Latest Louisiana Asbestos and Mesothelioma News
Eight defendants were found guilty this week in an asbestos lawsuit brought forth by a Louisiana piping worker. The man contracted a fatal form of lung cancer while working with asbestos on the job.
Article Added June 10th, 2007
Students at a Louisiana college are saying that they were lied to over the presence of asbestos in a dorm building. The students had questioned officials about a container marked hazardous, but were told that there was no asbestos present.
Article Added April 30th, 2007
After hurricane Katrina, many Louisiana courts are facing the challenge of getting enough jurors for the more than 20 trials scheduled for this month. Normally the Orleans parish sends out 1,500 summonses, but after hurricane Katrina they have had to mail out double that amount.
Article Added April 3rd, 2006
A Louisiana judge has approved the settlement of more than 300,000 claimants against McDermott International Inc., a settlement that could exceed $900 million in costs to the company.
Article Added January 17th, 2006
Avondale Industries
Founded in 1938, Avondale Industries first began building ocean-going ships in the 1950s. From 1959 to 1985, the company functioned as a subsidiary of Ogden Corporation, a diversified New York Stock Exchange listed company whose headquarters were in New York City. Prior to the 1980s, Avondale Industries built both military and commercial vessels, including 27 destroyer escorts for the U.S. Navy. Along with the U.S. Naval vessels built or under construction during the 1980s, were sixteen T-AOs, five LSDs, four LSD-CVs, five AOJs (which constituted conversions of AOs formerly built by Avondale), one T-AGS 45, fifteen LCACs, four MHCs, and three SL 7 conversions. Also included in the current firm backlog for the military are contracts to assemble Sealift ships.
In the early 1980s, Avondale Industries were amongst the first of United States shipyards to effectively implement modular construction techniques that had been previously perfected by Japanese shipbuilders. Its corporate headquarters and main shipyard are located on the west bank of the Mississippi River at Avondale, Louisiana, roughly 15 miles from downtown New Orleans. The facility includes approximately 229 acres of company-owned land with 174 buildings surrounding approximately 2.0 million square feet of space, roughly 41 acres of leased land, a 900-foot floating dry dock/launch platform that permits construction, repair, or conversion of vessels up to 1,000 feet long, and a 650-foot floating dry dock, mainly used for ship repair, and several building ways and side launching facilities. The main shipyard includes approximately 6,500 feet of wharves, 1,200 feet of launch ways, and 2,900 feet of unimproved waterfront down the Mississippi River. The central shipyard is prepared to build almost any type of vessel other than nuclear submarines and surface vessels of the largest classes, such as ultra-large crude carriers. Avondale Industries was openly traded until it was acquired by Litton Industries in 1999 and became Litton Ship Systems Avondale Operations. At this time, the shipyard concluded its long-running battle against the unionization of its workforce. Litton Ship Systems Avondale Operations was itself acquired by Northrop Grumman in 2001 and Avondale became officially known as Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Avondale Operations. Generally, it is still referred to as Avondale Industries.
The Shipyard Industry has and continues to demonstrate its commitment to the works of American warships and commercial fleets; its workers have also shown their effort and dedication in the war effort. As a result of being exposed to these hazards, they are now suffering with the threat of asbestos-related conditions such as mesothelioma, which is one of the deadliest diseases known to man.
Just as other shipyards involving shipbuilding and repairs prior to the 1980s, Avondale Industries had a wide range use of asbestos-containing materials. Regretfully, many Louisiana residents were exposed to asbestos in this shipyard. As a result, today many residents are diagnosed with asbestos-related conditions such as mesothelioma. Employees were rarely issued gloves, facemasks, or articles of clothing that would have protected them. Asbestos litigation has been growing since the late 1970s and accounts for a majority of toxic exposure cases. From 1988 to 1991, asbestos litigation triggered much of public action against the substance, as asbestos cases constituted the majority of all product liability cases. If you or a loved one has been exposed at this facility, please fill out a form to receive a free informational brochure or call us directly at 1-800-532-3764 to speak with us today.
- Jeffrey Simon, Founding Partner
