Four plaintiffs filed four separate asbestos lawsuits in St. Louis last month, according to court records. All of the lawsuits name at least 10 defendant companies, which the plaintiffs allege were responsible for the asbestos exposure and eventual mesothelioma diagnoses at issue in the cases.

The first of the four asbestos lawsuits was filed by a husband and wife. In the complaint, the plaintiffs allege that the husband was exposed to asbestos and asbestos products during his nearly 50-year career as a mechanic, farmer and laborer. More than 60 defendant companies are named in the lawsuit.

The second lawsuit was filed by a woman who alleges that her mother was exposed to asbestos during her employment as a shipyard welder in the early 1940s. The plaintiff's mother was eventually diagnosed with mesothelioma and recently passed away.

The third suit was also filed by a daughter who alleges that her mother developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos at work. In the suit, the plaintiff also claims that her mother was secondarily exposed to asbestos through her husband and brother-in-law, who worked as a contractor, builder and carpenter and as a mechanic, respectively.

The final lawsuit was filed by a woman who alleges that her husband was exposed to asbestos while working as a laborer for many years, causing him to eventually be diagnosed with mesothelioma.

In all of the personal injury lawsuits, the plaintiffs alleged that they or their loved ones suffered great physical pain and mental anguish and incurred significant medical bills as a result of their asbestos exposure. In addition, their ailments prevented them from pursuing a normal course of employment, causing them to lose wages and related sums of money.

Source: The Madison Record, "Simmons firm files another four asbestos suits in St. Louis," Kelly Holleran, Feb. 22, 2012