Mesothelioma Patient Stories:
Merlin Olsen Sues Multiple Parties for Asbestos Exposure

In December of 2009 former NFL football player Merlin Olsen and his wife, Susan Olsen, filed suit against multiple parties for their alleged involvement in Mr. Olsen's exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a mineral that, when inhaled, can lead to pleural mesothelioma and other diseases such as asbestosis. The Olsens allege that Mr. Olsen's asbestos exposure ultimately caused him to develop mesothelioma. Olsen was diagnosed with the asbestos cancer in July of 2009.

The Olsens' lawsuit, filed in L.A. county Superior Court, accuses the defendants of negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty and other causes of action. According to the complaint, Century Fox Film Corporation, NBC Studios, NBC Universal and a number of other companies "were engaged in the business of manufacturing, fabricating, designing, assembling, distributing, leasing, buying, selling, inspecting, servicing, installing, repairing, marketing, warranting and advertising a certain substance the generic name of which is asbestos."

The complaint goes on to describe the defendants' actions as "willfull, malicious, outrageous and/or in conscious disregard and indifference to the safety of users of said asbestos and asbestos products, including Plaintiff Merlin Jay Olsen."

According to the lawsuit, Olsen was exposed to asbestos at several stages of his life, beginning with an after-school job. He believes he was exposed to asbestos later in life while working around workers installing drywall.

The companies named in the lawsuit include:

• Century Fox Film Corporation
• NBC Studios
• NBC Universal
• Lennox Industries
• Bondex International, Inc.
• Certainteed Corporation
• Crane Co.
• Garlock Sealing Technologies, L.L.C.
• Georgia-Pacific, LLC
• John K. Bice Co., Inc.
• Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc.
• Kello-More Paint Company, Inc.
• Kentile Floors, Inc.
• Mechanical Drives & Belting
• Morgro, Inc.
• Owens-Illinois, Inc.
• Pax company
• Schultz Company
• Spectrum Brands, Inc.
• The Scott's Company
• The Sherwin Williams Company
• Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation
• Sure-Gro, Inc.
• Union Carbide Corporation
• United Industries Corp.
• United Gisonite Laboratories, Inc.
• Zurn Industries, LLC

About Malignant Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a lethal form of cancer caused by inhalation of asbestos fibers. Mesothelioma symptoms typically surface long after initial exposure.

To date, mesothelioma treatments have had little success, and most patients die within a year. Sadly, the disease is invariably fatal and has no cure.

To learn more about what goes into a mesothelioma prognosis, please visit our page on this subject. If you believe you or a loved one developed pleural, pericardial or peritoneal mesothelioma as a result of another party's negligence, contact a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible.

More About Merlin Olsen

Merlin Olsen is a legendary former football player who went on to a successful career as a sportscaster and actor. He is also remembered by many as the spokesman for FTD Florists. Olsen attended Utah State University before being drafted by the Los Angeles Rams in 1962. He was voted to the Pro Bowl 14 years consecutively, including his rookie year, and was subsequently elected to both the college and NFL Halls of Fame.

In December 2009 Olsen was honored by his former team, the L.A. Rams, in a halftime ceremony. His son and his brother, who also played for the Rams, attended in his stead. At the time of writing Olsen was undergoing chemotherapy.

See also:
» More Mesothelioma Stories

[Page updated January 2010]