Fla. man names 53 companies for mesothelioma complaint

CHARLESTON -- An Edgewater, Fla., man is suing 53 companies after he claims they are responsible for his mesothelioma diagnosis.

On April 21, James Woodrow Carnes was diagnosed with mesothelioma, according to a complaint filed May 17 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Carnes claims he was exposed to asbestos and/or asbestos fibers and/or asbestos containing products during his employment with Elk Refinery and Virginia Natural Gas from 1953 until 1982.

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.

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

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 53 companies named as defendants are 3M Company; A.O. Smith Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Aurora Pump Company; Brand Insulations, Inc.; BW IP, Inc.; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Crane Co.; Dravo Corporation; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Flowserve FSD Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; FMC Corporation; General Electric Company; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Grinnell, LLC; Honeywell International; Howden North America, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; ITT Corporation; Lockheed Martin Corporation; McJunkin Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Pennzoil Quaker State Company; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Stoker Corporation; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Roper Pump Company; Rust International, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; South Penn Oil Company; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), LLC; Stockham Valves & Fittings; Taco, Inc.; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Uniroyal, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Group International; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; West Virginia Electric Supply Company; Yarway Corporation; and Zurn Industries, LLC.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-799