Asbestos companies face claim over man's lung cancer

A former maintenance laborer is suing dozens of companies over claims their asbestos-containing products caused him to develop lung cancer.

Darwin Harwood filed a recent lawsuit 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, Harwood was exposed to asbestos between 1945 and 1990, during which time he worked as a maintenance mechanic and worked around the defendants' products. The exposure led him to develop lung cancer, which he became aware of June 26, 2014, the suit says.

Harwood alleges the defendants knew or should have known their products contained asbestos and would result in physical harm, as well as failing to provide adequate warnings of the danger of asbestos exposure.

Harwood is represented by attorney David O. Barrett of Cooney & Conway in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L001195.

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.