The Warrick Generating Station, Mesothelioma, and You
The Warrick Generating Station is a large power plant that used a substantial amount of asbestos, exposing thousands of people over the years to this potentially cancer-causing substance. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, attorneys represent those injured by asbestos to help them obtain full and fair compensation for their injuries and the harm they cause.
Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyers in Louisville have more than 25 years of experience representing clients in asbestos and mesothelioma cases in Kentucky and Indiana. Our success includes millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements, and we are one of the area’s leading law firms for victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber. Exposure to it may cause various cancers and other health conditions, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and colon cancer. The fibers are microscopic, light, and strong. They can be easily inhaled or swallowed after the fibers become airborne.
Asbestos is resistant to heat, fire, electricity, chemicals, and corrosion. It has been used in thousands of products since the ancient Greeks put it in cloth because of its special qualities.
Why is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos fibers are so strong and durable that the human body can’t break them down. They remain in the body, and over years or decades, cause scar tissue, inflammation, and genetic changes that can result in cancer tumors.
Asbestos fibers can be airborne and invisible, so workers may not realize the danger they’re in. Asbestos is more likely to be airborne when an asbestos-containing product is installed, removed, cut, or torn.
What is the Warrick Power Plant?
The Warrick Generating Station is in Newburgh, Indiana. It’s adjacent to an Alcoa aluminum manufacturing facility and has provided power to Alcoa and other customers for decades. The plant’s four generating units were built between 1960 and 1970, a period when asbestos-containing products were commonly used in power plants, steel mills, chemical plants, and factories that used pressurized steam.
Power plants generate steam in boilers, which drive turbines and create electricity. Warrick is a highly industrial, high-temperature facility. Asbestos-covered boilers, turbines, piping, valves, pumps, gaskets, and electrical equipment were part of the operational infrastructure.
Who Was Exposed at the Warrick Generating Station?
Virtually anyone working at this power plant could be exposed to asbestos, though what they did, where, and for how long affects how much asbestos may be in them. Some job categories with higher exposure risk include the following:
- Insulators who installed or removed asbestos insulation
- Pipefitters and plumbers working on steam and piping systems
- Boilermakers who built or repaired pressure vessels and boiler components
- Millwrights who moved heavy equipment and worked near pipe interconnections
- Electricians and mechanics working on motors, wiring, and in proximity to insulated parts
- Engineers and supervisors who toured or supervised work sites
- Office or administrative staff who spent time in the plant or moved through it
- Contractors, vendors, maintenance crews, and visitors passing through or working at the facility
- Family members of those listed above, who may be exposed to asbestos fibers brought home on work clothes
Construction and renovation phases were especially hazardous, as new units were built, insulation was installed, and new equipment was integrated into the facility. But even without major projects going on, maintenance and overhauls required stripping, replacing, or disturbing asbestos-containing materials.
Over time, deteriorating insulation, crumbling packing, or vibration could cause friable asbestos dust to fall or dislodge, creating a hazardous environment. Dust could drift down from upper piping or insulation into lower areas. Areas remained contaminated or required periodic maintenance for years.
What Compensation Might Be Available?
Every case is unique, but compensation in mesothelioma and asbestos claims generally includes:
- Medical expenses (past, present, and future)
- Pain and suffering (physical and emotional)
- Lost wages or lost earning capacity
- Home care or caregiving costs
- Funeral and burial expenses (if the surviving family files a wrongful death case)
- Loss of consortium or family support
We work with our clients to maximize their compensation while minimizing the time and effort required for these claims.
Why is Acting Quickly After Diagnosis Important?
Asbestos litigation is complex, given all the parties and asbestos-containing products involved. Satterley & Kelley, PLLC attorneys have experience with power plant cases, including those involving this facility, so they make it simple for their clients. We handle the legal issues and processes so you won’t have to.
If you or someone you love worked at the Warrick Generating Station and was diagnosed with mesothelioma (or another asbestos-related disease), time is of the essence.
Indiana has a two-year statute of limitations. A mesothelioma plaintiff has two years from the date of diagnosis of their condition, or from when they reasonably should have known of the disease and its cause, to file a legal action against those responsible.
That may sound like a long time, but in practice, investigations, locating responsible defendants, collecting documents or witness testimony, and preparing pleadings can take time. Waiting too long to involve us may end your legal rights or at least make your case more complicated and difficult than it needs to be.
The earlier you identify individuals you worked with, document your knowledge of asbestos products at the plant, and organize your medical information, the easier it should be to build a strong, fully supported claim for compensation.
Call Us Today For a Free Consultation
We are your boots on the ground if you or someone you love in Indiana or Kentucky has mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness. To reach our Louisville office, call 502-589-5600 or toll-free at 855-385-9532. You may also complete our online contact form to schedule a free, initial consultation.