CHARLESTON - An attorney with James Humphreys and Associates filed lawsuits last week in Kanawha Circuit Court on behalf of three sets of plaintiffs.
Geraldine Guerin's clients on the suits are: Paul Russell, representative of the Estate of Joseph Russell; Shirley Vangilder, representative of the Estate of Ronald Vangilder; and Charles and Anna Thompson. The lawsuits were filed together June 13.
They charge 46 defendants with being responsible for the asbestos-related illnesses that caused Russell's and Vangilder's deaths and Charles Thompson's current medical state.
The complaint says they were "exposed to respirable asbestos dust and other harmful dusts as the result of the manufacture, sale, distribution and installation of asbestos-containing products by the defendants at their places of work in West Virginia and Kentucky."
It added that Owens Illinois, Kentucky Power, Appalachian Power, Ohio Valley Electric, Aristech Chemical, Ashland Oil and/or Marathon Ashland Petroleum, Cabell-Huntington Hospital and INCO Alloys owned premises at which the plaintiffs were exposed to asbestos.
It says they developed "serious, permanent and deadly lung diseases" as a result.
A visiting judge will be assigned the case.
Kanawha Circuit Court case numbers 06-C-1120 through 06-C-1122
Three asbestos cases filed together
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