Huntington couple names 66 defendants in asbestos case

CHARLESTON -- A Huntington couple is suing 66 companies they claim are responsible for a lung cancer diagnosis.

On Aug. 19, 2011, Robert Deriel Lambert was diagnosed with lung cancer, according to a complaint filed Jan. 20 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Lambert claims the 66 defendants exposed him to asbestos and/or asbestos-containing products during his career as a laborer and operator from 1943 until 1982.

The defendants knew or should have known that exposure to asbestos could cause harm to Lambert, according to the suit.

Lambert claims he smoked less than one-half of a pack of cigarettes per day from 1947 until 1950, but then quit.

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.

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

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 66 defendants named in the suit are A.O. Smith Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Ajax Magnclhermic Corporation; Allied Chemical Corporation; Armstrong International, Inc.; BW IP, Inc.; Catalytic Construction Company; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Columbus McKinnon Corporation; Copes-Vulcan, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown Cork & Seal USA, Inc.; Dravo Corporation; Flowserve Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Foseco, Inc.; Gordon Gasket & Packing Co.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Greene Tweed & Company; Grinnell, LLC; Hercules, Inc.; Honeywell International; Honeywell International, Inc.; Howden North America, Inc.; Huntington Alloys Corporation f/k/a INCO Alloys International, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll Rand Company; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; Hammel Dahl Valves; J.H. France Refractories; Joy Technologies, Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; McJunkin Corporation; Morgan Engineering Systems, Inc.; Nagle Pumps; National Service Industries Venture, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Company; Ohio Valley Insulating Company; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; P&H Mining Equipment, Inc.; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Rapid American Corporation; Riley Power, Inc.; Rust Constructors, Inc.; Rust Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Rust International, Inc.; Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc. f/k/a Norton Company; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; Spirax Sarco, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems LLC; Swindell Dressier International Company; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; The Alliance Machine Company; Union Boiler Company; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Group International; Viacom, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; Warren Pump; West Virginia Electric Supply Company; Yarway Corporation; and Zurn Industries, LLC

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-145