Suit alleges 12 companies responsible for man's death from mesothelioma

GALVESTON - Twelve companies face a lawsuit following a former oil refinery operator's death from mesothelioma, recent court documents show.

The offspring of the late John Biondo launched the litigation against the defendants, chief among them General Electric Co. and CBS Corp., in Galveston County District Court on Nov. 4.

Biondo was employed at the Texas City Refining Inc. facilities from 1954 to 1994.

According to the original petition, he was "exposed to asbestos dust and/or fibers" during his course of employment, specifically prior to 1980.

"As a result of his exposure to asbestos dust and/or fibers while employed by Texas City Refining Inc. John Biondo contracted asbestos-related mesothelioma which ultimately took his life," the suit says.

It asserts there were defects in the design and marketing of "the defendants' asbestos-containing products and/or machinery at the time they left the possession of the defendants," insisting the companies had prior knowledge but failed to warn.

Consequently, the complainants seek unspecified monetary damages.

They are represented by attorney Ian P. Cloud of Heard Robins Cloud & Black LLP in Houston.

The case has been assigned to Galveston County 212th District Court Judge Susan Criss.

Case No. 13-CV-1402