Football legend Merlin Olsen is suing NBC Studios, NBC Universal, 20th Century Fox Film Corporation, Sherwin Williams, Lennox Industries and other companies, claiming he developed a rare form of cancer as a result of being negligently exposed to asbestos.

Olsen -- who gained fame as a member of the Los Angeles Rams and went on to be a sportscaster, actor and spokesperson for FTD Florists -- was diagnosed with the rare asbestos cancer mesothelioma a few months ago.

According to the lawsuit, filed today in L.A. County Superior Court, Olsen worked after school doing manual labor when he was 10 or 11 and was exposed to asbestos.

Olsen claims he was exposed to asbestos later in life when he was doing drywall. Olsen also worked at NBC and 20th Century FOX and is alleging those companies negligently exposed him to asbestos.

Olsen, who is undergoing chemotherapy, claims in the suit that all of the defendants, "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."

Olsen says in the lawsuit that mesothelioma "is a vicious, painful, and invariably fatal malignancy" and there is no known cure.

Olsen and his wife Susan are suing for unspecified damages.

http://www.tmz.com/

Oh my goodness!!!! :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

I heard about that! Wow!:eek:

oh my Goodness!!!

I read about this, and wonder why nobodys brought up the point that both Michael Landon and Victor French who appeared together in LHOTP and Highway to Heaven, both died of cancer.

I read about this, and wonder why nobodys brought up the point that both Michael Landon and Victor French who appeared together in LHOTP and Highway to Heaven, both died of cancer.
True, but I don't think their cancers were caused by asbestos exposure (which is what happened to Steve McQueen). Both Michael Landon and Victor French were long-time, heavy smokers, which is thought to be the cause of their cancers. I have no idea if Merlin Olsen was/is a smoker.

I do hope that things do work out for him. I wish him the best.

I do hope that things do work out for him. I wish him the best.
So do I...God bless him.

Sorry to hear this. Hope everything works out for him. Wow, I didn't know that Michael Landon was a smoker; Victor French either for that matter. Cigarettes are pure evil. No doubt about it.

So sad this story didn't end happily. :rip: Merlin Olsen.

So sad this story didn't end happily. :rip: Merlin Olsen.
I read that his lawsuit is still pending so maybe his surviving family members will get some compensation for what happened to him.

I read that his lawsuit is still pending so maybe his surviving family members will get some compensation for what happened to him.
Oh, yes - I'm sure this fight is far from over.

R.I.P.? When the heck did this happen?

R.I.P.? When the heck did this happen?
He died on Thursday at the age of 69.

http://www.digitalnewsreport.com/2010/03/12-mesothelioma-kills-football-great-merlin-olsen/3442

Digital News Report – Former LA Rams defensive lineman Merlin Olson died Thursday after battling mesothelioma for a year. Mesothelioma is a form of lung cancer usually cause by exposure to asbestos.

Olson sued NBC Studios, NBC Universal, the paint maker Sherwin Williams, 20th Century Fox and others because he believed they exposed him to the carcinogen. He said he was exposed early in life “working after school and in the summer” in construction and again later in life employed around the studio set with drywall hangers and construction workers.

His lawsuit was file on December 31st 2009, just a few months before he died. His fellow His coworkers Michael Landon and Victor French both died of cancer at the age of 54. French died in 1989 of lung cancer and Landon died in 1991 of adenocarcinoma in the pancreas.

Lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers have been filed since 1929. During the proceedings to settle the suit the attorneys agreed not to file anymore suits concerning the disease. Lawsuits have plagued the industry ever since then.

Symptoms of Mesothelioma:

Chest Pain
Shortness of Breath
Fatigue
Anemia
Wheezing
Hoarseness
Cough
Blood in sputum

Later stage symptoms include pain in the abdomen, problems with bowels, and low blood sugar.

Treatment includes radiation, surgery and chemotherapy.

By: Jason Chang

Here's a news report from his home state of Utah:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebd7d4iN8_8