A Texas woman is blaming 31 defendant companies for the death of a man who allegedly developed a malignant asbestos-related injury after working around products manufactured by the companies.
Lynda Guillory filed a lawsuit Oct. 1 in Jefferson County District Court on behalf of Ameal Newman after she says he died from an asbestos-related disease.
Before his death, Newman filed an asbestos suit, but Guillory brings her complaint on allegations that Newman died from a different asbestos-related disease than was named in his previous lawsuit.
On Oct. 3, Guillory and the rest of Newman's children filed a separate asbestos suit against ExxonMobil.
The defending companies named in the complaint are: A.W. Chesterton, American Optical Corporation, Ametek, Inc., Bayer Cropscience, Bechtel Corporation, CBS Corporation, Certainteed Corporation, Coltec Industries, Crane Company, Crown, Cork and Seal Company, D&F Distributing, Dana Companies, Fluor Enterprises, Fluor Maintenance Services, Foster Wheeler Constructors, and Foster Wheeler Corporation.
Also Garlock Sealing Technologies, General Electric Corporation, General Refractories Company, Goulds Pumps, Henry Vogt Machine Company, Honeywell International, Industrial Holdings, Ingersoll-Rand Company, John Crane, 3M, Owens Illinois, Sepco Corporation, Treco Construction Services, Union Carbide Corporation and Uniroyal.
Guillory alleges the defendant companies caused Newman's disease because they failed to adequately test their products and failed to warn of the dangers of asbestos exposure.
At the time the products were manufactured, the defending companies knew of the hazards associated with asbestos but failed to remove their products from the market, according to the complaint.
Some defendant companies, such as 3M and American Optical Corporation, failed to provide Newman with adequate masks to protect him from the asbestos, while other businesses forced Newman to work in close proximity to asbestos, the suit states.
Because of his exposure to the asbestos fibers, Newman experienced pain, suffering, mental anguish, disfigurement, physical impairment and lost wages before his death, the complaint says.
Guillory claims she has incurred medical and funeral bills relating to Newman's death.
Guillory is seeking actual and exemplary damages, plus costs, pre- and post-judgment interest and other relief to which she may be entitled.
Bryan O. Blevins Jr. of Provost and Umphrey Law Firm in Beaumont is representing the plaintiffs.
The case has been assigned to Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court.
Jefferson County District Court case number: E185-046.