Clarksburg couple names 61 companies in asbestos case

CHARLESTON -- A Clarksburg couple is suing 61 companies after they claim they are responsible for a lung cancer diagnosis.

On Sept. 8, 2010, Joseph J. Gulas was diagnosed with lung cancer, according to a complaint filed May 20 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Gulas claims he was exposed to asbestos during his employment from 1966 until 1980.

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.

Gulas and his wife, Betty Gulas, are seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved. They are 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 61 companies named as defendants are A.O. Smith Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Aurora Pump Company; Beazer East, Inc.; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Certainteed Corporation; Chevron U.S.A., Inc.; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Crane Co.; Dezurik, Inc.; Dravo Corporation; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Erie City Iron Works; FB Wright Company; Flowserve FSD Corporation; FMC Corporation; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; General Electric Company; George V. Hamilton, Inc.; Goulds Pumps; Hercules, Inc.; Honeywell International, Inc.; I.U. North America, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Inductotherm Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; ITT Corporation; J.H. France Refractories Company; McJunkin Corporation; Mobil Corporation; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Oakfabco, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; PPG Industries, Inc.; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Premiere Refractories, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Rust Constructors, Inc.; Rust Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), LLC; Sunbeam Corporation; Superior Boiler Works, Inc.; Surface Combustion, Inc.; Swindell-Dressier International Corporation; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the Gage Company; UB West Virginia, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Group International; Viacom, Inc.; Viking Pump, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; Warren Pumps, Inc.; and Zurn Industries, Inc.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-831