BELLEVILLE — A husband and wife are suing Borg-Warner and dozens of other businesses that used asbestos products, alleging failure to warn and negligence.
Donald Harkreader and Clara Harkreader filed a complaint Dec. 10 in St. Clair County Circuit Court against Borg-Warner Morse TEC LLC, and dozens of defendants, alleging failure to exercise due care and caution for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, at various times during Donald Harkreader's career, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by the defendants. On Dec. 16, 2016, the suit says, he first became aware that he had developed mesothelioma, an asbestos-induced disease, and, subsequently, learned that the disease was wrongfully caused.
Clara Harkreader says she has suffered loss of consortium, society and service of her husband.
The plaintiffs allege the defendants intentionally included asbestos fibers in their products when they knew it had toxic, poisonous and highly deleterious effects to human health and that they failed to provide adequate warnings and instructions concerning the dangers of working with or around products containing asbestos fibers.
The Harkreaders seek trial by jury, compensatory and punitive damages of more than $50,000, plus any further appropriate relief. They are represented by attorney Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Clair County Circuit Court Case number 18-L-794