Army Machinist Files Asbestos Suit
A Washington man who worked as a U.S. army machinist for more than 40 years has filed suit in a Madison County (Ill.) Circuit Court, alleging he has developed mesothelioma due to wrongful exposure to asbestos.
James Regal was a machinist for the army from 1962 until 2003 in Illinois and in other locations and also was employed as a maintenance man at various sites in Illinois, Washington and Massachusetts throughout his working career.
Though the U.S. army cannot be sued by Regal for asbestos exposure, the companies that manufacture asbestos products used by the army can indeed by sued. In the case of Regal’s suit, some the 68 defendants include Bondex International, CBS, Chrysler, Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Trust, Ford Motor Company, General Electric, General Motors, Goodyear, Honeywell International, Ingersoll-Rand, International Paper, John Crane, MetLife, Owens-Illinois, Philips Electronics and Riley Stoker.
“The plaintiff’s exposure and inhalation, ingestion or absorption of the asbestos fibers was completely foreseeable and could or should have been anticipated by the defendants,” the complaint states.
Regal says he was diagnosed with mesothelioma on February 8 of this year. He is currently undergoing treatment for the disease and seeks damages to help pay for the cost of his treatment. In addition, Regal is seeking at least $300,000 in damages for “negligence, willful and wanton acts, conspiracy, and negligent spoliation of evidence” among other allegations.
