Charlie’s Story

Charles “Charlie” Dowling grew up in Bayonne, New Jersey. He was a loving husband, devoted father, and hardworking provider who found joy in simple pleasures, especially time with his family and an occasional game of blackjack.

Later in life, Charlie was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. In the wake of his diagnosis and passing, Charlie’s children decided to take legal action on his behalf to seek justice for the harm caused by asbestos companies.

Charlie proudly served his country as a member of the U.S. Army. After his service, he returned to New Jersey and met Sharon, the woman he would marry and spend the next 46 years with until her passing in 2017.

Together, the couple raised four children and built a close-knit family. Providing for them was always a top priority for Charlie, and he worked hard to ensure they were well cared for.

“My father spent his entire career working at the Exxon Oil Refinery,” said his daughter Kelly. “He was a second-generation employee — my grandfather worked there before him, and later on, my brother did as well. That made three generations of our family employed at Exxon.”

From 1966 to 2000, Charlie worked as a laborer and an electrician at the refinery. He helped remove old insulation from equipment, worked on electrical systems, and cleaned up debris left behind after repairs.

Many of the materials Charlie worked with contained asbestos, a known carcinogen — but he was never warned of any potential health risks.

For years, he breathed in microscopic asbestos fibers that would later have a devastating impact on his health.

In the month leading up to his diagnosis, Charlie was wheezing frequently and began to slow down. Concerned, he visited his primary care doctor, who sent him to the hospital with what appeared to be pneumonia.

While hospitalized, doctors discovered fluid buildup around his lungs and performed a biopsy to determine the cause. The results confirmed that Charlie had pleural mesothelioma.

His family quickly realized that the cancer had been caused by his decades of work at the Exxon refinery, where he had been regularly exposed to asbestos.

Tragically, the cancer was already far advanced by the time doctors determined Charlie had mesothelioma, leaving him without treatment options. He passed away within a month of his diagnosis.

When Charlie’s family learned that his mesothelioma was caused by asbestos exposure at his job, they knew they had to take action. He had worked diligently to provide for his family, never imagining that the very job that supported them could one day threaten his life.

Every year, thousands of innocent people are diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. Many of these illnesses could’ve been prevented if companies had properly warned workers about asbestos or removed hazardous materials altogether.

“The companies we filed suit against knew their products were dangerous yet continued to use asbestos — some for up to 10 years afterward,” said Kelly. “The judgment against these companies reflects the severity of their actions, which were truly harmful and unconscionable.”

For Charlie’s children, filing a lawsuit was about more than seeking compensation. It was about holding negligent companies accountable, warning other families about the dangers of asbestos, and honoring their father’s life.

Before Charlie’s diagnosis, his family had never filed a lawsuit. They were initially hesitant about taking legal action, but after thoroughly researching multiple asbestos law firms, they decided to contact Simmons Hanly Conroy.

From the very first meeting, which took place virtually since Charlie was ill and living in Florida apart from some of his kids, the family felt at ease.

“They were genuinely caring and took the time to explain everything, ensuring that we fully understood the entire process,” said Kelly.

The family worked closely with Attorney Arthur Prystowsky, who became a steady source of support during an overwhelming time.

“He made a point to answer all of my questions promptly and in a way that was easy to understand,” expressed Kelly. “Whenever I had a question, I could text him, and he would always respond right away, even when I told him it was not a rush.”

Arthur’s persistence also proved critical to the case. After Charlie passed away, Arthur continued working to strengthen the family’s asbestos claims by tracking down an old coworker who had agreed to testify about Charlie’s asbestos exposure but then disappeared.

“Almost 2 months later, he finally made contact. We can’t overstate how much we appreciated him. Arthur was absolutely the best,” she said. “Without his dedication and care, our case would have been much weaker after my father passed. We truly loved working with him.”

The results of Charlie’s mesothelioma lawsuit were both a relief and a reminder of the loss his loved ones had already endured.

“Receiving our family’s first settlement check felt surreal and deeply bittersweet,” said Kelly. “We were going to take him to the casino when we got the first check, but he had already passed.”

Still, the results of the mesothelioma lawsuit made a lasting difference for Charlie’s family.

The compensation covered college expenses for all 3 of his grandchildren. His daughters were able to purchase a cabin in Pennsylvania, while their brother bought a condo on Merritt Island — a place their father had always dreamed of living.

“The process was not difficult at all,” said Kelly. “The majority of the settlements came in within the first year or so.”

With their legal team handling every step of the process, the family was able to focus on healing rather than legal complexities.