Pipefitter Names 114 Defendants in Asbestos Suit

Friday, July 13th, 2007

A former pipefitter and welder who is dying from asbestos-caused mesothelioma has filed suit against 114 defendant corporations, alleging that his disease was wrongfully caused.

According to an article in the Madison County (IL) Record, James Weese worked as a pipefitter and welder from the early 1940s until the early 1990s at several locations throughout Illinois. Weese’s suit claims that during the course of his employment, he was “exposed to and inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed asbestos fibers emanating from certain products he was working with and around.”

Among the corporations named in the suit are many recognizable names, including Alcoa, CBS, Discount Auto Parts, Dow Chemical, Exxon Mobil, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Goodyear, Honeywell International, Ingersoll-Rand, John Crane, Owens-Illinois, Pabst Brewing, Sears and U.S. Steel.

“The plaintiff’s exposure and inhalation, ingestion or absorption of the asbestos fibers was completely foreseeable and could or should have been anticipated by the defendants,” the complaint states.

Weese also alleges that the defendants included asbestos in their products even when adequate substitutes were available and failed to provide any or adequate instructions concerning the safe methods of working with and around asbestos. He seeks damages to help pay for the cost of his treatment as well as punitive damages for pain and suffering.