NEW ORLEANS – A man working as a deckhand at various drill sites in Louisiana has filed suit after contracting mesothelioma and lung cancer, which he claims directly relates to his time working with asbestos-containing products.
Billy Wright filed suit against BP Corporation North American, Buffalo Pumps Inc., Chevron Philips Chemical Company LP, Chevron USA Inc., Diamond Offshore Drilling Inc., Dover Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., FMC Corp., Gardner Denver Inc., Goulds Pumps Inc., IMO Industries Inc., Ingersoll-Rand Corp., Marathon Oil Co., Montello Inc., Roper Pump Co., Shell Oil Co., SIHI Pumps Inc., Sulzer Pumps Inc., Union Carbide Corp., Viking Pump Inc. and Western Oceanic Services Inc. in the Orleans Parish Civil District Court.
The plaintiff claims he was exposed to harmful quantities of asbestos and asbestos-containing products while working on drilling rigs at various worksites from approximately 1979 to 1985. Wright claims he worked at numerous drilling sites in Louisiana during those years as a deckhand, which is where he came in contact with the asbestos-containing products. The plaintiff claims he did not have knowledge of the inherent risks of working with the products as a direct result of the negligence of the defendants. Wright asserts he has developed lung cancer and mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to the asbestos-containing products.
The defendants are accused of failing to properly ventilate the work area, failing to institute safety procedures for the adequate protection of the plaintiff, failing to warn the plaintiff of the dangers posed by a polluted work area, failing to measure the levels of asbestos dust in the work area, failing to inspect products to assure sufficient warnings were included, failing to truthfully report the medical studies associated with the hazards of the asbestos containing products and recklessly concealing health risks associated with asbestos and asbestos-containing products at the work site.
The plaintiff is seeking an unknown amount in damages for medical costs, lost earnings, mental suffering, mental anguish, physical pain and suffering, physical impairment, disfigurement, loss of consortium and loss of quality of life.
Billy Wright is represented by Frank J. Swarr from the firm of Landry & Swarr LLC in New Orleans.
The case has been assigned to Division N Judge Ethel S. Julien.
Case no. 2014-07060.
Deckhand at various Louisiana drill sites files suit after contracting mesothelioma
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY