Lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, suit claims

A Minnesota man recently diagnosed with lung cancer has filed an asbestos suit against 55 defendant corporations, claiming the disease was wrongfully caused.

David R. Knoblauch claims he was diagnosed with the disease in November, according to a lawsuit filed Sept. 12 in Madison County Circuit Court.

Knoblauch says he worked from 1959 until 1961 as a truck driver at Comfort Heating, from 1961 until 1965 as a laborer in the U.S. Marines and from 1965 until 1968 as a laborer at Amstan Supply, according to the lawsuit.

He claims he also worked from 1968 until 1973 as a malt blender at Kurth Malting, from 1973 until 1980 as a laborer at Portec and from 1980 until 2006 as a laborer at various locations.

Knoblauch 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.

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

Lung cancer hindered and prevented Knoblauch from pursuing his normal course of employment, according to the suit.

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

In the six-count lawsuit, Knoblauch seeks sums in excess of $50,000, punitive and exemplary damages in excess of $100,000 and compensatory damages in excess of $150,000, plus costs of the suit.

He also seeks punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish Ferris Kimball Company, Sprinkmann Sons Corporation, Sprinkmann Insulation and Young Insulation Group of St. Louis for their misconduct and to deter similarly situated parties from committing like acts of misconduct in the future.

He is represented by Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian & Associates in Alton.