Ripley woman names 26 companies in husband's lung cancer, death suit

CHARLESTON -- A Ripley woman is suing 26 companies for her late husband's lung cancer and death.

On Dec. 3, 2008, Robert Christopher Sampson was diagnosed with lung cancer, of which he died from on Nov. 23, 2009, according to a complaint filed Nov. 15 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Verona J. Sampson claims her husband smoked one-half of a pack of cigarettes from 1970 until 2005, but then quit.

The defendants exposed Robert Sampson to asbestos during his career as a car mechanic, laborer and construction worker, according to the suit.

Verona Sampson claims the defendants failed to warn her husband of the dangers of asbestos.

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.

Verona Sampson is seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved. She is being represented by Victoria Antion, Scott A. McGee and Carrie L. Newton.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 26 companies named as defendants are 3M Company; A.O. Smith Corporation; Borg-Warner Corporation; Carrier Corporation; Certainteed Corporation; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Exxon Mobil Corporation; Ford Motor Company; General Electric Company, Inc.; Genuine Parts Company; Georgia Pacific Corporation; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Honeywell International; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; Kelsey-Hayes Company; Maremont Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Pneumo Abex Corp.; Rockwell Automations, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Uniroyal, Inc.; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; and West Virginia Electric Supply Company.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 11-C-2033