BELLEVILLE — A lung-cancer victim is suing International Paper, Albany International, Trane US, 3M Company and other asbestos-related companies, alleging that negligence and failure to warn led to his ailment.
Mark Coffey filed a complaint on May 31 in St. Clair County Circuit Court alleging the defendants failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that at various times during his employment from 1971 to 2004, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by the defendants. In October 2017, he first became aware that he developed lung cancer, an asbestos-induced disease.
The plaintiff alleges the defendants intentionally included asbestos fibers in their products though they knew 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 any further relief the court may deem just and equitable. He is represented by Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 18-L-384