BELLEVILLE — A welder's death prompted his widow to pursue litigation against several manufacturing companies.
Doris Hughes, wife of Vernon Hughes, filed a complaint on Aug. 9 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against several companies, including BP Products North America, Cooper Crouse-Hinds and United States Steel Corporation, alleging negligent asbestos exposure.
According to the complaint, Vernon worked with products containing asbestos made by the companies throughout his working life as a welder. Earlier this year, Vernon was diagnosed with lung cancer, the complaint states. He died in April. His widow claims the defendants negligently included asbestos fibers in their products when adequate substitutes were available and failed to provide adequate warnings.
Hughes requests a trial by jury and seeks damages of more than $50,000. She is represented by Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian & Associates in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court case number 18-L-533