Tunnelton couple names 88 companies in mesothelioma complaint

CHARLESTON -- A Tunnelton couple is suing 88 companies they claim are responsible for a mesothelioma diagnosis.

On May 11, Donald Metheny was diagnosed with mesothelioma, of which he and his wife, Betty Lee Metheny, claim the defendants are responsible, according to a complaint filed July 13 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

The Methenys claim Mr. Metheny was exposed to asbestos during his employment with Allegheny Power from 1955 until 1991.

The defendants are being sued 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.

The couple is seeking a jury trial to resolve all issued involved. They are being represented by Victoria L. Antion.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 88 defendants named in the suit are 3M Company; 4520 Corporation, Inc.; A.O. Smith Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Air & Liquid Systems Corporation; Allegheny Energy Service Corporation; Armstrong International, Inc.; Armstrong Pumps, Inc.; Aurora Pump Company; Beazer East, Inc.; Bechtel Corporation; Brand Insulations, Inc.; BW IP, Inc.; Catalytic Construction Company; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks, Inc.; Copes-Vulcan, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown, Cork & Seal USA, Inc.; Dravo Corporation; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; F.B. Wright; First Energy Corporation; First Energy Generation Corp.; First Energy Service Corp.; Flour Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc. f/k/a Durco International, Inc.; Flowserve US, Inc. f/k/a Flowserve FSD Corporation; FMC Corporation; Ford Motor Company; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; General Electric Company, Inc.; Genuine Parts Company; Geo. V. Hamilton, Inc.; Gordon Gasket & Packing Co.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Greene Tweed & Company; Grinnell, LLC; Hercules, Inc.; Honeywell International; Howden North America, Inc.; I.U. North America, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; ITT Corporation; Lockheed Martin Corporation; McJunkin Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Monongahela Power Company; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; National Service Industries Venture, Inc.; Nibco, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; O.C. Keckley Company; Oakfabco, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Potomac Edison Company; Premiere Refractories, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Rust Constructors, Inc.; Rust Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Rust International, Inc.; Schneider Electric; Sequoia Ventures, Inc.; Spirax Sarco, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), LLC; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; The Gage Company; The Wallace & Gale Company; The William Powell Company; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Uniroyal, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Group International; Viacom, Inc.; Viking Pump, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; Warren Pumps; West Penn Power Company; West Virginia Electric Supply Company; Yarway Corporation; Zenith Pumps; and Zurn Industries, Inc.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-1163