Couple names 40 companies in asbestos lawsuit

CHARLESTON -- A man and his wife named 40 companies in an asbestos-related lawsuit.

Aloysius Gallagher claims throughout his life he worked for and with, or came in contact with products by the defendants and on March 1, 2009, was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, according to a complaint filed Jan. 7 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Gallagher claims the defendants are liable to him and his wife, Maureen Gallagher, for being generally negligent in failing to provide a safe product.

Mr. Gallagher claims the defendants failed to exercise the requisite degree of care and caution; warn of dangers of the products; take reasonable precautions to warn of the dangers; inform the plaintiffs of what would be safe, sufficient and proper protective equipment and appliances when using or being exposed to the products; test the products; use substitute materials for asbestos; and mark, label or otherwise identify and distinguish during installation.

The Gallaghers are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Craig E. Coleman.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The defendants are George V. Hamilton, Inc.; I.U. North America, Inc.; the Gage Company; Certainteed Corporation; F.B. Wright Company of Pittsburgh; Garlock Sealing Technologies, Inc.; A.W. Chesterton Company; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Riley Stoker Corporation; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), Inc.; Leslie Controls, Inc.; Crane Co.; Spirax Sarco, Inc.; ITT Corporation; Taco, Inc.; Ajax Boiler, Inc.; Milwaukee Valve Company; Aurora Pump; Gardner Denver, Inc.; Gould Pumps, Inc.; Dunham-Bush, Inc.; Dezurik, Inc.; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Fort Kent Holdings, Inc.; Flowserve Corporation; Buffalo Pumps, Inc.; Cleaver-Brooks; Inductotherm Corporation; Hoffman Specialty; Hammond Valve; Fairmont Supply Company; WW Grainger, Inc.; Sterling Faucet Co.; Hastings Industries; General Electric Company; CBS Corporation; Vimasco Corporation; and Wheeling Rubber Products, Inc.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-47