Weirton couple names 72 defendants in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON -- A Weirton couple is suing 72 defendants they claim are responsible for an asbestos-related lung injury.

On Sept. 7, John Michael Simakis was diagnosed with mesothelioma, according to a complaint filed Oct. 20 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Simakis and his wife, Nancy J. Schramm, claim the defendants are responsible for the mesothelioma, as Simakis was employed by Weirton Steel from 1966 until May 1985 and his father was employed by the same company in the late 1940s.

The defendants failed to provide the couple with knowledge as to what would be reasonably safe and sufficient wearing apparel and proper protective equipment and appliance; failed to place warnings on their products; and did not recommend methods to improve the work environment, according to the suit.

Simakis and Schramm are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Brian A. Prim.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 72 defendants named in the suit are A.W. Chesterton Company; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Allied Glove Corporation; American Optical Corporation; Armstrong International, Inc.; Atlas Industries, Inc.; Beazer East, Inc.; Borg-Warner Corporation; Cashco, Inc.; CBS Corporation; Champlain Cable Corporation; Columbus McKinnon; Crane Co.; Crown Cork & Seal Company; Dezurik, Inc.; Dravo Corporation; Durametallic Corporation; Eaton Corporation; Elliott Turbomachinery Company, Inc.; F.B. Wright Company; Fairmont Supply; Foseco, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Corporation; General Electric Company; George V. Hamilton, Inc.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Greene Tweed & Company; Grinnell Corporation; Hedman Resources Limited; Honeywell International, Inc.; Honeywell, Inc; I.U. North America, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll Rand; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; J.H. France Refractories Company; Joy Technologies; M.S. Jacobs & Associates, Inc.; Mallinckrodt Group, Inc.; McCann Shields Paint Company; McJunkin Red Man Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Milton Roy Company; Morgan Engineering; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Company; Owens Illinois, Inc.; P&H Mining Equipment, Inc.; Peerless Industries, Inc.; Power Piping; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Reading Crane & Engineering Co.; Riley Stoker Corporation; Safety First Industries, Inc.; Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc.; Sealite, Inc.; Shepard Niles, Inc.; Spirax Sarco, Inc.; Stockham Valves & Fittings; Tasco Insulation, Inc.; the Sager Corporation; Thiem Corporation; Treco Construction Services, Inc.; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Unifrax Corporation; Union Carbide Corporation; Vimasco Corporation; Whiting Corporation; and Yarway Corporation.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 10-C-1874