Two asbestos cases filed

CHARLESTON - A pair of asbestos lawsuits were recently entered into Kanawha Circuit Court, one by a former mechanic who died last year and another by a former Buckhannon refractory plant worker.

Carol Neil, the personal representative of the Estate of Kassie Van Neil Jr. filed hers Oct. 15 against 56 defendants.

The complaint says Neil, of Gauley Bridge, was a mechanic at Ford Motor Co. from 1961-1970 and also worked at Cedar Coal Co. (1961-70) and Union Carbide and DuPont (1984-2000).

The 35-page, nine-count says Neil was diagnosed with mesothelioma on May 19, 2005 and died only 12 days later at 73, leaving behind his wife Carol.

Carol Neil is seeking compensatory damages for, among other things, her sorrow and mental anguish. She also requests punitive damages.

J. David Cecil is representing her, while John Skaggs of The Calwell Practice is representing Roger Thompson, who claims to have been exposed to asbestos insulation while employed by St. Gobain Ceramics and Plastics.

Thompson says he worked at the refractory plant in Buckhannon from 1971-2004 and was "required to handle and did handle and use asbestos products supplied to the plaintiff by the defendant corporations."

Thompson's 33-page, 12-count complaint lists 21 defendants, including state corporations Nitro Industrial Coverings and A&I Co.

The complaint adds that Thompson was "exposed to asbestos insulation from a steam-generating boiler, associated piping, kilns, furnaces and dryers used in the manufacturing process for refractory products, and the components of the refractory products and other sources of breathable asbestos fibers."

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages. A visiting judge will be assigned to both cases.

Kanawha Circuit Court case numbers 06-C-2154 and 06-C-2170