BELLEVILLE — A widow is suing a number of companies, claiming they failed to warn about the risks of working near asbestos.
Bertha Barrett, individually and as special administrator of the estate of Willie Barrett, deceased, filed a complaint March 12 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against BMW Constructors Inc., Certain-Teed Corp., Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. and others, alleging they failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that while Willie Barrett's was working, he was exposed to asbestos fibers in certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by the defendants. On May 16, he found out he had lung cancer, and he died July 8, 2017. The suit claims the cancer was an asbestos-induced disease, and that the disease was wrongfully caused.
The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible because they allegedly negligently included asbestos fibers in their products instead of adequate substitutes and didn't give adequate warnings and instructions about the dangers of working around products containing asbestos fibers.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory and punitive 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-178