Weitz & Luxenberg Provides Information on asbestos exposure in Kentucky

Are you suffering from an asbestos related disease such as mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer or asbestosis? If you worked in an industrial site in the state of Kentucky, you may have unknowingly been exposed to asbestos. Weitz & Luxenberg has dealt with asbestos related litigation for over two decades and have helped clients across the United States secure monetary compensation so that they can finance their medical treatments.

If you have any questions or concerns about anything pertaining to the law and your legal rights, please do not hesitate to let us know. We are more than willing to assist you.

Asbestos Was the Silent Enemy Lurking at Military Bases in Kentucky and Across the United States

Irrespective of whether you served in the Army, Marines, Navy or Air Force there were ample opportunities for asbestos exposure. In decades past, the military valued asbestos for its durability, as well as its flame-retardant properties. Military barracks and offices used asbestos containing products in a number of different ways, but primarily as an insulator. Unlike other dangerous substances that could cause illnesses within a short time, asbestos had a long latency period (the time between exposure and diagnosis) of 20-50 years. 

If you are currently suffering from an asbestos related disease you might have been exposed at one of the Kentucky military bases.

Fort Campbell Army Base, (Located between Clarksville, TN and Hopkinsville, KY)

Fort Campbell is a historic army base and “its origins go back to the 1930s, when surveys were being conducted to locate potential sites for mobilization and training camps” (Fort Campbell) for Army use during World War II. “One potential site was identified between Hopkinsville, Kentucky and Clarksville, Tennessee- which “army planners believed was an adequate enough space to construct a training camp that could accommodate scores of soldiers” (Fort Campbell) and other army personnel.

During the earliest years of World War II, the United States was relatively neutral, but shortly following the 1941 bombing of Pearl Harbor, “government funds were authorized for the purchase of 105,000 acres of land at a cost of $ 4 million. Construction of Fort Campbell officially began in March 1942 and “was ready for occupation a mere four months later.” (Fort Campbell) The base boasted world class facilities, including “21 million square feet of billets, warehouses, classrooms, and motor pools.” (Fort Campbell)

Asbestos was used in the following materials and products at Fort Campbell:

• Floor Sheeting
• Cement Pipe
• Flex Duct
• Joint Compound/Insulation
• Roofing Felt
• Pipe Insulation
• Fire Door Insulation
• Stage Curtains
• Acoustical Tile
• Floor Tile
• Transite Pipe/Board
• Ceiling Tile
• Flashing Tar
• Fire Blankets
• Heat Shields
• Safe/Fire Cabinets

-(http://www.campbell.army.mil/campbell/directorates/DPW/envdiv/Pages/Asbestos.aspx)

Today, measures are being taken at Fort Campbell to “inspect and assess existing asbestos and to identify potential problems.” (Fort Campbell) 

Fort Knox (Located near Louisville, KY)

The origins of the Fort Knox Army Base stretch back to World War I, when the U.S government was searching for a site to establish a permanent artillery camp.

In 1931, Fort Knox “was chosen to be the new headquarters for the Mechanized Cavalry, and in order to support it, workers toiled to construct housing and support facilities on the base. During the 1930s, Fort Knox served as an induction center for the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) enrollees. Train loads of young men were sent to Fort Knox from West Virginia, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky. They spent about two weeks at Fort Knox where they received their shots, clothing and were trained. After this induction period was completed, the men were put on trains and sent to camps at various locations around the country.” (Fort Knox)

Asbestos was used extensively in a number of products and equipment handled by Fort Knox personnel, but its primary purpose was to insulate heat sensitive areas such as boiler rooms.  It could also be found in large amounts in mess halls and sleeping quarters. In other words, an army soldier could sit down in one of the cafeterias on his base, or lay down to sleep at night, completely unaware that the pipes near him, the floor under his feet and the corrugated ceiling above his head all contained asbestos poison.

Did you develop mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer or asbestosis  after being exposed to asbestos in Kentucky? Weitz & Luxenberg Can Be Your Legal Advocate

Weitz & Luxenberg understands how widespread the asbestos problem is and the havoc it had caused countless people across the country and around the world. It is unfortunate that even though the dangers of asbestos have been known in the United States since at least the Industrial Revolution, it continued to be used in multiple industries. Such carelessness should not be ignored.

Our firm has a team of skilled attorneys with a wealth of knowledge concerning asbestos-related ailments. To get started, simply fill out the form on this page. A representative from our firm will

get in touch with shortly you for your free legal consultation. There is no cost unless we secure a verdict or settlement for you.

Acknowledgements:

Fort Campbell: www.campbell.army.mil/campbell/Pages/History.aspx

Fort Knox: www.knox.army.mil/history.asp