Asbestos

Beginning in the early 1980’s, Bob Naumes began litigating mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis cases against all major railroads pursuant to the Federal Employers’ Liability Act. This includes cases against Conrail, CSX, Penn Central, the Boston and Maine Railroad, AMTRAK, Metro North, the New Nork and New Haven Railroad, and the Long Island Railroad. He continues to pursue these claims today.

However, in order to maximize recovery for his clients, attorney Naumes also pursued product liability cases against the manufacturers of asbestos containing products that were supplied to the railroad. Armed with the American Association of Railroad documents, that established the railroad industries knowledge regarding the hazards of asbestos, and Union documents establishing the presence of asbestos in products used by members of all railroad crafts, he has successfully pursued product liability claims for machinists, mechanics, laborers, electricians, signalmen and carmen.

In the past two years, Mr. Naumes has litigated cases resulting in seven figure settlements. Mr. Naumes litigated a mesothelioma case for a retired signalmen that developed mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to amphibole asbestos in signal boxes and signal houses. Despite the manufacturers denial that these products contained asbestos, Attorney Naumes uncovered documents demonstrating testing that was performed on these signal houses in the 1980’s. Attorney Naumes was successful in pursuing claims against General Railway Signal, WABCO, and Western Cullen Hayes. Additionally he obtained settlements with Union Carbide and other manufacturers of electrical products that contained asbestos, as well as the railroad itself.

Attorney Naumes was also instrumental in establishing rights for family members of railroad workers to sue the railroad for “secondary” or “take home” exposure to asbestos. Mr. Naumes defeated a summary judgment motion by CSX that sought to limit the rights of family members exposed to asbestos through the clothing of a parent or spouse. He was successful in settling a case for the son of a carmen that brought home asbestos contaminated clothing. He successfully pursued claims against Westinghouse Air Brake for COBRA brakes and Railroad Friction Products, as well as several other product manufacturers.

Asbestos was used in virtually every aspect of railroad work through the 1980’s. Asbestos board was used in signal houses, asbestos was present in brake shoes, boilers, underground cement pipe, Bakelite, pipe-covering, and multiple other products. If you have been exposed to asbestos as a result of your work on the railroad contact Attorney Naumes to discuss your rights, as designated counsel to all major railroad unions his access to key documents can make the difference in your case.