Putnam couple names 77 defendants in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON -- A Scott Depot couple is suing 77 companies in an asbestos-related suit.

The defendants are responsible for Ross J. Taylor's mesothelioma, of which he was diagnosed on April 23, according to a complaint filed May 20 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Taylor and Claris Vivian Taylor, his wife, claim Mr. Taylor was exposed to and did inhale dust and asbestos fibers, which caused the mesothelioma.

The Taylors claim the defendants exposed him to unsafe working conditions in his workplace and had actual knowledge that the inhalation of asbestos fibers could cause serious injury or death.

The Taylors are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Brian A. Prim.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 77 defendants in the suit are A.O. Smith Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Allied Glove Corporation; American Optical Corporation; Aqua-Chem, Inc.; Aristech Chemical Corporation; Atlas Industries, Inc.; Beazer East, Inc.; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Cashco, Inc.; Catalytic Construction Company; CBS Corporation; Champlain Cable Corporation; Copes-Vulcan, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown, Cork & Seal USA, Inc.; DeZurik, Inc.; Dravo Corporation; Durametallic Corporation; Eaton Corporation; Electrolux Home Products; Elsa Benson, Inc.; F.B. Wright Company; Fairmont Supply Company; Flowserve US, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; Garlock, Inc.; General Electric Company; George V. Hamilton, Inc.; Goulds Pumps; Greene Tweed & Co.; Grinnell Corporation; Honeywell International, Inc.; Honeywell, Inc.; Hunter Sales Corporation; I. U. North America, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; ITT Corporation; Joy Technologies, Inc.; Leslie Controls, Inc.; M.S. Jacobs & Associates, Inc.; Mallinckrodt, Inc.; Marley Cooling Tower; McCann Shields Paint Company; McJunkin Red Man Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Milton Roy Company; Minnotte Contracting Corporation; Monsanto Company; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; P&H Mining Equipment, Inc.; Powell Valve Company; Power Piping Company; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Riley Stoker Corporation; Safety First Industries, Inc.; Saint-Gobain Abrasive, Inc.; Sealite, Inc.; Spirax Sarco, Inc.; Square D Company; Stockham Valves & Fittings; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; Treco Construction Services, Inc.; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Unifrax Corporation; Union Carbide Corporation; United States Steel Corporation; Washington Group International; WMX Technologies, Inc.; and Yarway Corporation.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-915