It was in September of 1980 when the widowed wife of Louis H. Catrett sued several asbestos manufacturing companies – including Celotex - and building supply distributors. The charges were filed based on evidence that her husband died because he was exposed to asbestos due to negligence on part of the entities on the defendant's side. The case was handled by the United States District Court (District of Columbia).

Two out of the fifteen initially sued companies successfully filed for dism...