Raleigh Mine and Industrial Supply Inc. and Eastern States Mine Supply Co. were also named as defendants in the suit.
Lonnie Prillaman and Sheila Prillaman; and Barry Shrewsbury
Lonnie Prillaman and Barry Shrewsbury were coal miners and, during their careers, they used respirators manufactured and sold by MSA for protection against harmful dust and used the MSA respirators in their intended manner, according to two complaints filed Jan. 26 in Mingo Circuit Court.
Raleigh and Eastern distributed, supplied and sold the MSA respirators used by the plaintiffs, according to the suits.
Prillaman and Shrewsbury claim the respirators were subjected to normal use and remained, in all material respects, in the same condition as at the time of sale.
The plaintiffs have developed an occupational lung dust disease known as coal miner’s pneumoconiosis and/or “black lung: and the lung disease was caused by the hidden defects in and the inadequate warnings provided with the MSA respirators, according to the suits.
Prillaman and Shrewbury claim the defendants violated West Virginia law and were negligent.
Prillaman and his wife, Sheila Prillaman; and Shrewsbury are seeking compensatory and punitive damages with pre- and post-judgment interest. They are being represented by G. Todd Houck and John S. Hrko.
The cases are assigned to Circuit Judge Warren R. McGraw.
Mingo Circuit Court case number: 17-C-10, 17-C-11