Woman sues 47 companies for family member's lung cancer, death

CHARLESTON -- A woman is suing 47 companies after she claims they are responsible for her family member's lung cancer and death.

On May 12, 2010, Anna Lee Meade was diagnosed with lung cancer on which she died June 24, 2010, according to a complaint filed May 9 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Kathy Lee Frasure claims Meade smoked until 1985, but then quit. She claims Meade was exposed to asbestos because of her husband, who was employed by the defendants from 1947 until 1982.

The defendants are being sued based 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.

Frasure is seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved. She is being represented by Victoria L. Antion, Scott A. McGee, John D. Hurst and Bronwyn I. Rinehart.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 47 defendants in the suit are A.K. Steel Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Allied Chemical Corporation; Caterpillar, Inc.; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Columbus McKinnon Corporation; Crane Co.; Dravo Corporation; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Flowserve FSD Corporation; Foseco, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; General Electric Company; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Grinnell, LLC; Honeywell International; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; McJunkin Red Man Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Morgan Engineering, Inc.; Nagle Pumps; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Company; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rust Constructors, Inc.; Rust Engineering & Construction; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (US), LLC; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the F.D. Lawrence Electric Company; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Uniroyal, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Group International; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; West Virginia State Electric Supply Company; and Yarway Corporation.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-750