Gori
Another suit has been added to the growing list of cases in St. Clair County's asbestos docket.
Larry Southerland filed an asbestos lawsuit in St. Clair County Circuit Court on Dec. 6 against 22 defendant corporations. Southerland does not specify where he resides.
Southerland will be represented by Randy L. Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian and Associates in Edwardsville.
In his complaint, Southerland alleges the 22 defendant companies caused him to develop lung cancer after his exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout his career.
The complaint does not indicate where Southerland resides, however it states that he worked as a drywall installer in the Atlanta area at Garner Drywall from 1974 until 1980 and as a drywall installer at Davco Construction from 1980 until 1993, 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 plaintiff's safety, the suit states.
As a result of his asbestos-related disease, Southerland 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 to him, he claims.
In his five-count complaint, Southerland is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000 and punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000, plus other relief the court deems just.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 11-L-667.