Trent Miracle
Perry Browder
John Barnerd
John Wagner
An Oklahoma woman suffering from mesothelioma filed an asbestos suit against 107 defendants in Madison County Circuit Court June 21, alleging she was exposed to airborne asbestos fibers from family members' clothing.
Gertrude Lowe claims that her late husband, Howard Lowe, served in the U.S. Army from 1959 to 1975 and was self-employed from 1976-77 as an independent contractor refueling airplanes and doing home remodeling.
She claims her father also was in the Army from 1950 through 1960.
Lowe alleges that her family members worked with and around asbestos-containing products.
"Dust created by working with and around asbestos and asbestos-containing products would permeate the person and clothing of the plaintiff's family members," the complaint states. "This dust contained asbestos fiber."
Lowe claims her family members would carry the asbestos dust on their clothing home with them where it would again become airborne.
"The plaintiff would be repeatedly exposed to this asbestos dust from her family member's person and clothing," the complaint states.
Lowe was employed from 1970 through 1980 as a seamstress and from 1980 through 1995 as a teacher's aide.
She also claims she was exposed to asbestos during non-occupational work projects including home and automotive repairs, maintenance and remodeling.
According to Lowe, she was diagnosed with mesothelioma on Jan. 14, and subsequently became aware her illness was wrongfully caused, the suit claims.
Lowe claims the defendants' intentionally or with a reckless disregard for her safety:
As a result of the alleged negligence, Lowe claims she was exposed to fibers containing asbestos, and developed a disease caused only by asbestos which has disabled and disfigured her.
She also claims that she has sought, but has been unable to obtain, full disclosure of relevant documents and information from the defendants leading her to believe the defendants destroyed documents related to asbestos.
"It was foreseeable to a reasonable person/entity in the respective positions of defendants, that said documents and information constituted evidence, which was material to potential civil litigation-namely asbestos litigation," the complaint states.
Lowe claims that as a result of each defendant breaching its duty to preserve material evidence by destroying documents and information she has been prejudiced and impaired in proving claims against all potential parties.
"Plaintiff has been caused to suffer damages in the form of impaired ability to recover against defendants and lost or reduced compensation from other potentially liable parties in this litigation," the complaint states.
Represented by Trent Miracle, John Barnerd, Perry Browder, and John Wagner of SimmonsCooper in East Alton, Lowe is seeking compensatory damages in excess of $200,000, plus punitive damages.
"An award of punitive damages is appropriate and necessary in order to punish defendants for their willful, wanton, intentional and/or reckless misconduct and to deter defendants and others from engaging in like misconduct in the future," the complaint states.
The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Dan Stack.
07 L 556