A Trust Fund Victims Can't Trust
Walter and Elizabeth Szostak’s story
Colonia, New Jersey. Walter worked for Exxon for nearly 40 years. One of his jobs with Exxon was as an electrician. He was exposed to asbestos from pulling cables and preparing wires, stripping and splicing asbestos-covered wire, and performing maintenance work that created asbestos dust. He constantly inhaled asbestos dust during this work as an electrician and was never adequately warned of the danger.
Walter served our country in the U.S. Naval Reserves.
Walter now suffers from terminal mesothelioma, a painful and terminal cancer, due to his exposure to asbestos. He is no longer able to enjoy the activities that he loved — gardening, photography, walking with his children and grandchildren, and volunteering at softball games. He struggles to climb stairs and even to walk.
Walter’s wife Elizabeth was also diagnosed with asbestosis after her doctor found an asbestos-induced spot on her lung. She believes she was exposed to the product from washing her husband’s asbestos-covered work clothes and in her work as a reservation agent for Eastern and Kiwi Airlines. The mother of six children, she is unable to walk long distances without getting winded and short of breath.
Walter and Elizabeth are fearful that Medicare will not continue to pay for further expensive treatments.
How would the asbestos bailout bill hurt Walter and Elizabeth’s family?
Walter’s legal case is currently pending and Elizabeth’s is in the process of being filed. If the proposed asbestos bill were enacted, the cases would be wiped out and they would have to begin the claims process again from the beginning under the proposed asbestos trust fund. They would have to wait even longer to receive compensation to help cover their medical costs.
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