Clarksburg man names 50 defendants in asbestos suit

CHARLESTON – A Clarksburg man is suing 50 companies he claims are responsible for his asbestosis diagnosis.

On April 11, Ray Earl Wamsley II was diagnosed with asbestosis, according to a complaint filed Jan. 16 in Kanawha Circuit Court.

Wamsley claims the defendants exposed him to asbestos during his employment as a head artist, decorator, pipefitter, painter and electrician’s helper from 1969 until 1993.

From 1958 until 2008, Wamsley smoked approximately one pack of cigarettes per day, and since 2008 he has smoked two cigars per month, according to the suit.

Wamsley claims the defendants failed to warn him of the dangers of asbestos.

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.

Wamsley is seeking a jury trial to resolve all issues involved. He is being represented by James A. McKowen.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number: 13-C-68