Ky. man names 57 defendants in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON -- A Grayson, Ky., man is suing 57 companies he claims are responsible for his family member's lung cancer and death.

On May 26, 2010, James Thomas Martin was diagnosed with lung cancer, of which he died from on Aug. 2, 2010, according to a complaint filed July 29 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

James Franklin Martin claims James Thomas Martin was exposed to asbestos and asbestos-containing material during his employment as an electrician from 1951 until 2006.

The defendants are being sued based 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.

James Franklin Martin is seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved. He is being represented by Victoria Antion and Bronwyn I. Rinehart.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 57 companies named as defendants are 4520 Corporation; A.K. Steel Corporation; American Electric Power Company, Inc.; American Electric Power Service Corporation; Appalachian Power Company; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Catalytic Construction Company; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Crane Co.; Dravo Corporation; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Flowserve FSD Corporation; FMC Corporation; Foseco, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; General Electric Company; Goodrich Corporation; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Graybar Electric Company, Inc.; Grinnell, LLC; Hercules, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; Lockheed Martin Corporation; McJunkin Red Man Corporation; Nagle Pumps; Nitro Electric Company, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Company; Ohio Power Company; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rockwell Automations, Inc.; Rust Constructors, Inc.; Rust Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Rust International, Inc.; Schneider Electric; State Electric Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (US), LLC; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; the F.D. Lawrence Electric Company; the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.; UB West Virginia, Inc.; United Conveyer Corporation; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Group International; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; West Virginia State Electric Supply Company; WT/HRC Corporation; Yarway Corporation; and Zurn Industries, Inc.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-1248