A former professional insulator in Jacksonville is seeking $1.75 million from 23 separate companies he contends over the years exposed him to dozens of products that contained asbestos without being warned of its hazardous nature.
Rex Hill said he was employed as an insulator from 1968 to 2010. He was diagnosed this year with the disease asbestosis. The chronic inflammatory condition affects the tissue in the lungs and puts sufferers at a higher risk of mesothelioma and other lung diseases, according to the National Cancer Institute. The disease can take decades to manifest itself.
Hill claims in a lawsuit filed Thursday in Morgan Circuit Court that the disease was a result of years of exposure to various products.
Among the allegations is that Pneumo Abex, Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., Owens-Illinois and Honeywell International conspired to keep employees unaware of the dangers in working around asbestos.
The lawsuit contends pamphlets detailing the safe handling of asbestos did not contain information that the material can cause serious disease and that products produced and bought from the named companies also did not include any such warnings.
Two of the five counts outlined in the civil action are against companies Sprinkmann Sons, Union Carbide, Georgia-Pacific, John Crane Inc., Owens-Illinois, Brand Insulations, Mechanical Insulation Co., Trane U.S., Weil McLain, General Electric and CBS Corp. Each was in the business or owned holdings in the business of manufacturing or selling products containing asbestos, according to the claim.
Hill contends his illness was a result of each company’s negligence or willful action. He claims that the companies were aware of the serious dangers of working with asbestos but did not inform employees.
The lawsuit — which presents only one side of a claim — also names Ameren Illinois, Archer-Daniels-Midland, Bridgestone Americas, Caterpillar, Commonwealth Edison, Dynegy Power, Exelon, NiSource and Tate & Lyle Ingredients.
Hill is seeking damage from these companies on claims that he worked at job sites owned by them where he was required to work with and around materials containing asbestos without any proper safety equipment.
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