ST. LOUIS — A former laborer is suing a number of asbestos products manufacturers, citing alleged negligence.
Douglas A. Ballard filed a complaint on Nov. 8 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against Certainteed Corp., A.W. Chesterton Inc., Armstrong International Inc., et al, alleging that they failed to exercise reasonable care for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff alleges that, during the course of his employment from 1960 to 1982, he was exposed to asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by the defendants. He also alleges that he was secondarily exposed to asbestos fibers through his father; and on Sept. 3, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma, an asbestos-induced disease, which was wrongfully caused.
The plaintiff holds Certainteed Corp., A.W. Chesterton Inc., Armstrong International Inc., et al responsible because the defendants allegedly negligently 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 judgment against the defendants, jointly and severally, for damages of more than $25,000, punitive damages, costs of this suit, and any other relief the court may deem just and proper. He is represented by Andrew A. O'Brien, Christopher J. Thoron, Bartholomew 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-CC11700