Widow Files Suit Against Illinois Central

August 10, 2006 - A Madison County (IL) woman is suing the Illinois Central Railroad for the untimely death of her husband caused, she says, by his work at the railroad.

In a suit filed on August 4th, Dorothy Hoops, widow of long-time railroad employee Robert Hoops, claims that Illinois Central “failed to enforce adequate safety rules to help employees avoid harmful chemical exposures.”

The claim stated that Robert “was exposed to and caused to inhale asbestos fibers, free silica, diesel fumes, solvent fumes, gasoline fumes and other carcinogenic materials harmful to the respiratory system.”  It also states that the railroad failed to provide Robert “a safe place to work, failed to supply safe equipment, failed to warn about the risks of inhaling harmful substances and negligently failed to modify or eliminate jobs to minimize levels of exposure.”

Robert was diagnosed with asbestosis and “other cancers” in November 2003 and passed away in April of 2006, according to an article in the Madison County Record. 

The widow also noted that her husband was in intense physical pain before his death, suffered emotional turmoil, was unable to perform normal daily activities, lost wages, and eventually became liable for his exorbitant medical expenses.  Mrs. Hoops has requested compensation for the present value of financial contribution Robert would reasonably be expected to have given to his family and the pecuniary value of services Robert would have provided.