A recent decision by the Tennessee Supreme Court has allowed a second hand asbestos exposure case to go on to trial. The court ruled that the company, Alcoa, had a duty of care that extended to family members.
The lawsuit was filed in 2003 against Alcoa but a trial judge dismissed it arguing Alcoa’s liability did not extend to family members. The supreme court’s decision reverses that earlier decision and allows the lawsuit to go to trial. Doug Satterfield filed the suit after his daughter was diagnosed with mesothelioma and died from it. He had worked for Alcoa where he was routinely exposed to asbestos and carried the fibers home on his work clothes.
Now the case will go back to the lower court where the process will begin to set a trial date and begin depositions.
