Two couples sue multiple companies in asbestos cases

CHARLESTON -- Two couples are suing multiple companies in separate asbestos-related cases.

Richard Michael Lee and Virginia P. Lee named 54 companies, and Bruce Earl Petry and Janet M. Petry named 40 companies involved in their separate suits, according to complaints filed Nov. 16 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Mr. Lee and Mr. Petry claim they were exposed to asbestos products of the defendants while working at various job sites over many years.

On April 19, 2008, Mr. Lee was diagnosed with asbestosis. He claims he never smoked. Mr. Petry was diagnosed with asbestosis on Feb. 22, 2008, but claims he has smoked one-half pack per day since 1999.

According to both suits, the defendants are being sued for negligence, contaminated buildings, breach of expressed/implied warranty, strict liability, intentional tort, conspiracy, misrepresentations and post-sale duty to warn.

Both couples are suing for trials by jury to resolve all issues concerning their asbestos-related cases. They are being represented by Cindy J. Kiblinger of James F. Humphreys & Associates, and Victoria Antion of Motley Rice.

The companies named in Mr. and Mrs. Petry's case are 3M Company; A.W. Chesterton; Aurora Pump Company; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown, Cork & Seal USA, Inc.; Dow Chemical Company; E. II. DuPont De Nemours; Flowserve FSD Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; Garlock, Inc.; General Electric Company; Goulds Pumps; Honeywell International, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; ITT Corporation; Lockheed Martin Corporation; McJunkin Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; National Service Industries, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Peerless Pumps, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Square D Company; Superior Boiler Works, Inc.; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Union Carbide Chemical and Plastics Company, Inc.; Uniroyal, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; and Zurn Industries, Inc.

The companies named in Mr. and Mrs. Lee's case are 3M Company; A.K. Steel Corporation; A.W. Chesterton; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Amdura Corporation; Aurora Pump Company; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Bucyrus International, Inc.; Caterpillar, Inc.; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Cooper Industries, LLC; Crane Co.; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Elliott Turbo Machinery Company; Flowserve FSD Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Foseco, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; Garlock, Inc.; General Electric Company; Goulds Pumps; Honeywell International, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; McJunkin Red Man Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Morgan Engineering, Inc.; Nacco Materials Handling Group, Inc.; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Company; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Riverside Refractories, Inc.; Rockwell Automations, Inc.; Square D Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (US), LLC; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the F.D. Lawrence Electric Company; UB West Virginia, Inc.; United Engineering and Foundry Company; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; Trane U.S., Inc.; and Yale Materials Handling Corporation.

Both cases have been assigned to a visiting judge.

Kanawha Circuit Court case numbers: 09-C-2141, 09-C-2142