Document 06K6kxQNxe4vxKQVVKnqxyV2n

NO. 39-10294-F HELEN GRACE 300KER and ELZY M. BOOKER, at al. vs. FIBREBOARD CORPORATION, at al. $ $ $ $ IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF DALLAS COUNTY, TEXAS 116TH JUOICIlff, DISTRICT UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY * S ANSWERS iB OBJECTIONS jrO^IAINTIEFS' FIRST SET OF_INTERROGATORIES TO: Plaintiffs, by and through their attomay of record, Mr. Russall W. Budd, Baron 6 Budd, 8333 Douglas Avanua, Suite 1000, Dallas, Texas 75225. NOW COMES, Defendant UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY, and pursuant to the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure files these Answers and Objections to Plaintiffs' First Set of Interrogatories to Defendant United States Gypsun Company. OPENING STATEMENT. AND OBJECTIONS Defendant United States Gypsum Company objects to these Interrogatories on the grounds that they are overly broad, vague. not relevant, burdansoma and amount to haraesmant Without waiving any objection which it may have, this Defendant provides the following information: Defendant, United States Gypsum Company, is engaged in the manufacture and sale of refractory products, not asbestos, asbestos-ceataining or insulation products. These products were designed and intended for use by heavy industry, not for building construction or insulation. During the relevant period of time, 1947 through 1976, only a email minority of the products which this UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY'S ANSWERS AND OBJECTIONS TO PLAINTIFFS' FIRST_SET OF INTERROGATORIES - Page 1 Defendant sold contained asbestos. products never contained asbestos. The vast majority of its During such period, this Defendant maintained no records nor had any direct knowledge concerning the operations of any company acquired by this Defendant, by any means, as a subsidiary, and no information concerning such is included in its answevt. In an attempt to respond to these requests, this Defendant provides the answers given subject to the above qualifications and limitations and for the relevant period of time of this Defendant's manufacture and sale of asbestos-containing refractory products of 1947 through 1976. Respectfully submitted,. DeHay 6 Blanchard Plaza of the Americas 600 North Pearl Street 2500 South Tower, LB 201 Oallas, Texas 75201-2880 (214) 953-1313 BY UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY'S ANSWERS hiID OBJECTIONS TO PLAINTIFFS * FIRST SET Of INTERROGATORIES - Page 2 CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE I hereby certify that a true and correct copy of the above and foregoing document has been forwarded to Plaintiffs' counsel, y.r. Russell w. Budd, Baron & Budd, 3333 Douglas Avenue, Suite :ccc, Dallas, Texas 75225, of record by Certified*i*IiI,i'return receipt requested, on the .. ' .1; day of April, 1990. ttKITEP STATES .gXPSVX..CPMPAFY1S AMO OBJECTIONS TQ PLAINTIFFS1 FIRST SET OF INTERROGATORIES - 'Page 3 PREFATORY STRISHEFT 'Jnited States Gypsum Company (hereinafter "U. S. Gypsum") has., to the bast of its abilities, gathered non-privileged documents into a document repository for inspection by Plaintiffs' course: in response to requests for production served im-asbestos liti gation. These documents provide information thaf^-aupplements and expands upon that provided in these answers to Interrogatories. Accordingly, by way of further response to these Interrogatories, U. S. Gypsum hereby offers to make available these documents at a mutually convenient time at its offices at 101 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois. In giving its responses to Interrogatories as to asbestoscontaining products, U. S. Gypsum refers to products containing commercial asbestos as pert of their formulation and to the type of commercial asbestos ussd as part of the formulation. QftZEfiHgaS U. s. Gypsum objects to ths manner in which Plaintiff has defined U. S. Gypsum to the extent that Plaintiff purports to include in its definition of U. s. Gypsum predecessor-in-interest, subsidiaries, successor-in-interest and ths corporate Defendant. Xn that 0. S. Gypsum company is ths named Defendant, this definition Is overly broad and would require U. S. Gypsum to engage in unduly burdensome research, divulge privileged information and UMITED STATES SYPSOlT COMPANY' S ANSWERS AMD OBJECTIONS TO PLAINTIfFS' FIRST SET Of INTERROGATORIES - Pag. 4 produce privileged documants. This Defendant, United States Gypsum company, responds to these Interrogatories on behalf of itself. U. S. Gypsum further objects to these Interrogatories to the extent they seek information or documents protected by the attorney-client privilege and the vorfc product rule* and to the extent they seeJc trial preparation or expert materials or docu ments. Finally, U. s. Gypsum objects to these Interrogatories to the extent they as)c for "identification1* of voluminous documents on the ground that they are overly broad, unduly burdensome and not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. As set forth infra. U. S. Gypsum will produce documents vhich are the proper subjects of an appropriate document request. IKTOBPgATPBX -NfiU -1: State Defendant's proper legal name, the present address of Defendant's principal place of business, all statss in vhich Defendant is incorporated, and all states in vhich Defendant is licensed to do business. ANSWER TQ INTERROGATORY WO. 1; This defendant's proper legal name is United States Gypsum company. Its principal placa of businass is 101 South Waclear Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606. UNITED STATES GVPSPM COMPANYS ANSWERS AMD OBJECTIONS _TQ_ PLAINTIFFS * FIRST SET QF INTERROGATORIES Paga S with respect to the states in which this defendant :s incorporated this Defendant responds as follows: Date ;nss.rafica.ssd 12/27/01 08/23/20 08/12/20 12/24/36 08/--/52 02/04/66 07/01/66 Date Pisggjvtd 08/23/20 10/14/27 12/24/38 08/--/52 02/04/66 07/01/66 --/--/-- KAOft sxar. United States Gypsum Company Avery Gypsum Company United States Gypsum Company United States Gypsum Company United States Gypsum Company USG Corporation United States Gypsum Company >:j >;j :i cE ii de de With respect to all states in which this Defendant is licensed to do business, objection. This Interrogatory is overly broad, irrelevant, immaterial, and is not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Without waiving this objection, this Defendant has been licensed to do business in the State of Texas since 1923. INTERROGATORY NO. 2i Please identify by trade or brand name each asbestos- containing product manufactured and/or sold by Defendant and/or Defendant's predecessors. For each product identified, please state following; (a) A description of the physical appearance of the product; (b) The address, including city and state, of the plants at which tha produet was msnufacturad and/or packaged; (c) The states in which the product entered the streem of commerce; UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY'S ANSWERS AMD OBJECTIONS TO PLAINTIFFS' FIRST SET OF INTERROGATORIES - Page 6 (d) The annual dollar amount of production of the product at each of tha locations indicatad in responsa to Interrogatory No. 2(b) from 1940 through tha present; (e) Tha parcantaga of tha total production of tha product for which aach plant indicatad ~Xn rasponsa to Intarrogatory Ho. 2(b) was respon* sibla. ANSWER TQ_INTERROGATORY HO. 2: (a) Saa attachad Exhibit Ho. 1. (b) Saa attachad Exhibit Ho. 2. (c) U. s. Gypsum doas not possass any racords mai-ntainad in tha normal coursa of businass which identify who tha ultimata usar of tha product was or where it was installed. With that limitation, U. $. Gypsum responds as follows: Prior to 1966, U. S. Gypsum sold its construction products, soma of which may have contained small amounts of asbestos, exclusively through independent dealers. Beginning in about 1966, U. S. Gypsum sold its construction products either directly to independent contractors, independent distributors or, as had previously bean the custom, through indspandent dealers. This Defendant has no sales records for the years prior to 1965, other than records of gross sales of individual products by plant. Salas records thereafter are contained in computer printouts. Records of products which the plaintiff can flUTED.. STATES. SXESfftt. SQMPAKV * S ANSWERS ANP OBJECTIONS TO PIAIHTIFFS* FIRST SET OF INTERROGATORIES - Fags 7 establish were ralavant to tha subject matter of this lawsuit will ha made available for inspection at a mutually convenient time at 101 South wacJcar Drive, Chicago, Illinois 60606, pursuant to a properly filed request to produce. (d) objection. This Interrogatory is overly broad in scope of time. This Defendant discontinued manufacturing products with asbestos as part of their formulations in 1977. inqui ries into years, subsequent to 1977, will not lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Without waiving this objection, non-privileged, responsive documents, to the extent they exist, will be made available to Plaintiff at a mutually convenient time through U. S. Gypsum Company's offices at 101 South Wacfcer Drive, Chicago, Illinois. e) Objection. This Interrogatory is vague and ambiguous. In addition, this Interrogatory is overly broad in scope of time. This Defendant discontinued manufacturing products with asbestos as part of their formulations in 1977. Inquiries into years, subsequent to 1977, will not lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Without waiving these objections, non-privileged, responsive documents, to the extent they exist, will be made available to Plaintiff at a mutually convenient time through D. S. Gypsum Company's offices at 101 South wacksr Drive, Chicago, Illinois. UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY'S ANSWERS AND OaiJECTIONS TO P1AINTIPPS' FIRST SET Of INTERROGATORIES - . Page 8 INTERROGATORY MO. 3: for each product identified in Answer to Interrogatory No. zr please identify the location at which each decision was made concerning the following subjects: (a) Testing of the product for quality and safety; (b) Advertising of the product; (c) Marketing of the product; (d) Placement of warning labels on the product; (e) Design of the product; and (f) Manufacture of the product. AMSWER__TQ_TNTERRQGATORY HO. 3: Objection. This Interrogatory is vague, ambiguous, overly broad, speculative and not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence. Without waiving this objection and with respect to 3(b) and (c), see attached Exhibit No. 3. With respect to 3(a), (d-f), non-privileged, responsive documents, to the extent they exist, will be made available to Plaintiff at a mutually convenient time through U. S. Gypsum Company's offices at 101 South Waclcer Drive, Chicago, Illinois. imRBMATDBX KQt A* For such produet listed in Answer to Interrogatory No. 2, please identity the location at which each of the following activities was conducted: (a) Testing of tha product for quality and safety; (b) Advertising of the product; UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY'S ANSWERS AND OBJECTIONS TO PLAINTIFFS' FIRST SET OF INTERROGATORIES - Page 9 (c) Marketing of the product; (d) Placement of warning labels on the product; (e) Design of the product; and (f) Manufacture of the product. ANSWER TO INTERROGATORY NO. 4i Objection. This Interrogatory is vague, ambiguous, overly broad, speculative and not reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of admissible evidence, without waiving this objection and with respect to "testing of the product for quality," such testing may have occurred at each manufacturing location, without waiving this objection and with respect to 4(b) and (c), see attached Exhibit No. 3. With respect to 4(a) and (d) - (f), non-privileged, responsive documents, to the extent they exist, will be made available to Plaintiff at a mutually convenient time through U. S. Gypsum Company's offices at 101 South Wacker Drive, Chicago, Illinois. UNITED STATES GYPSUM COMPANY'S ANSWERS AMD OBJECTIONS TO PIAIMTIPTS' FIRST SET OP INTERROGATORIES - Page 10 EXHIBIT "1" ASBESTOS. CONTAINING. PRODUCTS Acoustical Piasters - grayish-whits Miscellaneous Spscialty Plastsrs * whits to off-white, plus soms pastsls for two products Firsproofing - grayish-whits Firsproofing Plastsrs - whits to off-whits Csiling Tils - whits to off-whits Tsxturs Products - whits to off-whits Pasts Speckling Putty, Pipecoverings, Joint Compounds, Rigid Block Insulation, Mortar whits to off-whits Siding - whits, gray, ivory, grssn, brown Roofing - rsd, grssn, blus, brown, black and gray  " tt : sett . tt : *;o trawoi Sft tntat intarior -'*n aiastar 3 TOO *r Coat ; 'oo :cfttf9 lnttr *oo wood ft bar -star - a9u44f EXHIBIT "2m (Ottos Aeproaioata) fiPft ljsc Aeouaticsl tusttr 1950 1964 1930 1945 1930 1945 1930 1964' 1930 1945 Aeeustieal Usstar 1953 197*;^ vV Acoustical >utor 1955 1972 finish Hasttr 1930 1935 1930 1935 finish hiaataf 1950 1951 1942 1972 1942 1972 1942 1972 1942 1972 1942 1944 finish flMtar finish hlaatae IHKHf 1949 1949 1942 1940 1940 19J9 1942 1942 1944 1943 1949 1949 1949 1945 190 1945 1945 1949 ioa 19a 1992 1950 1972 194* 1994 19*4 1947 19a 1951 1947 1972 1952 1999 19*3 19*1 i9a i9a 1947 19M 1912 1972 19*0 angiset-* *; fort Coact "otana, :a hit wav Cywa*. ; i -* s* Nt |r fart :sc? i wav Ir-crt;fort 3oosa. . CvS\J, Cm Cast Cft'c*9o, >i fort Oooot, ;a saw n^ton, * fort Boost, .* Oakfiold, it fort QeOia. * son trifhton. ar Swoatwattr, rx loaton, *a GyDSL*, ON oimoooloma. s -aessonvti.a, s. Norfot*, /A PHilaeaier'a. ** aitwouKaa, -I Southard, OK Nau Irtyitan, ar SyMUi, ON Now Iri^nton, nt Nacni, uf ilvouAot, wi South Gata, CA laat Chico*, in Haath, ar ah<. UT Nidtma, ca fort Qodft. la Qatroit, at twoatuatar, :x lauaiam, co Southard, oc floatar City. CA Goetach, v SifUTd, UT Uptra, y nm boanprooucad uttit Mila data, but Mi didinishod tudotartially to tho idl950*a ;ict Homo *:c .ooa f-Str sti-* "aentn* e*r >:tr :--ar. Harm *5 T9 jyotm it#r 7/67; to : *30 OvOOUH tr 'V64. *30 CWit .it#'1 for Hoefttrt# sic*tton. Htm ^900 to ltd Toe stu* *lMtr for .-.'in* Aoeucitton -7. 3 Toe ^CtO'ltt# osuk >Uttr for :*in# Aoolicotton 'aw iMOCOOt loooeoot lUKMt tlMCMt Sxttrior in Stucco utofior ctnta* stum ooor *rtir U MmeM ptntif (Ootoo Aeproximoto) firjt Witt 1999 1972 *061 '972 1943 1947 MwfC*.-.nc a-.otto* : )<t 'i, , .;v*nnc. ;; 1942 1942 1944 1998 1959 1917 1994 1943 1971 1985 1930 . 1930 1930 1930 1932 1932 1949 1949 1949 1949 1944 1944 1944 1942 1959 1942 1942 1972 1972 1940 1973 1944 1972 1972 1944 1944 1972 1972 197# 1972 Svmur, ; Ootroit, OotftoiS Cotton, w Ootroit, "1 (ut Chtcofo. : fort Oadfo. :a Cyptiii. OH joexsonvitit. wovoitno, :o h*w Cr'^ntJ", nr Horfoix, vA Qttfilid. <t pHld*ioni, ptMtrca, * Soutnoro, ck Saootwottr. 1 KtlMglM, SAOOIS, IN ?litor Cttv, :a fort OOOfi, :a Ootroit, *1 tmirt, av fort 0O44O, U Ove*m. OH low Criynton, or Ootfiotd, HT SMOtMtir, *< eoton, it HfcUoeoient*, a HitoOukOO, VI Jacksonville, a HHiioeiipni|, ?A Norfolk, va (Mt CD tcate, .h low Irtfiiton, or :-ct sjfl taoiant : -.* *001>c*ton ;c-eta **:ca $:**0A*0 i'2CN STANOatD 4'20* .53C0TE1 sccoe v a XiSroaf J203 XSTQmK 1*0 *! : ^a* ;r-at or taaf 'ygt/mt Sooeiaity piaattr IlSKOIt ftrooroof in* firaproofinp rttoroal insulation firapnoofinp rtoator Firaonoofinp aiaator CoHinp Tilo Coilinp Tilo Ttaturo Toxturo Taxtyro Toxnro (Dataa Approatoatt) ft rat Hit uaos 1971 1972 1940 1903 1900 1171 1900 1909 1971 1900 190* 1959 1900 1907 1975 190* 197* 1900 1970 1901 19*3 19*0 19*7 19*3 197* Jt*t :w| xv *'91*00, li S. oia'*r-#.- , Torcanea. U S. Tar^arte*, :a Corsicana, * (ut > DM |rt9#tt:r, . loptfa. av am fnphton, xr fast Chieapo. a Indira, av Oypoui. ON woloortn. wi uolaortn, wi Sypsua, Oh Oypama, Oh SoNtMtl'. Oallas. 't Chaooitt. u tduov, iw South Cota, CA Oypaya. ON Oaliat, rx nom tfiphton, xt South Cats. Ca South Cota, CA Dali**, rx Svootuotor, n South Cota, CA Oalloa, rx Cypoua, on Nidoov, il noh (riphton, ht Chaaeitt, ca '>Oon u. S. Qmm dmafocturod thia yiigt pyrouont to tho ipociflootion of Spro*** toaoorap Corporation. Som of thooo produets did not hovo too ao port of tftoir foraMstisn. :-e? an# i-'accf *uc.rt 31'* : *MtOM * 3m TtltUf# T#xtur T#xtur# Mint Tootyro Mint rxtgr# Mint 8>tfiT1l <lv 9#n#pic 9F*up) . SOMkliflf :ty socoMrirtfs *t Campourdo 314 BlOCX *sntion (Dot#* oeopoxinot#) not ^gOjeW 19*4 1974 19U 1975 1920 197* 1954 1967 19JJ 1959 only 1973 only 1944 1976 1949 1952 193* 192007 1975 1930 1976 19*J 197 1930 1971 *4V*e:.* ; .Mlt CvMun, C" 3tut, 't ** * Ou*v, Sowtft c*:. ;i lyM'J*. C SMOCMttV * Soutn c*t*. ;i :*w. "t *v 8r-;pt:- s* sut* ;t*. :i CvPSUi. CM ChoociM. :i Mu P'9*t;r. sSoottuotar, '1 Ch*tto, :a Suootuotcr. < Cypouo, cm Cye#4*. om 0 IPIOMV, ir Suootuotor, *i HidMy, U CMWIM, tu Soutn Cott. :* NOU |p?9ftt:r, *r Cypoui, CM CKMOtM, CA Suootuot#r, '< Jorooy Cttv, fiVBOtM, ON rti*ty, a ChMBlM, SA Dlltn, TX I Ml CfticMo, :v JMXOOnvUlO, f. South Cot#, Ci Mu trifhton, it Suootuotof. '* Cmi CMco#, :s Croonviil#, -s (Octet Agpraxiat> Tiret Lett "erMfeet.r" 1937 1947 Maaipte otftor dateo. 1944 *975 ;r*#v St. *yi, *' Sowtn Cat*. 'MU* ittot Canent Electric Mttinp ln*ulat<on purpose* nere sfteet ene Bioe* insulation aouio Be ieprictieai. 1941 1934 1943 193V Snoevt, :* (*5*#hi*sj .ersev : t: Hot all product* war* node *t *U plant* *t *U tines listed. Sane of tfttae products (tod Toe Trowel Tinisft; Oriental Interior Hnieft Hooter; led Toe Cover coat fini*n piaster; ted roe teteninp Heater; tod Tod weed Tiber Heater tepwler leeecoet; tee Tee wood Tiber Hatter atcntne Appiicst's* laseeoat; Canent Haeter - leyuler, Nana enanted to Sypeua Heater 7/47, to ted Tee 6wet* Hatter leaecoet ii/*4; 3n roe Cenont Heater for vecftine Application mm enanted to ted Toe Swot leeecett for ecnine Application; too 'co Strgcto*kite CypCM Hester for Mecftine Application leaecoet; Oriental Interior Tinian Stuece. tvrooar Mortar mu; meetrocx tadiant Meet Tiller Mecftine Application) aid net ftswe neoitot at pert of tneir forauietion at ail manufacturinf location* *e ell tines. Meet of tfto produeta idantifiad in tftta Cxftipit nave a sftelf Ufa af approaiMtely tie aontha, vitft ton* verietion owe to iMidity are storepe eonditione. It ia tno pency ef tfte Defendant to previda tftia infomation to ail cvdtonera. Therefera, data of laat production aeproxieatot data of loot aala, tfteupft U. t. fiypai* ia not etrtain netfter tneif lift puidalinea core aMerod to ey ita euatoMrt. taaaanaPia irweattpacien eantiminp. EXHIBIT "3" Advertising for U, S. Gypsum's products has traditionally been handled in corporate headquarters. The following persons have been identified as holding positions of primary responsibility in the area of advertising and/or promotional materials on behalf of this Defendant during the indicated periods: 1938 F. Babcock General Advertising Hanager 1939-1942 M. S. Wolf 1943-1947 J. G. Maynard 1947-1948 E. W. Fish 1949 X. F. Hayman (Deceased) 1958 1962 A. J. watt Vice President of Advertising and Proaotion v. Abnee Manager - Proaotion Advertising 1963-1978 J. J. McLaughlin vice President of Marketing Services 1979 w. s. Stuart vice President, Oirector of Marketing Services 1979-9/1/87 R. Faust vice President, Director of Corporate Marketing Services 101 South wacker Drive Chicago, Illinois 9/1/87 - 6/1/tf R. Hopper vice President, Marketing Services 6/1/89 - Present J. C. Bopp Director Marketing Services, President Maratrat The following advertising agencies have been identified as being used by Defendant in the past with respect to its products 1950-1965 Fulton, Morrissey Co. 612 N. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 1965-1970 Gayer, Morey, Ballard (later Meyer Oswald) 645 N. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 1970-1972 Lennon & Newel1/Midwit 645 N. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 1972-1976 Needham, Harper fc Steers 401 N. Michigan Avenue Chicago, Illinois 1977-present Marstrat (In-House) STATE OF ILLINOIS ) ) SS COUNTY OF COOK VERIFICATION I, F. M. Poreaski, declare: I as the Manager, Financial $ Accounting Services, of United States Gypsuo Company, one of the above named defendants, and aa authorized to sake this verification for and on behalf of said corporation; I have read the foregoing Answers, Objections, and other Responses to Plaintiffs' Interrogatories and aa informed and believe that the same is true and on that ground allege that the matters therein stated are true. I declare, under penalty of perjury, that the foregoing is true and correct, and that this declaration was executed F. M. Poreaski