ST. LOUIS – The widow of a man who died of lung cancer alleges the cancer was caused by exposure to asbestos during his life.
Susan K. Gnefkow filed a complaint on Sept. 6 in the St. Louis 22nd Judicial Circuit Court against A.K. Steel Corp., Colgate Palmolive Co., Fort Kent Holdings Inc., et al. alleging negligence and other counts.
According to the complaint, the plaintiff is the surviving spouse of Michael J. Gnefkow. She alleges that at various times during her late husband's career life in Kansas and Missouri, 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 March 27, the decedent received a post-mortem diagnosis of lung cancer, and that the disease was wrongfully caused.
The plaintiff holds A.K. Steel Corp., Colgate Palmolive Co., Fort Kent Holdings Inc. et al. responsible because the defendants allegedly 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 punitive damages of more than $75,000, plus costs and any further relief as the court deems just and proper. She 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 1822-CC11170