BELLEVILLE — A widow blames a group of manufacturers for allegedly exposing her husband to asbestos.
Doris Hughes, on behalf of the estate of Vernon Hughes, filed a complaint on Aug. 9 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against several companies, including Atlantic Richfield Company, BP Products and Trane US Inc.
According to the complaint, Vernon inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold or distributed by defendants. He learned of his lung cancer in February and died two months later, the complaint states. The plaintiff holds the companies responsible allegedly negligently included asbestos fibers in their products when adequate substitutes were available.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks 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-533