Court Finds Companies Not Liable for Toxic Materials Brought Home by Employees

The Arizona Supreme Court handed down a huge ruling recently that says Arizona companies have no duty to protect family members of employees from exposure to toxic materials their employees bring home on their work clothes.

The case arose when survivors of Ernest Quiroz sued Reynolds Metal Co., now Alcoa, saying they should be held liable for his mesothelioma, a form of cancer commonly associated with asbestos exposure. Mr. Quiroz eventually died due to his cancer.

This case was different from other workplace asbestos exposure cases because Mr. Quiroz did not actually work for the company. Rather, it was his father who did. They argued that he was exposed to toxic materials for years that his father brought home from work on his clothing.

Chief Justice Scott Bales disagreed, saying that the company failed to warn its employees or persons ultimately injured of the hazards they faced.

While the justices did not rule in the victim’s favor, here at Lorona Mead, we know that wrongful death cases like this one arise for many different reasons.

If you need a Phoenix wrongful death attorney, you can count on us to recover the compensation you deserve in this tough time.

Exploring the Causes of Wrongful Death Cases

There are a variety of ways that wrongful death cases can arise, but they all have one thing in common a death was caused as the result of negligence or a wrongful act of another person or entity, such as a company. Here are a few ways they can occur:

Workplace incidents are major contributors to wrongful death cases. Often, they happen in situations like the one above – unqualified or untrained workers are allowed to handle equipment, tools, machinery, and vehicles that they have no business using. The consequences can be deadly.

Another major cause of deaths in the US is medical mistakes. In fact, they are now the third leading cause of death in the United States, killing at least 250,000 people a year.

Violence and crime cause too many deaths in this state. Murderers can be held liable for someone’s death as well.

Faulty products cause major injuries and deaths in the US every year. Sometimes, products we use and consume have design flaws or are labeled incorrectly. This can lead to deadly consequences and leave the company liable.

One of the most common types of wrongful death cases involve impaired drivers. If someone makes the decision to get behind the wheel after they have had too much to drink, they need to be held liable the outcomes. Distracted drivers can also face wrongful death cases.

Taking Action in Wrongful Death Cases

We know that dealing with the death of a loved one can be incredibly difficult and that no amount of money will erase the pain. However, by pursuing wrongful death cases, you are calling attention to situations that need to be stopped and holding people accountable for their actions. When you need a Phoenix wrongful death attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling 602-385-6825 .