North Carolina plaintiff files St. Clair County asbestos suit

George Norris filed an asbestos lawsuit in St. Clair County Circuit Court on Nov. 20 against 31 defendant corporations.

Norris will be represented by Randy L. Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian and Associates in Edwardsville.

In his complaint, Norris alleges the defendant companies caused him to develop lung cancer after his exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout his career. Norris lives in North Carolina.

Norris worked as a welder at Federal Paper Mill from 1956 until 1988, 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, Norris 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 complaint, Norris is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, economic damages of more than $150,000, compensatory damages of more than $150,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000 and punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish various defendants for their wrongdoing.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case number: 12-L-626.