Kentucky couple names 135 companies in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON -- A Flatgap, Ky., couple is suing 135 companies it claims are responsible for a mesothelioma diagnosis.

On March 25, Edward A. Reed was diagnosed with mesothelioma, according to a complaint filed May 9 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Reed claims he smoked cigarettes from the 1950s until the 1970s, but then quit.

The defendants failed to warn Reed of the danger of asbestos, according to the suit.

Reed claims he was exposed to the asbestos from 1956 until 1992.

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

Reed and his wife, Helen P. Reed, are seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved. They are being represented by Victoria L. Antion, Scott A. McGee, John D. Hurst and Joseph Satterley.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 135 defendants are 3M Company; 4520 Corporation, Inc.; A.K. Steel Corporation; A.O. Smith Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Ajax Magnathermic Corporation; AKZO Chemicals, Inc.; Allegheny Energy Service Corporation; Allied Chemical Corporation; American Electric Power; American Electric Power Service Corporation; Appalachian Power Company; Aristech Chemical Corporation; Armstrong International, Inc.; Ashland Oil, Inc.; Aurora Pump Company; B.P. Oil Company; Baltimore Aircoil Company, Inc.; Beazer East, Inc.; Bechtel Corporation; Brand Insulations, Inc.; BW IP, Inc.; Air & Liquid Systems Corporation; Calgon Carbon Corporation; Cashco, Inc.; Catalytic Construction Company; Certainteed Corporation; Chicago Pump Company; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Columbus McKinnon Corporation; Copes-Vulcan, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown Cork & Seal USA, Inc.; Dana Corporation; Dezurik, Inc.; Dow Chemical Company; Dravo Corporation; E. I Dupont De Nemours; Eaton Corporation; FB Wright Company; Flowserve FSD Corporation, individually and as successor-in-interest to Durametallic Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc., f/k/a Durco International, Inc.; Flowserve US, Inc., a/k/a Nordstrom Valves; Fluor Corporation; Fluor Enterprises, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; FMC Corporation; Gardner Denver, Inc.; General Electric Company; General Refractories Company; Geo. V. Hamilton, Inc.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Greene Tweed & Company; Grinnell, LLC; Hercules, Inc.; Hollingsworth and Vose Company; Honeywell International, f/k/a Allied Signal, Inc.; Honeywell International, Inc.; Howden-Buffalo, Inc.; Huntington Alloys Corporation; I.U. North American, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; J.H. France Refractories; Joy Technologies, Inc.; Kentucky Power Company; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Lorillard Tobacco Company; McJunkin Corporation; Met Pro Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Milwaukee Valve Company, Inc.; Mobay Chemical Corporation; Monongahela Power Company; Monsanto Company; Mueller Steam Specialty; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; National Service Industries Venture, Inc.; New York Airbrake Corporation; Nibco, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; O.C. Keckley Company; Oakfabco, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Company; Ohio Power Company; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Railroad Friction Products Company; Rapid American Corporation; Reading Crane; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Roper Pump Company; Rust Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Rust Constructors, Inc.; Shell Oil Company; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; Spirax Sarco, Inc.; Standard Oil Company, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), LLC; Stockham Valves & Fittings; Sunbeam Corporation; Sundyne Corporation; Superior Boiler Works, Inc.; Surface Combustion, Inc.; Taco, Inc.; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the Gage Company; the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company; the William Powell Company; Trane U.S. Inc.; Tyco Flow Controls Inc.; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Union Carbide Chemical and Plastics Company, Inc.; Uniroyal, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Group International; USX Corporation; Viacom; Viad Corporation; Viking Pump, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; Wabco Company; Warren Pumps; Waukesha Pumps; Weil-McLain Company; West Virginia Electric Supply; Yarway Corporation; Zenith Pumps; and Zurn Industries, Inc.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-747