Actor Ed Lauter died of mesothelioma recently. The perennial actor has appeared in hundreds of television and movie productions, and would undoubtedly be instantly recognizable to millions of TV and movie buffs across the country. In attempting to seek justice for Ed’s exposure to asbestos, which ultimately led to his development of the deadly disease, Lauter’s survivors filed a lawsuit in April which named various recognizable industrial and media corporations with which Lauter had worked over the years. Among those listed include:
- Ford Motor Company
- CBS Corporation
- Honeywell International, Inc.
- John Crane, Inc.
- Ingersoll-Rand PLC
- General Electric Company
The filing essentially claims that Lauter was exposed to asbestos by all of these companies, and several more. It attempts to establish that these companies all had knowledge that asbestos was dangerous, but nevertheless exposed Lauter to the industrial substance without providing him with adequate protection.
Perhaps most surprisingly is the contention that between “approximately 1958-1979” the actor was exposed to asbestos at various movie studios and filming location sets. If successful, the lawsuit may trigger a new era in asbestos litigation, an era which sees employers be held ever more responsible for the long-term health consequences suffered by their employees.
If you have become ill with asbestos related disease, such as lung cancer or mesothelioma, contact the Law Office of Brayton Purcell, LLP at (800) 598-0314 immediately, or contact us online for a free consultation.
