Man alleges primary, secondary asbestos exposure caused mesothelioma

A former laborer is suing dozens of companies, claiming he developed mesothelioma because he and his father were exposed to asbestos-containing products.

Joseph Vela filed a lawsuit Jan. 22 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, Vela was exposed to asbestos via the defendants’ products between 1960 to 2001, during which time he worked as an elevator installer and repairman. He also claims he was exposed to asbestos through his father, Fausto Vela, who was employed as a bricklayer from 1953 to 1960.

Vela alleges the exposure led him to develop mesothelioma. He claims the defendants knew or should have known their products contained asbestos and would result in harm, and failed to provide adequate warnings of the danger of asbestos exposure.

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

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L000648.

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.