Lung cancer asbestos case filed in St. Clair County

Another asbestos lawsuit has been added to St. Clair County’s asbestos docket.

Ronald and Linda Ogletree filed an asbestos lawsuit July 1 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against 29 defendant corporations. The Ogletrees do not specify where they reside.

They are represented by Randy L. Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian and Associates in Edwardsville.

In their complaint, the Ogletrees allege the defendant companies caused Ronald Ogletree to develop lung cancer after his exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout his career.

Ronald Ogletree worked in the U.S. Army from 1963 until 1967, as a mail sorter in the civil service from 1967 until 1970, as a laborer and control room operator at Honeywell from 1970 until 2001 and performed occasional home remodeling repairs, 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 diseases, Ronald Ogletree became disabled and disfigured, incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, the complaint says. In addition, he was prevented from pursuing his normal course of employment and, as a result, lost large sums of money that would have accrued to him, the plaintiff claims.

In their 10-count complaint, the Ogletrees are seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, economic damages of more than $200,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000, punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants, plus costs and other relief the court deems just.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case numbers: 13-L-334.