Wife sues after husband dies from alleged asbestos exposure

The wife of a former forklift operator is suing over claims that repeated exposure to asbestos resulted in her husband's death.

Carlotta Gonzalez,  as special administrator of the Estate of Pedro Gonzalez, filed the asbestos suit Nov. 4 in Cook County Circuit Court against A.W. Chesterton Co. and other defendants.

She alleges in her suit that from 1957 until 2007, Pedro worked in various capacities, including forklift operator and was exposed to asbestos containing products.

Gonzalez claims the defendants were negligent and knew or should have known that asbestos could cause injury or death. Pedro developed lung cancer as a result of the asbestos exposure, which led to his death on April 17, according to the complaint.

The plaintiff is asking for an undisclosed amount. She is represented by Chicago attorney Robert J. Cooney Jr. of Cooney and Conway.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2013L012164.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at the Cook County Courthouse. The details in this report come from an original complaint filed by a plaintiff. Please note that a complaint represents an accusation by a private individual, not the government. It is not an indication of guilt, and it represents only one side of the story.