Gori
Julian
Five more asbestos lawsuits have been added to the growing list of cases in St. Clair County's asbestos docket.
Charles Graham filed the ninth St. Clair County Circuit Court asbestos lawsuit of the year while John E. and Charlotte Williams filed the 10th, James and Donna Byrnes filed the 11th, Roger and Sybil Woods filed the 12th and Raleigh and Janet Yarberough filed the 13th. None of the plaintiffs besides Graham, who lives in Wisconsin, specify in which state they reside.
In their complaint filed March 12, the Yarberoughs allege 26 defendant companies caused Raleigh Yarberough to develop lung cancer after his exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout his career.
Raleigh Yarberough worked as a seaman in the U.S. Navy from 1956 until 1960, as a service worker at Gross Air Heating and Cooling from 1960 until 1969, as a machine operator at Service Heel Company from 1971 until 1975 and as a carpenter and mill operator in 1976, according to the complaint.
According to Charles Graham's March 12 complaint filed against nine defending companies, he says his recently deceased father, Richard Graham, developed lung cancer after his work as a motor machinist's mate in the U.S. Navy from 1943 until 1946 and as a telegrapher, switcher and dispatcher at Chicago Northwestern from 1946 until 1986.
Richard Graham, who was diagnosed with the disease Nov. 20, 2006, died Jan. 21, 2007, the suit states.
In The Williams' March 12 complaint against 13 defendant companies, John E. Williams claims to have developed lung cancer after his work as a laborer at Klossner Brothers from 1959 until 1960, as a carpenter at D&L Construction from 1960 until 1961, as a carpenter at Bauman Construction from 1962 until 1965, as a carpenter at L.J. McNeary from 1965 until 1969 and as a self-employed insulator from 1970 until 2008.
The Byrnes claim in their March 12 complaint that James Byrnes developed lung cancer after his work in the U.S. Army Reserves from 1960 until 1968 and as a wireman through IBEW Local I from 1964 until 2001. The Byrnes named 32 defendants in their complaint.
In their March 12 complaint against 13 defendants corporations, the Woods claim Roger Woods developed lung cancer after his work as stocker and cashier at Jitney Jungle from 1964 until 1967, as a deck hand at Brent Towing Company in 1968, as a pipefitter at various locations from 1967 until 1972 and as a handyman, installer, rebuilder and manager from 1972 until now.
The defendants should have known of the harmful effects of asbestos, but failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for the plaintiffs' or their deceased relative's safety, the suit states.
As a result of their asbestos-related diseases, the plaintiffs or their deceased relatives became disabled and disfigured, incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, the complaints say. In addition, they claim they became prevented from pursuing their normal course of employment and, as a result, lost large sums of money that would have accrued to them.
Charles Graham, Charlotte Williams, Donna Byrnes, Sybil Woods and Janet Yarberough claim they have been deprived of their family member's companionship and society because of the diseases.
In their six-count suit, the Yarberoughs seek a judgment of more than $100,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000, punitive damages in an amount to sufficiently punish the defendants for their behavior and other relief the court deems just.
In his six-count complaint, Charles Graham seeks a judgment of more than $200,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000 and punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants for their behavior.
In their six-count complaint, the Williams seek a judgment of more than $100,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000 and punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants for their behavior.
In their 10-count complaint, the Byrnes seek a judgment of more than $100,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000, economic damages of more than $150,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000 and punitive damages in an amount sufficient to deter the defendants from similar conduct in the future.
In their 10-count complaint, the Woods seek a judgment of more than $100,000, compensatory damages of more than $50,000, economic damages of more than $150,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000 and other relief the court deems just.
Randy L. Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian and Associates in Edwardsville will be representing all the plaintiffs.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case numbers: 10-L-123, 10-L-124,10-L-125,10-L-126, 10-L-127.