to asbestos, reckless disregard in the storage, handling, and transportation of asbestos, and failing to warn employees that exposure to asbestos could cause deadly diseases.

The plaintiff is seeking an unknown amount in damages for pain and suffering, mental anguish, permanent disability, loss of enjoyment of life, reduction in life expectancy, medical expenses, loss of love, loss of future earnings and distress as a result of the death of the decedent.

The Bolden family is represented by Ron A. Austin from the firm of Ron Austin & Associates LLC in Harvey.

The case has been assigned to Division F Judge Christopher J. Bruno.

Case no. 2014-05974.