Mississippi Woman Wins Settlement over Secondhand Asbestos Exposure

By Brian Cole

Published on October 27, 2006

Bodkin, 60, a retired cook, was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2003, after she began having difficulty breathing. Mesothelioma is an aggressive form cancer that affects the lining of the lungs and is known to be caused only by asbestos exposure. Bodkin had washed her father’s and brother’s clothes for years after they returned from working in the small homebuilding business they owned. She blames her disease on the producers of the products her father and brother used, saying she was exposed to asbestos dust as she shook it off the work clothes.

Bodkin’s attorney said none of the companies warned consumers of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure, even though they knew of the potential for harm as early as the 1960s. The four companies involved in the suit produced roofing, siding, joint compounds, and insulation products.

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