Woman blames asbestos exposure for father's death

The daughter of a former laborer is suing dozens of companies for allegedly exposing her father to asbestos-containing products.

Veronica Rundell, as executor of the Estate of William McManus, 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, McManus was exposed to the defendants’ asbestos-containing products between 1965 and 1968 and 1970 to 1979 during his employment as an insulator. As a result of the asbestos exposure, the suit alleges McManus developed asbestosis, a lung disease that ultimately caused his Feb. 19, 2013 death.

Rundell claims the defendant companies knew or should have known their products contained asbestos and would result in physical harm. She further contends they failed to provide adequate warnings of the danger of asbestos exposure.

She is represented by attorney Michael T. Egan of Cooney & Conway in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L000115.

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.