Pa. couple names 86 defendants in asbestos case

CHARLESTON -- A Beaver Falls, Pa., couple is suing 86 companies they claim are responsible for a mesothelioma diagnosis.

In August, Roscoe H. Peters was diagnosed with mesothelioma, according to a complaint filed Sept. 14 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Peters and his wife, Mary J. Peters, claim the 86 defendants are responsible for the diagnosis by exposing Roscoe Peters to asbestos during his career as a laborer/electrician with Weirton Steel from 1950 until 1983.

Roscoe Peters smoked one pack of cigarettes per day from 1951 until 1964, but has not smoked since, according to the suit.

The couple claims 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.

Certain defendants are also being sued as premises owners and as Roscoe Peters’ employers for deliberate intent/intentional tort, according to the suit.

The couple is seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved.They are being represented by Craig E. Coleman, Victoria Antion and Scott A. McGee.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

The 86 companies named as defendants in the suit are 3M Company; A.W. Chesterton Company; Air & Liquid Systems Corporation; Ajax Magnethermic Corporation; Allied Corporation; Allied Mineral Products, Inc.; Aurora Pump Company; Beazer East, Inc.; Caterpillar, Inc.; CBS Corporation; Certainteed Corporation; Cleaver-Brooks Company, Inc.; Columbus McKinnon Corporation; Copes-Vulcan, Inc.; Crane Co.; Dezurik, Inc.; Dravo Corporation; Eaton Corporation; F. B. Wright Company of Pittsburgh; Fairmont Supply Company; Flowserve US, Inc., successor in interest to Durametallic Corp.; Flowserve US, Inc., f/k/a Durco International, Inc.; FMC Corporation; Foseco, Inc.; Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation; General Electric Company; Georgia-Pacific, LLC; George V. Hamilton, Inc.; Goulds Pumps, Inc.; Grinnell, LLC; Hedman Resources Limited; Hercules, Inc.; Honeywell International, Inc.; Howden North America, Inc.; I.U. North America, Inc.; IMO Industries, Inc.; Industrial Holdings Corporation; Ingersoll-Rand Company; Insul Company, Inc.; ITT Corporation; J. H. France Refractories; Joy Technologies, Inc.; Lockheed Martin Corporation; Mallinckrodt US LLC; Manitowoc Cranes; McCann Shields Paint Co.; McJunkin Corporation; Metropolitan Life Insurance Company; Milwaukee Valve Company, Inc.; Morgan Engineering Systems, Inc.; Nagle Pumps, Inc.; Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc.; Oakfabco, Inc.; Oglebay Norton Company; Ohio Valley Insulating Company, Inc.; Owens-Illinois, Inc.; P & H Mining Equipment, Inc.; Pettibone/Traverse Lift, LLC; Pneumo Abex Corporation; Power Piping Company; Premier Refractories, Inc.; Rapid American Corporation; Reading Crane and Engineering Company; Riley Stoker Corp.; Rockwell Automations, Inc.; Rust Constructors, Inc.; Rust Engineering & Construction, Inc.; Rust International, Inc.; Schneider Electric USA, Inc.; Sterling Fluid Systems (USA), LLC; Tasco Insulations, Inc.; The Alliance Machine Company; The Gage Company; The Sager Corporation; The William Powell Company; Thiem Corporation; Treco Construction Services, Inc.; UB West Virginia, Inc.; Union Carbide Corporation; Uniroyal, Inc.; United Engineers & Constructors and Washington Group International; Viking Pump, Inc.; Vimasco Corporation; Warren Pumps, Inc.; Yale Material Handling Company; and Zurn Industries, LLC.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 12-C-1871