Woman names 65 defendants in asbestos-related suit

CHARLESTON -- A woman is suing 65 companies after she claims they were responsible for her brother's mesothelioma.

Judith Ann Latorre's brother, Glen E. Kitchen Jr., was diagnosed with mesothelioma on Feb. 22 and died March 5, according to a complaint filed April 27 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Kitchen was an employee of Armco Steel from 1965 until 1986 as a rigger and a hot topper, according to the suit.

Latorre claims the defendants are being sued for negligence, contaminated buildings, breach of expressed/implied warranty, strict liability, intentional tort, conspiracy, misrepresentation and post sale duty to warn.

Latorre is seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved in the asbestos-related case. She is being represented by Thomas P. Maroney and Victoria Antion.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 65 defendants in the suit are 3M Company; A.K. Steel Corporation; A.W. Chesterton; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Allied Chemical Corporation; Amdura Corporation; Aurora Pump Company; Bucyrus International, Inc.; Buffalo Pumps, Inc.; Caterpillar, Inc.; Certainteed Corporation; Clark Equipment Company; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Columbus McKinnon Corporation; Cooper Industries, LLC; Crane Co.; Dravo Corporation; Eaton Corporation; Elliott Turbo Machinery Company; Flowserve FSD Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc., and its Byron Jackson Division; Flowserve US, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Foseco, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; Garlock, Inc.; General Electric Company; General Refractories Company; Goulds Pumps; Honeywell International, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; J.H. France Refractories Company; 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.; Pettibone/Traverse Lift, LLC; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automations, Inc.; Roper Pump Company; Square D Company; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (US), LLC; Stockham Valves & Fittings; Taco, Inc.; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the F.D. Lawrence Electric Company; the Manitowoc Company, Inc.; Trane U.S., Inc.; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; Washington Group International; West Virginia State Electric Supply; and Yale Materials Handling Corporation.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-776