An Illinois man has filed an asbestos lawsuit against 79 companies. Raymond Hostert, who suffers from mesothelioma, is claiming that his disease was wrongfully caused while working as a drill press operator, truck driver, machine operator and mechanic from 1952 through 1999 at various locations throughout Illinois.

Hostert claims that during his employment with various companies, he was exposed to and inhaled asbestos fibers that originated from products he was using.  The complaint officially says that, "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.” He also claims that the defendants included asbestos in their products even when sufficient substitutes were available. Moreover, the defendants failed to provide any or adequate instructions concerning the safe methods of working with asbestos.

Hostert has been unable to locate documents regarding asbestos-use among his former employers.  He believes these documents were destroyed and has noted that this may be harmful to his case. Hostert is seeking over $400,000 in damages for negligence, willful and reckless acts, conspiracy, and negligent spoliation of evidence among other allegations. Defendants in the case 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, Philips Electronics and Trane US.