Ky. man's estate names 30 companies in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON - Thirty state and national companies are being sued by the estate of Kentucky man who died from lung cancer he contracted after working in environments that exposed him to asbestos and other deadly dusts.

Terry Joe Meadows filed a suit June 3 in Kanawha Circuit Court on behalf of the estate of Danny Joe Brown.

The suit names CSX Transportation, AK Steel and 28 other companies as defendants.

According to the suit, Brown worked from 1955 to 1991 as a laborer and carman for Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company, the predecessor to CSX Transportation. He also worked at Armco Steel, Monsanto Chemical and Union Carbide Corporation.

Meadows claims that starting in 1955, Brown was exposed to toxic materials, including asbestos and asbestos-containing products, which left him with lung cancer.

The suit says Brown was unaware of the dangerous propensities of asbestos and was unaware it would cause lung cancer. He suffered a diminished enjoyment of life, mental and physical anguish, diminished earning capacity and death.

According to the suit, Brown's family has incurred his medical bills and other drug, doctor and hospital expenses, as well as sorrow, loss of society, loss of companionship, loss of comfort, loss of guidance and advice, loss of services, protection, care and assistance.

The suit seeks compensatory and punitive damages.

Attorney Victoria L. Antion is representing Meadows. The case will be assigned to a visiting judge.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 08-C-1065