Recently, an inspection performed by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) at the Harrah’s resort and casino in Las Vegas resulted in 12 serious asbestos-related violations. After learning of these infractions, former employee Ernie Savannah filed a lawsuit against the casino. He believes that these violations are the cause of respiratory illnesses that both he and his son are experiencing.

Mr. Savannah worked as an engineer in the Harrah’s resort. While there, he claims to have known that he was working around asbestos, yet kept the job because he “needed the insurance and income for my family.” Unfortunately, it may very well be that job that led to his son’s frequent coughing, wheezing and difficulty breathing. It is believed that Savannah’s 3-year-old son, Nico, was exposed to secondhand asbestos that was transferred home on his father’s clothing.

Mr. Savannah is claiming that Harrah’s was well aware of the asbestos infraction, and yet took no steps to properly protect their employees.

As one might expect, the father is heartbroken with the potential lifelong problems that his son may experience. Asbestos inhalation has been linked to serious lung illnesses such as mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer.

The Savannah’s ordeal strongly mirrors that of another recent childhood-related asbestos story. Trevor Alburey, age 63, recently died in Thurlby, England due to mesothelioma. It is believed that he was exposed to asbestos in a similar fashion as Savannah’s child. When he was a boy, Alburey’s father used to come home from work covered in white powder and play with him. Hopefully, young Nico will not suffer the same fate.

If you think you or a loved one have mesothelioma due to secondhand asbestos exposure, call our mesothelioma attorneys toll free at 866-632-7574 to learn about your rights.