7th COA, Backed by State High Court, OKs Civil Action for Occupational Disease

The U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said the widow of a man who died from cancer in 2020 can proceed with a civil action that alleges occupational exposure to hazardous chemicals caused his illness and death. The federal court's decision comes after the Illinois Supreme Court in January said a law enacted in 2019 allows Rodney Martin's widow to proceed with a civil action against B.F. Goodrich Corp. The 2019 law added Section 1.1 to the Workers' Occupational Diseases Act allowing civil actions for occupational disease claims that are otherwise time-barred. "...