Former laborer blames more than 20 asbestos companies for lung cancer

A former laborer is suing dozens of companies with connections to asbestos-containing products he alleges caused him to develop lung cancer.

John S. Horton filed a lawsuit Jan. 7 in Cook County Circuit Court against A.W. Chesterton Co., H.B. Fuller Co., Union Carbide Corp., and more than 20 other companies.

According to the complaint, Horton was exposed to asbestos through the defendants' products between the mid-1940s to 1970, during which time he was a student, refractory bricklayer, crane operator and repairman.

Horton alleges 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.

The suit states Horton was diagnosed with lung cancer on Oct. 18, 2013. Horton is represented by attorney Lawrence R. Weisler of Cooney & Conway in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L000133.

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.