Trinity Marine Group
The Trinity Marine Group is based in Dallas, Texas. They own and operate 20 separate shipyards, all of which prospered for many years. Trinity did so well that the company went public in 1996. At first this seemed to be a good move and business increased rapidly. Within a year, however, things went downhill. The production quality was so poor that people began filing lawsuits against the company. Claims were made that said the work was unsatisfactory, and parts of large vessels that were built by Trinity were in bad enough shape to be considered unsafe.
This wasn't the first time the Trinity Marine Group faced lawsuits. Executives dealt with thousands of them that came from former employees and their families. Personal injury claims were filed against the company by people who had been afflicted by serious diseases after spending time around products that contained asbestos. Trinity, like most every other shipyard company, utilized a large number of goods that contained copious amounts of the mineral. Of course at the time people did not realize that the mineral is poisonous and that it would soon have a serious effect on the entire nation.
Asbestos was originally discovered in the United States at the time of the Industrial Revolution. It quickly proved to be a strong material that could withstand extreme temperatures and be molded into most any shape. This made it a highly prized resource for mining and manufacturing companies alike, and it was used as the base for hundreds of different products. One of the most common uses for the mineral was to create a fire resistant insulation, and this was used to regulate the temperatures of machinery found at every shipyard.
While the employees of the Texas based shipyard were on the job, they were exposed to microscopic dust particles that came off of the asbestos laden products that they worked around. People would breathe the dust in, and develop serious health issues afterwards. It often took years or even decades for these conditions to become recognizable, but the end result was regularly scarred lung tissue, difficulty with breathing and cancerous diseases such as mesothelioma.
Workers who were made ill because of these contaminated products fought back with lawsuits. Many lives were lost after people were exposed to the toxic mineral, and millions of other people suffered greatly with severe illnesses. People who worked for Trinity Marine Group may still be developing ailments because of their exposure to asbestos, and should contact their healthcare provider for an immediate checkup.
Last modified: December 28, 2010.
