Several flooring companies seek to dismiss a man’s lawsuit alleging he developed Parkinson’s disease after years of working with chemicals in the flooring business.
Vince Stevison filed his lawsuit against Archer-Daniels-Midland Company, BASF Corporation, PPG Industries, PBF Holding Company LLC, Toledo Refining Company LLC, Harcross Chemicals Inc. and H.B. Fuller Construction Products, among others.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff worked for various flooring companies from 1965 through 2012, primarily in St. Clair County.
Each of the named defendants allegedly designed, manufactured or sold products containing solvents or substances that Stevison alleges he was exposed to, the suit states.
The plaintiff claims his nervous system was damaged as a result of the alleged exposures, which eventually led to his Parkinson’s disease.
Stevison filed several separate motions to voluntarily dismiss defendants Harcros Chemicals Inc., PBF Holding Company LLC and Toledo Refining Company LLC in January.
Defendant Tenneco Inc. filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on Jan. 19 through attorneys Thomas Orris, Matthew Pelikan and Ross Titzer of Williams Venker & Sanders in St. Louis.
“Plaintiff’s complaint contains absolutely no information that apprises Tenneco, Inc. of the nature and basis of Plaintiff’s causes of action and/or Plaintiff’s allegations against it,” the motion states.
The defendant argues that the complaint fails to identify specific allegations, including specific solvents or toxic chemicals or a specific time period for the alleged exposures.
“Instead of facts, Plaintiff merely sets forth bare, vague, and ambiguous conclusions,” the motion states.
Defendant Archer-Daniels-Midland Company filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on Jan. 19 through attorney Roger Rea of Foley & Mansfield in St. Louis.
The defendant argues that Stevison fails to state a cause of action because his complaint allegedly omits facts and specific information, which are necessary to properly make a defense.
“Plaintiff merely lumps all of the defendants into the conclusory allegations of the two counts in the Complaint without providing any factual information to support any of the conclusions,” the motion states.
Defendant H.B. Fuller Construction Products, Inc. filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on Jan. 19 through attorneys Tracy Jonathan Cowan and Reno Cova, III, of St. Louis.
The defendant also claims the plaintiff failed to make any specific allegations.
“Further, Plaintiff failed to assert any date of diagnosis or even any specific diagnosis attributable to his alleged exposure to organic solvents or toxic chemicals contained in a HBFCP product,” the motion states.
Circuit Judge Vincent Lopinot scheduled a motion hearing for Feb. 11 at 10:30 a.m.
The plaintiff seeks damages in excess of $250,000, plus court costs and attorney’s fees.
Stevison is represented by Tom Burcham III and Cook, Ysursa, Bartholomew, Brauer & Shevlin in Farmington, Mo.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 15-L-663