Suit: Asbestos exposure caused man's lung cancer

The spouse of a former repair and maintenance employee is suing dozens of companies with connections to asbestos-containing products she claims caused her husband’s death.

Mary Cleveland, as representative for Archie Cleveland, filed a lawsuit Feb. 4 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, Archie was exposed to asbestos between 1955 to 1978, during which time he worked in home and automotive repair, maintenance and remodeling. Cleveland alleges Archie's exposure to the defendants' products led him to develop lung cancer and ultimately die.

She claims the defendants knew or should have known their products contained asbestos and would result in physical harm and failed to provide adequate warnings of the dangers associated with asbestos exposure.

Cleveland is represented by attorney Charles A. Porretta of Cooney & Conway in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L001154.

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.