Asbestos News Roundup: 9.16.11

September 16th, 2011. By LucyC

A roundup of recent asbestos-related news and information that you should be aware of. An ongoing list of reported asbestos hot spots in the US from the Asbestos News Roundup archive appears on our asbestos map.

Asbestos Lawsuits

St. Clair County, IL: A man from Illinois has filed an asbestos lawsuit naming 58 defendant companies that he alleges, caused his father, Joseph Paskauskas, to develop asbestos mesothelioma, resulting in his recent death.

Raymond Paskauskas alleges that his father was exposed to asbestos-containing products throughout his career as a machine repairman at Pullman Standard from 1947 until 1954, as a machine repairman at Continental Foundry in Chicago from 1951 until 1953, as a machine repairman at General Motors Fisher Body from 1950 until 1951 and from 1954 until 1956, as a machine repairman at Ford Motor Company from 1956 until 1986 and as a shade tree mechanic from the 1950s until 1980.

As a result of his asbestos-related illness, Joseph Paskauskas became disabled and disfigured, incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, the lawsuit states. Furthermore, as a result of his asbestos-related disease, Joseph was prevented from pursuing their normal course of employment and, as a result, lost large sums of money that would have accrued to them, Raymond Paskauskas Jr. claims.

Because of Joseph Paskauskas’s death, Raymond Paskauskas has been deprived of his family member’s love, services, companionship, comfort, instruction, guidance, counsel, training and support, according to the complaints.

Raymond Paskauskas is seeking economic damages of more than $200,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000, punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants and a judgment of more than $50,000. (madisonrecord.com)

St. Clair County, IL: Raymond R. Ridley filed an asbestos complaint against 28 defendant companies recently, alleging that they caused him to develop lung cancer resulting from his exposure to asbestos fibers during the course of his career.

Ridley was a tankman in the U.S. Army from 1960 until 1963, a laborer at General Motors from 1970 until 1975 and a carpenter, demolition worker, iron worker, electrician, asbestos abatement and laborer from 1975 until 2004. Ridley became disabled and disfigured, incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, the lawsuit states. Furthermore, he became unable to pursue his normal course of employment and, as a result, lost large sums of money that would have accrued to him, the lawsuit claims.

Ridley is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000 and compensatory damages of more than $100,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just. (madisonrecord.com)

Madison, IL: Leon and Catherine Zbigniewicz have filed an asbestos lawsuit claiming that Mr. Zbigniewicz developed lung cancer after his work as an equipment mechanic in the U.S. Air Force from 1952 until 1972, as a laborer from 1972 until 1974, as a laborer at Portage Power Plant from 1973 until 1974, as a laborer at Kenosha Power Plant in 1974, as a laborer from 1974 until 1977 and as a maintenance mechanic from 1980 until 1995.

The lawsuit claims that the defendants should have known of the harmful effects of asbestos, but failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for the plaintiff’s safety.

Leon Zbigniewicz became disabled and disfigured, incurred medical costs and suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, the lawsuit states. Further, he became unable to pursue his normal course of employment and, as a result, lost large sums of money that would have accrued to him, he claims.

In their three-count complaint, the Zbigniewiczes are seeking a judgment of more than $100,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000, compensatory damages of more than $100,000 and punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants. (madisonrecord.com)

St. Clair County, IL: Robert H. Bromley, a former railroad worker, has filed a lawsuit against Consolidated Rail Corporation and American Premier Underwriters, alleging that he fears contracting mesothelioma.

Bromley alleges he worked as a trainman, flagman, brakeman and conductor for Consolidated Rail Corporation from 1952 until 1995, and that during his career he was exposed to asbestos dust and fibers, silica dust and coal dust, according to the lawsuit. Further, he blames the defendants for negligently failing to provide him with a safe place to work, for failing to provide him with safe tools, for failing to warn him of products containing asbestos, for failing to operate the locomotive repair facility in a safe manner and for failing to provide him instructions on the safe use of asbestos products, among other negligent acts.

Because of Bromley’s work, he suffered great pain, extreme nervousness and mental anguish and lost his earnings and earning capacity, he claims in this suit. In addition, Bromley’s ability to render services, society, affection, counseling and support to his family has been diminished; his life expectancy has shortened; and his ability to enjoy life has been impaired, the complaint says. He also fears that he will develop mesothelioma in the future.

Bromley is seeking a judgment of more than $25,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just. (madisonrecord.com)

St. Clair County, IL: Wallace Holtzclaw has filed a lawsuit against his former employer because he fears that his exposure to asbestos throughout his career will lead to his contracting asbestos mesothelioma.

Holtzclaw claims he worked as a roundhouse laborer, shop laborer, trackman and track foreman for defendant Norfolk Southern Railway Company from 1951 until 1991, and that throughout that period he was exposed to asbestos dust or fibers, silica dust and coal dust, which has caused him to contract an unspecified asbestos-related disease. He also claims that because of his inhalation of the chemicals, he suffered from extreme nervousness and mental anguish and incurred medical costs, the lawsuit states. In addition, he lost earnings and his earning capacity; experienced a diminished ability to render services, society, affection, counseling and support to his family; and has a shortened life expectancy, the lawsuit states.

Holtzclaw blames Norfolk Southern for causing his distress, saying the railroad negligently failed to provide instructions on the safe use of asbestos, failed to test materials prior to employees’ exposure to them and failed to provide him with safe ventilation systems.

Holtzclaw is seeking a judgment of more than $50,000, plus costs and other relief the court deems just. (madisonrecord.com)

Tags: Asbestos, Asbestos Mesothelioma, asbestos_mesothelioma

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