Blevins
A man and his wife have filed an asbestos suit against 18 defendant corporations, claiming the asbestos-related disease with which the man was diagnosed was wrongfully caused.
Gilbert L. Harper worked as a painter, plumber, carpenter, fire investigator and in heating and air conditioning, where he says he was exposed to asbestos-containing products.
This is the second asbestos lawsuit Gilbert Harper and his wife, Bonita L. Harper, have filed against the companies. In their August lawsuit, the Harpers are claiming a different asbestos-related injury than in their prior complaint.
The couple claims the defendants failed to test the asbestos-containing products before they were introduced into the stream of commerce, according to a lawsuit filed Aug. 25 in Jefferson County District Court.
They say the defendant companies were negligent by failing to timely warn Gilbert Harper about the dangers of asbestos.
They state the companies also negligently continued to manufacture the products around which Gilbert Harper worked, even after they were aware of the asbestos danger, according to the lawsuit.
Named as defendants in the suit A.O. Smith Corporation, A.W. Chesterton Company, Babcock Borsig Power, CBS Corporation, Certainteed Corporation, Cleaver Brooks Inc., Crane Co., Crown Cork and Seal Company, General Refractors Company, Garlock, Georgia Pacific, Goulds Pumps, Ingersoll Rand, Kelly Moore Paint Co., Pneumo Abex Corporation, Sepco Corp. and Zurn Industries.
According to the suit, Gilbert Harper was unaware of the hazards and defects in the asbestos-containing products.
Because of his reliance on the companies, Gilbert Harper claims he has sustained damages including injury, illness and disability.
He has also suffered great physical pain and mental anguish, has incurred medical costs, suffers from a physical impairment and suffered a progressive loss of earning capacity, according to the complaint.
Bonita Harper has suffered the loss of Gilbert Harper's household services because of his sickness.
In the lawsuit, the couple is seeking unspecified actual and exemplary damages, plus costs, pre- and post-judgment interest and for other relief the Court deems appropriate.
They are represented by Bryan O. Blevins and Aaryn K. Giblin of Provost and Umphrey Law Firm in Beaumont.
The case has been assigned to Judge Donald Floyd, 172nd District Court.
Jefferson County District Court Case No. E184-778.