BELLEVILLE — A former machinist is suing Union Pacific Railroad and other asbestos-related companies, saying their negligence led to his lung cancer.
Larry D. Howard filed a complaint on June 1 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against the defendants, alleging they breached their duties to exercise care and caution for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, Howard alleges that at various times from 1965 to 2005, he was exposed in the workplace to or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by the defendants. In April 2017, he first became aware that he developed lung cancer. Since then, he has suffered great pain and anguish and incurred heavy medical expenses.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants intentionally included asbestos fibers in their products despite knowing it had toxic, poisonous and highly deleterious effect to humans' health and failed to provide adequate warnings and instructions concerning the dangers of working with or around products containing asbestos fibers.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks compensatory damages of more than $50,000 and punitive damages. He is represented by Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 18-L-393