ST. LOUIS – A former railroad worker alleges exposure to asbestos during his career caused him to develop cancer.
William Freis Jr. and Sonia Freis filed a complaint on Aug. 9 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against BNSF Railway Co., Borg-Warner Morse TEC LLC, General Gasket Corp. and United States Steel Corp. over allegations of strict liability, negligence and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that at various times during William Freis Jr.'s career from 1970 to 2012 at BNSF, Union Pacific Railroad and Wilson Certified Foods, he was exposed to and inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers emanating from certain products manufactured, sold, distributed or installed by defendants. The suit states that on or about May 19, 2017, he first became aware that he developed lung cancer, an asbestos-induced disease.
The plaintiffs hold the defendants 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 plaintiffs seek compensatory damages of more than $50,000, plus costs and any further relief as the court may deem just and proper. They are represented by Randy L. Gori of Gori, Julian & Associates PC in Edwardsville.
St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court case number 1822-CC10947