McDonnell Douglas, a St. Louis company, and its later parent, Boeing, have been named in thousands of occupational asbestos exposure cases nationwide. Defense and aviation asbestos cases are high profile, and challenging, though they still provide compensation for victims nationwide.
The majority of McDonnell Douglas and Boeing asbestos lawsuits are claims related to toxic exposure of workers and air force veterans. Those involved with the manufacturing of aircraft, turbines and other heavy industrial equipment may have been exposed for many years without any health safety protection.
For many years, McDonnell Douglas manufactured turbines and aerospace components that contained asbestos, exposing thousands of civilians and air force personnel throughout the country.
Many of the past and current plaintiffs involved in aerospace asbestos litigation have developed asbestos-related lung diseases like pulmonary fibrosis, mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Military veterans and former employees at McDonnell Douglas plants may have been put at unnecessary risk.
Joe Lyon is a toxic exposure lawyer representing individuals nationwide in mesothelioma and asbestos cancer claims.
McDonnell Douglas Asbestos Cancer
McDonnell Douglas and Boeing produced turbines and high-powered propulsion systems for military aircraft and commercial airliners.
McDonnell Douglas was a top US manufacturer for 30 years from about 1967 until 1997. The company had a big role in aircraft and aviation development and employed thousands of American engineers and mechanics. Into the 1990s, McDonnell Douglas and Boeing both made big contributions to aircraft development but at a great cost to those who worked at facilities that were packed with toxic materials.
Asbestos was often used to build aircraft components because of its great durability and fire-resistant properties. Aircraft engineers, mechanics, welders, and maintenance crew were regularly exposed to toxins built into engines, turbines, electrical components, bearings, and gaskets.
According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, thousands of Americans who served in the Air Force and Navy faced asbestos exposure sometime during their military service. In fact, veterans account for about a third percent of all new mesothelioma cases in the United States to this day.
Veterans were at a risk of exposure and later developing mesothelioma, asbestosis, and aggressive cancers. The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that even a small amount of asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma.
