Navy Veteran with Mesothelioma Dies After Painful Battle
When our client John joined the U.S. Navy in 1966, at the age of 18 years old, he did so to serve and protect his country – knowing the risks the Vietnam War brought. Tragically,
John suffered a painful death. Not as a casualty of war, but some 50 years later as a victim of service-connected mesothelioma.
Tragically, thousands of brave servicemembers, who risked their lives to defend our freedom, die each year from asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma – a deadly form of cancer almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma disproportionately affects service members. Those who worked on U.S. Navy vessels built prior to 1980, are most at risk. The U.S. Military embraced asbestos as a useful fireproofing material on naval ships between the 1930s and 1970s and exposed countless servicemembers to its deadly properties.
The diseases have a long latency period and some people do not become symptomatic for 30-50 years after the initial exposure. As a result, many veterans who served our country are still being diagnosed today.
While the Feres Doctrine bars suits against the military, veterans still can pursue VA claims, or file suit/make claims against companies that supplied asbestos to the military.
We represent victims like John, and his family, in the asbestos cases and have seen firsthand the devastation that these diseases can cause.
