BELLEVILLE – A Tennessee couple has filed suit against several manufacturers over allegations asbestos exposure caused the wife to develop lung cancer.
Janice Hickman and Walter Hickman filed a complaint on Dec. 5 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Bechtel Corp., Buffalo Air Handling, Certain-Teed Corp., et al. alleging negligence.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that at various times during Janice Hickman's employment from 1972 to 2005, she was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by defendants. The suit states that on or about Sept. 6, 2017, she first became aware that she developed lung cancer, an asbestos-induced disease, and that the disease was wrongfully caused.
The plaintiffs holds Bechtel Corp., Buffalo Air Handling, Certain-Teed Corp., and others responsible because the defendants allegedly intentionally 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 plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek damages of more than $50,000. They are represented by Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 17-L-721