Fla. couple sues 39 in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON -- A Melbourne, Fla., couple is suing 30 companies they claim are responsible for a malignant mesothelioma diagnosis.

On Dec. 13, 2011, Barbara E. Amick was diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, according to a complaint filed April 20 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Amick claims the 39 defendants are responsible for the diagnosis because they exposed her to asbestos and the exposures were a substantial contributing factor in her development of the disease.

The defendants allowed Amick to become exposed during her employment in accounts and sales departments from 1952 until 1977, according to the suit.

Amick claims she was further exposed to asbestos during home renovations in the 1950s and 1960s at her and her husband's home in Vienna, W.Va.

The defendants actions in allowing Amick to be exposed to asbestos were negligent, according to the suit.

Amick and her husband, Eldon E. Amick, are seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by Carla Guttilla.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 39 companies named as defendants in the suit are Allied Glove Corporation; American Electric Power Company, Inc.; Brand Insulations, Inc.; CBS Corp.; Certainteed Corporation; Copes-Vulcan, Inc.; Crane Co.; Crown Cork & Seal Company, Inc.; Ebasco Services Incorporated; Fairmont Supply Company; Famous Furnace & Supply Co.; F.B. Wright Company; FMC Corporation; Flowserve US, Inc.; General Electric Company; General Refractories Company; George V. Hamilton, Inc.; Georgia-Pacific, LLC; Grinnell Corporation; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Ingersoll Rand Company; International Harvester Company; I.U. North America, Inc.; J.H. France Refractories Company; McJunkin Corporation; Mahoning Valley Supply Co.; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Ohio Valley Electric Corporation; Pittsburgh Gage & Supply Company; Safety First Industries, Inc.; SepCo Corporation; Spirax SarCo Company, Inc.; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; Union Carbide Corporation; Vimasco Corporation; Warren Pumps, Inc.; and Yarway Corporation.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-711