Ohio couple names 62 companies as defendants in asbestos case

CHARLESTON -- A Coal Grove, Ohio, couple is suing 62 companies they claim are responsible for a mesothelioma diagnosis.

On Nov. 18, 2011, Larry E. Shelton was diagnosed with mesothelioma, according to a complaint filed Jan. 12 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Shelton claims he was exposed to asbestos during his career as a bricklayer, laborer and roofer from 1964 until 1993.

The defendants knew or should have known of the dangers of being exposed to asbestos would cause, according to the suit.

Shelton claims the defendants failed to warn him of the dangers of asbestos.

The defendants are being sued based on 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.

Shelton and his wife, Barbara K. Shelton, are seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved. They are being represented by Victoria L. Antion, Scott A. McGee and Bronwyn I. Rinehart.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 62 companies named as defendants are 3M Company; A.K. Steel Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Allied Chemical Corporation; Amdura Corporation; Atlas Turner, Inc.; Bucyrus International, Inc.; Bechtel Corporation; Catalytic Construction Company; Caterpillar, Inc.; Certainteed Corporation; Clark Equipment Company; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Columbus McKinnon Corporation; Crane Co.; Dravo Corporation; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Elliott Company; Flowserve FSD Corporation; FMC Corporation; Foseco, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; General Electric Company; Georgia Pacific Corporation; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Hercules, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; J.H. France Refractories Company; McJunkin Red Man Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Morgan Engineering, Inc.; NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Company; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Pettibone/Traverse Lift, LLC; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power Inc.; Rockwell Automations, Inc.; Rust Constructors, Inc.; Rust Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Rust International, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (US) LLC; Sunbeam Corporation; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; The F.D. Lawrence Electric Company; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Uniroyal, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Group International; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; West Virginia State Electric Supply Company; and Yale Materials Handling Corporation.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-86