BELLEVILLE – A former laborer and teacher alleges exposure to asbestos caused him to develop lung cancer.
Michael Rich-Bey filed a complaint on Nov. 3 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against American Premier Underwriters Inc., Dap Products Inc., Ford Motor Corp., et al. alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that at various times during his employment as a laborer/teacher from 1971 to 2013, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by defendants. He also alleges he was secondarily exposed to asbestos through his mother. The suit states on or about Nov. 4, 2015, he first became aware that he developed lung cancer, an asbestos-induced disease, and that the disease was wrongfully caused.
The plaintiff holds American Premier Underwriters Inc., Dap Products Inc., Ford Motor Corp., and others 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 compensatory, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $50,000. He is represented by Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 17-L-644