Nashville woman files asbestos suit in St. Clair County

A Nashville, Ill. woman is suing over the mesothelioma death of her husband.

Irene Rooneo filed a lawsuit Dec. 27 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against A.O. Smith Corporation; Air & Liquid Systems Corporation; Arvin Meritor; Bemis Company, formerly known as Bemis Bag Company; Borg-Warner Corporation, by its successor in interest to Borg-Warner Morse Tec Inc.; CBS Corporation, formerly known as Westinghouse Electric Corporation; Carboline Company; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver Brooks, a division of Aqua Chem Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown Cork and Seal USA Inc.; Dravo Corporation; Ford Motor Company; Foster Wheel Energy Corporation; General Electric Company; Georgia Pacific Corporation; Goulds Pumps; Honeywell Inc.; Honeywell International Inc., formerly known as Allied Signal Inc., successor in interest to Bendix Corporation; Industrial Holding Corporation, formerly known as Carborundum Company; Ingersoll-Rand Company; John Crane Inc.; Joy Global Underground, formerly known as Joy Technologies LLC; Maremont Corp.; Motion Control Industries Inc.; Nibco Inc.; Nooter Corporation; Oakfabco, formerly known as Kewanee Boiler; Pneumo Abex Corporation, as successor in interest to Abex Corporation; Reichhold Inc.; The Ric-Wil Company; Saint Gobain Abrasives Inc.; Spirax Sarco Inc.; Square D, a brand of Schneider Electric; Sterling Fluid Systems USA Inc.; Trane US Inc., formerly known as American Standard Inc.; Triangle Enterprises Inc.; Union Carbide Corporation; Weil McLain; Young Insulation Group of St. Louis; Young Group Ltd., formerly known as Young Sales Corp. and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co.

The lawsuit states Walter Benedict Rooneo was exposed to asbestos during his employment as a laborer in the related companies. He worked at various locations in Illinois, most recently as a laborer at Joy Manufacturing in Mount Vernon from 1984 to 2005. His exposure to asbestos led to malignant mesothelioma and his death on Dec. 29, 2011, the suit claims.

It also alleges negligence on the part of the companies and conspiracy against Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and Pneumo Abex Corp., as successor in interest to Abex Corp.

Irene Rooneo is seeking damages in excess of $50,000. She is being represented by R.J. Abernathy of the Abernathy Firm.

St. Clair County Circuit Court Case No. 13-L-636.