More than a dozen companies sued over asbestos-related death

A woman is suing over claims her husband died from a disease caused by asbestos exposure.

Chhumal Patel, as special administrator of the estate of Trushad Patel, filed a lawsuit Feb. 10 in the Cook County Circuit Court against A.W. Chesterton Co., General Electric Co. and more than a dozen other companies tied to the manufacture and sale of asbestos-related products.

According to the complaint, Trushad was employed in various capacities, including maintenance worker and machine operator, from 1984 to 1997, during which time he was exposed to and ingested asbestos.

Patel alleges her husband, Trushad, was diagnosed with mesothelioma on Aug. 6, 2013 and died on Nov. 4, 2013 as a result of the disease.

She is seeking damages in excess of the jurisdictional limit and is being represented in the case by attorney Matthew J. Adair of Cooney & Conway.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L001347.

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