BELLEVILLE — A couple is suing a number of companies, citing alleged failure to warn and negligence over asbestos exposure.
Louis R. Pestello Jr. and Donna Pestello filed a complaint March 7 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against The Dow Chemical Co., Honeywell International Inc., Union Carbide Corp. and others, alleging they breached their duties to exercise due care for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that at times during Louis Pestello's employment from 1958 to 2013, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by defendants. On March 30, he became aware that he developed lung cancer, which the plaintiffs claim is related to asbestos exposure.
The plaintiffs hold 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 plaintiffs seek compensatory damages of not less than $50,000. They are represented by Ethan A. Flint and Laci M. Whitley of Flint Law Firm LLC in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 18-L-160