CHARLESTON - A woman has filed an asbestos lawsuit stemming from the death of her husband.
Patsy Ruth Vanhoose filed suit Sept. 18 in Kanawha Circuit Court against 67 defendants. Her husband Billy Ray Vanhoose, of Sissonville, died Sept. 19, 2004, at 67 years old.
He was a mine worker and member of the United Mine Workers Association and a veteran of the United States Navy.
Patsy Vanhoose filed the suit on behalf of herself and as the administratrix of the Estate of Billy Vanhoose.
"Over the course of his working years, the decedent, Billy Ray Vanhoose, worked with and/or around asbestos and asbestos-containing products and/or other harmful minerals manufactured, supplied, sold, distributed and installed by the defendants," the complaint says.
"As a result, the decedent, Billy Ray Vanhoose, breathed asbestos and other harmful dusts created by the use of said products and developed lung cancer."
The lawsuit did not specify what company or companies for which Billy Vanhoose worked.
His widow is seeking compensatory and punitive damages. Tony O'Dell of Berthold, Tiano and O'Dell in Charleston is Patsy Vanhoose's attorney.
Individually, Patsy is suing for loss of consortium.
A visiting judge will be assigned the case.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 06-C-1948
Woman files asbestos suit after husband's death
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