Woman Sues 65 Companies over Asbestos-related Lung Cancer
A woman is suing 65 defendant corporations in an asbestos-related case.
Betty Ruth Rhodes has filed a lawsuit against the companies on January 6 in St. Clair County Circuit Court. The suit does not specify where Rhodes resides.
According to the complaint, the companies caused Rhodes to develop lung cancer by exposing her to asbestos-containing products throughout her career.
Rhodes worked as a laborer from 1958 until 1990 at Borg Warner in Illinois, at Speedway Manufacturing in Illinois and at Rhodes Camper Sale, the suit states.
Rhodes says she was also secondarily exposed to asbestos fibers through the work clothes of her father and husband. Her father worked as a laborer at International Harvester in Illinois and her husband worked as a millwright from 1956 until 1970 at Reynolds Metal Company, as a millwright at ITT from 1970 until 1972 and as a millwright at Alcoa from 1972 until 1992, the complaint states.
As a result of her asbestos-related illness, Rhodes became disabled and disfigured, incurred medical expenses and suffered immense physical pain and mental anguish, according to the lawsuit. Additionally, she lost large amounts of money that would have accrued to her, the plaintiff argues.
The nine-count lawsuit is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000, economic damages of more than $150,000 and punitive and exemplary damages of more than $150,000, plus other relief to which she might be entitled.
Family Seeks Exemplary Damages in Asbestos Case
The family of a deceased man is suing Chevron and Texaco, accusing that the companies exposed him to toxic asbestos fibers all through his career.
Doris Marze, the wife of late Robert Marze and her children have filed a lawsuit against the companies on 17th January in Jefferson County District Court.
According to the suit, Robert Marze was employed in the Port Arthur facility of Texaco, where he was allegedly exposed to asbestos, a known cancer-causing substance.
The dates of Marze’s employment are not specified in the lawsuit. It doesn’t specify his occupation either.
As a result of frequent exposure to asbestos, Marze developed pulmonary asbestosis and died from it on August 20.
The plaintiffs argue the companies knew for decades that asbestos can cause cancer, but still exposed their employees to the dangerous substance without warning them.
Marze’s family is seeking exemplary damages. Judge Milton Shuffield, 136th District Court, will preside over the case.
Men Indicted for Illegal Asbestos Removal
A Norfolk County grand jury indicted two men for allegedly removing asbestos from a Medway rental home without following state regulations for the process.
David Einis, 57, of Weston and Nicholas Pasquantonio, 41, were each indicted Thursday on two counts of violating the Massachusetts Clean Air Act. Einis is the owner of the single-family rental home. Pasquantonio is a Plainville-based heating contractor. These two allegedly failed to file a notice of asbestos removal with the state Department of Environmental Protection and to prevent asbestos emissions.
Pasquantonio was hired by Einis in early December 2010 to replace the boiler in the Medway home. Pasquantonio has no license to handle asbestos, according to the attorney general’s office. A press release from the office says Pasquantonio replaced the boiler without sealing off the basement.
After receiving a notification from the Medway Board of Health, the state Department of Environmental Protection inspected the home and discovered that asbestos had been improperly removed, causing asbestos fibers to be released into the air.
Airborne asbestos fibers can be easily breathed in. Inhalation of these fibers can result in severe respiratory problems and terminal diseases including cancer.
Gracedale Basement Closed After Asbestos Discovery
Northampton County closed part of Gracedale’s basement after the discovery of asbestos.
Segments of the southeast and southwest sections of the nursing home’s basement including the maintenance shop, break room and carpentry shop were closed by the County this month.
Asbestos fibers were detected at the surface level of those portions. However, the fibers were not airborne, according to Tom Harp, the Director of Administration.
The county is in anticipation of a final testing report to decide the scope of an asbestos abatement project.
Mesothelioma Killed Machinist
A woman died from mesothelioma that she developed after being exposed to asbestos fibers for more than 25 years during her career as a machinist, an inquest heard.
47-year-old Larraine Kirk died ten months after she was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma.
Mrs. Kirk felt stomach problems in January last year. In June, a tumor was found in her bowel.
Kirk worked as a machinist in the Gainsborough factory between 1980 and 1984, where she performed repairs on asbestos-lagged heating pipes. Deputy coroner Paul Smith concluded this must have been the source of Kirk’s disease.
Mesothelioma is a rare but deadly cancer. The only known reason for the development of the disease is asbestos exposure.
Mr. Paul Smith returned a verdict of death by industrial disease.
