An Idaho woman recently diagnosed with mesothelioma has filed an asbestos suit against 65 defendant corporations, claiming the disease was wrongfully caused.
Evaline Semtner claims she was diagnosed with the disease April 18, according to a lawsuit filed Oct. 2 in Madison County Circuit Court.
Semtner claims she was a homemaker from 1966 until 1977. From 1977 until now, she has worked at various locations throughout Washington and Idaho.
Semtner's father worked from 1948 until 1968 as a maintenance man at Milwaukee Railroad and her ex-husband worked from 1966 until 1980 as a laborer for various employers throughout Idaho and Washington, the suit states.
She claims she was exposed to asbestos fibers through the clothing her father and ex-husband would wear home from work.
Semtner states her exposure was foreseeable and should have been anticipated by the defendants, according to the lawsuit.
She claims her disease was caused after he was exposed to and inhaled, ingested or otherwise absorbed asbestos fibers.
Semtner alleges the asbestos-related disease has disabled and disfigured her and has and will continue to compel her to expend and become liable for large sums of money for hospital, medical, and other health and services necessary for the treatment of the disease.
Semtner also has and will continue to experience great physical pain and mental anguish as a result of the disease, she claims in the lawsuit.
Mesothelioma hindered and prevented Semtner from pursuing her normal course of employment, according to the suit.
As a result, she lost large sums of money, she claims.
In the eight-count lawsuit, Semtner seeks sums in excess of $50,000, punitive and exemplary damages in excess of $100,000 and compensatory damages in excess of $200,000.
She also seeks compensatory and punitive damages in an amount sufficient to punish the defendants for their misconduct and to deter similarly situated parties from committing like acts of misconduct in the future.
She is represented by Stephanie A. Lyons of SimmonsCooper in East Alton.
Madison County Circuit Court case number: 08-L-909.
