Mesothelioma Victims File Suit Against Asbestos Companies in Illinois

Dealing with the aftereffects of asbestos exposure is an exhausting and tragic business, as those who find themselves forced to file lawsuits in an attempt to claim compensation may often attest. Four new asbestos-related lawsuits recently filed in Madison County, Illinois means four new victims have been profoundly affected by exposure to the toxic substance.

One of the four involves secondary asbestos exposure. Missouri woman Kristy Ritz claims she was exposed to asbestos fibers from work clothing worn by her father and grandfather. The lawsuit, filed on September 17 in Madison County Circuit Court with the direction of a mesothelioma lawyer, claims that Ritz has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and that the disease was wrongfully caused.

The seven-count lawsuit filed by Kristy and Robert Ritz is seeking at least $100,000 in punitive and exemplary damages, and at least $150,000 in compensation.

A second suit was filed by Wisconsin woman Linda Lyon, who claims her malignant mesothelioma was wrongfully caused and developed after she worked in various jobs (between 1978 and 2006 ), including as an assembly line worker, packager, and dashboard hanger. She also claims to have suffered secondary exposure as a result of a family member having worked as an iron worker who unknowingly transporting asbestos fibers home on work clothing.

Lyon’s two-count lawsuit asks for at least $50,000 in compensation for her mental and physical suffering, loss of income, and medical expenses, as well as punitive damages.

Louisiana man George Harrigan is another plaintiff who claims to have suffered mesothelioma as a result of working with and around asbestos. Between 1943 and 1979 he worked as an electrician, laborer, and quality control specialist at various locations. According to his lawsuit, he worked with or around inhalable asbestos fibers, which caused him to develop mesothelioma.

The two-count lawsuit seeks at least $50,000 in compensation for mental and physical suffering, loss of income, and medical expenses. In addition, Harrigan’s suit asks for punitive damages, which effectively punish the defendants for their misconduct.

A fourth suit is brought by Illinois resident Mary Zerkle, who was diagnosed with mesothelioma in May. According to the lawsuit filed on September 17, she suffered secondary asbestos exposure from 1950 onwards, when her father worked for Pabst Brewery as a machinist and transported asbestos fibers to the family home on work clothing.

As a result, Mary Zerkle claims, she has suffered mental and physical pain and has incurred medical expenses and suffered loss of income and earning capacity. Her eight-count lawsuit asks for at least $100,000 in exemplary damages and at least $200,000 in compensatory damages.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, September 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pm and is filed under Asbestos Litigation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.