Thank you for your diligence and care with my Father,
Donald Flury, Sr's case. God Bless you and your firm.
- Kathleen Rubino
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Companies Knew the Danger - Highly Confidential Documents Since the 1930’s, the asbestos industry has known that exposure to asbestos was extremely dangerous. Despite this knowledge, the industry intentionally concealed this information from people who worked around asbestos and from the general public. As a result, thousands of American workers have died from mesothelioma asbestos-related lung cancer and many lawsuits have been filed. Following are just a few of the asbestos industry’s many documents demonstrating their conscious disregard for the safety of workers: The Less Said the Better In a letter dated October 1, 1935, the President of Johns Manville Company, the largest asbestos manufacturer, stated, “I think the less said about asbestos, the better off we are…” The President then acknowledged in that letter that that the industry had been pressuring the American asbestos magazines not to report that asbestos was harmful to workers, and that the American magazines had been “very decent about not reprinting the English articles [which substantiated the health hazards of asbestos exposure].” Click Here to obtain a Free Case Evaluation with no obligation. Asbestos is a Hazard In early 1943, Dr. Gardner, a doctor hired by the asbestos industry informed the Owens Illinois Glass Company of the dangers of asbestos. Dr. Gardner stated: “Starting with a mixture of quartz and asbestos would certainly suggest you have all the ingredients of a first class hazard.” Click Here to obtain a Free Case Evaluation with no obligation. Protective Gear Should be Worn A September 22, 1958 internal memo marked “Personal & Confidential” from National Gypsum Company, another large asbestos manufacturer, stated: “Men handling the bags of material should be required to wear the respirators approved by the Bureau of Mines…” The memo continued: “We know that you will never lose sight of the fact that perhaps the greatest hazard in our plant is men handling asbestos. Because just as certain as death and taxes is the fact that if you inhaled asbestos dust you get asbestosis.” (Unfortunately, asbestos companies never provided or required workers to use respirators when working around asbestos, thereby resulting in thousands of people becoming sick.) Click Here to obtain a Free Case Evaluation with no obligation. Asbestos Causes Cancer Numerous documents from the late 1950s evidence the asbestos industry’s knowledge that asbestos exposure causes cancer. For example, in a letter to Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation on February 6, 1956, Dr. Schepers stated: “I suppose you already know that asbestos is fairly well incriminated as a carcinogen (cancer causing agent) and that asbestos causes lung damage…” Other company correspondence stated: “Asbestos (as found in Kaylo) when breathed into the lungs causes asbestosis which often leads to lung cancer.” Click Here to obtain a Free Case Evaluation with no obligation. Delayed and Avoided Warning Workers About the Danger On September 1, 1970, management in an asbestos manufacturer wrote to his coworker. Their correspondence between Owens Corning Fiberglass employees J. P. Kerns wrote to Dr. Jon Kanzen stating: “Reference is made to your memo of September 15 regarding the warning labels that should appear on Kaylo (an asbestos product). Are you saying that we have to do this now? I naturally would like to delay this requirement as long as possible.” Click Here to obtain a Free Case Evaluation with no obligation. Unscrupulous Business Practices The asbestos companies did what ever it took to sell their products. They did not care that the exposure to these products would result in the deaths of thousands of innocent working men and woman. They, instead, were motivated by greed, and placed sales and profits ahead of lives. One glaring example of this misplaced priority is found in a memo written in June 1, 1970. There, Mr. Thomas Egan writes to Bob Chaney that he agrees with his business practices. Dear Bob: Went to Winnipeg and met Whittaker. He can’t understand why you fellows have been so quiet about asbestos? I made no comment, and he proceeded to tell me what an unethical competitor Bob Chaney is. I stated you hate to lose, but agreed completely on your scruples. Stay unscrupulous, unethical, mean and selling Mono-Kote (an asbestos product). Seriously, the fiber boys are really worried about his situation and as soon as we have the new Mono-Kote, lay it on them in your area. Sincerely, Thomas F. Egan. Click Here to obtain a Free Case Evaluation with no obligation. |