A Florida man and his wife have filed an asbestos suit against 78 defendant corporations, claiming the lung cancer with which the man was diagnosed was wrongfully caused.
Ernest and Shirley Beese claim Ernest was diagnosed with the disease May 22, according to a lawsuit filed Oct. 1 in Madison County Circuit Court.
They say Ernest worked from 1950 until 1955 as a carpenter at various commercial and residential construction sites and from 1956 until 1994 as a tile worker at Abbott Laboratories, Great Lakes Naval Training, Kentile Floors, O'Hare Airport, Sherwin-Williams, Johnson and Johnson and various hospitals in Chicago.
They state Ernest's exposure was foreseeable and should have been anticipated by the defendants, according to the lawsuit.
They claim his disease was caused after he was exposed to and inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed asbestos fibers.
The Beeses allege the asbestos-related disease disabled and disfigured Ernest and has caused substantial medical costs. Ernest also has and will continue to experience physical pain and mental anguish, they claim in the lawsuit.
Lung cancer hindered and prevented Ernest from pursuing his normal course of employment, according to the suit.
As a result, he lost large sums of money, the Beeses claim.
Because of the disease, Shirley claims she has been deprived of the companionship, society and services of Ernest.
In the 11-count lawsuit, the couple is seeking sums in excess of $100,000, punitive and exemplary damages in excess of $100,000, economic damages in excess of $150,000, compensatory damages in excess of $150,000, and for other relief the Court deems appropriate.
They also seek punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish Ferris Kimball Company, LLC, Sprinkmann Sons Corporation, Sprinkmann Insulation, Inc., and Young Insulation Group of St. Louis for their misconduct and to deter similarly situated parties from committing like acts in the future.
They are represented by Elizabeth V. Heller and Robert Rowland of Goldenberg, Heller, Antognoli, Rowland & Short in Edwardsville.
Florida couple sues over asbestos
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