Gliese Bergeron, a former Texas pipe-fitter, has recently filed his second asbestos related lawsuit, this time naming 19 defendants. Gliese, who once filed a lawsuit and received a claim when he developed an "asbestos-related disease," is now seeking additional monetary compensation for a different malignant asbestos-related injury.

Bergeron's petition says the A.O. Smith Corp., along with the 18 other companies named in the suit, knowingly and maliciously manufactured and distributed asbestos-containing products throughout Jefferson County. The suit claims that, “Bergeron worked as a pipe-fitter and maintenance planner for various employers, which caused him to suffer from industrial dust diseases caused by breathing the asbestos-containing products.”

The suit also alleges the defendants in the lawsuit were negligent for failing to effectively test their asbestos-laced products before swamping the market with dangerous goods and for failing to warn consumers of the dangers of asbestos exposure. Along with A.O. Smith Corp., the CBS corporation and iron supplier Zurn Industries have been named in the suit, as well. Additionally, Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Corp. (3M Corporation) and American Optical Corp. have been named in the suit for manufacturing defective masks that failed to provide respiratory protection.

Prior to the year 2000, Texas residents were not able to file more than one asbestos related lawsuit. However, after the landmark hearing of Pustejovsky v. Rapid-American Corp., the Texas Supreme Court held that a victim of asbestos may later have a second lawsuit for an asbestos-related cancer if he develops the cancer at a future date. Thus, this hearing has allowed Bergeron to file this second lawsuit.

Bergeron is suing for exemplary damages, plus physical pain and suffering in the past and future, mental anguish in the past and future, lost wages, loss of earning capacity, disfigurement in the past and future, physical impairment in the past and future, and past and future medical expenses.

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