An asbestos-related lawsuit has been filed in St. Clair County, Illinois. The suit, which names 14 defendant companies, was filed by a husband and wife who allege that the companies named are to blamed for the lung cancer that has afflicted the man. Aubrey and Olive Roach claim Aubrey Roach’s lung cancer, which was diagnosed with the disease in December 2008, was wrongfully caused by these companies.

According to court documents filed earlier this month in St. Clair County Circuit Court, Aubrey Roach worked from 1946 until 1949 for the U.S. Army and from 1949 until 1977 as a combat vehicle mechanic for Red River Army Depot. He alleges that it was this line of work that exposed him to asbestos which caused his lung cancer.

Exposure to asbestos can lead to lung cancer, as well as mesothelioma, a rare cancer that can affect the lungs or various tissues in the chest or abdominal cavity. The cancer can take decades to develop, but once diagnosed, the cancer has been known to kill some patients within mere months. Sadly, there is no cure for mesothelioma.

The Roaches allege the asbestos-related disease “disabled and disfigured” Mr. Roach. The couple argues that the husband’s exposure to asbestos was both foreseeable and preventable, and that the companies should have taken action to protect Mr. Roach.

The couple is seeking “sums in excess of $100,000, punitive and exemplary damages of more than $100,000 and compensatory damages in excess of $100,000”, according to local news sources.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 at 8:03 am and is filed under news. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Responses are currently closed, but you can trackback from your own site.