Document 5L5davgKKJerG5gXBmXmxzw0V

FILE NAME: Early Asbestos Damage Suits (EADS) DATE: 1930 DOC#: EADS016 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Documents from Case of Joseph Stepka *' i l . , : i ' ? d .* : i ) fx m - 1 , ` c d / i . u r} a >i: v s ~ ) > \ o .* f j ? ' <* MM JERSEY SURFSIS COURT *r ' bs r s t e n t t h a t b i s brooch i a l tv)>oSOMERSET::COWiTYy^ JOSEPH STEHtA,! w i t h t h e same, 5. P l a i n t i f f , was n o t in fo rm e d o r n a m e d "by the d e i - v g - n t , a n i bad r.o knowledge A c t i o n a t t L a w . o f t h e 5; ': * ! ' cjOHNSiMAHVILLEaOORPOBATlOirs'ra and,xsaCOKBIAIMTith.Vhioh' he a corporation of the State o f New York,'ale- cJ.005 c-roximJ. ty* by the d e f c no an t ' 3 nspence.D efendant.. ' f , The n e g l i g e n c e o f t h e %d e f e n d a n t c o m p lain ed 1 ^ . 'V-* .tJi . o f i r* mp* *'1 * ; The p l a i n t i f f , r e s i d i n g a t E a n v i l l e , New J e r s e y , (*.! * f:* ill* * *) 'no rer rc n s fr e care rob in s 4' complains of the above-named defendant, a foreign corpora n-* ' r' 1tb a r e a s o n a b l y s a f e p l a c e o f work, as follow s:O >1 f* tc vtar>.F.''r 11 I.-'* +q r>rrT}de the 1. r "1- : The p l a i n t i f f was in th e employ o f t h -a.*- :j4l'cv a r p !.-v;~*n o r .'`n f 'V tr d e f e n d a n t c o r p o r a t i o n , a t i t s p l a n t i n M a n v i l l e , Hew J e r ,.u in th e month o f A p r i l , 1930, and f o r many y e a r s p r i o r th ( '* ' n f a i T i r . tn xiae r e r s o n a b l e ca re to p r o v i d e a to. rounr vcn34 U ijAi'-,r v.>***>' at ' i i . v i '-*. , 2 . The d e fe n d a n t c o r p o r a tio n a t the tim e h e r e i' t ` * r' ^ 7 >( * t * * * 4`l ."l o * * v** , ' * /o *+*& + 1 i -**- zi, * X* * ** * s e t fo r th was engaged in th e m anufacture o f a s b e s to s pro i". r a ' : .0 nape about the d:-\r.serous ducts fo r commercial purposes. 1 : , *-.* ' fj "^V4' *'t o n f 1 1iO ^ 3 . The s a id d efen d a n t employed th e p l a i n t i f f 4 ' * - . r. * ' ^ \ ) i' * ~ 1 ** * ^ * TMf . ^ f-j * * i l at the time and p la ce above se t fo rth in i t s manufacture sa id a sb e sto s p ro d u cts, and the sa id defendant n o t only knew, but should have known, th a t the sa id a s b e s to s proc i * ' * ' * j * *, ' 1"/ *r ! ' "v co n ta in e d c e r t a in dangerous in s id io u s and harm ful agenc. * -r * ; * f * v \ * ( ^ - **. -<!,> I composed o f a s b e s t o s f i b e r s and o th e r p a r t i c l e s t h a t we ` * 1** ir ' 1 *;u* rfr*A 1,f c. Mb"*** . ^ . c: v d e s t r u c t iv e to l i f e and h e a lt h in th e human body when b ! ' ` *' r lr s i f f p a in *!:! s u f f e r i n p , bo in to c lo se co n ta ct w ith the same. rrcis"r r 'vj T.i"v a* .j f / * . 4 i */ 1 a"* `ii y y H`r'*' `** *1 4 . The d efen d a n t not o n ly knew, but should ^v*^ i*'*-*i**'* *; v lct. i:*? r'** v`i*i ron^'**' c3 J ^ i f w ith , and in h a le d , th e sa id d a n g e r o u s.fih e r a and ^ A r t ic le s ' ; - j " , f O' !, f'r t '.O T". .-'.`t-. V.'C to the e x te n t th a t h is b ro n ch ia l tu b e s, lu ngs, and body T.,f *0" i r r the H ?:*e? and mana tuo wrovxlng 01 uj.q became in fe c te d w ith th e same, , * * ' b'o'}', r . `-o r ' l i f i - 1 tc s u 'f o r l o s s e s , ex p en ses and 5. P l a i n t i f f , was not informed or warned by a.r*r- t * tno e t t o n t o f i'K.'O, :h,*:1. oo th e d efen d a n t, and had no knowledge o f the mature o f th e "n`il'aw-JtS, t-.* p 3 a 4 n ,i * f d(Harris u.e bud oi s a id dangerous a s b e s t o s f ib e r s a n d ,, p a r tic le s w ith .w h ic h hen."' } 00 - r'^ v f RNrt&ntr was brought in to c lo s e p ro x im ity by th e d e fe n d a n tt*'s n e g lig e n c e , 1 . ;\ .y 6 , The n e g lig e n c e o f th e d efen d an t oom plained SAtrjjjb C/ociddsiuiiii * * . ft of is as follow s: - At to fn e v ~ ,, . . r P la in tiff (a) In f a ilin g to use reasonable care to provide the p la in t if f with a reasonably sa ie place of work. (b) In f a i l i n g to u se reason ab le care to p rovid e the p l a i n t i f f w ith proper masks or other a p p lia n ces or safeguurr in said work. (c) In f a ilin g to u se reasonable care to provide a proper v e n tila tin g system at i t s p lan t. (d) In f a ilin g to u se reasonable care to g iv e proper ; w arn in g, in fo rm a tio n and knowledge about the dangerous c h a ra c te r o f i t s work w ith the sa id a sb e sto s f ib e r s and p a r t ic le s to the said p l a in t if f a t the time and p lace above m entioned. 7. The sa id a s b e s to s f i b e r s and p a r t i c l e s wer introduced in to the p l a i n t i f f ' s body a t the tim e and p lace a fo r e s a id , so th a t th e p l a i n t i f f was perm anently in ju red e x t e r n a lly and i n t e r n a l l y in and about h i s h ead , body and lim bs causing the p l a i n t i f f great pain and su ffe r in g , both mental and p h y sica l, g r e a tly lowered h is r e sista n c e to d is pane, and he became a v ic t im of pulmonary d is e a s e s , and so *, s r v. * ^ :i v i ; \\ i* , I 1 j i; I. i :* it M ;i * t o f m e d ic a l.e x p e n s e in v o lv e d in h i s e f f o r t \ t o regard .-th e; v<.y * * ** '** ' * * '****' ''/ * \ , ." `30rJ s u f f e r in g , frpm 'the -d ise a se and mand^the- w r e c k in g io f^ h is^ r>- ( ' ` * *A* ' :*`*t**-* +tO- _f3#-1 b od y, he w i l l be caused to s u f f e r l o s s e s , ex p en se s and damages to the ex ten t of $100,000.00 WHEREFORE, th e p l a i n t i f f demands the sum o f ' T * Jv;-, $100,000*00 as damages from the d e f e n d a n t * , * < . r. r i i *;' t * * m ?! - s*\.. 1 * - ** - ^ -T < 4' -I" <.* -v . n i s4f ' n'J io;Vi*.?: * w; ; <* ^ r *t-' rf SAMUEL :> *i `A tto rn ey i. ' t V -*4 ' i \ ,, * -t i *1 . *** *_ GREENSTONE . _ . for^P ^aintiff V) ** O c c - o c * .q - v -- ; o c v* ^ 4*Jv * . *. ' ' : *1 i -. " ' .V , ,,*., v ^ >. j ' J ', ' . - V , ; "-. ' ; . ] , O r v ^ '. ^ . - -- v^ ^ : '-'"'>i4 s y - '' t** / _ m ' v --/1 -ly UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT DISTRICT OF NEW JERSEY , h t JOSEPH STEPKA, ^ ' . (* : fr. ?. P la in tiff, A`-f' f -VS- JOHNS-MANVILLE CORPORATION, a corporation of the State o f Hew York, A ctio n a t Law l ; A N S W E R . . . , . w it ' -r * 7 V' (.* i ' r **>* *i- -*, * / "'`<ft -~*^ *' P, r * a D efen dan t. *o 1 y it ''V.TT*" D efen dan t, JOHNS-DANVILLE CORPORATION, a corp ora t io n o f th e S ta te o f New York, h a v in g i t s p r in c ip a l o f f i c e in New J e r s e y , a t D a n v ille , Som erset County,* says t h a t : ri .`.*. * FIRST DEFENSE 1. It d en ies paragraph 1, except that i t says th a t th e p l a i n t i f f was in i t s employ at i t s p la n t in D a n v ille , New J e r s e y , a t v a r io u s tim e s from December 28, 1926, to the month o f A p r il, 1 9 3 0 . 2. It d en ies paragraph 2, except that i t says th a t i t was and has been engaged in the m anufacture o f a sb e sto s products fo r commercial purposes from December 28, !j 1926 to the p r e s e n t tim e . ! 3. It d en ies paragraph 3, except that i t says |j th a t i t employed the p l a i n t i f f a t v a r io u s tim es from . . i! December 28, 1926, to th e month o f A p r il, 1930, 4 . I t d e n ie s paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7 . SECOND DEFENSE The in ju r y and th e d is e a s e a lle g e d in the com plaint v,<e omnlovrnent assumed hy :j w if > * -1 . -H=3i *2 M ' ^ *1 1 * 4 l 7 . R < i i ' J * \ \t * THIRD DEFENSE The in ju r y and th e d is e a s e a lle g e d in th e com p lain t were due to one o f -the r is k 9 o f h is employment .assumed .h y j,' **lt.;* th e p l a i n t i f f a s .p a r t o f th e term s o f h i s c o n tr a c t of-":V * ** - * V*-*. ^ * * ,1 1 \ employment in th a t th e p l a i n t i f f .knew, or "by ;t h e . exercise;..'. o f reasonable care on h is p art should have known, th e a lle g e d dangers of h is employment. l'. : `\J ~ ' FOURTH DEFENSE The in ju r y and th e d is e a s e a lle g e d in'^the: c o m p la in t' were cau sed by c o n tr ib u to r y n e g lig e n c e on the p a r t o f th e - - p la in tiff. , ' 1 - . . : '' ' FIFTH DEFENSE . / . .; - ! The in ju r y and th e d is e a s e a lle g e d in th e c o m p la in t, were cau sed by c o n tr ib u to r y n e g lig e n c e on th e p a r t o f th e p l a i n t i f f in that the p l a i n t i f f fa ile d to e x e r c ise reason able care to p ro tect h im self a g a in st the a lle g e d dangers ,of h i s employment by u s in g th e mask and o th e r a p p lia n c e s p ro vided by the defendant fo r th at purpose. . .` SIXTH DEFENSE The in ju r y and th e d is e a s e a lle g e d in th e com p la in t |j j; were due to n e g lig e n c e on the p art o f a f e llo w -s e r v a n t o f j th e p l a i n t i f f , in f a i l i n g to warn and in s t r u c t th e p l a i n t i f : : j to use th e mask and o th e r a p p lia n c e s p rov id ed by th e defend- j ant fo r the purpose of p rotectin g the p la in t if f a g a in st !: the a lle g e d d angers o f h i s employment. . I SEVENTH DEFENSE ' | P l a i n t i f f ' s a c tio n i s barred because i t was not | commenced and i n s t i t u t e d w it h in two y ea r s n ex t a f t e r th e Bllprrfifi nause of a c t io n a c c r u e d . MW JERSEY BUPKSHE COURT - ' . - ;x - SOMERSET OOUHTY I:;-* ,r rA V r t y \.c- irtfCio-J *4th V e same:* ' *+ VEROFA STETKA.-r-ezecntrl3C"of~^fi ' e s t a t e ' o f ;JOSEPH^-STBPKA) deceaBeHT7' ' / tv . tv** f in p o r a tio n o f th e S ta te o f New-York, , 1. '>V:-'r^ `:'.:V*X'V " 1' V:-Y- G- I ' - *;**. V. m*i ?U-e-fen n1a n t ., *: ih'v'-i/tiif*. at-*j- <; The p l a i n t i f f , Verona S tep k a, e x e c u t r ix o f th e e s t a t e 'o f^ J o sep h Stepka, d e c e a se d , r e s id in g a t U a n v ille , New. : ^` J erB ey , B a y s ^ . - ( ; Bn/ Ycak ; * .v iE '>** * * r C ^ S ' , ' ' - , r* t - v -J ton-tat i j ' 'The te stator*'was' in `the `employ o f ` the d efen d a n t c o r p o r a tio n a t'Ji t s rp i a n t :;iA 'lia r r y ilie r NewcJers$y.' ` in flft e * m onth`o f `A p r il, 1 9 3 0 , and fo r many y e a r s .p r io r th e r e to * ^2# The d e fe n d a n t ' ^ . V*; ^ i ** ** , ^ r- - * * - * ; J*rr a V fi ** s e t fo r t h , was engaged i *. . 'i^.i.*;, vi- - *( * * ^ j* " " i ' ^ '1 r* a co r p o r a tio n / 'at 'the tim e^hereiiin *1. J. > -* T V v C * in the manufacture of asb estos. _ U ' 3 0.C-w- to*1 iLf*'r *. ''V''T 3. - ' The ' sa id ' d efen d a n t employed ' the " t e s t a t o r a t th e tim e and p la c e ahoye ae^t. fo r th in i t q m anu factu re o f sa id a s h e s t o s p r o d u c ts , and th e Baid d efen d a n t n ot .o n ly '-r ` .. ' V, Tm : ' >`.i i ' - *T- knew, h ut should have known, th a t the ,,said ashestos...product? * * . * *! ** T :*- i *v. C. W i `.V,'0r' i.*. ** j./ ),**-'* ; > co n ta in e d c e r t a in d a n g ero u s, in s id io u s .and. harm ful a g e n c ie s i 1 - ^ j j. . * ,` - .. , * ' , * * ' i' ' i ^ J * ;* ^ o f composed o f a s h e s t o s f i b e r s and oth er p a r t i c l e s , th a t, were ,-v ' i \ 1 , . * ' '1 * /' d e s t r u c t iv e tfi l i f e a v.l n e a lth in , - l v : . ! '; - * 1 . . / " i '*' ' the human body, . S. T : , A | when ' b* rou: g*h\t in to *c .l o s e'*#*co nta c"Mt.-ru;.-.;'::1th the B,,iHfm. et*- 5* f- ' *i*.*. ^ I* * % # * 1 4 . The defendant, n o t o n ly knew, but should have . .. . . . - - i 1 > ' > * knoYm, the dangerous n a tu re o f saidj. a h h e s to s f i b e r s . andrt . . i . * .J > ; r> : a _ i . l ` . t \ v x j * ... ^ p a r t i c l e s , b ut f a i l e d to keep the same in c o n t r o l, and . * .. " r*T* r* * r XS' 0 1 .'!? :`!f V-!.1. V*n was n e g lig e n t in a llo w in g the said dangerous f ib e r s and > ' . V. w - +L i \ * (w ii \ v -: tubes', l u n g i rand"fVody 'became in f e c t e d w ith th e : same. -- >-- > 5 r ^ ^ e :>t e B t a t 'o r fTOBvnot?iH rcnauca-T!*a)Liaaira Tiv' tte^ ', j--Urr 4 '-,44mi V 1 *J ` **'' ' * * ' '*****' ^****' '<V `` de f endaritVyanaihad'pnb;'knoirledgeffo ^ ith e m turdsO fthe,-,-said.:T..-^v 'i. >, '*** i : , *. ***' dangerous a s b e s t o s f ibersTahd^pa*atteleft^^IdriinicU.idieo>*sB - * ' `'6 . The n e g lig e n c e of*!th e ' defen dan t oom plainedrof* i s : v; as fo llo w s !- * *'**- x %n *v;f ? 4;re 3. ,f.e****.r> j,$^^ ^ V 9~ : ( a V v In f a ilin g " to use* r e a so n a b le r care =to;prpvide.j t h e ! , te s ta to r with, a ,rea so n a b ly a a fe p lace o f work. ** vi - c" ,, o `J (b) In f a ilin g to use reasonable care to provide the t e s t a t o r w ith 'proper n a s k s ;'or^ o t h e r 3a p p lia n c e a y or.:.safeguards in sa id work.. *> .^.OO's.O* fro'i the d efen d a n t, ns d a m a g e . , (c) In f a ilin g to use reasonable care to provide a proper v e n tila tin g system a t it s p la n t. (d) In f a i l i n g to use reaB onable'.'care'..torg iy e proper w arning, in fo rm a tio n and know ledge-about 'the ^dangerous c h a r a c te r o f i t s work w ith th e sa id a s b e s t o s f i b e r s and ' * ; p a r t i c l e s to th e sa id t e s t a t o r , a t th e tim e and p la c e above m entioned. 7 . The s a id a s b e s t o s f ib e r s and p a r t i c l e s were in t r o duced in to the t e s t a t o r * s body a t th e time and p la c e a f o r e sa id , so th a t the te sta o r was permanently in ju red , e x te r n a lly and i n t e r n a l l y , in and about h is h ead , body and lim b s , ca u sin g g r e a t p a in and s u ff e r in g both m en ta l and p h y s ic a l, g r e a t l y low ered h i s r e s is t a n c e to d is e a s e , and he became a v ic t im o f pulm onary d i s e a s e s , and d ie d a s a r e s u l t th e r e o f on A ugust 1 4 , 1931. 8 . The sa id Joseph S tep k a , l e f t a w i l l under w hich 1 the p l a i n t i f f wae made e x e c u t r ix o f the e s t a t e o f Joseph said, te s ta to r fo r support 11 - T h c - ' p l a l n t l f f a s ^ x s c u t r l x BB_a f o r e s a l d r f o r -- p . '* "" 1 1' rxi,n*' ~m . .t the b e n e fit o f the sa id .n e x t of k in , ia vested by v ir tu e .o f the s t a t u t e in such ca se made .and. p r o v id e d * , w ith a . * * * ^rV . ` f* X* 1 i n \ ` cause o f a c tio n ,a g a in st the defendant,_for. n e g l i g e n t l y . c a u sin g th e d e a th. o f h er .*t e s t a t o r , and b r in g s t h i s a c t io n ` w ith in two y ea rs a f t e r the death o f the sa id te s ta to r 1 2 . The sa id n e x t of. k in s u ffe r e d p e c u n ia r y l o s s e s 1 *i by reason of the death of the said Joseph Stepka, deceased, in the Bum o f $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0 -: # . The p l a i n t i f f , a s e x e c u t r ix a s a f o r e s a id , demands th e sum o f $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0 from the d efen d a n t, as damages ; f * m : * *t' SAMUEL GREENSTONE____________ . Attorney fo r P lain tiff . ' V * * * g + * ( EilDORS `J.l'.lITS) I jiercoy d e p u tiz e Chas. H. Murray to s e r v e th e . v .ith in w r it . W itn ess my hn& and Eea.l t n i s 26 day of Jrn. 1952. Mm. R. S u tp h in S h eriff Jan. 26. 1932. I serv ed th e w ith in summons end com p lain t upon The J o h n s-M a n v ille C o rp o ra tio n , a co r p o r a tio n o f th e S ta te of lievi York, by s e r v in g A. R. F is h e r , P la n t Manager, p e r s o n a lly , ?t M n n v ille , l i . J, Fees S o .78. Win. R. Sutphin S 'n eriff o f Som erset County UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT . DISTRICT OP. HEW JERSEY-..* * VERONA STEPKA, e x e c u t r ix o f th e E s ta t e o f JOSEPH STEPKA, d e c e a s e d ,. P la in tiff, ( . JOHNS-MANVILLE CORPORATION, a corporation o f the State o f New York, D efen d an t, A c tio n a t Law *;,A N S W E R . Ta ?** Y. ' rv * : v:- : ;n1: I " * ; * 'V>r.1 ". D efen d a n t, JOHNS-UANVILLE CORPORATION, a c o r p o r a t io n o f th e S ta t e o f New York, h a v in g i t s p r in c ip a l o f f i c e in New J e r s e y , a t M a n v ille , Som erset County, sa y s t h a t : FIRST DEPENSE 1. I t d en ies paragraph 1,. excep t th at i t says th a t th e t e s t a t o r was in i t s employ a t i t s p la n t in 1* M a n v ille, N .J. at variou s tim es from December 28, 1926, to th e month o f A p r il, 1930. 2 . It d en ies paragraph 2, except th a t i t says t h a t i t was and has been engaged in the m anufacture o f a sb e sto s products fo r commercial purposes from December 28, 1926, to the present tim e. 3 . I t d en ies paragraph 3 , except th at i t says th at i t employed the t e s t a t o r a t v ariou s tim es from December 28, 1926, to th e month o f A p r il, 1930. 4 I t d e n ie s paragraphs 4 , 5 , 6 and 7 . 5. I t has no knowledge or in form ation s u f f ic ie n t to form a b e l i e f as to the a lle g a tio n s o f paragraphs 8 , 9, 3EC0]D DEFENSE The in ju r y and th e d is e a s e a lle g e d in th e c o n p la in t were due to one o f th e r is k s o f h ie employment assumed by were due to one o f th e r is k s o f h i a employment:-aasumed/by/J^;,-? ; ' ' "u.- th e t e s t a t o r a s p a r t o f th e . term s of. h i s 'c o n t r a c t `of-, e m - ' i "'1 : `V- ploym ent in - t h a t th e t e s t a t o r knew, or. b y th e e x e r c i s e . of. '/..; reasonable dangers of care on h is p a r t should " * h is employment* FOURTH DEFENSE have, known,. the.^alleged . ** * - ' *' * - ' * - \ _ v * * *>* I*..,;,-'' . V.V., The in ju r y and the d is e a s e a lle g e d in th e com plaint . : were cau sed by c o n tr ib u to r y n e g lig e n c e on th e p a r t of^-the... v te sta to r . .. '.* ' -r/ , 1 FIFTH DEFENSE i -''V.!" * i The in ju r y and th e d is e a s e a lle g e d ,,i n . th e com p lain t *; w ere cau sed by c o n tr ib u to r y n e g lig e n c e on th e p a rt o f th e te sta to r in that the te sta to r fa ile d to exercise reasonable. care to p ro tect h im self again st the a lleg ed dangers of h is employment by u s in g th e mask and o th e r a p p lia n c e s p rovid ed by the defendant fo r th a t purpose* ; SIXTH DEFENSE The in ju r y and th e d is e a s e a lle g e d in th e com p lain t were due to n e g lig e n c e on th e p a rt o f a f e llo w - 3 e r v a n t o f th e t e s t a t o r , in f a i l i n g to warn and in s t r u c t th e t e s t a t o r to u se th e mask and o th e r a p p lia n c e s p ro v id ed by th e d efen d ant fo r the purpose of p rotectin g the te s ta to r again st the a lle g e d dangers o f h is employment* iL s L . % /Is '/s iS I X / X / l d UITI ted' states d ist r ic t !'DISTRICT 0? NEW JERSEY Court VEROITA STEFKA, e x e c u tr ix o f th e E s ta te o f JOSEPH STEPKA, deceased P la in tiff vs. JOHNS-HAirVILLE CORPORATION, a co rp o ra tio n o f th e S ta te o f New Y ork, D e fe n d a n t A ction a t Laip. ORDER FOR DJSC O XTIX UAXOE. -O 3 ^ / 7 The above en titled cause having been settled betwten the p arties thereto; It is ORDERED, th a t the same be, and i t is hereby d isco n tin u ed t w ith o u t costSto either p a r ty as against the other. Entered June 13 , 19 34 On motion of , Attorneys of defendant Consent is hereby given to the mak ing and entering of the above order.