Pa. couple names 85 defendants in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON -- A Brockway, Pa., couple is suing 85 companies they claim are responsible for a lung cancer diagnosis.

Ward T. McFadden was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2011, according to a complaint filed Feb. 27 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

McFadden and his wife, Margaret E. McFadden, claim he was exposed to asbestos during his working career and that the exposures were a substantial contributing factor in his development of lung cancer.

The defendants allowed Ward McFadden to be exposed to and to inhale dust and asbestos fibers, which caused his lung injury, according to the suit.

The McFaddens claim the defendants failed to advise Ward McFadden of the dangers of asbestos and failed or omitted to provide him with the knowledge as to what would be reasonably safe and sufficient wearing apparent and proper protective equipment.

The defendants also failed and omitted to take reasonable precautions or to exercise reasonable care to publish, adopt and enforce a safety plan and a safe method of handling and installing asbestos and asbestos materials, according to the suit.

The McFaddens are seeking compensatory and punitive damages. They are being represented by Brian A. Prim.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 85 companies named as defendants in the suit are A.O. Smith Corporation; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Allied Glove Corporation; American Optical Corporation; Aqua-Chem, Inc.; Armstrong International, Inc.; Armstrong Pumps, Inc.; Atlas Industries, Inc.; Beazer East, Inc.; Brand Insulations, Inc.; Cashco, Inc.; Catalytic Construction Company; CBS Corporation; Certainteed Corporation; Champlain Cable Corporation; Copes-Vulcan, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown Cork & Seal Company; Dravo Corporation; Durametallic Corporation; E.W. Bowman; Eaton Corporation; Eichleay Corporation; Electrolux Home Products; Emhart Inc.; F.B. Wright Company; Fairmont Supply; Flowserve U.S., Inc.; Flsmidth, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Gardner Denver, Inc.; George V. Hamilton, Inc.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Greene Tweed & Company; Grinnell Corporation; Honeywell, Inc; Howden North America, Inc.; Hunter Sales Corporation; I.U. North America, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand; ITT Corporation; Joy Technologies; Kentile Floors, Inc.; M.S. Jacobs & Associates, Inc.; Mallinckrodt US LLC; Marley Cooling Tower; McCann Shields Paint Company; McCarls, Inc.; McJunkin Red Man Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Milwaukee Valve Company; Minnotte Contracting Corporation; Mueller Steam Specialty; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Ohio Valley Insulating Company; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; Plotkin Brothers Supply, LLP; Powell Valve Company; Power Piping; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Riley Stoker Corporation; Safety First Industries, Inc.; Saint-Gobain Abrasives, Inc.; Sealite, Inc.; Spirax Sarco, Inc.; Square D Company; Stockham Valves & Fittings; Sundyne Corporation; Surface Combustion, Inc.; Tasco Insulation, Inc.; the Sager Corporation; Treco Construction Services, Inc.; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Unifrax Corporation; Union Carbide Corporation: United States Steel Corporation; Vimasco Corporation; Warren Pumps LLC; Washington Group International; WMX Technologies, Inc.; Yarway Corporation; and Zurn Industries, Inc.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-370