A Michigan couple has filed an asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit alleging that former employers and related companies had carelessly allowed asbestos exposure.

The asbestos lawsuit was filed by Charles Shall and Ursula Shall, after Charles Shall developed mesothelioma, a rare, aggressive type of cancer. The asbestos lawsuit alleges that several different companies, and even the U.S. Navy, were responsible for Shall’s exposure to asbestos. The asbestos lawsuit names the Navy, the Pontiac Fisher auto body plant, and the makers of the insulation in his home as responsible parties. Shall worked in several Navy shipyards where asbestos was widely used, as well as at Pontiac.

The asbestos lawsuit explains that Shall has developed mesothelioma due to his asbestos exposure. Mesothelioma is a particularly dangerous form of cancer that starts in the lining of the chest cavity. Roughly three-quarters of patients die within the first two years after their initial diagnosis. Even for a cancer, mesothelioma is a very dangerous disease. It is perhaps the best known asbestos cancer.

During the Industrial Revolution, it was discovered that asbestos was cheap and had many useful properties, including strong resistance to heat and fire. This led to the material’s widespread use around the world. However, even 100 years ago, it was known that asbestos could cause permanent lung damage. By the 1920s, several court cases established precedent that this evidence was strong enough to stand up in court. But the wheels of bureaucracy turn slowly, and it was not until the 1970s and 1980s that the material was banned and phased out. This means that for decades, various workers were exposed to a potentially dangerous building material.

Lawsuits over asbestos cancer and other asbestos diseases like asbestosis are somewhat common in certain occupations. Most obviously, workers who mined and machined asbestos are a major portion of asbestos lawsuits. However, many people, like Charles Shall, came into contact with asbestos during construction and manufacturing work. The material was widely used as a building material, since asbestos was great for insulation and fireproofing. Shipbuilders are a major segment of asbestos lawsuits, as are autoworkers, since the material has many applications in these industries.

Lawsuits like the Shalls’ typically seek to recoup the cost of medical care, lost wages, legal fees, and other related expenses.

The Asbestos Lawsuit is formally titled Charles Shall, et al. v. Foster Wheeler LLC, Case No. 3:14-cv-01432, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, San Francisco Division.