BELLEVILLE — A widow is suing manufacturers, citing alleged negligence.
Mary Nichols, individually and as special representative of the estate of Jerry Nichols, deceased, filed a complaint Oct. 17 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against 4520 Corp. Inc., Bechtel Corp., Chicago Bridge & Iron Co. and others, alleging they failed to exercise reasonable care for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that during Jerry Nichols' employment from 1964 to 2012, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by defendants. On July 22, 2016, he became aware that he developed lung cancer, which the plaintiff claims was caused by asbestos exposure. He died on June 30.
The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible because they 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 requests a trial by jury and seeks damages of more than $50,000. She is represented by Randy L. Gori of Gori Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 17-L-610