Occupational Diseases: More Asbestos-Silicosis Suits Filed

Four new lawsuits have been filed in Madison County on the behalf of two plaintiffs who say they were exposed to both asbestos and silica. Dale Hanabarger worked as a painter, plasterer, and sandblaster for Mark's Plastering and Cole Industrial Paint Service from 1973-2002. Hanabarger says he was diagnosed with bilateral asbestos-related pleural disease in 2005. Linda Arnold worked as a strand helper in Illinois from 1977-2005. She was diagnosed in 2006 with asbestosis.

Coon firm files another batch of asbestos-silicosis suits in Madison County

The plaintiffs say that because of their jobs they were exposed to and inhaled large amounts of asbestos fibers. The suits state that, "each defendant is amenable to suit in the State of Illinois by reason of having engaged in the mining, processing, and/or manufacturing, marketing, distribution of asbestos or asbestos-containing products or by reason of having placed the same into the stream of commerce for use in Illinois, and by reason of having committed tortuous acts against plaintiffs in Illinois." The suits may be challenged; in February 2005, U.S. District Judge Janis Graham of Texas said that thousands of lawsuits filed by people claiming illness from and asbestos exposure raised "great red flags of fraud."