Widow of lung cancer victim files asbestos lawsuit

The widow of a deceased Virginia man whose lung cancer diagnosis, and subsequent death, she attributes to his years of on-the-job asbestos exposure, has filed a mass tort claim against companies specializing in the manufacture and distribution of products containing the fiber.

Philadelphia attorney Robert E. Paul filed the civil suit Sept. 14 at the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas on behalf of Deborah M. Phillingame of Sutherland, Va.

Phillingame is administratrix of the estate of the late Robert W. Phillingame, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2009, a diagnosis that the plaintiff claims was directly related to her late husband’s asbestos exposure.

According to the lawsuit, Phillingame, who smoked approximately a half-pack to one pack of cigarettes per day from about 1968 through to this year, worked in manual labor beginning with his job as a tow truck driver in 1973.

His work history included jobs as an insulator, forklift driver, and asbestos remover. The latter included work at post offices, factories and other commercial buildings in the Philadelphia and Richmond, Va. areas, the suit states.

The lawsuit names dozens and dozens of defendants, including, but not limited to, BF Goodrich Company, Bridgestone America Inc., CBS Corporation, Crane Co., DAP Inc., Ford Motor Co., Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., and Pneumo Abex.

The plaintiff demands judgment against the defendants in a sum in excess of $50,000, exclusive of interest and court costs, and an additional $50,000 in punitive damages.

A jury trial has been demanded.

The case number is 110901151.