Tennessee man sues 116 asbestos defendants in Madison County

A Jackson, Tenn., man recently diagnosed with mesothelioma has filed an asbestos suit against 116 defendant corporations claiming the disease was wrongfully caused.

James T. Acree claims he was diagnosed with the disease Aug. 8, according to a lawsuit filed Aug. 25 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Acree worked from 1963 until 1997 as an operator for International Paper Company, according to the lawsuit. He also claims he served as a military police officer in the U.S. Air Force from 1951 until 1962.

Acree states his exposure was foreseeable and should have been anticipated by the defendants, according to the lawsuit.

He claims his disease was caused after he was exposed to and inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed asbestos fibers.

Acree alleges the asbestos-causing disease has disabled and disfigured him and has compelled him to expend and become liable for large sums of money for hospital, medical, and other health and services necessary for the treatment of the disease.

Acree also has and will continue to experience great physical pain and mental anguish as a result of the disease, he claims in the lawsuit.

Mesothelioma hindered and prevented Acree from pursuing his normal course of employment, according to the suit.

As a result, Acree lost large sums of money, he claims.

In the six-count lawsuit, Acree is seeking sums in excess of $50,000; punitive and exemplary damages of $100,000, compensatory damages in excess of $150,000, and for other relief the Court deems appropriate.

He also seeks 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.

He is represented by Elizabeth Heller, Keith Short and Robert Rowland of Goldenberg, Heller, Antognoli, Rowland & Short in Edwardsville.