Danese couple sues Mine Safety Appliances, others for black lung disease

CHARLESTON--A Danese man and his wife are suing four mining companies for negligence after he developed advanced black lung disease.

Mine Safety Appliances Company, Persinger Supply Company, Raleigh Mine and Industrial Supply and Eastern States Mine Supply Co. were named in the suit.

Opie H. Hanshew worked as a coal miner from 1971 until 1998 and while working in the mines he used respirators for protection against harmful dust, according to a complaint filed April 9 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Hanshew claims he was exposed to substantial amounts of harmful dust because the respirators he used failed to protect him.

As a result, Mr. Hanshew developed advanced black lung disease, according to the suit.

The defendants knew or should have known that the respirators would not effectively protect coal miners from inhalation of harmful dust particles.

Hanshew and is wife, Bertha Hanshew, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by John Hunt Morgan.

The case has been assigned to Circuit Judge Charles E. King.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-683