Hernshaw couple names 87 defendants in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON -- A Hernshaw couple is suing 87 companies after they claim they are responsible for a mesothelioma diagnosis.

William Basil Spurlock was employed by Union Carbide Corporation from 1948 until 1980, according to a complaint filed March 14 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Spurlock claims he was unaware of the dangers from exposure to asbestos and was unaware that he had medical conditions related to his exposure to asbestos until he was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

The defendants failed to warn Spurlock of the dangers of asbestos; failed to take reasonable precautions to warn him of the dangers of exposure; and failed to inform him of the safe and proper methods of handling and using asbestos products, according to the suit.

Spurlock and his wife, Betty J. Spurlock, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by William K. Schwartz.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 87 defendants named in the suit are A.W. Chesterton Company; Amchem Products, Inc.; Aurora Pump Company; Bayer Cropscience; Benjamin F. Shaw Company; 4520 Corp., Inc.; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Buffalo Pumps, Inc.; Burns International Services Corporation; BW IP, Inc.; Cameron International Corporation; Catalytic Construction Company; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown Cork & Seal Co., Inc.; the Dow Chemical Company; Dezurik, Inc.; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Elliott Company; Fisher Controls International, Inc.; Flowserve US, Inc., f/k/a Durco International, Inc.; Flowserve US Inc., f/k/a Flowserve FSD Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc., a/k/a Nordstrom Valves; FMC Corporation; Ford, Bacon & Davis, LLC; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; Foster Wheeler U.S.A. Corporation; the Gage Company; General Electric Company; Geo. V. Hamilton, Inc.; Georgia Pacific, LLC; Gordon Gaskets & Packing Co.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Greene Tweed & Company; Henry Vogt Machine Company; Honeywell International f/k/a Allied Signal, Inc.; Honeywell International, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll Rand Company; Invensys Systems, Inc.; ITT Corporation; John Crane, Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; 3M Company; McJunkin Corporation; McNally Industries; Met Pro Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Meuller Steam Specialty; Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; National Service Industries, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; North Bros., Inc.; NSI Ventures, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Onyx Industrial Services, Inc.; Owens Illinois, Inc.; Peerless Pumps, Inc.; Perkinelmer Instruments; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automations, Inc.; Roper Pump Company; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; SFB Companies, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), LLC; Stockham Valves & Fittings; Surface Combustion, Inc.; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the Gorman-Rupp Company; the William Powell Company; Tyco Flow Control Company, LLC, a/k/a Crosby Valve, Inc.; Tyco Flow Control Company, LLC, a/k/a Lunkenheimer Valves; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Union Carbide Corporation; Uniroyal, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Viking Pump Company; Vimasco Corporation; Waukesha Cherry-Burrell; West Virginia Electric Supply Company; and Zurn Industries, Inc.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-415