Ohio couple names 10 companies in lung cancer suit

CHARLESTON -- A Liverpool, Ohio, couple is suing 10 companies they claim caused a lung cancer diagnosis.

From 1958 until 1979, Charles H. Long worked as a boilermaker and ironworker at various power plants, steel mills and other industrial sites throughout western Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia, according to a complaint filed Aug. 2 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Long claims he was exposed to asbestos and asbestos-containing products that were manufactured and/or supplied by the defendants.

The defendants are responsible for Long's diagnosis of lung cancer, asbestosis and pleural plaques, according to the suit.

Long claims the defendants failed to exercise reasonable care to warn him of the danger to which he was exposed by use of asbestos-containing products.

The defendants also failed to inform Long of what would be safe and sufficient apparel for a person who was exposed to or used asbestos-containing products, according to the suit.

Long and his wife, Ruth Long, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by Craig E. Coleman.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 10 defendants named in the suit are AK Steel Corporation; AmChem Products, Inc.; Bechtel Corporation; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Dravo Corporation; FMC Corporation; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; ITT Corporation; J. H. France Refractories Company; and Yarway Corporation.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-1264