POINT PLEASANT – Welders claim in a Mason County suit that their work caused neurological injuries.
Thomas Wilson of Humphrey and Associates in Charleston filed the suit June 30, on behalf of welders and others who worked near them.
The suit also seeks damages for spouses of some workers. In all, Wilson represents 21 plaintiffs.
According to the suit the plaintiffs suffered from exposure to fumes of manganese, a metallic element that strengthens steel.
The plaintiffs seek actual damages and punitive damages.
Elizabeth Ward and Jeffrey Thompson of the Motley Rice firm in Mount Pleasant, S.C., also represent the plaintiffs.
They sued three West Virginia companies, Tri-State Oxygen of Huntington, Valley National Gases of Wheeling, and Willard C. Starcher Inc. of Spencer.
They sued Ohio corporations Hobart Brothers and Lincoln Electric, and Delaware corporations AIRCO Inc. and ESAB Group.
They also left a door open to add more defendants by suing John Does.
Circuit Judge David Nibert will hear the case.
Welders blame manganese fumes for injuries
ORGANIZATIONS IN THIS STORY