Ohio pair names 40 companies named in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON--Two Ohio individuals named 40 defendants in an asbestos-related suit.

Pamela S. Massie and William D. Kautz are suing the 40 defendants after they claim they were responsible for Dale M. Kautz's mesothelioma and death, according to a complaint filed April 16 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

The plaintiffs claim Dale M. Kautz was diagnosed with mesothelioma on May 1, 2008, and died on June 24, 2008.

Dale M. Kautz was a non-smoker, according to the suit, and worked on the Kautz Family Farm from 1956 until 2006 as a farmer, laborer and mechanic, and also worked on construction and maintenance on the farm.

The plaintiffs claim the defendants are being sued for negligence, contaminated buildings, breach of express/implied warranty, strict liability, intentional tort, conspiracy, misrepresentations and post sale duty to warn.

The plaintiffs are seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues regarding their asbestos-related case. They are being represented by Victoria Antion and Christopher Tenoglia.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 40 companies names as defendants in the suit are A.O. Smith Corporation; A.W. Chesterton; Baldor Electric Company; Black & Decker (U.S.), Inc.; Borg-Warner Automotive, Inc.; Case IH Agricultural Equipment, Inc.; Caterpillar, Inc.; Clark Material Handling Company; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Cooper Industries, LLC; Crane Co.; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Farm Fans, Inc.; Flowserve US, Inc.; Ford Motor Company; Garlock, Inc.; General Electric Company; the Gorman-Rupp Company; Honeywell International, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; John Deere Company; Kalsey-Hayes Company; Lennox Industries, Inc.; Mat Holdings, Inc.; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Navistar, Inc.; New Holland, Inc.; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; the Cincinnati Gasket, Packing & Manufacturing, Inc.; Uniroyal, Inc.; Valley Brook Concrete & Supply, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Westinghouse Electric Corporation; Vimasco Corporation; West Virginia Electric Supply Company; and Wheel Horse Products, Inc.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-716