Westinghouse Electric & Asbestos Exposure

Fact checked and legally reviewed by Samuel Meirowitz • Contributor & Legal Advisor

Westinghouse Electric's use of asbestos in electricity-generating products until the 1980s has put many employees at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma.

Impacted individuals and their families may be eligible for financial compensation.

Apply For Compensation

Key Information

  • Compensation: Victims of asbestos-related diseases stemming from Westinghouse Electric asbestos exposure may be able to collect compensation.
  • Products: Westinghouse Electric’s top products made with asbestos include generators, turbines, and motors.
  • Occupations: Many workers, such as electricians, HVAC and construction workers, and more, were exposed to asbestos through Westinghouse’s products.
  • Get Help Today: Contact our expert legal team today for a free case evaluation to determine your eligibility for compensation from Westinghouse Electric.

Westinghouse Electric & History of Asbestos Usage

The Westinghouse Electric Corporation was founded in 1886 in Pittsburgh, PA, and was one of the biggest electric companies in the U.S. during the first half of the twentieth century. 

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Westinghouse faced significant financial losses from high-risk loans made by its credit arm, Westinghouse Credit Corporation. To diversify, it purchased CBS for $5.4 billion in 1995. Five years later, Viacom acquired the newly named CBS Corporation.

Westinghouse played an active role in developing electric infrastructure across the nation, resulting in widespread asbestos exposure affecting thousands of workers and their families.

Despite filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2017 and being purchased by Brookfield Business Partners the following year, Westinghouse does not have an asbestos trust fund. Instead, it fights asbestos cases in the court system. Victims and their families continue to file lawsuits against the company for its use of asbestos.

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Individuals exposed to asbestos from Westinghouse Electric products face serious health risks. 

When inhaled, asbestos fibers can become lodged in the lungs and cause diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. These conditions often take decades to present symptoms, making early detection and treatment challenging. 

Westinghouse Electric employees across the nation were often in direct exposure to asbestos when handling and manufacturing numerous products. 

Westinghouse Electric & Mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure can be linked to several conditions, most notably, mesothelioma. The only known cause of this deadly cancer is exposure to asbestos fibers. 

Mesothelioma forms in the mesothelium, or the lining of an organ, most commonly in the lungs. The cancer stays dormant for decades, often resulting in a delayed diagnosis and advanced disease stage. The average prognosis for mesothelioma victims ranges from 18 to 31 months after diagnosis.

Individuals who were exposed to Westinghouse Electric’s asbestos-containing products have a higher risk of developing mesothelioma, which can be fatal.

Financial Compensation From Westinghouse Electric 

Individuals who developed an asbestos-related disease from Westinghouse Electric products may be eligible for financial compensation

Due to the widespread use of Westinghouse Electric products in industries like shipyards, power plants, and construction, many people were unknowingly exposed to asbestos, leading to serious health conditions.

Victims and their families can pursue compensation through personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits, as Westinghouse Electric lacks an asbestos trust fund. Instead of utilizing a trust, the company litigates these cases in court, requiring victims to file lawsuits to seek compensation.

Proving liability can be difficult due to changes in the company’s ownership and structure. However, experienced legal professionals can guide eligible victims and their families through the complexities of the legal system to help secure compensation.

Asbestos Lawsuits Against Westinghouse Electric

Many lawsuits have been filed against Westinghouse Electric and its affiliates for their negligent asbestos use. Some notable asbestos lawsuits against the company include:

2010

The family of shipfitter Edward Merwitz filed a claim against nine asbestos companies after his death from mesothelioma at age 62.

Merwitz had worked at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard from 1965 to 1970, handling asbestos-containing products like gaskets, electric motors, turbines, and electrical wire on U.S. Navy ships. He lacked adequate protection and was unaware of the risks associated with asbestos.

As a result of the case, Merwitz’s family was awarded $7.25 million in damages, with Westinghouse and six other companies mentioned in the lawsuit held liable.

2017

Gerald Sylvestre, who operated equipment at a New Hampshire coal plant during the 1960s and 1970s, suffered asbestos exposure and later developed mesothelioma.

CBS, the owner of Westinghouse, was included in the companies sued by Sylvestre. Ultimately, Sylvestre and his wife were awarded $7.75 million in damages.

2021

Mesothelioma victim Kerry Vinson was employed by Fiber Industries in Salisbury, North Carolina for 37 years and was exposed to many asbestos-containing materials, including Westinghouse Electric products.

Unfortunately, the plaintiffs did not present a sufficient amount of evidence to prove Vinson’s mesothelioma was caused by the defendants named in the lawsuit, resulting in no compensation awarded to the family.

Asbestos Products Made by Westinghouse Electric

Westinghouse Electric had a diverse range of products manufactured using asbestos. The widespread use of these products put thousands of Americans at risk of serious asbestos-related illnesses.

Some Westinghouse Electric asbestos products include:

  • Electrical cable
  • Gaskets
  • Micarta insulation
  • Wiring
  • Panels
  • Paper
  • Turbines
  • Motors
  • Generators
  • Welding rods

Many of these items required a strong and durable material like asbestos in the manufacturing process. Workers exposed to toxic asbestos fibers may now suffer serious health consequences.

Occupations at Risk 

Westinghouse primarily focused on electricity infrastructure and products, offering a diverse range of items, many of which were designed to withstand high temperatures.

Asbestos was used for its heat-resistant properties, but unfortunately, the toxic fibers can infiltrate the linings of the lungs and other organs, leading to severe health issues like mesothelioma.

Westinghouse Electric employees in any of the following occupations (or workers at other companies that used Westinghouse products, such as veterans working in the Navy) may have been at risk of asbestos exposure:

In addition, electrical workers who performed duties at numerous sites across the country may have been exposed to Westinghouse products.

Dangers of Secondhand Exposure

It wasn’t just employees who were at a high risk of developing health issues — their family members and loved ones were also put at risk from secondary exposure. Employees may have brought asbestos fibers home on their clothing, hair, or shoes, indirectly exposing their loved ones to the toxic mineral. 

Individuals who developed an asbestos-related disease due to secondary exposure from Westinghouse Electric products may be able to file a lawsuit to collect compensation.

Get Help Today 

If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos from Westinghouse Electric products, you may be entitled to compensation. Our team is here to help you explore your eligibility for financial relief due to asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.

We offer free resources and personalized case reviews to guide you through understanding your rights and navigating the legal process. Our experienced professionals will assess your case and provide the information you need to make informed decisions.

You don’t have to face this alone — contact us for a free case review and let us help you pursue justice and compensation.

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Written & Legally Reviewed By

Samuel Meirowitz

Attorney and On-Site Legal Advocate

Samuel Meirowitz is a member of the “Top 100 Trial Lawyers.” Mr. Meirowitz was named a “Rising Star” in 2013 & 2014 by Super Lawyers and then a Super Lawyer every year since 2016. In 2013, Mr. Meirowitz obtained what is believed to be the first multi-million-dollar asbestos verdict seen in more than two decades in a New York federal court. In that highly contentious matter, Mr. Meirowitz was able to convince the jury to hold a boiler manufacturer responsible for 60 percent of the $3.8 million awarded, despite the defendant’s attempt to escape all blame by pointing fingers at the plaintiff’s employer and the U.S. Navy (in which the plaintiff admirably served from 1966-70 during the Vietnam conflict). This verdict was upheld by the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit.

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