Welder Sues 66 Suppliers and Employers Over His Pulmonary Ills

CHARLESTON, W.Va. - A 53-year-old West Virginia welder has filed a state-court lawsuit against dozens of suppliers of workplace chemicals or welding products, claiming that exposure to their products caused his pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema and pulmonary failure. Francis v. Airco Welding Products, No. 10-C-5-37 (W.Va. Cir. Ct., Kanawha Cty.).

Lincoln Electric Co., Hobart Brothers Co. and other defendants in the federal Welding Products MDL are included among 66 defendants named by Kevin Francis in the March 19 complaint filed in Kanawha County (W.Va.) Circuit Court.

The complaint alleges that Francis, "while employed in his various occupation[s] was exposed to and …