Farrise
Another asbestos lawsuit has been added to the growing list of cases in St. Clair County's asbestos docket.
Ray and Bobbie Ruth Lewis of Illinois filed an asbestos lawsuit Oct. 17 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against 17 defendant companies.
The Lewises are represented by Staci M. Yandle of the Law Offices of Staci M. Yandle in O'Fallon. Simona A. Farrise of Farrise Firm in Los Angeles will serve of counsel.
In their complaint, the Lewises allege the defendant companies caused Ray Lewis to develop lung cancer after his exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout his career.
Ray Lewis worked as a laborer in the U.S. Army from 1965 through 1968 and as a motor and assembly line worker, welder, body shop worker and laborer at General Motors from 1968 through 1999, according to the complaint. He also performed auto repair work from the 1960s through the 1970s, the suit states.
The defendants should have known of the harmful effects of asbestos, but failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for the plaintiffs' safety, the suit states.
Because of his disease, Ray Lewis became disabled and disfigured, incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, the complaint says. In addition, he became prevented from pursuing his normal course of employment and, as a result, lost large sums of money that would have accrued, the plaintiff claims.
In their four-count complaint, the Lewises are a judgment of more than $150,000 and punitive and exemplary damages of more than $50,000.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-584.