Woman files wrongful death suit over father's lung disease

The daughter of a former laborer is suing dozens of companies with ties to asbestos-containing products she claims led to her father's death.

Regina Hannah, as special administrator of Steve Noel, filed a lawsuit Dec. 22 in Cook County Circuit Court against A.W. Chesterton Co., H.B. Fuller Co., Union Carbide Corp. and several others.

According to the complaint, Noel was exposed to the defendants' asbestos-containing products between 1947 to 1988 during his employment as a laborer and in non-occupational work projects.

Hannah claims the defendants knew or should have known their products contained asbestos and would result in physical harm. The suit accuses the defendant companies of failing to provide adequate warnings of the danger of asbestos exposure.

Noel's exposure to asbestos resulted in him developing asbestosis, a lung disease that ultimately caused his July 13 death, according to the suit.

Hannah is represented by attorney Daniel T. Ryan of Cooney & Conway in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2014L013149.

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 represents only one side of the story.