Wayne Taylor, a former coal miner, has filed a lawsuit against multiple corporations, alleging that faulty dust masks have led to his development of occupational lung diseases. The lawsuit was filed in the Circuit Court of Kanawha County, West Virginia.
Taylor alleges that he was exposed to coal, rock or sand dust during his employment as a coal miner and as a result, suffers from Coal Workers’ Pneumoconiosis and/or Silicosis, commonly referred to as “Black Lung,” pulmonary massive fibrosis, COPD and other injuries. He blames the failure of the respirators/dust masks he used for his exposure to these harmful substances.
The defendants named in the case include 3M Company, Aearo Technologies LLC, Aearo LLC, American Optical Corporation, Cabot CSC LLC, Cabot Corporation, Mine Safety Appliances Company LLC, Eastern States Mine Supply Company and RMIS Corporation. All are foreign corporations except for Eastern States Mine Supply Company and RMIS Corporation which are West Virginia corporations.
The case is expected to be ready for trial by November 2024.
