Ripley couple names 54 defendants in asbestos case

CHARLESTON -- A Ripley couple is suing 54 companies they name are responsible for a lung cancer diagnosis.

On April 5 James M. Lawrentz was diagnosed with lung cancer, according to a complaint filed May 29 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Lawrentz and his wife, Sandra Lawrentz claim the 54 defendants exposed James Lawrentz to asbestos during his career as a millwright and laborer.

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.

The Lawrentzes are seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved. They are being represented by Thomas P. Maroney and Victoria Antion.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 54 companies named as defendants in the suit are 3M Company; A.W. Chesterton Company; Aurora Pump Company; Borg-Warner Corporation; Buffalo Pumps, Inc.; Caterpillar, Inc.; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Copes-Vulcan, Inc.; Crane Co.; Duavo Corporation; Eaton Electrical, Inc.; Flowserve US, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Ford Motor Company; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; Gardner Denver, Inc.; Genuine Parts Company; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Grinnell Corporation; Hercules, Inc.; Honeywell International; Howden Buffalo, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Inductotherm Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; ITT Corporation; Joy Technologies, Inc.; McJunkin Corporation; Morgan Engineering Systems; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; P&H Mining Equipment, Inc.; Pettibone/Traverse Lift, LLC; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Reading Crane and Engineering Company; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Rust Constructors, Inc.; Rust Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Rust International, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems, LLC; Sunbeam Products, Inc.; Surface Combustion, Inc.; Swindell Dressler International Company; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; The Alliance Machine Company; The Gage Company; UB West Virginia, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Group International; Viking Pump, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; West Virginia Electric Supply; and Yarway Corporation.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-984