BELLEVILLE – A widow alleges her husband's death was caused by lung cancer from exposure to asbestos.
Carolyn Payne, individually and as special administrator of the estate of Rodney Payne, deceased filed a complaint on July 27 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against AK Steel Corp., Atlantic Richfield Co., Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Inc., et al. alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that various times during Rodney Payne's employment from 1974 to 1986, he was exposed to and inhaled asbestos fibers from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by defendants. As a result, he was diagnosed with lung cancer on Nov. 3, 2016, and died on Jan. 16, 2017, the suit states.
The plaintiff holds AK Steel Corp., Atlantic Richfield Co., Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations Inc., et al. responsible because the defendants allegedly negligently included asbestos fibers in their products when adequate substitutes were available and failed to provide adequate warnings and instructions concerning the dangers of working with or around products containing asbestos fibers.
The plaintiff seeks economic damages of more than $50,000. She is represented by Randy L. Gori and Barry Julian of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 17-L-401