Nettie couple names 62 companies in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON -- A Nettie couple is suing 62 companies after they claim they are responsible for asbestos exposure and a lung cancer diagnosis.

On May 18, Robert Russell was diagnosed with lung cancer at the age of 80, according to a complaint filed Aug. 22 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Russell claims he was exposed to asbestos during his career as an automotive mechanic, service manager and electrician from 1953 until 1977.

The defendants are being sued based 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.

Russell and his wife, Nina Jean Russell, are seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues. They are being represented by James M. Barber and Victoria Antion.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 62 companies named as defendants are 3M Company; A.O. Smith Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Aurora Pump Company; Borg-Warner Corporation; Air & Liquid Systems Corporation; BW IP, Inc.; Cameron International Corporation; Certainteed Corporation; Chicago Pump Company; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Crane Company; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Dezurik, Inc.; Dow Chemical Company; Dravo 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; Gordon Gasket & Packing, Co.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Greene Tweed & Company; Grinnell, LLC; Hercules, Inc.; Honeywell International f/k/a Allied Signal, Inc.; Honeywell International, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; Invensys Systems, Inc.; ITT Corporation; ITT Corporation d/b/a Hammel Dahl Valves; Joy Technologies, Inc.; Kelsey-Hayes Company; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Maremont Corporation; McJunkin Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Pneumo Abex Corp.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power Inc.; Rockwell Automations, Inc.; Roper Pump Company; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), LLC; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Union Carbide Chemical & Plastics Company; Uniroyal, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Viking Pump Company; Vimasco Corporation; Warren Pumps, Inc.; West Virginia Electric Supply Company; and Zurn Industries, Inc.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-1442