Blevins
Although Francis Champagne has already sued and received a settlement for his non-malignant asbestos-related disease, the local resident has filed a second suit alleging he now suffers from a different asbestos injury.
The suit was filed March 6 in Jefferson County District Court.
The defendants named in the suit are A.O. Smith, A.W. Chesterton, Bechtel Corp., CBS Corp., Certainteed Corp., Clever Books, D&F Distributing, Flour Enterprises, Flour Maintenance, Foster Wheeler Constructors, Foster Wheeler Corp., Foster Wheeler Energy, General Electric, Gould Pumps, Henry Vogt Machine, Longhorn Gasket & Supply, Metropolitan Life Insurance, Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing, Owens-Illinois, Riley Power, Sepco, Treco Construction, Union Carbide, Uniroyal Holdings, Washington Group International and Zurn Industries.
According to the lawsuit, Champagne works as a boilermaker and was exposed to asbestos products and asbestos fibers and dust, which caused him to suffer from asbestos-related diseases. No dates of employment are given.
The suit states this is Champagne's second asbestos suit for which he sues for a different malignant asbestos-related disease pursuant to Putejovsky v. Rapid American.
He has already settled his first claim with one or more of the defendants, according to the suit.
The defendants are accused of manufacturing, distributing and using asbestos products without warning workers of the dangers.
Champagne alleges the defendants acted with malice, entitling him to exemplary damages.
Beaumont attorney Bryan Blevins Jr. of Provost Umphrey represents him.
Judge Gary Sanderson, 6oth District Court, is assigned to the case.
Case No. B192-062