BELLEVILLE — The son of a deceased Illinois man has filed a lawsuit in St. Clair County Circuit Court claiming negligence in the alleged asbestos-related cancer death of his father.
Carl Rogers filed the lawsuit individually and as special administrator of the estate of his late father, Clifton Rogers.
The lawsuit names a number of defendants, including Allis-Chalmers Corp. Products Liability Trust, Armstrong Pumps, Aurora Pump Co. CBS Corp., Certain-Teed Corp., Crown Cork & Seal, Dow Chemical Co., FlowServe US Inc., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., Ford Motor Co., 3M Co., Union Carbide Corp., Uniroyal Inc. and others.
Clifton Rogers worked as a hydraulics fuel laborer at Allis-Chalmers in Deerfield from 1964-67. He then worked as a hydraulics laborer at Aircraft Engineering in 1968-69. From 1970-77, he was employed as a mechanic/operator at Weyerhaeuser, and from 1977-92 he was a laborer/oiler at Ideal Cement. From I992-96, Rogers was a driver at Milwood Trucking and from 1996-2002 as a laborer at Howard County Road Department.
The complaint alleges that during his career, Rogers was exposed to and inhaled, ingested or absorbed large amounts of asbestos fibers emanating from products he was working with and around that were produced, sold or distributed by the defendants named in the lawsuit.
The complaint also alleges that the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products failed to exercise reasonable care for the safety of Rogers and others.
According to the complaint, Rogers learned on Dec. 16, 2014, that he had developed lung cancer, which was allegedly the result of inhalation of asbestos fibers emanating from products manufactured by the defendants.
Rogers died on March 21, 2015. Prior to his death, the complaint notes that he was in pain and suffered mental anguish as a result of his contact with asbestos and the resulting lung cancer. It also contends that he incurred medical bills while seeking treatment and lost income when he could no longer work.
Moreover, the complaint notes that his family members have been deprived of their relationship with Rogers and they have been deprived of his financial support. They also incurred expenses for his funeral and burial.
The complaint also alleges conspiracy against Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. and Pneumo Abex Corp., alleging that the companies conducted research and knew the dangers of asbestos but failed to release that information to the public.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek compensatory damages 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 No. 17-L-68