Ky. woman sues 48 companies for husband's lung cancer, death

CHARLESTON — An Ashland, Ky., woman named 48 defendants in an asbestos-related case.

James P. Davis was diagnosed with lung cancer on Oct. 11, 2006, and died June 1, 2009, according to a complaint filed May 3 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Keren Davis, his wife, claims her husband smoked one to two packs of cigarettes per day from 1953 until 2000.

Mr. Davis worked for Ashland Oil from 1957 until 1995, according to the suit.

Mrs. Davis claims 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.

Mrs. Davis is seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved in her asbestos-related case. She is being represented by John E. Sutter.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 48 companies named as defendants are 3M Company; A.W. Chesterton Company; Ashland Oil, Inc.; Aurora Pump Company; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Buffalo Pumps, Inc.; BW IP, Inc.; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Crane Co.; Fisher Controls International, Inc.; Flowserve FSD Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; Garlock, Inc.; General Electric Company, Inc.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Honeywell International; Howden-Buffalo, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; ITT Corporation; Leslie Controls, Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Mueller Steam Specialty; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Roper Pumps Company; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), LLC; Stockham Valves & Fitting; Taco, Inc.; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the Gorman-Rupp Company; UB West Virginia, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors, Inc.; Uniroyal, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Viking Pump Company; and Vimasco Corporation.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-812