Nevada man claims pleural mesothelioma in suit

A Nevada man recently diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma has filed an asbestos suit against 84 defendant corporations claiming the disease was wrongfully caused.

Joseph Bauman was diagnosed with the disease July 21, 2008, according to a lawsuit filed Aug. 26 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Bauman says he worked from 1953 until 2000 as a store clerk, fireman, mechanic, appliance installer and repairman, floor installer and laborer in oil fields at various locations throughout Illinois, Nevada, Oklahoma and Texas, according to the lawsuit.

Bauman 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.

Bauman alleges the asbestos-causing disease has disabled and disfigured him and has and will continue to compel 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.

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

Pleural mesothelioma hindered and prevented Bauman from pursuing his normal course of employment, according to the suit.

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

In the five-count lawsuit, Bauman seeks sums in excess of $50,000; punitive and exemplary damage in excess of $100,000; compensatory damages in excess of $100,000, and any other relief the Court deems just and equitable.

He also seeks punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants for their misconduct and to deter similarly situated parties from committing like acts of misconduct in the future.

He is represented by G. Michael Stewart of Simmonscooper LLC in East Alton