June, 2025

Five Jobs at Risk of Nontraditional Asbestos Exposure

June 26, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

Asbestos exposure is often associated with people who used to work in the blue-collar industry, such as the construction, manufacturing, and mining industries. Indeed, before the dangers of asbestos became widely known and its use became heavily regulated, many people in these industries were exposed to this hazardous substance. However, many more people suffered asbestos exposure through nontraditional exposure. Many workers who never directly handled asbestos-contaminated materials or products have developed mesothelioma and other illnesses as a result of nontraditional asbestos exposure.

While regulations have curbed most uses of asbestos, this dangerous substance remains in older buildings, materials, and equipment, posing hidden risks to workers in unexpected jobs. Understanding the jobs at risk of nontraditional asbestos exposure can help prevent future exposure and promote early detection of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Below, we share five jobs at risk of nontraditional asbestos exposure.

Teachers and School Staff

Louisiana Jury Agrees That Talc Asbestos Caused Mesothelioma and Awards a $3 Million Verdict

June 24, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as J.H.

In a recent case, a Louisiana jury awarded more than $3 million to a woman who developed mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure, after years of using talcum powder products. This case is part of a growing number of cases filed by people who have never worked with asbestos but trace their mesothelioma diagnosis to a product that has long been thought to be safe: talc. Millions of dollars have been awarded to people who have developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses after using asbestos-contaminated talc for years.

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral commonly used in baby powders and some cosmetic products. In its purest form, talc is generally not harmless, especially in such products. However, asbestos-contaminated talc is hazardous. Asbestos and talc can occur so closely together that talc can become contaminated with asbestos during mining. When talc is contaminated with asbestos, it can cause mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. When a person inhales asbestos fibers through repeated use of contaminated talc products, these fibers can lodge in the body’s tissues. Over time, inflammation may be triggered, and illnesses like mesothelioma may develop. Unfortunately, mesothelioma has a long latency period, meaning that many people only find out they are sick when the disease has progressed to later stages.

Florida Woman With Peritoneal Mesothelioma Awarded $18 Million

June 22, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the victim in this case will be referred to as D.G.C.

In a recent case, a Florida jury awarded $18 million in damages to a 64-year-old woman, D.G.C., who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma. According to the jury, the victim’s illness was caused by secondary asbestos exposure from brake dust, specifically from a brake-grinding machine that her father and brothers used in their auto repair shop.

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer that is caused by asbestos exposure. When a person inhales airborne asbestos fibers, these tiny fibers can lodge in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, resulting in inflammation, scarring, and possibly tumor development. Peritoneal mesothelioma is the second most common type of this cancer, accounting for 10% to 20% of all mesothelioma diagnoses. This form of cancer affects the peritoneum, the membrane lining the abdomen and abdominal organs. Symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma often take a long time to appear, making diagnosis challenging and the prognosis poor.

Contractors Raise Mesothelioma Concerns After Allegedly Concealing Asbestos in California

June 15, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the workers in this case will be referred to as T.C. and T.S.

In a recent troubling California case, two heavy equipment operators filed a lawsuit against their former employer, Reyes Construction, after claiming they were fired for sounding the alarm about improper asbestos handling. The two, T.C. and T.S., who were working on a public restoration project in Long Beach, California, said they discovered asbestos-containing debris at the site. They alerted their supervisor, who ignored them at first, but they were later instructed to hide and bury it. However, the two workers refused to hide the toxic material, as they believed doing so would not only endanger them and other workers, but the general public as well.

T.C. and T.S. were assigned to excavation duties as part of a larger initiative to connect the Colorado Lagoon with Alamitos Bay, a project aimed at environmental restoration. However, the two dug up asbestos-contaminated transite pipes during their work. Unlike long ago, when workers did not know about the dangers of asbestos, today workers are well informed about the risks of asbestos exposure. Most, if not all, workers know that inhaling asbestos fibers can lead to mesothelioma and other serious illnesses. That is why T.C. and T.S. reported their findings to their bosses after discovering the toxic material. Their supervisor initially told them to ignore the hazardous material, and then later told them to hide and bury the pipes without informing local officials or experts.

What is the Average Wrongful Death Settlement for Mesothelioma in 2025?

June 14, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive cancer primarily caused by asbestos exposure. When someone passes away from mesothelioma due to negligent asbestos exposure, surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim and seek compensation. While a wrongful death claim cannot undo what has already happened, it can provide financial relief and a sense of justice to the grieving family.

If a loved one recently died from mesothelioma due to negligent asbestos exposure, one of the questions you may have is, “What is the average wrongful death settlement for mesothelioma?” So, what is the average wrongful death settlement for mesothelioma in 2025? Unfortunately, there is no straightforward answer to this question. The answer depends on several unique factors specific to each case. However, many mesothelioma wrongful death settlements in 2025 continue to reach into the millions, reflecting how serious this disease is and how much suffering it causes.

Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Claims

Louisiana Court Rules in Favor of Mesothelioma Victim in Lawsuit Against Shipyard

June 13, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as N.L., Jr.

In a recent court decision, a Louisiana court sided with a mesothelioma victim in a legal battle against Huntington Ingalls Incorporated, the owner of Avondale shipyards. Mr. N.L., Jr. filed a personal injury lawsuit after being diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive type of cancer caused by asbestos exposure. The plaintiff claimed that the shipyard failed to warn him about the dangers of the material when he worked there in the 1970s and 1980s. This omission, he says, left him at risk of suffering asbestos exposure and developing serious illnesses. When a person inhales asbestos fibers, these fibers can become lodged in the body. Over time, the fibers may cause inflammation, scarring, and genetic damage to the cells lining the lungs, abdomen, or heart. Eventually, this cellular damage can lead to the formation of malignant tumors like mesothelioma. On top of suffering asbestos exposure at the shipyard, Mr. N.L. Jr claimed he was exposed to this dangerous material when visiting his coworkers, who were also exposed.

After N.L., Jr. filed his lawsuit, Avondale tried to argue that it was entitled to the government contractor immunity defense. The company also tried to remove the case from state to federal court. Avondale argued that since it had been acting under the direction of a federal officer at the time of N.L., Jr.’s employment, it should be entitled to federal contractor immunity. The federal contractor immunity is a defense that contractors sometimes use to protect themselves from liability when performing work for the federal government. This defense protects contractors from lawsuits when their actions or omissions were mandated by the government. Large companies often use this legal defense in asbestos-related cases to try to avoid trial in state courts. The court rejected the defendant’s argument. N.L. Jr filed a motion for summary judgment to block the company from removing the case to federal court, and the U.S. District Court of the Eastern District of Louisiana agreed with him.

Mesothelioma Lawsuit Continues Against Pizza Stone Manufacturer

June 11, 2025 | Throneberry Law Group

For purposes of this article, the mesothelioma victim in this case will be referred to as D.R.K.

A recent mesothelioma case involving occupational asbestos exposure has shed light on a lesser-known source of contamination: commercial pizza ovens. D.R.K., a former pizza cook, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma after working in pizza restaurants between the 60s and 80s. D.R.K. was diagnosed with the rare but aggressive form of cancer decades after his exposure to asbestos-laden pizza ovens in the restaurants he worked in. After his diagnosis, D.R.K. filed a personal injury lawsuit against the oven manufacturer and the supplier of the asbestos-containing transite boards used in the pizza ovens. While he reached a settlement agreement with the oven manufacturer, as of the writing of this article, the case against the stone board manufacturer continues.

Before the dangers of asbestos became widely known, this material was regularly used in applications that required strength and heat resistance. While asbestos is often associated with construction, military ships, boiler works, electric components, and insulation, it was widely used in many other ways. Not many people know that asbestos was commonly used in commercial kitchens, specifically ovens. From the mid-20th century, manufacturers commonly used transite baking stones in pizza ovens to maintain high cooking temperatures. These heat-retentive stones posed a serious health risk to those operating the ovens, as they contained asbestos.