Asbestos companies face claim over former mechanic's mesothelioma

A man is suing dozens of companies for allegedly exposing him to asbestos-containing products that he asserts caused him to develop mesothelioma.

Billy Lee Stimson filed a lawsuit Feb. 3 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, Stimson was exposed to the defendants’ products between 1947 and 1979 during his employment as a mechanic, stationary steam engineer, boiler operator and machinist mate.

Stimson 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.

Stimson claims his exposure to asbestos led him to develop mesothelioma, which he became aware of on Nov. 17, 2014.

He is seeking damages and is represented by attorney Lawrence R. Weisler of Cooney & Conway in Chicago.

Cook County Circuit Court case number: 2015L001113.

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.