Lanier
Two more lawsuits have been added to the growing list of cases in St. Clair County's asbestos docket.
Jeraldeen Brumbaugh filed a lawsuit Oct. 26 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against 40 defendant companies on behalf of her recently deceased husband, Eddy Brumbaugh, while Helen Knapp of Washington filed a lawsuit against defendant companies on behalf of her recently deceased husband, Carl Knapp.
In Jeraldeen Brumbaugh's suit, she claims that Eddy Brumbaugh's exposure to asbestos began when he was a member of U.S. Navy from 1952 until 1955. He continued to be exposed to asbestos throughout his subsequent careers as a laborer at Premier Refinery from 1959 until 1960 and as a mudder and taper at various construction sites.
In Helen Knapp's complaint, she claims that Carl Knapp's exposure to asbestos began when he was a laborer for Western Pine Saw Mill from 1955 until 1959 and from 1961 until 1967. He continued to be exposed to asbestos fibers when he joined the U.S. Army from 1959 until 1961 and from 1962 until 1964 and when he worked as a cook, drywaller and laborer for Highland House Restaurant from 1968 until 1979 and as a residential construction worker from 1963 until 1978.
Both plaintiffs are represented by Randy L. Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian and Associates in Edwardsville. W. Mark Lanier, Patrick N. Haines, W. Casey Harris and M. Clay Fostel of The Lanier Law Firm in Houston will serve of counsel for Helen Knapp.
Jeraldeen Brumbaugh's complaint does not identify where she resides.
In their complaints, Jeraldeen Brumbaugh and Helen Knapp allege the defendant companies caused their husbands to develop lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma respectively after their exposures to asbestos-containing products throughout their careers.
The defendants should have known of the harmful effects of asbestos, but failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for Eddy Brumbaugh's and Carl Knapp's safety, the suits state.
As a result of his asbestos-related diseases, Eddy Brumbaugh passed away on May 29, the complaint says.
Carl Knapp died on July 1 because of his condition, his wife claims.
Before their deaths, Eddy Brumbaugh and Carl Knapp incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, the complaint says. In addition, they became prevented from pursuing their normal courses of employment and, as a result, lost large sums of money that would have accrued to them, their wives claim.
After their deaths, the families suing say they had to pay for their funeral and burial costs, according to the complaints.
In her 10-count complaint, Jeraldeen Brumbaugh seeks a judgment of more than $150,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $50,000 and economic damages of more than $200,000. She also seeks punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants and to deter similar conduct in the future.
In her six-count complaint, Helen Knapp seeks a judgment of more than $150,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000 and economic damages of more than $50,000. She also seeks punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants and to deter similar conduct in the future.