ST. LOUIS — A former mechanic is suing CertainTeed Corp., A.O. Smith Corp., Ajax Magnethermic Corp. and others, alleging that their negligence led to his contracting an asbestos-related disease.
Jerry A. Solovitz filed a complaint on Oct. 23, in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against the defendants, alleging that they failed to exercise reasonable care for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that, in the course of his employment from 1972 to 1992, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by defendants. On Aug. 23, 2017, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos-induced disease, according to the complaint. He has suffered great pain and mental anguish, lost earnings, loss of enjoyment of life and will have a shortened life-span, the lawsuit states.
The plaintiff holds CertainTeed Corp., A.O. Smith Corp., Ajax Magnethermic Corp. and others responsible because the defendants allegedly included asbestos fibers in their products when adequate substitutes were available and failed to provide adequate warnings and instructions concerning the dangers of working with or around products containing asbestos fibers.
The plaintiff requests a trial by jury and seeks damages in excess of $25,000, litigation costs and any other relief deemed proper by the court. He is represented by Andrew A. O'Brien, Christopher J. Thoron, Bartholomeew J. Baumstark, Gerald J. FitzGerald and Adam J. Reynolds of O'Brien Law Firm PC in St. Louis.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court Case number 1722-CC11571