BELLEVILLE--A former U.S. Navy firefighter is suing several companies, alleging exposure to asbestos products.
Jimmie Farr filed a lawsuit Oct. 1 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against John Crane, Inc., The William Powell Company and Metropolitan Life Insurance, Co., alleging negligence, willful and wanton manufacturing of asbestos, and conspiracy.
According to the complaint, at various times during Farr's employment from 1962 to the 1990s, he was exposed to and inhaled, ingested, or otherwise absorbed large amounts of asbestos fibers that were manufactured, sold, distributed, and/or installed by the defendants.
The suit says Farr discovered Jan. 22 that he had developed mesothelioma due to exposure of asbestos from the defendants' products.
Farr alleges the defendants failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for his safety, failed to act when they knew their products contained asbestos, failed to provide adequate warning to persons working with their products, failed to provide adequate instructions for handling asbestos and failed to conduct tests on asbestos in their products.
The suit also says Metropolitan Life Insurance conspired to wrongly influence the U.S. Public Health Service about the safety of asbestos so that companies can maintain production of asbestos products. Due to these offenses, the plaintiff alleges he has suffered injury and disfigurement and will liable for medical expenses.
Farr seeks compensatory, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $50,000. He is represented by attorneys Randy L. Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian & Associates in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-563.