WEST VIRGINIA RECORD

CHARLESTON - A Kanawha County man employed by a Braxton County company has filed an asbestos suit against the company.

Attorney John Skaggs filed a suit April 2 in Kanawha Circuit Court on behalf of Paul Moss, who was employed at a Verizon West Virginia, Inc. facility in Sutton during the 1980s.

The suit names 47 companies as defendants, including A&I Company, Gordon Gasket and Packing Co., Nitro Industrial Coverings, Inc., and Verizon West Virginia, Inc., all West Virginia corporations.

Moss claims he was exposed to asbestos-containing materials in brakes and related products during his employment with Verizon.

According to the lawsuit, Moss was required to handle and use asbestos products. He now suffers from severe illnesses and disease in his lungs, respiratory and cardiovascular systems, which he claims is a result of working around the asbestos-containing materials.

Also, the suit claims that even when he was not actually using and handling the products, he was exposed to fibers contained in asbestos dust generated by the use of said products by other workers in the same work environment.

Moss claims in the 11-count suit that the defendants failed to warn him of the dangers associated with asbestos.

Moss seeks compensatory and punitive damages for all counts. Ruby Moss, his wife, also seeks compensatory and punitive damages for loss of consortium.

The case has been assigned to a visiting judge.

Kanawha Circuit Court case number 07-C-631