ST. LOUIS — A widow is suing multiple corporations for allegedly using asbestos products that are harmful to people working around it.
Betty Jo Ann Atwell McMahan, individually and as representative of the heirs and estate of Ralph McMahan, deceased, filed a complaint Sept. 5 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against 3D Co.; American Honda Motor Co. Inc.; Borgwarner Morse Tec Inc., et al., alleging that the defendants failed to know that asbestos fibers contained in their products had negative effects on the health of people inhaling, ingesting or absorbing it.
According to the complaint, Betty Jo Ann Atwell McMahan alleges that between 1957 and 1980, her husband, Ralph McMahan, worked as a laborer and was exposed to and inhaled, ingested or absorbed large amounts of asbestos fibers from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by the defendants. He was diagnosed with lung cancer, which allegedly led to his death on Sept. 2, 2014.
As a result, Betty Jo Ann Attwell claims she became liable for hospital and funeral expenses and has been deprived of the companionship of her husband.
The plaintiff holds the defendants responsible for allegedly including asbestos in their products when adequate substitutes were readily available and failed to provide adequate warnings to people working with and around the products of the dangers of inhaling, ingesting or otherwise absorbing the asbestos fibers in them.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks actual and compensatory damages, with punitive and exemplary damages against each company separately in an amount in excess of $25,000. She is represented by Laci M. Whitley of Flint Law Firm LLC in Edwardsville, Illinois, and Jason M. Ministrelli and Erik P. Karst of Karst & Von Oiste LLP in Houston.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1722-CC11278