BELLEVILLE — A maintenance worker is suing a railway company, alleging that its negligence surrounding employees' asbestos exposure led to his cancer diagnosis.
Timothy Latimer filed a complaint on May 5 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against CSX Transportation Company alleging violation of the Federal Employer's Liability Act.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that, between 1976 and 1988, while employed with defendant, plaintiff was exposed to asbestos and other toxic substances which caused him to develop bladder cancer and/or prostate cancer with diagnosis in 2016. As a result, Latimer claims he suffered great pain, loss of enjoyment of life, mental anguish and medical expenses.
The plaintiff holds CSX responsible because the defendant allegedly failed to provide employees a reasonably safe place to work, failed to warn Latimer of the true nature and hazardous effects of the asbestos and failed to conduct adequate, if any, industrial hygiene, epidemiological or medical studies related to asbestos and its effect on employees.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks judgment in an amount in excess of $50,000, plus costs of suit and other further relief as the court may deem just and proper. He is represented by William P. Gavin and Catherine E. Gavin of Gavin Law Firm and Ryan Brennan of The Brennan Law Firm PC, both of Belleville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 17-L-249