Family Legacy of Asbestos-Exposed Work Claims Another Mesothelioma Victim

Though malignant mesothelioma is an extremely rare form of cancer, its link to exposure to asbestos means that it strikes certain communities – and sometimes even certain families – repeatedly. When people live near asbestos-contaminated sites or are employed at nearby worksites that expose them to the carcinogen, asbestos-related diseases become an all-too familiar part of the environment. Such is the case for the Legendre family.

Multiple Family Members Suffered Asbestos-Related Diseases

The Legendre family has suffered multiple tragedies related to exposure to asbestos, including two siblings diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, a father who succumbed to lung cancer, and another sibling diagnosed with asbestosis. The most recent diagnosis affected Stephen, who is currently seeking compensation from Avondale Shipyard following his diagnosis with malignant mesothelioma. Just months before his own diagnosis, he and his brothers were seeking justice on behalf of his sister Mary Jane Wilde, who died of the disease.

In both of the siblings’ cases of malignant mesothelioma, their exposure to asbestos was not a result of direct exposure to the carcinogenic material. Rather, they blame asbestos that was carried home on the clothing of their father, Perry Legendre, Sr., and of another brother. Both worked at the Avondale Shipyard between 1943 and 1945.

Lawsuit Blames Shipyard’s Negligence for Mesothelioma

In the mesothelioma lawsuit filed on behalf of Mary Jane, as well as in the case filed on Stephen’s behalf, the family accuses the shipyard of having been aware of the dangers of asbestos but failing to take action to protect either its workers or the family members that were exposed to the asbestos that they inadvertently carried into their homes.

Avondale Shipyard has been named as a defendant in thousands of mesothelioma lawsuits. In the case of Stephen Legendre, the company’s response has been to argue that it is protected from liability for personal injuries by federal laws. The case is currently in litigation.