Two new suits added to St. Clair County asbestos docket

Another two asbestos lawsuits have been added to St. Clair County’s asbestos docket.

Colin Crumpton filed an asbestos lawsuit Nov. 5 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against 75 defendant corporations while Lavail Gulledge filed another one Nov. 5 against 68 defendant corporations on behalf of her father, Bobby Gulledge. Crumpton does not specify where he resides, but Lavail Gulledge says she lives in Vancleave, Miss.

Both Crumpton and Lavail Gulledge are represented by Randy L. Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian and Associates in Edwardsville.

In their complaints, Crumpton and Lavail Gulledge allege the defendant companies caused them or their deceased relatives to develop lung cancer after their exposure to asbestos-containing products throughout their careers.

Crumpton worked as an electrician aboard the USS Stribling-DD867  from 1962 until 1964, as an electrician at Georgia Power Harllee from 1964 until 1965, as an electrician at Brosman Yard Rail Road from 1964 until 1966, as an electrician at Sinclair Office Building in 1967, as an electrician at Georgia Kraft in 1968 and as an electrician at Pabst Blue Ribbon Refinery from 1968 until 1970, according to the complaint.

Bobby Gulledge worked as a boiler tender in the U.S. Navy from 1955 until 1958, as a self-employed mechanic from 1958 until 1975, as a pipefitter at Ingall’s Shipyard from 1975 until 1979 and from 1985 until 2001, as a pipefitter at BAE Systems Shipyard from 1979 until 1980, as a pipefitter at Avondale Shipyard from 1980 until 1983 and as a self-employed roofer from 1983 until 1984.

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 their asbestos-related diseases, Crumpton and Bobby Gulledge 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 addition, Gulledge died on Aug. 4, 2012, according to the complaint.

In his 11-count complaint, Crumpton is seeking a judgment of more than $200,000, economic damages of more than $150,000, compensatory damages of more than $50,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000 and other relief the court deems just.

In her complaint, Lavail Gulledge is seeking economic damages of more than $200,000, a judgment of more than $100,000, punitive and exemplary damages, compensatory damages of more than $100,000 and other relief the court deems just.

St. Clair County Circuit Court case numbers: 13-L-564, 13-L-563.