A Missouri woman has filed an asbestos suit on behalf of her recently deceased husband against 88 defendant corporations, claiming the mesothelioma with which he was diagnosed was wrongfully caused.
Dawn Koch claims Stephen Koch was diagnosed with the disease June 13, 2007, and died Aug. 7, 2007, according to a lawsuit filed Sept. 15 in Madison County Circuit Court.
Dawn says her husband worked from 1982 until 1984 as a laborer at various locations throughout Illinois and Missouri, according to the lawsuit.
Dawn states Stephen's exposure was foreseeable and should have been anticipated by the defendants, according to the lawsuit.
She claims his disease was caused after he was exposed to and inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed asbestos fibers.
Dawn alleges the asbestos-related disease caused the couple to incur substantial medical costs. Stephen also experienced great physical pain and mental anguish as a result of the disease, Dawn claims in the lawsuit.
Mesothelioma hindered and prevented Stephen from pursuing his normal course of employment, according to the suit.
As a result, he lost large sums of money, Dawn claims.
Because of Stephen's death, his family has been deprived of his support and has lost his society, the suit states.
His family spent substantial amounts on funeral and burial costs, according to the complaint.
In the seven-count lawsuit, Dawn seeks sums in excess of $200,000 and compensatory damages in excess of $150,000.
She 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.
She is represented by Nicholas J. Angelides of Simmonscooper LLC in East Alton.
Missouri woman sues 88 for husband's mesothelioma death
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY