BELLEVILLE — A widow has filed a lawsuit accusing a number of companies of exposing her husband to asbestos and citing alleged negligence.
Louise Beecham, individually and as special administrator of the estate of James Beecham, deceased, filed a complaint Feb. 27 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Armstrong International Inc., Crane Co., Weir Valves & Controls USA Inc. and others, alleging they failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges at various times during James Beecham's life, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by the defendants. On April 18, 2016, he first became aware that he developed lung cancer, an asbestos-induced disease, and that the disease was wrongfully caused, the complaint states. He died Oct. 11, 2016.
The plaintiff holds Armstrong International, Crane, Weir Valves & Controls USA 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 economic 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 18-L-144