Asbestos Exposure From Cardinal Insulation Corporation in Louisville, KY

Established in 1956, the Cardinal Insulation Corporation provided asbestos-filled insulation to commercial and industrial customers in Louisville and beyond. Still in existence, the company currently offers commercial and industrial insulation, firestopping, and custom removable insulation blankets as well as asbestos abatement services.

Tragically, anyone who worked in the insulation industry from the 1950s to the 1970s was very likely to be exposed to asbestos. Research about the dangers of asbestos was abundant during these decades, but driven by greed and convenience, corporations continued to use asbestos in their products.

If you or a loved one developed mesothelioma, lung cancer, or any other serious illness due to asbestos exposure related to the Cardinal Insulation Corporation, you may be entitled to compensation. To get help now, contact us at Satterley and Kelley, PLLC today.

Employees Exposed to Asbestos at Cardinal Insulation

Asbestos was an extremely popular insulator for hot metal equipment in industrial facilities. It lined metal-working equipment, gas pipes, gaskets, and countless other types of equipment. It was also used in general construction to insulate floorboards, walls, ductwork, HVAC equipment, and roofs.

People who worked in insulation manufacturing were exposed to asbestos when it entered the facility, during the production process, and while finishing the products. If they worked on installation crews, they were also highly likely to be exposed during the removal and installation processes. In addition to exposure from the products themselves, workers may have also been exposed to asbestos through the facility’s building materials.

(Caption: Asbestos insulation hangs off a pipe)

Others Exposed to Asbestos From Cardinal Insulation

In many cases, people were exposed to asbestos when Cardinal insulation was installed at their place of employment. Cardinal provided many different commercial and industrial clients with asbestos-filled insulation over the years. The company’s products and practices put many people at risk of exposure, including the family members of employees.

Secondary Asbestos Exposure Due to Cardinal Insulation

Secondary exposure occurs when one person is exposed to asbestos, and they unknowingly carry the fibers home on their clothing or shoes, which exposes their family. By not warning their employees or clients about the dangers of asbestos, Cardinal Insulation created a high risk of secondary exposure.

Cardinal employees who manufactured and installed the insulation containing asbestos likely brought the fibers home on their clothing. The secondary exposure could have been prevented by implementing precautions such as telling workers not to bring their work clothes home. Additionally, people who were exposed to asbestos through Cardinal Insulation products in other facilities also had a risk of unknowingly carrying home the asbestos fibers on their clothing.

What to Do If You’ve Developed Mesothelioma

If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, you need to focus on your medical treatment. Then, you need to find a personal injury attorney who can help you navigate the liability aspect of your situation. When you develop mesothelioma or any other injury as a result of someone’s negligence, you have a right to pursue them for compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other losses.

However, there is a strict timeline for this process. In Kentucky, you must bring forward your lawsuit within one year of the date of discovery. For most people, that is the day you get diagnosed with mesothelioma. In some cases, the date of discovery can be slightly later based on when you discover the exposure site, but to be on the safe side, you should contact an attorney and file your claim as soon as possible.

Who Can You Hold Liable for Asbestos-Exposure?

The liable party varies based on the facts of the case and your relationship with the defendant. In Kentucky, worker’s compensation laws prohibit you from bringing personal injury lawsuits against your employer or former employer, and due to the long latency period of asbestos, most people cannot make a claim under the worker’s compensation scheme either.

In other words, if you worked for Cardinal Insulation, you may not be able to hold it liable for the injuries. In that case, you may need to pursue a lawsuit against the companies that provided Cardinal with its asbestos. That said, if you worked for an employer who employed Cardinal Insulation, you may be able to bring a lawsuit against Cardinal.

Family members who developed mesothelioma due to secondary exposure, however, can bring lawsuits against their loved one’s employers. A recent appellate case in Kentucky confirmed this right for families — the decision emphasized that employers have a duty to protect the families of their employees from known harm which includes asbestos.

How to Get Help Now

Mesothelioma is a scary diagnosis, and we extend our sympathy to you. We urge you to focus on your medical treatment, your family, and your quality of life, and let us handle the legal battle.

At Satterley and Kelley, we have a long history of successfully representing mesothelioma victims and their family members. We have represented clients from many of the different asbestos exposure sites in Kentucky and the surrounding states, and that means that we have the experience, knowledge, and connections you need.

When you contact us, we’ll start with a free consultation. Then, we’ll help you plot the next steps forward. Get the financial justice you deserve. To learn more, contact us today.