A former Mississippi shipyard worker and his wife are suing several major companies, alleging that the man suffered from asbestos-related diseases caused by the companies’ negligent use of asbestos products.

All of the companies named in the shipyard asbestos exposure lawsuit were related to a shipyard where Charles Malone worked between 1964 and 1982, as well as car part that Malone worked on in his personal vehicle in the same time frame.

Malone worked in a shipyard as an insulator, and was later promoted to a general superintendent. This work put him in contact with asbestos and asbestos-bearing products, according to his lawsuit. Additionally, several parts of his vehicle contained asbestos, which he came into contact with during repairs and maintenance.

The asbestos lawsuit contends that Malone’s shipyard asbestos exposure caused him to develop mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a type of cancer. This form of cancer starts in the tissues lining the chest cavity, and produces similar symptoms to lung cancer. Mesothelioma is almost exclusively linked to exposure to asbestos, and frequently seen in former shipbuilders, construction workers, and workers from other occupations involving mining, machining, or handling asbestos. Mesothelioma is a particularly deadly form of cancer; the majority of patients die within two years of their initial diagnosis. A small portion of mesothelioma patients may benefit from an aggressive combination of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and invasive surgery. Though extremely difficult for the patients, this combination of therapies can extend these patients’ lives.

Mesothelioma lawsuits like the one filed by the Malones have been relatively common. Asbestos, a naturally-occurring mineral, first came into use during the industrial revolution, owing to the material’s fireproof and insulating properties. Lawsuits like this one allege that companies involved in the asbestos industry were negligent in their use of asbestos, and failed to protect their workers. Asbestos lawsuits often hinge on the fact that the risks of asbestos have been known since the early 20th century. Mesothelioma litigation against companies that worked with asbestos have ended in multimillion dollar settlements.

The mesothelioma lawsuit is In Re: Asbestos Litigation: Charles D. Malone, et al, vs. Air and Liquid Systems Corporation (sued as successor-by-merger to Buffalo Pumps, Incorporated), et al, Case No. 1:14-cv-00406-SLR-SRF.