The court has found 17 people liable for the death of Ulysses Collins, who died in 2005 five after being exposed to asbestos during his service. After prolonged study of the case, the Navy has also been found responsible for the death of Mr. Collins, who worked as a welder in the Naval Ship Yard, in Hunters Point.

A company that used to supply asbestos based insulation and other products has been held 20 percent responsible in this case. The rest of the defendants, as mentioned above, were 17 people that have had professional relationships with the deceased were held accountable. However, an appeal was forwarded and a retrial will be held to determine the exact cause of Mr. Collins’ death. It is pretty clear that asbestos on navy ships has caused the disease, but the court wants to establish exactly who should be held responsible for the death. An asbestos risk representative for veterans association believes that the Navy should be held responsible because they didn’t provide with the necessary safety equipment. This just goes to show that even welders are exposed to asbestos, so it really is a great idea to wear protective gear.