A Kentucky woman has filed an asbestos suit on behalf of her recently deceased husband against 149 defendant corporations, claiming the mesothelioma with which her husband was diagnosed was wrongfully caused.
Eloise Heep claims Zelba Leon Heep was diagnosed with the disease Nov. 27, 2007, and died on Jan. 10, according to a lawsuit filed Oct. 22 in Madison County Circuit Court.
Eloise says her husband worked from 1961 until 1963 with the U.S. Navy and from 1968 until 2006 as a boilermaker with Local 40 in Kentucky, according to the lawsuit.
Eloise states Zelba'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.
Eloise alleges the asbestos-related disease caused Zelba to incur substantial medical costs. Zelba also experienced great physical pain and mental anguish as a result of the disease, Eloise claims in the lawsuit.
Mesothelioma hindered and prevented Zelba from pursuing his normal course of employment, according to the suit.
As a result, he lost large sums of money, Eloise claims.
Because of Zelba'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 addition, Eloise has been deprived of Zelba's companionship, society and services.
In the 11-count lawsuit, Eloise seeks sums in excess of $200,000, economic damages in excess of $150,000 and compensatory damages in excess of $150,000.
She 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.
She is represented by Elizabeth V. Heller and Robert Rowland of Goldenberg, Heller, Antognoli, Rowland and Short in Edwardsville.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 08-L-986
Kentucky woman sues 149 corporations in Madison County
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