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If you were recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have many important and life-altering changes to make, including what medical treatment to seek and who to retain as your mesothelioma lawyer. We provide compassionate legal assistance to mesothelioma victims in Aurora, Illinois and the surrounding areas. We can explain how we can help with your claim during a free confidential consultation.
Veterans with Mesothelioma and Military Bases Near Aurora Illinois
While there are not any current military bases located in Aurora, Illinois, there are several nearby bases, including the Naval Station Great Lakes, Naval Training Center and U.S. Army Cade Command 3rd Brigade.
Veterans make up nearly one-third of mesothelioma cases, and the Navy is the military branch with the highest exposure rate. This is partially due to asbestos being used prevalently in Navy ships. The material resists fire and heat, so it was often used in the construction of Navy ships to protect them from fire and destruction. Nearly every part of all Navy ships at one point in history contained asbestos. This was most common between the time of World War I to the mid-1970s. Asbestos was used to insulate boilers and gaskets, placing boiler room workers at risk for developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. It was also used to insulate steam pipes that carried steam and water through the ship to other parts of the ship. Pumps and valves also contained asbestos insulation. Individuals who maintained and repaired pumps, valves and gaskets were at risk of inhaling fibers of asbestos. Thousands of veterans, sailors and members of other military branches that worked on Navy ships or were transported on them were exposed to asbestos.
Mesothelioma and Asbestos Lawsuits Involving Aurora, IL
One notable case involving asbestos was in 1985 case when a Cook County jury returned a $804,000 verdict in favor of a retired pipe coverer against 48 Insulation Company of Aurora. The company manufactured a product used in applying insulation covering on furnace and boiler pipes that the plaintiff used from 1954 to 1970 on various construction jobs. He developed lung cancer in 1980, eventually causing the plaintiff to become confined in his home. Medical testimony linked the asbestos to the Aurora company’s products. The verdict included $629,000 in compensatory damages and $175,000 in punitive damages.
