June 22nd, 2007

Four cancer patients alleging that their illness is the result of using products that contained asbestos are suing over sixty companies in their claim for compensation for their injuries. The four East Coast cancer patients are suing Donald Durham Co., a Des Moines company, and sixty other defendants have also been named as part of the suit.

Donald Durham Co. has been accused of making putty containing asbestos, which the plaintiffs have named as one of the liable products. However, the company states that tests have been carried out that show the product is safe. The president of the company stated: "We don't have any asbestos in our product. There never has been."

The company began making the putty in the 1930s, and currently has a number of employees that are involved in mixing the putty for consumer use. According to officials from the company there have been no employees that have been affected by asbestos related problems.

No action has yet been taken with regards to the product. One lawyer stated that his tests showed the presence of asbestos in the putty, but the president of the company stated that he has test results to show that there is no asbestos present.