St. Clair asbestos suit names 41 defendant companies

Another asbestos lawsuit has been added to the growing list of cases in St. Clair County's asbestos docket.

Craig Hirsch filed a lawsuit in St. Clair County Circuit Court. Hirsch does not specify where he resides.

Hirsch is represented by Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian and Associates in Edwardsville. Erik Karst, J. Kyle Beale and Matthew T. Wright of Karst and von Oiste in Houston are of counsel.

In his complaint filed Sept. 12, Hirsch alleges 41 defendant companies caused him to develop lung cancer after his exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout his career.

Hirsch worked as a boiler tender for the U.S. Navy at the Chicago Training Center in Chicago from 1960 until 1962, as an operator at Ford Motor Co. from 1964 until 1966, as a repairman and operator at Ford Motor Co. from 1964 until 1966, as a repairman and operator at Detroit Diesel in Michigan from 1965 until 1983 and as a pipefitter for Consumers Power in Michigan in 1969, according to the complaint.

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 his asbestos-related diseases, Hirsch became disabled and disfigured, incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, the complaints say. In addition, 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, the plaintiffs claim.

In his five-count complaint, Hirsch is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus punitive and exemplary damages of more than $150,000 and compensatory damages of more than $50,000.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case numbers: 11-L-511.