Man sues 45 companies for lung cancer, death of family member

CHARLESTON – A man is suing 45 companies he claims are responsible for his family member's lung cancer and death.

On July 14, 2011, Ralph Gary Brown was diagnosed with lung cancer, from which he died on Aug. 6, 2011, according to a complaint filed June 21 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Barry S. Brown claims Ralph Brown was exposed to asbestos during his employment as a millwright at Armco Steel from 1964 until 2005.

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.

Barry Brown is seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved. He is being represented by Bronwyn I. Rinehart, Victoria L. Antion and Scott A. McGee.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The companies named as defendants in the suit are A.K. Steel Corporation; A.W. Chesterton Company; Amdura Corporation; Bucyrus International, Inc.; Caterpillar Inc.; Clark Equipment Company; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Columbus McKinnon Corporation; Crane Co.; Dravo Corporation; Eaton Corporation; Elliott Company; Flowserve f/k/a the Duriron Company Inc.; Flowserve Corporation; FMC Corporation; Foseco, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; General Electric Company; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Hercules, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; McJunkin Red Man Corporation; Morgan Engineering, Inc.; NACCO Materials Handling Group, Inc.; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Company; Pettibone/Traverse Lift, LLC; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Riley Power Inc.; Rockwell Automations, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; State Electric Supply Company; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA) LLC; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; The F.D. Lawrence Electric Company; U.B. West Virginia, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Croup International; Vimasco Corporation; West Virginia State Electric Supply; and Yale Materials Handling Corporation.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-1151