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Family settles asbestos case with Alcoa Aluminum |
Fri 9/4/2009
BLOUNT COUNTY, TN – A former employee of Alcoa Aluminum has settled a six year old asbestos lawsuit with the company. The case was filed after the man’s daughter developed mesothelioma in 2003. The girl passed away from the terminal cancer in 2005.
Doug Satterfield’s lawsuit stated that the man carried asbestos from the plant where he worked, which resulted in the deadly disease of Amanda, Doug’s daughter.
Doug said it’s a great load off their shoulders and that they can get done some of the things that Amanda wanted when she was alive.
“Victory on Amanda’s behalf for what she wanted has done for employees but she had to leave this world to make all this happen,” said Donna Satterfield, Amanda’s mother.
Amanda was in her early 20s when she was diagnosed with the terminal asbestos-related cancer.
Doug Satterfield said he was the vehicle that brought asbestos to Amanda. Doug worked with and around asbestos at Alcoa and brought asbestos home through his clothes ever since Amanda was an infant.
The initial lawsuit was filed in a Blount court in 2003. The judge ruled on behalf of Alcoa saying that the law is not applicable for family members, but only for employees. However, this ruling was overturned by an appellate court. And in 2008, the Tennessee Supreme court also ruled in favor of Doug’s family. According to Doug’s attorney, it is this decision that led to the present settlements.