Two asbestos suits filed

CHARLESTON - The estates of two men recently filed asbestos lawsuits in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Shirley Cyrus, the personal representative of the Estate of William Cyrus, and Janice Fisher, the personal representative of the Estate of Labon Fisher, filed their lawsuits Nov. 8.

Cyrus' lawsuit charges seven defendants with being at fault for the death of William Cyrus. He died Nov. 3, 2005, of the asbestos-related disease mesothelioma.

The complaint, filed by James McKowen of James Humphreys and Associates, lists seven defendants. Three of those are West Virginia corporations -- Vimasco Corp. of Nitro, State Electric Supply Co. of Huntington and McJunkin Corp. of Charleston.

According to the lawsuit, William Cyrus worked around asbestos, leading to his disease.

"At the time of William Cyrus' exposure, the products were being used at the Union Carbide and Calgon Carbon facilities and the products were used for the purposes for which they were intended," the complaint says.

Fisher's lawsuit names 21 defendants and was filed by John Skaggs of The Calwell Practice. Five of the defendants are West Virginia corporations -- Nitro Industrial Coverings, Vimasco, Gordon Gasket and Packing Co., Union Boiler and A&I Co.

The complaint says Labon Fisher worked at an Ashland Oil refinery plant from 1972-84 and, "During his employment, he was exposed to asbestos insulation from a steam-generating boiler, associated piping, kilns, furnaces and dryers used n the manufacturing process for refractory products, and the components of the refractory products and other sources of breathable asbestosis fibers."

Fisher was diagnosed with mesothelioma in March 2005 and died Sept. 29 of the same year, says the lawsuit.

A visiting judge will be assigned both cases.

Kanawha Circuit Court case numbers 06-C-2385 and 2391