PINEVILLE – An Oceana man who worked as a coal miner for 30 years alleges his pneumoconiosis lung disease was caused by defective respirators.
Teddy Gibson and Michelle Gibson filed a complaint in Wyoming Circuit Court against Mine Safety Appliances Co. LLC and others alleging strict liability, negligence and fraud.
Teddy Gibson worked as an equipment operator and electrician at various West Virginia coal mines from 1989 until January 2019, the suit states. He alleges in his suit that his coal worker's pneumoconiosis is a result of breathing harmful coal dust due to the defective respirators manufactured, supplied and/or sold by the defendants. He alleges the respirators did not meet proper fit test standards prescribed by the American National Standards Institute's Standard for Respiratory Protection, had a leakage in the face piece and had no protection from the normal wear and tear of the exhalation valves.
The plaintiffs seek compensatory and punitive damages, a trial by jury and all other just relief. They are represented by Victoria Herman of Wolfe Williams & Reynolds in Mount Hope.
Wyoming Circuit Court case number 19-C-93