Scott Carlile
MARSHALL - An East Texan is suing several of his former employers claiming he was exposed to airborne asbestos fibers during his employment which resulted in his diagnosis of asbestos-related disease. and mild interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.
Billy F. Wall and his wife, Sandra, filed suit against A.W. Chesterton Co., Cleaver-Brooks Co. Inc., Goulds Pumps Inc., Shreveport Rubber & Gasket and J. Graves Insulation Co. Inc. on March 28 in the Eastern District of Texas, Marshall Division.
Wall worked in maintenance as a pipefitter, welder and insulator at the Longhorn Army Ammunition Plant in Harrison County from approximately 1974 to 1996. Wall states he was exposed to asbestos fibers on a daily basis as his job duties required him to remove asbestos insulation from piping and install new asbestos insulation.
In June 2010, Wall was diagnosed with colon cancer and was treated through surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. In 2011, he was diagnosed with asbestos-related pleural disease and mild interstitial pulmonary fibrosis.
According to the allegations, the asbestos, asbestos fibers and asbestos-containing products were manufactured, distributed and supplied by defendants J. Graves Insulation Co., A.W. Chesterton and Shreveport Rubber & Gasket.
The defendants are accused of failing to warn of the dangers regarding exposure to asbestos, failing to test their products, failing to instruct consumers of proper safety measures to reduce or eliminate exposure and failing to properly package their products so that all warnings and instructions were prominently displayed.
"Billy F. Wall was unaware of and completely innocent of the wrongful conduct of the Defendants and ignorant of the dangers and hazards to which he was exposed," the lawsuit states.
Billy Wall is seeking damages for medical expenses, mental anguish, impairment, loss of enjoyment, physical pain and suffering, disfigurement and court costs. Sandra Wall is seeking damages for mental anguish and loss of consortium.
The plaintiffs are represented by D. Scott Carlile, Bruce Craig and Casey Q. Carlile of Carlile Craig in Marshall.
U.S. District Judge T. John Ward is assigned to the case.
Case No. 2:11-cv-00196