Texas couple sues 37 companies for asbestos exposure

CHARLESTON -- A Lufkin, Texas, couple is suing 37 companies after they claim the companies are responsible for a lung injury.

On Dec. 29, 2010, Layman B. Saltz was diagnosed with mesothelioma, according to a complaint filed March 22 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Saltz claims he previously smoked a pipe occasionally from 1954 until 1962, and smoked six cigars a day from 1968 until 1995, but has since stopped.

The defendants are being sued upon theories of negligence; contaminated buildings; breach of expressed/implied warranty; strict liability; intentional tort; conspiracy; misrepresentations; and post-sale duty to warn, according to the suit.

Saltz and his wife, Patricia K. Saltz, are seeking jury trial to resolve all issues involved. They are being represented by Victoria Antion and Aaryn Kemp.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 37 companies named as defendants in the suit are 3M Company, Inc.; A.O. Smith Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; American Radiator & Standard Corporation; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver Brooks, Inc.; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Flowserve FSD Corporation; F.B. Wright Company; Ford Motor Company; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; General Electric Company; Georgia Pacific Corporation; George V. Hamilton, Inc.; Goulds Pumps; Honeywell International; IMO Industries, Inc.; Devalco Corporation; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll Rand; Joy Technologies, Inc.; Kelly-Moore Paint Company, Inc.; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Rapid-American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; Superior Boiler Works, Inc.; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; Union Carbide Chemical & Plastics Company; Uniroyal, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; Weil-McLain Company; and Zurn Industries, LLC.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-470