Sherman Williams, others hit with asbestos suit over man's mesothelioma

A Cook County woman is suing over claims her husband's death was caused by years of asbestos exposure.

Leslie A. Cleaver, as independent executor of the Estate of Gerald N. Cleaver, filed a lawsuit Aug. 18 in the Cook County Circuit Court against General Electric Co., Foster Wheeler Energy Corp., The Sherwin Williams Co. and dozens of other companies.

According to the complaint, Gerald was exposed to asbestos in products designed, manufactured, distributed, marketed or sold by the defendant companies that he came into contact with through non-occupational projects and his employment as a janitor and laborer from 1955 to 1978 at a Sherwin Williams store and other companies.

The complaint states the asbestos exposure caused Gerald to be diagnosed with mesothelioma on Jan. 3, and he died March 29. The defendants are accused of negligence, premises liability and other wrongful acts.

Cleaver is seeking damages and is being represented in the case by attorney Matthew J. Adair of Cooney & Conway in Chicago.

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.