A man who filed a suit after his wife died from mesothelioma has been given permission by the court to follow through with the suit.

The Court of Appeals decided that the employer has an equal right to protect his family as he does himself.

Exposure to Asbestos

Larry Rochon, a previous worker at the Scott Paper Co. was allegedly exposed at work during the 1950’s and brought home asbestos fibers on his clothing.

His late wife, Adeline Rochon, would clean his clothes nightly and neither of them knew until she was diagnosed with mesothelioma that they were being exposed to the harmful substance.

Lawsuit Details

Rochon filed the suit claiming that the Scott Paper Co. acted with negligence for not giving proper warning’s of possible asbestos exposure in the work place.

In 2006, a judge ruled that it is not the employer’s obligation to protect the family member’s of their employees.

However, the Court of Appeals recently ruled that the family as well as the worker should be made aware of exposure to harmful chemicals.

“For the first time a Washington court says an employer has a duty to protect family members from asbestos on worker’s clothes,” explains Rochon’s attorney, Matthew Bergman.

(Source: Herald Net)

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