BELLEVILLE — A widow claims a number of companies failed to warn about the dangers of asbestos.
Emma Hamilton, individually and as special administrator of the estate of Rephah Hamilton, deceased, filed a complaint April 6 in the St. Clair County Circuit Court against Arvinmeritor Inc., Crane Co., 3M 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 during Rephah Hamilton's life, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by defendants. On May 11, 2016, he found out he had lung cancer. The complaint alleges the cancer was induced by asbestos and was wrongfully caused. He died on Jan. 1, 2017. The plaintiff holds Arvinmeritor Inc., Crane, 3M and others responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to provide adequate warnings and instructions about the risks of working around products containing asbestos fibers and negligently included asbestos fibers in their products when adequate substitutes were available.
The plaintiff seeks compensatory 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-249