BELLEVILLE – A longtime laborer and his wife are suing over the man's alleged exposure to asbestos during his working life and the results of that alleged exposure. Among the counts are negligence and conspiracy.
George O. Machino Jr. and Jeri Machino filed the suit March 29 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Ameren Illinois Company, Borg-Warner Morse Tec LLC, Chevron USA Inc., Honeywell International and many other defendants listed.
The plaintiff worked from 1966 to 2012 and during that time was allegedly exposed to and inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed large amounts of asbestos fibers, the suit says.
On Oct. 9, 2015, the plaintiff was diagnosed with colon cancer, as asbestos-induced disease, according to the complaint.
Despite the defendants' duty to exercise care and caution for the safety of the plaintiff, the suit alleges they failed to do so in the following ways: including asbestos in their products when they should have known it is toxic and when adequate substitutes were available; not providing adequate warnings to those working around asbestos or adequate instructions concerning the safe methods of working with asbestos.
There are eight counts against the defendants for which the plaintiff seeks judgments in excess of $50,000 and other relief the court deems appropriate.
The final count is for loss of consortium, brought by plaintiff Jeri Machino, who claims she has been deprived of the companionship, society and services of her husband. She seeks an amount in excess of $50,000.
They are represented by Randy L. Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 16-L-177