Greg Deblock, a pipefitter and former business manager of Portland
Steamfitters Local 235 (which merged into United Association Local
290 in 1986), died from mesothelioma on Oct. 29. He was 73.
Mesothelioma is cancer of the lung linings caused by exposure to
asbestos.
Deblock passed away on the second day of trial in a personal injury
lawsuit he filed in Portland. One defendant in the lawsuit settled
prior to trial for more than $5.6 million. And, according to his
attorneys, Deblock was poised to deliver “a knock-out blow”
to the remaining defendants.
“He did not die in vain,” said attorney John Caron,
who was part of the litigation team comprised of the law firms of
Roger Worthington, Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, and Swanson Thomas
& Coon. “His case resulted in favorable rulings that will
help Mr. Deblock’s union brothers, who have been similarly
poisoned, in future litigation.”
Judge Michael Marcus ruled that under Oregon law, valve, pump, and
boiler manufacturers can be held liable for failing to warn of the
dangers associated with asbestos insulation, gaskets, and packing
used with the equipment, even when the materials were not supplied
by the equipment manufacturer.
“No longer will these manufacturers be able to avoid liability
to Oregon workers who were exposed to asbestos when using their
equipment by claiming that the asbestos insulation, gaskets, or
packing used with the equipment were supplied by someone else,”
Caron said.
Deblock was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma in November 2006.
He underwent surgery to remove the cancered left lung, but the tumor
spread to his abdomen.
Deblock worked in the trades for nearly four decades. He was a dispatcher
at Local 235 in 1976 before winning election the following year
as financial secretary-treasurer. He was named interim business
manager following the death of Matt Walters, and then was elected
to that post in 1980.
He retired Feb. 1, 1996.
Deblock is survived by his wife Kyung; son, John; daughter, Mary
Perry, and several grandchildren.
The Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute is accepting donations
and memorials in Deblock’s name. Either can be made online
at www.phlbi.org.
