Lincoln Electric and three other welding equipment companies suffered a rare loss...when a federal jury in Cleveland slapped them with a $5.8 million verdict...[In] 2005...Iowa welder Curtis Cooley sued Lincoln and several other companies, saying exposure to manganese from their products caused him several emotional and physical problems...Brandy Bergman, spokeswoman for Lincoln and the other companies sued, said they would appeal the verdict...Of the punitive damages, Lincoln is responsible for $750,000 as is Linde LLC, owner of the BOC Group. Welding supply companies Hobart Brothers and the ESAB Group are both responsible for $1.75 million.