Donna Jean Mott, Individually and as Next Friend of Jerry Wayne Mott, Jr. v. Mitsubishi International Corporation, Union Carbide Corporation

GEE, Circuit Judge:

Jerry Mott was employed as a battery salesman by defendant Union Carbide. In servicing his accounts, his duties included picking up from customers, and disposing of, defective batteries. During his period of employment with the defendant, Mott contracted amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a terminal illness colloquially known as “Lou Gehrig’s disease.” Alleging that the ailment was caused by his handling of the defective batteries, which contained certain “heavy chemicals,” Mott filed suit in federal district court against Union Carbide and several chemical manufacturing…