Clapper, Patti, Schweizer and Mason

Kay Richter has filed an asbestos lawsuit on behalf of her deceased husband, Robert, in a St. Clair County court in Wisconsin.  Kay alleges that her husband was diagnosed with and eventually succumbed to lung cancer caused by the asbestos in materials he handled on a regular basis in his work as a mechanic.  Richter claims that 30 companies should be held at least partially responsible for her husband’s disease and is seeking $200,000 in compensation.

Between 1964 and 2000 Robert Richter worked as a mechanic at three different garages in the area:  Jones Auto Garage, Wunnicke Transfer Auto Garage, and Boscobel Track and Roller Auto Garage.  During that time, Kay’s suit alleges, he was regularly exposed to asbestos products without understanding or even being aware of the significant health risks the products posed.

The automobile industry is one of the “heavy hitters” in asbestos illness.  Asbestos was used widely in seals, gaskets, brake components, and as insulation in automobiles because it was strong and heat resistant.  Even after the danger to human health was discovered, companies still manufactured products containing the deadly mineral.  It wasn’t until the United States government stepped in and banned the production of such materials that safer alternatives became widely distributed.  Unfortunately, for Richter and thousands like him, the damage was already done.

Asbestos, especially airborne asbestos in the form of brake dust and other contaminants, can easily be inhaled or ingested.  The fibers then lodge in the soft tissue of the body and can cause a wide variety of diseases including mesothelioma, asbestosis and other asbestos related cancers.

In the lawsuit, Kay states that even though the defendants knew the dangers their products posed, they failed to properly inform nor provided adequate safe handling instructions.

The disease essentially crippled Kay’s husband Robert, leaving him disfigured, in chronic pain, and unable to work.

Kay is suing to recoup lost wages, medical expenses associated with Robert’s treatment, funeral costs, and punitive damages against the 30 defendants.

Like many other asbestos victims, Kay may have a tough time proving which products “materially contributed” to her husband’s illness.  Because of the difficulty establishing the source of exposure, hiring a mesothelioma law firm to represent her asbestos claim is crucial to getting a successful verdict and settlement.  Such attorneys who specialize in exclusively handling mesothelioma lawsuits are experts in establishing the source of exposure. 

If Kay can prove that the most likely culprits behind her husband’s cancer were the products these companies manufactured, a $200,000 verdict is relatively small in such cases.  Many of the defendants may decide to settle out of court and limit their liability and public exposure.