PITTSBURGH — An employee and his wife are suing Union Railroad Co., U.S. Steel Corp. and WTI Rust Holdings Inc, alleging negligence, strict liability, breach of warranty, gross willful and wanton misconduct.
Ronald C. Holmes and Suzanne Holmes filed a complaint Aug. 27 in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against the defendants alleging that they negligently failed to provide the plaintiff with reasonably safe working materials.
The plaintiffs allege that, between 1969 and 2000, Ronald C. Holmes, while working for Union Railroad, was exposed to and inhaled asbestos fibers, free silica, fibrosis-inducing materials, and carcinogenic materials.
Holmes was diagnosed with lung cancer on January 26. The plaintiffs hold the defendants responsible for allegedly failing to periodically test Holmes to determine whether he suffered from asbestosis, silicosis, occupational asthma, occupational bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or other occupationally related diseases.
They allegedly failed to instruct him and those working around him of the proper manner and methods of working with asbestos and silica-containing products and materials and other toxins.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek an amount in excess of $35,000.00 together with interest as provided by law, and the cost of this action. They are represented by D. Aaron Rihn and Mark D. Troyan of Robert Peirce & Associates P.C. in Pittsburgh.