BELLEVILLE – The widow of a laborer is suing dozens of companies, alleging his premature death was due to exposure to asbestos during his working life.
Jeannie Bradshaw, individually and as special administrator of the estate of Lawrence D. Bradshaw, filed the lawsuit Jan. 25 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against a list of defendants that includes Certain-Teed Corporation, Reynolds Metals Company, Union Carbide Corporation and Warren Pumps Inc., as well as Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., alleging willful and wanton conduct and fraudulent misrepresentation.
According to the complaint, Lawrence Bradshaw worked from 1963 to 1985 as a laborer/operations/assistant pipefitter/heater cleaner at Reynolds Metals Company. During the course of his work, the suit says, he was exposed to, inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed large amounts of asbestos fibers emanation from certain products he was working with and around.
That exposure occurred at different times, the lawsuit says, and not necessarily throughout the deceased's entire career nor specific to any defendant.
On May 12, 2015, the deceased became aware he had developed lung cancer, an asbestos-induced disease, which led to his death Aug. 18, 2015, the suit states.
Before Bradshaw died, the complaint says he spent large sums of money for medical treatment, experienced great physical pain and mental anguish, and was hindered from working and earning a salary, which would have accrued to him and his estate. His family has been deprived of his means of support and his estate had to pay for his funeral and burial, the suit says.
The count against Metropolitan Life is for conspiracy because, the suit alleges, the company knew about the dangers of asbestos exposure yet for decades did not disclose that information.
Jeannie Bradshaw seeks compensatory and punitive damages of at least $50,000 from each of the defendants as the counts apply to them. She is represented by attorneys Randy Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 16-L-41