Woman Files Lawsuit For Asbestos Exposure From Husbands Laundry

A Texas housewife has filed a lawsuit against DuPont, Union Carbide and others alleging that she was exposed to asbestos over a 27-year period from washing her husband’s work clothing. The plaintiff, Frances Barras, who suffers from an asbestos related illness, claims that her sickness results from the washing of her husband’s contaminated clothing. The lawsuit claims that Barras inhaled great quantities of asbestos fibers from the clothing, body, and hair during her husband’s time of employment with Dupont

Naming 10 different industrial companies as defendants, Barras and six members of her family filed their $30 million suit in the Jefferson County District Court on Feb. 11.

The plaintiffs are seeking $15 million in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages, in addition to damages for mental anguish, medical expenses, and loss of services.

The suit alleges that the defendants were negligent in failing to protect against the transportation of asbestos from the jobsite to the home. They are also accused being negligent in not providing offsite laundry facilities and providing safe working apparel. The lawsuit also charges that the defendants failed to provide adequate warnings of the dangers of asbestos exposure.