A former nurse is suing multiple companies over claims she developed mesothelioma as a result of her and her family's exposure to asbestos.
Kathleen Hopfinger filed the lawsuit in Cook County Circuit Court on Dec. 4 against A.W. Chesterton Co., Crane Co., Union Carbide Corp. and more than a dozen others.
According to the complaint, Hopfinger was exposed unknowingly to asbestos containing products from 1962 to 1974 during her employment as a nurse at various locations. She also claims secondary exposure from the asbestos fibers her husband and father carried home on their clothing during their employment more than five decades ago.
Because of this exposure, Hopfinger contends she developed mesothelioma.
She claims the defendants knew or should have known about the dangers of asbestos exposure, but failed to provide warnings about the danger to those working around their asbestos containing products.
Hopfinger seeks damages in excess of $50,000, plus court fees, and is represented by attorney David O. Barrett of Cooney & Conway in Chicago.
Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2014L012618.
This is a report on a civil lawsuit filed at Cook County Circuit Court. 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 represents only one side of the story.