Suit: Former tiler died from lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure

The family of a former tiler who died in 2013 is suing over claims he contracted lung cancer as a result of asbestos exposure.

Richard F. Loritz, as independent executor of the Estate of Clarke J. Buckendahl, filed a lawsuit Oct. 14 in Cook County Circuit Court against Georgia-Pacific, formerly known as Georgia-Pacific Corp., Borgwarner Morse Tec Inc., as successor-by-merger to Borg-Warner Corp., Genuine Parts Co., and dozens of other companies.

According to the complaint, Buckendahl was exposed to asbestos through products manufactured, distributed, and sold by the defendant companies and used during his employment as a tiler from 1956 to 1978, in addition to non-occupational projects.

Loritz alleges Buckendahl was diagnosed with lung cancer on April 4, 2013, and died on May 12, 2013.

He accuses the defendants of failing to find a safe alternative to asbestos for use in their products and not warning users of the dangers of asbestos exposure. A few of the defendants are also accused of having knowledge of the toxicity of asbestos and conspiring to conceal the dangers of exposure from the public.

Loritz is represented by attorney Matthew J. Adair of Cooney & Conway in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2014L010609.

This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed in 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.