Sistersville woman names 60 defendants in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON -- A Sistersville woman is suing 60 companies after she claims they are responsible for her mesothelioma.

Ruth E. Smith was diagnosed with mesothelioma on May 25, according to a complaint filed June 9 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Smith claims the 60 defendants allowed her to be exposed to asbestos and/or asbestos-containing products during her husband's employment with PPG Industries from 1950 until 1991.

Although Smith smoked for approximately 30 years, she quit smoking at least 40 years ago, according to the suit.

Smith claims the defendants did not warn her or her husband of the dangers of asbestos and asbestos-containing products.

The defendants are being sued on 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.

Smith is seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved. She is being represented by Thomas P. Maroney and Victoria Antion.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 60 companies named as defendants in the suit are A.O. Smith Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Beazer East, Inc.; Catalytic Construction Company; Curtain teed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crosby Valve, Inc.; Crown Cork & Seal USA, Inc.; Dravo Corporation; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Erie City Iron Works; Fairmont Supply Company; FB Wright Company; Flowserve FSD Corporation; FMC Corporation; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; General Electric Company; George V. Hamilton, Inc.; Goulds Pumps; Grinnell, LLC; Hercules, Inc.; Honeywell International, Inc.; l.U. North America, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; ITT Corporation; J.H. France Refractories Company; Lockheed Martin Corporation; McJunkin Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Pneumo Abex Corporation; PPG Industries, Inc.; 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; Swindell-Dressier International Corporation; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the Gage Company; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Union Carbide Chemical & Plastics Company; 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-948