PITTSBURGH — A couple are suing dozens of companies in their asbestos lawsuit.
Billy Joe and Adella Wauhop filed a complaint in the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County against AK Steel Corp., fka Arcmo Streel Corp. and more than 50 other companies, alleging that the defendants failed to exercise the requisite degree of care and caution in the distribution, manufacture and supply and sale of the asbestos containing products.
According to the complaint, Billy Joe Wauhop was working with and around asbestos and asbestos products manufactured and supplied by defendants when he was allegedly caused to inhale asbestos fibres which released from the products and became airborne during the products' intended use.
Billy Joe says he worked for Swindell Dressler, Koppers and DuPont as a draftsman mechanical engineer at various sites in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia.
Those sites were owned by Armco in Butler, Pa.; Belden Brick in Sugarcreek, Ohio; Bethlehem Steel in Bethlehem, Pa.; DuPont Belle in Belle, W.Va.; Hall China in East Liverpool, Ohio; J&L Steel in Aliquippa, Pa.; and Weirton Steel in Weirton, W.Va.
In August, Billy Joe Wauhop was advised that he was suffering from mesothelioma. As a result, after Billy Joe's diagnoses, Adella Wauhop had been deprived of the services, society and companionship her husband.
The plaintiffs holds AK Steel Corp., fka Armo Streel Corp., et al. responsible because the defendants allegedly failed to take reasonable precautions to warn individuals of the dangers to exposure to asbestos and asbestos-containing products.
The plaintiffs request a trial by jury and seek judgment in an amount in excess of the jurisdiction of the Compulsory Board of Arbritration of the county. They are represented by Craig Coleman of Caroselli, Beachler & Coleman in Pittsburgh.