CHARLESTON - Four plaintiffs jointly filed an asbestos suit recently in Kanawha Circuit Court, naming 163 defendants.
Pittsburg attorney David Chervenick filed the lawsuits March 30 on behalf of Jack and Edith England, Clifford and Edwina Maffett, John Nesselroad Jr. and Ralph and Naomi Smith.
Jack and Edith England live in Little Hocking, Ohio. The suit says Jack England was a sheetmetal worker for Union Local 33. He has asbestosis and lung cancer.
Clifford and Edwina Maffett live in Toronto, Ohio. According to the suit, Clifford Maffett was a millwright with Union Local USWA 1190. He has asbestosis and lung cancer.
John Nesselroad Jr. lives in Colliers, W.Va. He was a boilermaker for Union Local 154. He also has asbestosis.
Ralph and Naomi Smith live in Cairo, W.Va. Ralph Smith was a millwright for Union Local 1755 and now has asbestosis and mesthelioma.
The suit says the plaintiffs were exposed to and inhaled asbestos dust, which caused the disabilities. Each exposure occurred at various places in West Virginia, the suit says.
Forty-one of the plants are located in West Virginia.
The suit claims the companies knew about the risk associated with the exposure to asbestos fibers, yet did not warn their employees.
In an 18-count suit, the plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages against all the defendants, both jointly and severally.
A visiting judge will be assigned to the case.
Kanawha Circuit Court case number 07-C-620
Asbestos suit lists 163 defendants
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