ST. LOUIS — Surviving heirs are suing BNSF Railway Co., Johnson & Johnson, Union Carbide Corp., and others, asbestos products manufacturers, alleging failure to warn and negligence.
Dorothy Haynes, Lorri Hamm, Kimberly Bunfill and Julia Garcia, as the surviving heirs of Sidney Haynes, deceased, filed a complaint on Jan. 23 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against the defendants alleging that they failed to exercise reasonable care and caution for the safety of others.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that at various time during Sidney Haynes' work as a brakeman from 1977 to 2008, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by the defendants. On Oct. 3, 2016, he first became aware that he had developed lung cancer, an asbestos-induced disease, and that the disease was wrongfully caused. He died on Oct. 2, 2016.
The plaintiffs hold BNSF Railway Co., Johnson & Johnson, Union Carbide Corp., and others responsible because they 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 plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment against the defendants in excess of $50,000. They are represented by Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1822-CC00153