Charleston, West Virginia - Four families have filed asbestos-related lawsuits, claiming that a family member has suffered from an asbestos-related disease as a result of working with or around asbestos-containing products. In total, the four lawsuits name 124 different defendants.

The lawsuits were filed in Kanawha Circuit Court in West Virginia by the attorneys of the plaintiffs. Each of the four suits involves a man who has developed an asbestos-related disease as a result of past exposure to asbestos, and in two of the cases the men who developed the diseases have already died.

Asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma cancer continue to increase in incidence as people who were exposed to asbestos decades ago begin to realize the devastating legacy of the substance.

In most cases of asbestos exposure which occurred last century, those exposed had no idea they were putting themselves at risk of developing chronic lung diseases or deadly asbestos cancers.

The first suit was filed by Doris Bowen of Barboursville, on behalf of the estate of Lemuel Bowen. Lemuel Brown developed asbestosis and lung cancer, and worked in Huntington as a welder at the American Car Foundry.

Also of Barboursville is Virginia Harris, who filed on behalf of the estate of Jack Harris. Harris has developed asbestosis and lung cancer, and worked for several years for IBEW Local 317 as an electrician.

The third suit was filed by Walter Socha, of Martins Ferry, Ohio. Socha worked at Wheeling Pittsburgh Steel as a laborer and pipefitter, and has developed asbestosis and lung cancer.

The fourth suit was filed by John F. Stoll and Betty J. Stoll, who currently reside in Wintersville, Ohio. John Stoll worked Weirton Steel in Weirton, West Virginia as a crane operator, electrician, and laborer. He has developed asbestosis and mesothelioma.

The lawsuits state that each of the plaintiffs was exposed to asbestos in products which were manufactured, supplied, or sold by one or more of the various named defendants. The suits also allege that the defendants failed to provide warnings about the dangers of asbestos and of their asbestos-containing products, and failed to provide information about safety procedures to reduce or prevent exposure to asbestos.

Each of the plaintiffs is seeking punitive as well as compensatory damages. Virginia Harris and Doris Bowen have filed wrongful death suits.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 28th, 2008 at 5:16 pm and is filed under Asbestos Litigation, West Virginia. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.