Colgate-Palmolive Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits KY
The Colgate-Palmolive Company employed thousands of people in Indiana for decades to make products sold across the country and around the world. That vast scale came at a cost to local workers – the diseases and deaths that follow asbestos exposure in a factory setting.
Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyers represent people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases who seek compensation for the harm they suffer. If this is your situation, contact us at 855-385-9532 to learn more about how we can help you obtain compensation for your injury.
What is Asbestos?
Asbestos is a group of mineral fibers that are resistant to fire, heat, electricity, and corrosion. Asbestos has been used in about 3,000 products, including pipe insulation, building materials, floor tiles, cigarette filters, vehicle brakes, and clutches. These fibers are strong, durable, light, and microscopic.
Why is Asbestos Dangerous?
Asbestos was used in thousands of products for centuries because its fibers are tiny, light, strong, and durable. These qualities also make them hazardous to humans. They won’t immediately cause a deadly reaction in people who inhale or swallow them, so they’re probably unaware of the danger they’re in. It may take years or decades for the damage caused by asbestos to become known.
Fibers become stuck in human tissue. The immune system tries to get rid of them, but the fibers destroy the cells meant to dissolve them instead. This leads to scar tissue, inflammation, and, over time, genetic mutations that cause cancer.
Asbestos causes or increases the risk of several cancers, including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer that can affect several parts of the body. It can involve the linings covering organs (including the heart and lungs) and the chest and abdominal cavities.
What was the Colgate-Palmolive Company Plant in Jeffersonville, Indiana?
The complex, best known for its giant, forty-foot-diameter clock, is located in Clarksville, Indiana, on the border with Jeffersonville and across the Ohio River from Louisville, Kentucky, according to the Society of Architectural Historians.
A prison was constructed on the site in 1847, and it became a reformatory in 1897. In 1924, the Colgate-Palmolive Co. bought the site for a factory, which was expanded over time. The Jeffersonville plant gave the New Jersey-based company a centrally located facility in the US with easy rail access to all of North America. The company manufactures soaps, laundry detergents, toothpaste, and household cleaning products.
The plant benefited from the post-World War II economic boom and lack of competition from European companies. The Jeffersonville plant expanded during the 1940s, with several new structures being constructed. In 2008, Colgate closed the plant, and it was sold in 2011 to a development group.
Why did Colgate-Palmolive use Asbestos?
Asbestos-containing products were used in industrial settings up through the early 1980s. This facility began operating and was in full production when asbestos was at its peak use. It was used because it was heat and fire-resistant, strong, durable, and inexpensive to obtain.
Soap and detergent manufacturing at scale uses large amounts of steam. Asbestos pipe and boiler insulation were standard throughout plants to maintain temperatures and protect workers from hot surfaces.
The chemical processes involved in making products used high-pressure vessels, pumps, and valves. Asbestos gaskets and packing were used to create heat- and chemical-resistant seals in this equipment. Compressed asbestos sheet gaskets were common in industrial facilities into the 1980s.
Asbestos-containing floor and ceiling tiles were extremely popular in industrial and commercial buildings through the 1970s due to their durability and fire resistance. Asbestos spray-on fireproofing was also the standard for industrial buildings during this time frame.
Which Workers Would Be Exposed to Asbestos Fibers?
The greatest danger from asbestos comes when materials are applied, torn, cut, drilled into, or removed, because that’s when fibers are most likely to be released and carried into the air, where they can be inhaled or swallowed. Fibers can also come loose if the equipment the products are attached to vibrates, or due to age and deterioration.
The more often and more closely someone worked with asbestos-containing products, the greater the threat they posed. This includes employees and contractors who worked for Colgate-Palmolive.
Their work released clouds of microscopic fibers into the air. These workers performed these tasks without adequate protective equipment or warnings about the dangers they faced. Those in the area who are not directly working with asbestos could also be exposed as asbestos fibers drifted through the workplace.
Family members of Colgate-Palmolive workers were also at risk. Those working with asbestos would return home in clothes covered in microscopic fibers that could drift through the household until someone inhaled or swallowed them.
Why Should I Contact Satterley & Kelley, PLLC?
If you or a family member is diagnosed with an asbestos-related cancer, you may be entitled to compensation for what you’ve endured. Depending on the circumstances, compensation may be received for the following:
- Pain and suffering
- Lost income and illness-related costs and expenses
- Past and future medical treatment
- The negative effects on relationships
If you have an asbestos-related condition due to asbestos exposure while you or a family member worked for Colgate-Palmolive or one of its contractors, improve your chances of a successful claim by retaining a lawyer with the following:
- Knowledge of Kentucky and federal asbestos laws, deadlines, court procedures, and jury dynamics
- Access to historical industrial and asbestos litigation records
- Experience with mesothelioma litigation
- Relationships with experts who can show asbestos caused your illness, where it came from, and the harm you suffer due to your illness
- The ability to tailor strategies for your unique situation
Given the complexity and stakes of your case, you should discuss how we can help with a Satterley & Kelley, PLLC lawyer.
Call Us Today for A Free Consultation
If you or a family member in Kentucky suffers from an asbestos-related condition, Satterley & Kelley PLLC is the law firm you can trust. Call our Louisville office at 855-385-9532, locally 502-589-5600, or complete our online contact form to schedule a free consultation.