Man claims lung cancer was caused by asbestos exposure

A former steel worker is suing over claims his lung cancer was the result of asbestos exposure.

Leo Smith filed a lawsuit July 31 in the Cook County Circuit Court against A.W. Chesterton Co., Union Carbide Corp., Certainteed Corp. and Uniroyal Inc., among others.

According to the complaint, Smith worked as a plant and steel worker from 1963 until 1997 and was his diagnosed in November 2013 with lung cancer. He claims his constant exposure to asbestos during carer caused the cancer.

Smith is seeking damages and is represented by James P. Hopkinson of Cooney & Conway of Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court Case No. 2014L007999.

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.