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thedailytimes.com - State chamber joins asbestos suit
State chamber joins asbestos suit
2006-02-06
by Darren Dunlap
of The Daily Times Staff
A Blount County man's lawsuit against ALCOA Inc.
is important not only for the parties involved, but several of the state's businesses, according to the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Blount County Circuit Court Judge W.
Dale Young heard arguments from ALCOA attorneys last week when the company sought dismissal of an asbestos lawsuit.
Doug Satterfield, a company employee, alleged his daughter, Amanda Satterfield, died as a result of an asbestos-related disease that came about from his exposure to asbestos in the plant.
He started working for ALCOA in 1973.
Amanda Satterfield filed the suit against ALCOA and Breeding Insulation, Inc., of Nashville, three years ago.
She alleged in the lawsuit, filed December 2003, that ``as a direct and proximate result of exposure to ALCOA's asbestos-containing products'' she contracted mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer.
She died at the age of 25 on Jan.
1, 2005.
Doug Satterfield, 51, is now acting as her representative in the lawsuit.
Given that the Satterfields are battling a large company, he wondered why another large organization - the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry - got involved.
The chamber filed an amicus curiae brief on Jan.
25 to take part in oral arguments supporting ALCOA and explaining its position.
The function of the amicus curiae brief...
Read more...