BAKERSFIELD – A former Halliburton and Haven Trucking employee is suing a respirator manufacturer alleging that the devices provided inadequate protection equipment from harmful elements in the work space.
Shirley Broussard filed a complaint on April 1 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, Bakersfield Division against 3M Co. as successor by merger to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. and/or its predecessors/successors in interest, citing negligence, fraud and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that from 1984 and 1996, she handled silica sand used in well drilling operations and wore respirators manufactured by 3M to provide protection from the dust. She alleges she developed a lung disease, including silicosis and silica-induced airway obstruction and/or pneumoconiosis as a result of prolong exposure to silica dust during her employment. The plaintiff holds 3M Co. as successor by Merger to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co. and/or its predecessors/successors in interest responsible because the respirators allegedly failed and caused her health issues.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury, actual damages of more than $75,000, punitive damages of more than $20,000,000, all legal fees and any other relief as the court deems just. She is represented by Stephen L. Backus of Backus & Ernst LLP in Los Angeles.
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California Case number 1:16-cv-00462-LJO-JLT