Merlin Olsen Suing NBC After Being Diagnosed with Mesothelioma - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 01-01-2010, 11:04 AM

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/

catlover79 · 01-01-2010, 01:31 PM

Oh my goodness!!!!

angiefan · 01-07-2010, 11:04 AM

I heard about that! Wow!

Scoobiedoo30 · 01-07-2010, 03:45 PM

oh my Goodness!!!

McGillicuddy · 01-07-2010, 05:23 PM

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.

catlover79 · 01-07-2010, 10:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markway895

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.

ThomasE · 01-30-2010, 12:59 AM

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

catlover79 · 01-30-2010, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasE

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

So do I...God bless him.

Schmoopie · 01-30-2010, 04:09 AM

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.

catlover79 · 03-13-2010, 01:23 AM

So sad this story didn't end happily.

Merlin Olsen.

Marvo301 · 03-13-2010, 01:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

So sad this story didn't end happily.

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.

catlover79 · 03-13-2010, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marvo301

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.

ThomasE · 03-13-2010, 11:45 AM

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

catlover79 · 03-13-2010, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThomasE

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

He died on Thursday at the age of 69.

http://www.digitalnewsreport.com/201...lin-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

01-01-2010, 11:04 AM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	Merlin Olsen Suing NBC After Being Diagnosed with Mesothelioma 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/
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01-01-2010, 01:31 PM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	Oh my goodness!!!!
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01-07-2010, 11:04 AM	#3
angiefan happy labor day! Forum Regular Join Date: Apr 15, 2006 Location: grand blanc,michigan Posts: 618	Merlin Olsen AKA jonathan garvey suing NBC after being diagnosed with Mesothelioma I heard about that! Wow!

01-30-2010, 12:59 AM	#7
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	I do hope that things do work out for him. I wish him the best.
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01-30-2010, 04:09 AM	#9
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	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.
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01-07-2010, 03:45 PM	#4
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	oh my Goodness!!!

01-07-2010, 05:23 PM	#5
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	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.

03-13-2010, 01:23 AM	#10
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	So sad this story didn't end happily. Merlin Olsen.

03-13-2010, 11:45 AM	#13
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	R.I.P.? When the heck did this happen?