BLOOMINGTON -- A McLean County jury awarded three widows $5.5 million Wednesday in a lawsuit alleging their husbands were exposed to asbestos at a Bloomington factory.

Merlon Dukes, Bob Blessing and John Watkins worked at Union Asbestos & Rubber Co., later called UNARCO Industries Inc., during the 1950s and 1960s. The men died of the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma, according to claims filed in civil court.

The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Doris Dukes, Judy Blessing and Ruth Watkins, was handled by James Wylder and Lisa Corwin of Wylder Corwin Kelly LLP, Bloomington.

The jury found that Honeywell International Inc, through its corporate predecessor Bendix, conspired with other companies, including UNARCO, Johns-Manville, Raybestos-Manhattan, Owens-Illinois, Owens Corning and Metropolitan Life Insurance Co., to fail to disclose information about the hazards of asbestos.

The firms also agreed not to warn their employees and customers of the dangers of the substance, according to the lawsuit.

The jury verdict in favor of the survivors came after about 4 1/2 hours of deliberation and a 2 1/2-week trial.