Mesothelioma Due to Asbestos Exposure at the Paradise Steam Plant

If you or a loved one worked at the Paradise Steam Plant, you may have been exposed to asbestos. Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral fiber that causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. If you developed one of these terrible illnesses due to asbestos exposure from the Paradise Steam Plant or any other facility, you may be entitled to compensation.

Satterley & Kelley, PLLC have extensive experience representing people who were exposed to asbestos at many different exposure sites in Kentucky and nearby areas. We leverage our experience to get our clients the best possible outcomes for their situations. If you have been affected by asbestos, contact us for a free consultation today.

What Is the TVA Paradise Steam Plant?

Located on the Green River near Paradise, Kentucky, the Paradise Steam Plant was a coal-fired power plant owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The plant went online in 1963, and at that time, its two units were the largest in the world. In 1970, the company added another unit, and in 1985, TVA added a barge-unloading area so that the facility could receive coal from trains, trucks, or river barges. The first two units went offline in 2017, and the TVA retired the rest of the facility in February 2020.

Asbestos Exposure at the Paradise Steam Plant

The Paradise Steam Plant insulated turbines, boilers, chutes, pipes, and other equipment with asbestos. The insulation provided fireproofing and kept the equipment from overheating. In this facility as well as other power plants, asbestos was commonly used in acoustical plaster, paneling, joint compounds, cement, firebricks, gasket insulation, and more. Tragically, asbestos exposure occurred at nearly every power plant built prior to the 1980s.

Employees Exposed to Asbestos at the Paradise Steam Plant

Boiler workers, pipe fitters, welders, electricians, insulators, millwrights, operators, laborers and anyone else working at Paradise were exposed to asbestos. While constructing the power plant, workers were exposed as they installed asbestos insulation on equipment. Then, as the plant operated, exposure continued to happen when people repaired the equipment or replaced the insulation.

Maintenance workers and other laborers came into direct contact with asbestos fibers when they drilled, sanded, or cut insulation. Unfortunately, these workers’ protective clothing such as aprons, gloves, masks, and shoe coverings also contained asbestos, heightening the exposure risk even more. Managers and administrative staff were also exposed once the fibers entered the air.

Secondary Exposure From the Paradise Steam Plant

Although corporations knew about the dangers of asbestos, they have spent many years and countless dollars covering up the risks. Rather than telling their employees about the risks of secondary exposure, these companies let their employees go home with their clothing, skin, and hair covered in asbestos. Once the workers were home, the asbestos fibers got into their laundry, carpet, and the rest of their homes,which created a very high risk of secondary exposure for their family members.

Compensation for Asbestos-Related Injury

If you or a loved one contracts mesothelioma due to a corporation negligently exposing you to asbestos, you are entitled to compensation. The liable party may need to pay you for medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, or other losses. However, you can only get compensation if you bring forward a lawsuit, and you need to do so quickly and carefully.

Statute of Limitations on Asbestos-Related Injuries

In Kentucky, the courts give you one year from the date of discovery to bring forward a lawsuit. Generally, that means that you must file your suit within one year of diagnosis. The courts have no leeway with this deadline, but in some cases, you may be able to argue that the discovery date was later than the date of diagnosis.

Holding Former Employers Responsible for Asbestos Exposure

If you developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure while working at the Paradise Steam Plant, you generally will not be able to bring a lawsuit against that company. Here’s why: worker’s compensation laws give you the right to hold your employer liable for injuries without proving negligence, but in exchange for that benefit, they prevent you from bringing personal injury claims against your employer. Additionally, you typically have to make worker’s compensation claims within a certain time frame after leaving the company, and the 10 to 20-year latency period of mesothelioma makes this impossible.

However, that doesn’t mean that you don’t have options. Instead, when you talk with a personal injury attorney, they will help you identify a liable party. Often, that’s a supplier or manufacturer of the asbestos. For example, if you were exposed while working for Paradise Steam, your attorneys may decide to file a suit against the manufacturers of asbestos containing products or the asbestos supplier. Because of the delicacy of this issue, you should always choose a personal injury attorney who has a lot of experience with asbestos exposure sites in your area.

Get Help Today

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, find a doctor, build your care team, and focus on your quality of life. Then, contact the legal team of Satterley & Kelley, PLLC, and let us fight for your rights. No amount of money can make this right, but a settlement can help you pay for medical treatments and provide you and your family with some financial justice. To get help now, contact us for a free consultation.