Document GzKerLaOBr9pqJv65DyN3aweY
FILE NAME: Volkswagon (VK)
DATE: 2019
DOC#: VK007
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Legal - Motion for Partial Summary Judgment
Filing # 100629430 E-Filed 12/20/2019 09:43:54 AM
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 11TH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA
ROBERT G. CLARK and ALANA CLARK, his wife,
ASBESTOS DIVISION CASE NO.: 14-027985
Plaintiffs,
v.
VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT, et al.,
Defendants. /
PLAINTIFFS' MOTION FOR PARTIAL SUMMARY JUDGMENT
COME NOW, Plaintiffs, by and through the undersigned counsel, pursuant to Florida Rule
of Civil Procedure 1.510, and hereby move for partial summary judgment on Defendant
VOLKSWAGEN AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT's ("VWAG") affirmative defenses numbers 23 and
53. In support thereof, Plaintiffs state as follows:
LEGAL STANDARD
Pursuant to Rule 1.510(c) of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure, a motion for summary
judgment should be granted in favor of the moving party if "the pleadings, depositions, answers to
interrogatories and admissions on file together with the affidavits, if any, show that there is no
genuine issue as to any material fact and that the moving party is entitled to judgment as a matter
of law." Fla. R. Civ. P. 1.510(c); see also Zabrani v. Riveron, 495 So. 2d 1195, 1199 (Fla. 3d
DCA 1986). The purpose of summary judgment "is to avoid the expense and delay of trials when
all facts are admitted or when a party is unable to support by any competent evidence a contention
of fact." N at'l Airlines, Inc. v. Fla. Equipment Co. o fMiami, 71 So. 2d 741, 744 (Fla. 1954). See
also Bakker v. First Fed. Sav. & Loan A ss'n o fHammonton, New Jersey, 575 So.2d 222, 224 (Fla.
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3d DCA 1991) (explaining that the purpose of the partial summary judgment procedure is to narrow the issues in a case so as to limit the matters genuinely in dispute which must be taken to trial). The party moving for summary judgment must show the absence of a genuine issue of material fact, and the court must draw every possible inference in favor of the non-moving party. Craven v. TRG Boynton Beach, Ltd., 925 So. 2d 476, 480 (Fla. 4th DCA 2006) (citing Wills v. Sears, Roebuck & Co., 351 So. 2d 29 (Fla. 1977)).
Once the movant on summary judgment meets his burden of conclusively demonstrating that no genuine issue of material fact exists, the burden shifts to the opposing party to come forward with evidence sufficient to show an issue of fact. See Slacther v. Abundio Inv. Co., 566 So. 2d 348, 349 (Fla. 3d DCA 1990); see also Lenhal Realty, Inc. v. Transamerica Comm. Fin. Corp., 615 So. 2d 207, 208 (Fla.4th DCA 1993). It is not enough for the opposing party to merely assert that a genuine issue of material fact exists. See Almond Constr. Co. v. Evans, 547 So. 2d 626, 628 (Fla. 1989). Likewise, summary judgment is appropriately granted where there is a complete lack of evidence concerning an essential element of the cause of action. See Mahoney v. Burger King Corp., 600 So. 2d 1252 (Fla. 3d DCA 1992); F & R Builders v. Lowell Dun Co., 364 So. 2d 826, 828 (Fla. 3d DCA 1978).
ARGUMENT Robert G. Clark and Alana Clark ("Plaintiffs") filed their initial Complaint on October 31, 2014. Plaintiffs allege that Mr. Clark's exposure to defendants' asbestos-containing products caused him to develop asbestosis and diffuse pleural thickening. On February 10, 2015, VWAG filed its answer and affirmative defenses. See Exhibit A.
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VWAG's affirmative defense number 23 states as follows:
If Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, either used, or was exposed to, products manufactured or supplied by VW AG, and if it is shown that such use and/or exposure is causally related to his alleged injuries and/or damages, all of which is specifically denied, then it is averred that he was himself negligent in the following particulars:
In failing to use proper safety equipment, which was available to Mr. Clark; In failing to demand the proper safety equipment be supplied to Mr. Clark; In failing to read the instructions and/or warnings distributed by VWAG in connection with the sale or use of its products; By using improper techniques and methods in the use and application of products for which VWAG may have legal responsibility; In otherwise failing to exercise due care and caution under the circumstances.
Exhibit A, at ^ 23 (emphasis added).
Summary judgment in favor of Plaintiffs is appropriate as to VWAG's contention in
affirmative defense number 23 that Mr. Clark failed to "read warnings distributed by VWAG in
connection with the sale or use of its products." VWAG admits that it never placed any warnings
about asbestos on any Volkswagen vehicles, brakes, clutches or owner's manuals. Dep. Tr. of
Airbert Kolms, New York City Asbestos Litigation, Jan. 29, 2004, at 67:17 - 69:22, attached as
Exhibit B. VWAG's wholly owned subsidiary, Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. ("VWGoA"),
also admits that it never placed any warnings about asbestos on the packaging of any Volkswagen
products it distributed and never passed along any warnings about asbestos to anyone, including
Volkswagen consumers. Dep. Tr. of Robert P. Cameron, Jr., Steiner v. Advance Auto Parts, et al.,
June 24, 2011, at 258:5-13, attached as Exhibit C; Dep. Tr. of Robert P. Cameron, Jr., Boman v.
AlfalLaval, Inc., July 31, 2009, at 171:17 - 172:23, 180:8-24, attached as Exhibit D. A VWAG
memorandum dated August 17, 1987, states that its asbestos-containing brake linings are
"currently not labeled as `asbestos-containing' . . . no warning and safety instructions are given to
the user (after sales service or private purchaser) who may be exposed to asbestos exposure."
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Exhibit E. Finally, VWAG's corporate representative (who was deposed in this matter on April
9, 2019) admitted that, VWAG did not place any warnings on its products about the health hazards
of asbestos until 1993 when it was required to do so by German regulations (approximately nine
years after Plaintiff Mr. Clark last worked with a Volkswagen product). Dep. Tr. of Juergen
Albers, Clark v. Borg Warner Corp., et al., April 9, 2019, at 65:24 - 66:7, 75:5-11, 128:22 - 129:1,
attached as Exhibit F.
VWAG's affirmative defense number 53 states as follows:
Any products that contained asbestos that were designed, manufactured, distributed, sold and/or supplied or otherwise placed in the stream of commerce by VWAG were made so that the asbestos fibers were encapsulated in other material which would prevent the release of injury producing levels of such fibers based on the use of said product.
Exhibit A, at ^ 53 (emphasis added).
Summary judgment in favor of Plaintiffs is also appropriate as to VWAG's affirmative
defense number 53. Evidence produced in this matter by VWAG shows that the asbestos fibers in
its asbestos-containing products were not "encapsulated" and indeed were capable of releasing
asbestos fibers at dangerous levels:
A VWAG memorandum dated January 1, 1981, in reference to the "use of asbestos or asbestos-containing materials" at VWAG's production factory states that "[d]eposits of asbestos fine dust or asbestos-containing fine dust in the lungs lead to asbestosis and/or cancer." Exhibit G.
A VWAG memorandum dated August 1, 1983, explains that "[r]egardless of dust measurements or structural measures taken, the following points should be noted when asbestos . . . dust occurs: . . . If despite technical and organizational measures, it cannot be achieved that the respiratory air can be sufficiently freed of . . . asbestos, respiratory protective equipment must be used." Exhibit H.
A VWAG memorandum dated December 15, 1982, regarding "[a]sbestos emissions from brake lining processing machines," states that "[b]rake service workshops for trucks and buses use increasingly brake pads processing machines for over-revving of used and new brake pads, which are placed directly on the axle without disassembly of the brake shoe
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carrier. The resulting dust contains asbestos fibers, which get into the respiratory air of the employees and, depending on the concentration and exposure time, can lead to damaging health effects. Extensive measures of dust concentrations at workplaces in brake workshops showed that the dust concentrations vary greatly depending on the work intensity, spatial and ventilation conditions as well as the type of brake pads and the processing machine . . . When blowing out brake drums, the threshold for asbestoscontaining and inert dust at the workplace are exceeded for a short period of time . . .". Exhibit I.
A VWAG memorandum dated April 4, 1980, in reference to asbestos-related hazards, states that "[i]t is therefore apparent that the technical thresholds for chrysotile-containing fine dust . . . are likely to be reached or exceeded over time as a result of the work on riveting the clutch linings. Exhibit J.
A VWAG memorandum dated October 31, 1988, in reference to the riveting of brake shoes, states that "[i]n the last asbestos dust measurement . . . was for the first time in years during brake shoe riveting . . . thus the threshold trigger was exceeded. Exhibit K
A VWAG memorandum dated October 14, 1987, in reference to the packaging of asbestoscontaining parts, explains that in October 1987, asbestos measurements were taken in VWAG's "spare parts warehouse." Exhibit L. VWAG concluded that "the workplaces must be kept free of dust with the aid of special vacuum cleaners." Id.
A VWAG memorandum dated March 18, 1980, in reference to asbestos dust concentration measurements, noted that asbestos dust concentration measurements on a brake pad grinding machine showed a fine dust content of 0.19 mg/m3. Exhibit M.
A VWAG memorandum dated November 6, 2001, in reference to pollutant levels in the service station, found that asbestos dust concentration measurements were exceeded "during the blowing out of the brake drums." Exhibit N.
A VWAG memorandum dated September 2, 1987, in reference to "asbestos determination in Braunschweig," noted that asbestos in fine dust was detected in correlation to grinding and riveting brake shoes. Exhibit O.
A VWAG memorandum dated July 3, 1991 in reference to the measurement of asbestos in the workplace, noted that asbestos in fine dust was detected in correlation to grinding and riveting brake shoes. Exhibit P.
CONCLUSION
As the aforementioned evidence demonstrates, VWAG never provided warnings to
Plaintiff Mr. Clark about the health hazards of asbestos. In addition, the asbestos fibers in its
asbestos-containing products were not "encapsulated," as VWAG alleges, and indeed were capable
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of releasing asbestos fibers at dangerous levels. Thus, no genuine issues of material fact exist in this regard and partial summary judgment should be entered in favor of Plaintiffs.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiffs respectfully request that the Court enter partial summary judgment in Plaintiffs' favor and grant such other relief the Court deems necessary and proper. Dated: December 20, 2019.
THE FERRARO LAW FIRM, P.A. David A Jagolinzer, ESQ. Attorneyfor Plaintiffs 600 Brickell Avenue, Suite 3800 Miami, Florida 33131 Telephone:(305) 375-0111 DAJ@ferrarol aw.com
By:/s/ David A. Jagolinzer David A Jagolinzer, ESQ. FLORIDA BAR NO. 181153
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
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HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing was served
electronically on all counsel of record via Florida's eFiling Portal and electronic mail this 20thday
of December, 2019.
By:/s/ David A. Jagolinzer David A Jagolinzer, ESQ. FLORIDA BAR NO. 181153
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EXHIBIT A
ROBERTO. CLARK and ALANA CLARK, his wife.
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE 11 m JUDICIAL CIRCUIT, IN AND FOR MIAMI-DADE COUNTY. FLORIDA
ASBESTOS LITIGATION
Plaintiffs, V.
CASE NO.: 14-027985
BORG WARNER CORPORATION, et a!..
Defendants. ______________________________________ l
VOLKSWAGEN AG'S ANSWER AND AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES TO PLAINTIFF'S COMPLAINT
Defendant, Volkswagen AG, (hereinafter "VWAG" or "Defendant"), hereby files its
.Answer and Affinnative Defenses to Plaintiffs' Complaint (hereinafter, "Complaint"), and states
as follows:
ANSWER
1. VWAG admits that it is a German company with its principal place of business located
in Wolfsburg, Germany. All other allegations of Plaintiffs' Complaint are denied.
2. Specifically. Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, was not exposed to and did not inhale asbestos dust
or other dust from products for which this Defendant is or was responsible.
3. VWAG denies all allegations of the Complaint not specifically admitted, controverted or
denied and demands strict proof thereof at trial. VWAG further denies each and every allegation
and claim tor relief sought in the "Wherefore" clauses of Plaintiffs' Complaint.
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AFFIRMATIVE DEFENSES 4. Plaintiffs' claims should be dismissed, because they do not comply with the Florida Asbestos & Silica Compensation Fairness Act Chapter 774, Florida Statutes (the "Act"). 5. Venue in this county is improper, either because none of the Defendants reside or conduct business in this county, or because of forum non conveniens, or none of the operative events occurred in this county or state, or in the interest of justice or otherwise, the action should be transferred to another court. 6. Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, was neither exposed to nor used any product manufactured, sold, or supplied by VWAG. 7. VWAG specifically denies that any products manufactured, distributed or sold by it caused or contributed to the alleged damages or injuries of Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, and further denies that it is liable to Plaintiffs for the causes alleged or for any other cause whatsoever. 8. VWAG has never mined or milled asbestos fibers. Consequently, any strict liability claims are barred by the Act. 9. VWAG was not a miner of asbestos fibers, and any alleged failure to inspect a product does not constitute an intentional wrongdoing pursuant to the Act. 10. Each and every cause of action in the Complaint is time barred by the applicable statute of limitations. The statute of limitations began to run when Plaintiffs knew or should have known that Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, suffered from an asbestos-related illness or health condition.
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11. Each and every cause of action in the Complaint is barred by the applicable statute of repose.
12. Each and every count in the Complaint fails to state a single cause of action against VWAG.
13. This Court lacks In Personam Jurisdiction over VWAG 14. The Complaint improperly commingles allegations against all Defendants such that it is impossible for any individual Defendant to answer overly broad and vague allegations directed against all Defendants as a group. 15. VWAG asserts that if the Plaintiffs have suffered injuries or losses as alleged, they are the proximate result of negligence or wrongdoing by persons, entities, whether parties or non parties. not within VWAG's control whereby VWAG is not liable. In accordance with 768.81(3) Fla. Stat. and Fabre v. Marin. 623 So. 2d 1182 (Fla. 1993), VWAG reserves the right that these other entities or persons, whether parties or non-parties, appear on the verdict form so that a jury can apportion liability among all participants to the incidents which caused Plaintiffs' damages. VWAG seeks apportionment of any damages awarded in this case and will include some or all of the entities listed below on the jury verdict form in accordance with Nash v. Wells Fargo, 678 So. 2d 1262 (Fla. 1996). Entities that may be listed include, but are not limited to: non-Defendant employers of Mr. Clark, and non-Defendant premises owner(s) of property upon which Plaintiffs claim that Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, was allegedly exposed to asbestos, including but not limited to John Crook Limited Dealership in Kingston, Jamaica; various dealerships in Ontario, Canada, including but not limited to East West Motors, Aero Way Motors, and Oakville Volkswagen; Melville & Drew Construction in Kingston. Jamaica;
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Talleres Europeas, SA in Managua, Nicaragua; Compania Cervecera de Nicaragua in Managua, Nicaragua; Volkswagen South in Miami. Florida; Concrete of Medley in Miami, Florida; Milano Imported Motors in Miami, Florida; David Tate Exporting in Miami, Florida. AC&S. Inc., A. P. Green Refractories. A. W. Chesterton Company, Allied Signal. Inc., Alstom Power, Inc.. American Optical Corporation, American Optical Corp., American Standard. Inc., American Honda Motor Company, Inc., Aqua-Chem, Inc.. Armstrong International. Inc.. Armstrong World Industries. Inc., Arrow Automotive Industries. Inc., Auto Machine, Arvinmeritor. Inc., Asbestos Claims Management Corp.. Asbestos Spray Corporation, Asten, Inc., The Babcock & Wilcox Co., Bennett Auto Supply, Bctchel Corp.. Borg Warner Corporation. Borg-Warner, Inc., Bridgestone/Firestone North American Tire, LLC as successor by merger to Bridgestone/Firestone, Inc. as successor in interest to Worldbestos. Briggs Stratton Corp., Brock & Blevins Company, Inc.. Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp., CBS Corporation. C. E. Thurston & Son, Inc.. Carlisle Companies. Inc., Caterpillar. Inc., Cafco Pipe Company, Carlisle Companies, Inc. through its subsidiaries Motion Control Industries, Inc., Certainteed Corporation f/k/a Certainteed Products Corporation, individually and as successor in interest to Bestwall Gypsum Company, Cleaver Brooks Company, Celotex Corp., Chrysler LLC, Combustion Engineering, Inc.. Combustion Engineering Corp., Congoleum Corporation, Consumer Automotive Parts. Inc., Controls Installation Company of Florida, Cooper Industries. LLC as successor in interest to Cooper Industries, Inc. and Crouse-Hinds Company i/s/h/a Cooper-Crouse Hinds Co.. Crown Cork and Seal Co.. Inc., D-O Holding Company. Inc., Dana Companies LLC f/k/a Dana Corporation. Dana Corporation d/b/a Dana Racine Corporation f/k/a Spice Manufacturing Corp., Davy McKee Lakeland, Inc.. Deere and Co. Inc., Deere and
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Company. Dovvman Products. Ine. Deere & Co.. Ine., Dresser, Ine., through its subdivision/business unit Waukesha Engine, Durabla Manufacturing Company. Eagle Pitcher Industries, Eaton Corporation, Farrel Birmingham, Federal-Mogul Asbestos Personal Injury Trust, as successor to Felt-Products Manufacturing Co. and successor to the former Vellumoid Division of Federal-Mogul, Federal Mogul Corporation d/b/a Wagner brake products. Fem Auto Parts, Ferro Corporation, Fireboard Corporation, Foseco, Inc., Flexitallic, Inc., Flinkote Company, Flinkote Corporation, Ford Motor Company, Foster Wheeler Energy Corporation, Frank A. McBride Company, GAF Corp., Garlock Sealing Technologies. LLC, General Electric Company, Genuine Parts Company, General Refractories Company. Genuine Parts Company. Georgia-Pacific LLC f/k/a Georgia-Pacific Corporation f/k/a Georgia Hardwood Lumber Co. t'/k/a Georgia-Pacific Plywood and Lumber Co. f/k/a Georgia-Pacific Plywood Co., individually and as successor in interest and/or parent of Bestwall Gypsum Company, Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, Gould Pumps, Inc., Guard-Line, Inc. Harley Murray, Inc.. H. B. Fuller Company, H.K. Ferguson Company, Harbison-Walker Refractories Company, H. K. Porter Company. Inc.. Hennessy Industries. Inc., Honeywell International. Inc. f/k/a Allied Signal. Inc., individually and as successor in interest to Allied Corporation, as successor in interest to the Bendix Corporation, Independent Parts Warehouse. Inc., Indian River Construction Company, Indian River Industrial Contractors, Inc., Industrial Holdings Corporation f/k/a The Carborundum Company, Ingersoll-Rand Company, Instrument Engineering Co.. IMO Industries, Inc., Johns Manville, Johnson-Manville Corp., Johns-Manville Sales Corporation. Johns-Manville Corporation, Johnson Controls, Inc., KCG. Inc., Kaiser Aluminum. Keene Corporation. Keasby and Mattison. Kelly-Moore Paint. Co., Kelsey-Hayes. Lewis Marine
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Supply, Inc., The Liggett Group, Lipe Rollvvay, Lorillard Tobacco Co., M&H Automotive. Inc.. Mack Trucks, Inc.. Mahle Clevite, Inc., Maneini Automotive, Inc., Mazda Motor of America. Inc., Maremont Corporation. McCord Corporation, individually and as successor in interest to A.E. Clevite, Inc. and J.P. Industries, Inc., McKoy Helgerson Company, Inc.. Metropolitan Life Insurance, Morton International, Inc., Mitsubishi Motor's North America, Inc., Morton Int'I Transportation Corp., f/k/a International Harvester, Nissan North America, Inc., National Gypsum Company, Mundet, North Brothers. National Sendee Industries, Inc., Nicolet, Inc., Oshkosh Truck Corp., Owens-Illinois. Inc. f/k/a Owens Bottle Machine Corp. f/k/a Owens Bottle Co. f/k/a Owens-Illinois Glass Co., Owens Coming Corporation, Owens Coming Fiberglass Inc., Pacor. Inc., individually and through its division, Kenworth Trucks and Peterbilt Motors, Phillip Carey Mfg. Co., Philip Morris, Inc., Pittsburg Coming Corp.. Pfizer. Inc., Pittsburgh Coming Corporation; Pneumo Abex LLC as successor to Pneumo Abex Corporation. Power Brake Exchange, Inc., Proko Industries, Inc., Quigley Co., Inc., R&M Manufacturing Company, Rapid American Corp.. Rapid American Corporation, Raybestos Manhattan, Inc.. Raymark Industries. Inc., Rechtien International Trucks, Inc., R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. SEPCO Corporation, Shook and Fletcher. Steel Grip, Inc. t7k/a Industrial Gloves Co., fk/a Steel Grip Safety Apparel Co., Standard Insulation, Inc., Stradley Auto Parts, T&N Pic. Tompkins Beckwith, Inc., The Anchor Packing Company, Toyota Motor North America. Inc., Treadwell Corporation, Unarco Industries, Inc.. Union Carbide Corporation. Uniroyal. Inc., Universal Refractories, Inc., United States Gypsum, U. S. Mineral Products Co., Viacom Inc., W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor. Westinghouse. Wheeling Brake Block Manufacturing Co., Inc.. Wheeling Brake Block Manufacturing Company, Inc., TRW Automotive. Federal
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Mogul Corporation d/b/a Wagner Brake Products, Standard Motor Products d/b/a EIS Brake Parts, The Parts Source d/b/a Ace Auto Parts, a Florida Corporation 122. American Suzuki Motor Corporation. Discount Auto Parts. Genuine Parts Company, Fern Auto Parts. Napa Auto Parts, Mof'fet Bearings, Kennon Berrings. Millen Machine, Auto Machine, Victor Clutch, West Dixie Auto Parts, Wheeling Brake Block Manufacturing Co. Inc. Chrysler. LLC, Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A. Inc., Harley Murray, Plank Motors. Ryerson Motors. Courtland Foreign Motors, Worthington Corporation. W. R. Grace & Co., Zum Industries, Inc, Advance Stores Company, Inc., Coflax Corporation, Warren Pumps, LLC, Crane Co. individually and as successor to National-U.S. Radiator, Discount Auto Parts, Daimler Chrysler Corporation, General Motors Corporation. Western Auto Supply Company. Smurfit-Stone Container Enterprises, Inc., Alfa Laval, Inc.. Bayer Cropscience. Inc., (f/k/a Aventis Cropscience USA, Inc. f/k/a Rhone Poulenc AG Company, Inc. f/k/a Union Carbide Agricultural Products, Inc. i/k/a Amchem Products, Inc., a successor to Benjamin Foster Company). Buffalo Pumps, Inc.. Elliott Turbomachinery Co., Inc., Gardner Denver. Inc., Hardie-Tynes Co.. Inc.. Kentile Floors. Inc., Leslie Controls. Inc., Owens-Illinois, Inc. f/k/a Owens Bottle Machine Corp f/k/a Owens Bottle Co f/k/a Owens Illinois Glass Co., Nash Engineering Company, McNally Industries, Inc., Sealing Equipment Products Company, Inc., Schutte & Koerting LLC, Viad Corp. f/k/a the Dial Corporation, Individually and as successor to Griscom Russell Company, Yarway Corporation. Yeomans Chicago Corporation. BW/IP International, Inc. individually and as successor-in-interest to Byron Jackson Pumps. Cameron International Corporation f/k/a Cooper Cameron Corporation (individually and as successor-in-interest to The Cooper-Bessemer Corporation). Crane Co. (individually and as successor in interest to Chapman Valve Co. and Cochrane, Inc.). Cummins,
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Inc., Honeywell Bremsbelag GmbH, d/b/a Jurid. f/k/a Allied Signal Bremsbelag GmbH, f/k/a Jurid Werke GmbH. Honeywell Deutschland GmbH, as successor in interest to Energit. Honeywell Aftermarket GmbH, and the U.S. Navy and all premises owned by it Defendant will update said Defense to the extent same becomes known during discovery.
16. Any exposure of Plaintiff. Robert G. Clark, to VWAG product(s) was so minimal as to be insufficient to establish to a reasonable degree of medical probability that such exposure to the product or products was a contributing cause of his injuries.
17. Plaintiffs. Robert G. Clark's injuries, if any. were due to the acts or omissions of persons over whom VWAG had neither control nor the right to control. Therefore, Plaintiffs are barred from recovery against VWAG.
18. VWAG is entitled to a set-off for the amount of any monies paid to Plaintiffs in settlement of claims with other parties and non-parties.
19. VWAG is entitled to a set-off from any verdict of all collateral sources of indemnity and disability benefits paid to Plaintiffs by third parties as a result of this incident.
20. Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, willingly, knowingly and voluntarily assumed the risk of his injuries.
21. Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark's injuries, if any, were caused by his own negligent conduct, or by the negligent conduct of another and, therefore, the Plaintiffs are barred from recovery or. alternatively, barred from full recovery from VWAG.
22. If Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, was injured or damaged, which injuries and damages are denied, the injuries and any damages were the result of intervening or superseding acts, events.
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factors, occurrences or conditions which were in no way caused by VWAG and for which VWAG is not liable.
23. If Plaintiff. Robert G. Clark, either used, or was exposed to. products manufactured or supplied by VWAG. and if it is shown that such use and/or exposure is causally related to his
alleged injuries and/or damages, all of which is specifically denied, then it is averred that he was himself negligent in the following particulars:
In failing to use proper safety equipment, which was available to Mr. Clark: In failing to demand the proper safety equipment be supplied to Mr. Clark: In failing to read the instructions and/or warnings distributed by VWAG in connection with the sale or use of its products; By using improper techniques and methods in the use and application of products for which VWAG may have legal responsibility; In otherwise failing to exercise due care and caution under the circumstances. 24. Plaintiff. Robert G. Clark's injuries and damages, if any. proximately resulted from the negligence of fellow servants employed in the course of common employment and, thus, the Plaintiffs are barred from recovery. 25. The products and materials in question were abused, misused and improperly used by Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, or others not under VWAG's control and, by reason thereof, the Plaintiffs are barred from recovery from VWAG. 26. The Plaintiffs are barred from recovery for damages, if any, by the exclusive liability provisions of the workers' compensation law of the State of Florida or any other applicable
jurisdiction. 27. The Plaintiffs' claims are barred, in whole or in part, because the products distributed
and sold by VWAG conformed with available technological, medical, scientific and industrial state-of-the-art at all material times (see Fla. Stat. 768.1257),
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28. VWAG reasonably relied upon the sophisticated employers of Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, and is not responsible for the failure of said employers to warn or take proper precautions with regard to the use of such products.
29. The products in question were changed, altered or modified after they left VWAG's control and such change, alteration or modification was the legal cause of the Plaintiffs' damages, if any.
30. Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, knew of the existence of the danger complained of in the Complaint, realized and appreciated the possibility of injury as a result of the danger, and having reasonable opportunity to avoid it. voluntarily exposed himself to said danger.
31. Any sales or distribution of asbestos-containing products, if any, by VWAG were made to sophisticated users and purchasers who were fully aware of the risks, if any, and any characteristics associated with such products. Any claims of liability by the Plaintiffs against VWAG are. therefore, barred as a matter of law.
32. If Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, was exposed and/or injured as a result of his use of or exposure to any product of VWAG. Plaintiffs' claims are barred because any such product was manufactured, produced or sold in strict conformity to the specifications furnished by his employers, premises owners, contractor, lessees, or any governmental entity.
33. The Plaintiffs' action is barred, in whole or in part, in that the products manufactured or distributed by VWAG were manufactured or distributed in accordance with local, state and federal statutes, regulations, and governmental specifications and standards, and said government entities had actual or constructive knowledge with regard to the alleged hazards of
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the products. Said products are accordingly not detective or unreasonably dangerous (see Fla. Stat. 768.1256).
34. Although VWAG denies that Plaintiffs are entitled to recover any damages, any recovery for any injuries or damages alleged by Plaintiffs are limited by Fla. Stat. 768.21.
35. Any product or equipment sold or delivered to the initial purchaser or user complied with all federal or state codes, statutes, rules, regulations or standards relevant to the Plaintiffs' claims, including, without limitation, OSHA regulations, and United States Government regulations, which were all designed to protect the health of workers and users and were specified by said organizations.
36. To the extent Plaintiffs assert that VWAG failed to give adequate warnings about its products, such claims are preempted by federal regulations, including those promulgated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
37. The number of different agents to which Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, was exposed in and out of the workplace, and the lack of definitive evidence as to the amount of actual exposure to each agent, makes it impossible to determine, to a requisite degree of legal certainty, the alleged causal connection, if any, between his injuries and said agents.
38. To the extent that Plaintiffs are relying upon a theory of market share liability to support Plaintiffs' strict liability claim, this count should be dismissed because the theory of market share liability does not apply.
39. The Plaintiffs have failed to join indispensable parties as Defendants in this action. 40. If Plaintiffs have filed lawsuits in other jurisdictions against some or all of the same Defendants, Plaintiffs are precluded from seeking double recovery.
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41. If Plaintiffs have tiled or sought to collect or collected sums for Plaintiff. Robert G. Clark's alleged exposure to asbestos. Plaintiffs are precluded from seeking double recovery.
42. To the extent that it is learned that the Plaintiffs have released, settled, or otherwise compromised their claims with VWAG, the Plaintiffs' claims are barred.
43. Defendants cannot be held jointly and severally liable. 44. Plaintiff Robert G. Clark, was not exposed to any products of VWAG and there is no connection between VWAG's business activities in Florida, if any, and the alleged injuries. 45. If any defect existed in the design or manufacture of the subject unidentified product or its component parts which allegedly forms the basis of this lawsuit, all of which is specifically denied, then such product or its component parts were not in the same condition as when they left the custody or control of VWAG, substantial changes or alterations having been made thereto, which changes or alterations were the proximate cause of any defective condition or conditions, thus barring or reducing proportionally all claims for damages against VWAG. 46. The design of the unidentified product which allegedly forms the basis of this lawsuit was reasonably safe as measured by the risk utility analysis set forth in the Restatement (Third) ofTorts. 47. VWAG has been prejudiced in its defense to the extent the evidence in this case has been destroyed or altered by others. 48. The Complaint fails to comply with the pleading requirements of the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure and the product identification requirements of Florida law. The Complaint and the causes of action pled therein fail to identity VWAG as the manufacturer, distributor, user or retailer of any injury-causing products. Nor does it properly identify any particular product of
Gordon & Rees llp 4300 Southeast Financial Center, 200 South Biseayne Blvd, Miami. FL 33131 Telephone: 305.428.5300
12
VWAG to which Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark, was allegedly exposed or the specific date, location, or duration of such exposure.
49. Tlie Plaintiffs have tailed to state a cause of action for negligence. The Complaint fails to state a cause of action for negligence in that it fails to allege the circumstances, if any. whereby Plaintiff. Robert G. Clark, used VWAG product(s). Specifically, it fails to allege facts sufficient to establish a duty or breach thereof by VWAG which proximately resulted in any injuries to Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark. Furthermore, by not identifying the particular products of VWAG to which Plaintiff. Robert G. Clark, was allegedly exposed, it fails to state a cause of action for negligence under Florida law.
50. Florida law does not recognize a duty on the part of a product manufacturer, distributor, or supplier to control the work environment in which its product might be used, to provide or warn of the need for wearing protective equipment, to offer post sale warnings and advice, or to publish, adopt, and enforce a safety plan and a safe method of handling and installing asbestos materials.
51. The Plaintiffs have failed to state a cause of action for strict liability. The Complaint fails to allege sufficient ultimate facts to identify a specific product and to establish the relationship of VWAG to any specific product. Furthermore, it fails to allege specific ultimate facts to establish an allegedly defective and unreasonably dangerous condition of any product allegedly manufactured, distributed or sold by VWAG, specifically, the nature of the defects and when the product left VWAG's control. Finally, it fails to allege ultimate facts, as opposed to broad generalizations, to establish the existence of any proximate causal connection between
Gordon & Rees llp 4300 Southeast Financial Center, 200 South Biscayne Blvd, Miami, FL 33131 Telephone: 305.428.5300
13
the alleged defect and any product manufactured or sold by VWAG, and to the alleged injuries or damages.
52. Plaintiff. Robert G. Clark, failed to mitigate his damages by seeking employment within his limitations or by following the reasonable medical advice and treatment reeommended by his healthcare providers.
53. Any products that contained asbestos that were designed, manufactured, distributed, sold and/or supplied or otherwise placed in the stream of commerce by VWAG were made so that the asbestos fibers were encapsulated in other material which would prevent the release of injury producing levels of such fibers based on the use of said product.
54. Any products that contained asbestos that were designed, manufactured, distributed, sold and/or supplied or otherwise placed in the stream of commerce by VWAG could not have contributed to Plaintiff, Robert G. Clark's disease.
55. The Plaintiffs have failed to state a cause of action for Loss of Consortium. 56. VWAG asserts and relies upon any and all prior orders of this Court dismissing and/or striking claims in asbestos-related personal injury cases similar to the claims alleged in the Complaint, and any other Complaint filed by counsel in this litigation. 57. VWAG adopts each and every other affirmative defense filed by any other Defendant in this action. 58. VWAG reserves the right to amend its Answer and Affirmative Defenses if investigation, discovery, further information, or the development of any applicable matters of law warrants such amendment during the pendency of this action.
Gordon & Rf.es li.p 4300 Southeast Financial Center. 200 South Biscayne Blvd, Miami. FL 33131 Telephone: 305.428.5300
14
Respectfully submitted.
By: /s/ Ari C. Shapiro_______________ Ari Shapiro Florida Bar No. 0183253 Daniel A. Garcia Florida Bar No. 0194130 GORDON & REES, LLP 200 South Biscayne Blvd.. Suite 4300 Miami, Florida 33131 Tel: (305) 428-5300 Fax (877) 634-7245 ashaniro@iuordonrees.com daniel.uarcia@uordonrees.com Attorneys for Volkswagen AG
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
WE HEREBY CERTIFY that a true and correct copy of the foregoing has filed via EPortal and has been delivered via File & ServeXpress to all counsel of record on this 10th day of February, 2015.
/s/ Ari C. Shapiro Ari Shapiro
Daniel A. Garcia
101697.*23164025V I
Gordon & Rees llp r, 200 South Biscayne Blvd. Miami. FL 33131 Telephone: 305.428.5300
15
EXHIBIT B
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
1
SUPREME COURT: ALL COUNTIES
WITHIN THE STATE OF NEW YORK
2
3 IN RE: NEW YORK CITY
ASBESTOS LITIGATION
4
DEPOSITION UPON
This Document Applies To:
ORAL EXAMINATION
5
OF
THOMAS WALL
AIRBERT KOLMS
6
7
8
9
10
11
T R A N S C R I P T of the deposition of
12 AIRBERT KOLMS, called for Oral Examination in the above
13 entitled action, said deposition being taken pursuant to
14 Rules governing Civil Practice in the Courts of New York,
15 by and before KERRY D. HALPERN, a Notary Public and
16 Shorthand Reporter of the State of New York, at HERZFELD &
17 RUBIN, P.C., 40 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, on
18 Thursday, January 29, 2004, commencing at 11:05 a.m.
19
20
21
22
23
Priority-One Court Reporting Services
899 Manor Road
24
Staten Island, New York 10314
(718) 983-1234
25
".1"
Airbert*EColms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 2
1
IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED
2 by and between the attorneys for the respective parties
3 hereto that filing, sealing and certification of the
4 within Examination Before Trial be waived; that all
5 objections, except as to form, are reserved to the time of
6 trial.
7
IT IS FURTHER STIPULATED AND AGREED
8 that the transcript may be signed before any Notary Public
9 with the same force and effect as if signed before a Clerk
10 or Judge of the Court.
11
IT IS FURTHER STIPULATED AND AGREED
12 that the within examination may be utilized for all
13 purposes as provided by the CPLR.
14
IT IS FURTHER STIPULATED AND AGREED
15 that all rights provided to all parties by the CPLR shall
16 not be deemed waived and the appropriate sections of the
17 CPLR shall be controlling with respect thereto.
18
IT IS FURTHER STIPULATED AND AGREED by and
19 between the attorneys for the respective parties hereto
20 that a copy of this Examination shall be furnished,
21 without charge, to the attorney representing the witness
22 testifying herein.
23
24
25
1
INDEX
2
WITNESS: AIRBERTKOLMS
3
EXAMINATION
PAGE
4
Mr. Fox
5, 186
5
Mr, Grasso
182,195
6
7 EXHIBITS:
PLAINTIFFS
8 NUMBER
DESCRIPTION
PAGE
9
10
11 QUESTIONS WITNESS INSTRUCTED NOT TO ANSWER:
12
PAGE LINE
13
78-9
14
15
INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED:
16
PAGE LINE
17
...
18
144-25
.
147-6
19
20 MOVE TO STRIKE:
21
PAGE LINE
22
89 - 11
23
24
Page 4
! '
1 APPEARANCES: 2 FORTHE PLAINTIFFS THOMAS AND RUTH WALL:
3 BELLUCK & FOX LLP
BY: JORDAN FOX, ESQ.
4 295 Madison Avenue
37th Floor
5 New York, New York 10017
6
FOR THE DEFENDANT VOLKSWAGEN:
7 HERZFELD & RUBIN, P.C.
8 BY: CARL GRASSO, ESQ. BY: CHARLES E. FINBERG, ESQ.
9 40 Wall Street
New York, New York 10005
10
.
11 12
13
14
15 16 17
18
19
-
20 21 22
23
24
25
Page 3
Page 5 |
'
,
'
1
1
AIRBERT KOLMS,
2
having first been duly sworn, was
3
examined and testified as follows;
4
'
|
5
EXAMINATION
j
6 BY MR. FOX:
7
Q. Good morning, Mr. Kolms.
8
A. Good morning.
9
Q. My name is Jordan Fox. 1represent Thomas
10 and Ruth Wall in this matter, and I am going to welcome j
11 you to the deposition.
12
MR. GRASSO: I am curious. Is any
i
13
defendant other than us going to make any
j
14
sort of appearance here?
j
15
MR. FOX: Apparently not. They have
j
16
chosen not to be here, and frankly I am not
17
surprised by that.
j
18
MR. GRASSO: You are not expecting
|
19
anyone to call on the phone?
|
20
MR. FOX: No. The case has been
j
21
largely resolved except for Volkswagen AG
j
22
and a couple o f other defendants.
j
23
This was scheduled to go to trial
j
24
and we brought Volkswagen in late.
j
25
MR. GRASSO: Yes, you did.
j
--------- .----------- -------------------------------- 2 (Pages 2 to 5)
Airbft Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall V, Asbestos
Page 6
Page 8
1
MR. FOX: And, therefore, you guys
2
remain in the case as one of the few
3
remaining defendants.
4
And also just as a back up to the
5
deposition today, we had received a few
6
days ago the Volkswagen's Answers to
7
Standard Set of Liability Interrogatories
8
and Request for Production of documents.
9
I have written back to counsel for
10
Volkswagen outlining the area that in my
11
view they were deficient in producing
12
documents and information to us that were
13
in our view critical and necessary to the
14
prosecution of this case.
15
I have had conversation with
16
Mr. Grasso where we have talked about it.
17
But, to a large extent this deposition is
18
proceeding, but it is difficult, if not
19
inpossible, for us to be able to proceed.
20
But, we are going to do it anyway and, of
21
course, in the event that there is an
22
amendment, and additional documents and
23
information provided to the plaintiffs, we
24
will reserve our rights to continue this
25
deposition as necessary.
1
in the case when the special master's order
2
indicated that, these things - obviously,
3
VWAG had no part in negotiations of these
4
things. Frankly, when it comes down to it
5
VWAG is deprived to due process o f law
6
being subjected to an order before even in
7
the case which sounds to me somewhat -
8
MR. FOX: You can make your -
9
MR. GRASSO: Again, I think --
10
MR. FOX: --argument.
11
MR GRASSO: --these sort of things
12 can be worked out on a reasonable basis.
13
MR FOX: You can make your
14
arguments to the judge. The order applies
15 to every defendant in this litigation as
16 well as plaintiff whether or not they
17
negotiated the initial case.
18
MR. GRASSO: They apply to
19 defendants, even those that have not been
20
served?
21
MR. FOX: Rules are important. Let's just
22
23
MR GRASSO: Please proceed.
24
MR. FOX: Thank you.
25
Q. Where do you live, what country?
Page 7
Page
1
MR. GRASSO: Not to burden the
2
record too much, we believe that the
3
interrogatories, which are Standard Set,
4
they obviously are way overbroad as
5
pertains to this particular defendant,
6
which has a specific sort of exposure
7
which, frankly, seems rather unique in any
8
experience. It may well be unique in your,
9
Mr. Fox, and I had agreed to go forward
10
with the deposition, and see how we do.
11
If there are other problems, we will
12
try and work them out as we go. If not,
13
they will be subject to discussion.
14
MR FOX: Not to burden the record
15
any further, but there is directive --
16
there is a clarifying memorandum directive
17
that all questions have to be asked and
18
answered for all products without
19
objection, and that is from her, a
20
directive clarifying what is in the case
21
management order. There is really no issue
22
in the special master's order other than it
23
has to get done.
24
MR. GRASSO: Then, I have to make a
25
statement simply since we were not largely
1
A. Germany.
2
Q. What part of Germany do you live in?
3
A. Northern part. The city I live in is
4 Braunschweig.
5
Q- How do you spell that?
6
A. B-R-A-U-N-S-C-H-W-E-I-G. You would
7 pronounce it Brunswick properly.
8
Q. You would want to stick with the former
9 one. It sounds better than Brunswick We think of other
10 places when we think of Brunswick.
11
(Discussion held off the record).
12
Q. So, who are you employed by?
13
A. By Volkswagen AG.
14
Q. What is your position?
15
A. My position is best described as safety test
16 engineer.
17
Q. How long have you been a safety test
18 engineer for?
19
A. Since I started with Volkswagen.
20
Q. When was that?
21
A. August '73.
22
Q. So, you had the same title since you began
23 for 30 years?
24
A. Basically, yes.
25
Q. Today, or this period of time in 2004, what
.
.
. .
3 (Pages 6 to 9)
A
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 10
1 are your duties in terms o f being a safety test engineer?
2
A. Well, it has changed a little bit from what
3 I was starting out with which was actually testing
4 vehicles in compliance test to safety standards, motor
5 safety standards.
6
Nowadays, I am kind of supervising test
7 engineers as well as educating young engineers in safety
8 matters.
9
Q. And how much - what role, if any, do you
10 have in Volkswagen ~ do you mind if 1call it VWAG for
11 the purposes of this deposition?
12
MR. GRASSO: VWAG as shorthand?
13
MR. FOX: Yes.
14
Q. What role do you now play in any litigation
15 that VWAG is involved?
16
A. Well, as far as any technical assistance
17 needed by the attorneys, I am the person who will provide
18 the necessary assistance to get to technical matters.
19
Q. S o -
20
MR. GRASSO: So, we don't have a
21
lag, are you the only guy in VWAG who does
22
this for all litigation against VWAG?
23
WITNESS: No.
24
MR. FOX: Okay.
25
Q. How much of your time in 2003 was spent on.
Page 12
1
A. In other countries.
2
Q. In times you have been involved in
3 litigation, but in litigation related to the United
4 States?
5
A. Yes.
6
Q. Of the 20,25 times that you have testified
7 has that been at trial, or at deposition, or both, what
8 does that reflect?
9
A. Your question was related to testify only in
10 court?
11
Q. Yes.
12
A. This was strictly in court.
13
Q. So, how many times have you been deposed
14 outside of a courtroom setting?
15
A. Maybe 30,40 times. I am not sure about it.
16
Q. Do you have - do you maintain a list of the
17 times that you have testified?
18
A. No.
19
Q. Does anybody that you know of retain alist
20 of the times that you testified?
21
A Well, you have to ask my attorneys. They
22 may have.
23
Q. Okay.Do you get copies of your testimony
24 at -
25
A. Usually, yes.
Page 11
1 litigation-related matters, approximately?
2
A. Approximately 50 percent.
3
Q. How much was spent actually working as a
4 safety test engineer?
5
A. The rest of it.
6
Q Other than litigation-related activities,
7 and other than being a safety test engineer, and
8 mentioning the education part of it, do you have any other
9 responsibilities for VWAG?
10
A. No.
.
11
Q. And have you testified in a court of law
12 before?
13
A. Yes.
14
Q- How many times, approximately?
15
A. Well, I have - approximately 20,25 times.
16
Q. Okay. And in how many countries?
17
A. In this country only.
18
Q. Okay. Are you assigned only to work with
19 lawyers in the United States in terms of litigation?
20
A. No. I am assigned generally to where that
21 kind of work, if it comes up, to give some technical
22 assistance.
23
Q- It is not restricted to the United States?
24
A. It hasn't occurred yet.
25
Q. It hasn't?
Page 13
1
Q. What do you do with it?
2
A. I review die transcript, and if there is
3 some change to be added or ~ you know, I do a correction i
4 sheet, and sign both, and send it back to the attorneys.
\
5
Q. Do you maintain a copy for yourself?
6
A. Usually, yes.
7
Q. So, you have a library of testimony that you
8 have given?
.
9
A. No.
10
Q. What do you do with it?
.
11
A. Destroy them.
12
Q- You destroy them?
.
13
A. After a while when the case is closed, there
14 is no need to keep them for all the time. You know, the ;
15 attorneys do it.
;
16
Q. Right now, how many depositions do you think 1
17 that you have of your prior testimony either in deposition /
18 or at trial?
'
19
A. I discarded everything so far.
L
20
Q- So, nothing?
21
A. Nothing.
'
22
Q- Do you have them on disk or anything
23 maintained on disk anywhere?
,
24
A No.
j
25
Q. Of the 20, 25 times that you testified at
;
4 (Pages 10 to 13)
Airbeit Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbest
Page 14
1 trial and 30 to 40 times that you testified by deposition,
2 how many of those, if at all, related to any issue
3 regarding asbestos?
4
A. Two depositions.
5
Q. Let's start with those.
6
Where were those taken?
7
A. One was taken in Chicago and the other one
8 here at this office.
9
Q. Okay. Do you recall the plaintiffs law
10 firm that took your deposition in Chicago?
11
A. No.
12
Q. Do you recall the name of the plaintiff in
13 Chicago?
14
A. Yes.
15
Q. What is that name?
16
A. Hinkledey.
17
Q. Hinkledey?
18
A. H-LN-K-L-E-D-E-Y.
19
Q. Thank you.
20
And New York, do you recall?
21
A. Novo.
22
Q. Novo?
23
A. N-O-V-O.
24
Q. Do you recall who the law firm is that
25 examined you during that deposition?
Page 16
1
Q. Okay. Since you completed the correction
2 sheet, is there anything about that deposition that you
3 think is incorrect that you stated that you know of?
4
A. Well, I have not reviewed precisely the Novo
5 depo yet because the case was somehow, you know, settled.
6
Q. All right. Is there anything that you have
7 learned about Volkswagen brake linings and clutch facings
8 over the past two years that you were not aware of in 2001
9 when you gave the deposition in New York?
10
A. I have no reason to exactly pinpoint to one
11 or another field of expertise. There is always a learning
12 process if you are dealing with that matter.
13
Q. Just, is there anything that comes to your
14 mind in terms of something that you learned in the last
15 two years about Volkswagen brakes and clutches that you
16 did not know when you gave those depositions?
17
A. No. Not that I know of.
18
Q. All right. What did you do to prepare for
19 this testimony today, if anything?
20
A. Well, I have partly read Mr. Wall's depo
21 and, you know, just glanced at it. More precisely, 1was
22 reading the first section of it where he describes his
23 employment at the shipyard and with Volkswagen OA, and I
24 reviewed Volkswagen's Answers to Interrogatories and I
25 have a notice of examination before trial before me, so it
Page 15
1
A. I don't recall the name.
2
Q. Other than testifying about asbestos in
3 those two depositions, did any of your testimony at trial
4 or at deposition relate to brake pads or clutch facings?
5
A. No.
6
Q. All right. The deposition that you gave in
7 Chicago, do you recall the issue or issues that you
8 testified about in that case?
9
A. Generally about asbestos metals, brake
10 linings.
11
Q. In New York, do you recall what the issues
12 were?
13
A. The same.
14
Q. Do you recall when the deposition was in
15 Chicago?
16
A. A couple of years ago, '98,1guess. About
17 that time.
18
Q. And New York?
19
A. Two years ago, 2001.
20
Q. Reflecting back on those two depositions, is
21 there anything that you testified about that you recall in
22 those depositions that you would want to change?
23
A, The matter of fact that I have at that time
24 reviewed the depo in the Hinkleday case and have supplied
25 a correction sheet, which I didn't have in the Novo case.
Page 17
1 is basically my file.
2
Q. And when you reviewed the VWAG's Answers to
3 Interrogatories and document requests, did you notice
4 anything in there that you believed was not correct?
5
A. No.
6
Q. When you said that you read the Wall
7 deposition in part, were you provided the entire
8 transcript or were you provided excerpts fromthe
9 transcript?
10
A. The entire transcript.
11
Q. How much of that deposition did you read?
12
A. Maybe a third.
13
Q. Were you provided one day or more than one
14 day of transcripts?
15
A. More than one day.
16
Q. Did you watch a videotape of him?
17
A. No.
18
Q. Did you create any notes in preparation for
19 this deposition?
20
A. No.
21
Q. All right. After reading Mr. Wall's
22 testimony, did you have any reaction to his testimony in
23 terms of his statements regarding his work at VW U.S.A.?
24
MR. GRASSO: Any reaction, I don't
25
quite understand.
r_-------------- - 75^vF7!7:i'i
5 (Pages 14 to 17)
* Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 18
1
Could you clarify that?
.
2
Q. Sure. After reading parts of his testimony,
3 what was your response as a safety engineer, safety
4 testing engineer, to his testimony?
5
MR. GRASSO: His response?
6
MR. FOX: Yes.
7
Q. Did you have any reason to believe that it
8 was not credible?
9
A. He was describing his work as either
10 the person who was packaging and used brake shoes to have
11 them sent out and replaced by new ones and he was
12 describing his work at the shipyard where -- this really
13 touches my understanding of safety. He was using his
14 hands in removing asbestos insulation from pipes and
15 stuff, so this was, what 1claim it was, not proper to do.
16
Q. Are you talking at the shipyard?
17
A. Yes. At the shipyard, yes. There was
18 certainly a protection available, you know, in that type
19 of work.
20
Q. At the shipyard?
21
A. Yes. I think so.
22
Q. Are you --
23
A. The respiratory protection or mask, so.
24
Q. Are you talking about his work on ships?
25
A. Yes.
Page 20 |
1
Q. No. There was nothing there that led you to
j
2 believe that he was not telling the truth?
3
A. I have no reason to say so.
4
Q. Do you have - do you recall what facility
5 he worked at?
|
6
A. Excseme?
j
7
Q. Do you recall what facility he worked for
8 Volkswagen O.A.?
9
A. The distribution center in Wilmington.
10
Q, Were you ever there?
11
A. No.
12
Q. Do you know whether or not anybody has any
1
13 photographs of that particular location fromback in the
1
14 '60s and '70s?
1
15
A. I don't know.
1
16
Q. Did you talk to anybody, other than your
jf
17 counsel for VWAG, in preparation for this deposition?
|
18
A. No, sir.
I
19
Q, Did you ever have any personal contact with
1
20 the facility in Massachusetts that Mr. Wall worked for
21 VWoA?
j
22
A. No, sir.
I
23
Q. Did you make any effort to determine if
f
24 anybody presently at VWAG had any personal contact in the I
25 past with that facility?
1
Page 19
1
Q. Are you a Navy expert?
2
A. No, no.
3
Q. Okay.
4
A. You were asking me about my feeling as in
5 safety test engineer.
6
Q. But, you are not an expert in naval
7 engineering, are you, sir?
8
A. No, sir.
9
Q. And you don't know whether or not there were
10 masks available in the ships that he worked on, do you,
11 sir?
12
A. No.
13
Q. Okay. So, I want to ask you, not about his
14 ship experience because I know that you are not an expert
15 in those affairs. I want to ask you about his work in
16 Volkswagen O.A.
17
Was there anything about his testimony that
18 led you to believe that anything that he testified about
19 was not credible or true?
20
A. No.
21
MR. GRASSO: Well, so this is clear,
22
I mean, Mr. Kolms said he didn't read all
23
of the testimony.
24
Q. That which you read?
25
A. Yes --no.
|
Page 21
1
A. No.
2
Q. Would there be a way to do something like
j
3 that?
|
4
A. Probably not at Volkswagen AG.
1
5
Q. Okay. Why is that?
:
6
A, Because Volkswagen AG is the manufacturer of
7 the vehicles and has nothing to do with the distribution
8 of the parts over here in the States.
:
9
Q. Do you know whether or not VWAG maintains
10 records that date back to the '60s and early '70s?
'
11
MR. GRASSO: That is way broad.
;
12
What kinds of records?
13
Q. Correspondence, sales records, distribution
.
14 records, things like that?
i
15
A. At AG?
}
16
Q. Yes.
17
A. I don't think so.
18
Q. Do they have a policy, a records retention
19 policy?
20
A. Safety related documents are being kept for
,
21 ten years and an internal policy is 15 years.
1
22
Q. So, safety policy is ten years?
i
23
A. Yes. That is the requirement.
24
Q. And 15 years is?
.
25
A, Is the internal policy.
6 (Pages 18 to 21)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 22
1
Q. Internal policy?
2
A. Documentation period.
3
MR. GRASSO: When you say "safety
4
policy," for ten years?
5
MR. FOX: Safety records, he said.
6
A. Safety records or records related to
7 safety-related parts.
8
Q. Do you know how long that ten-year policy
9 has been in place?
10
A. No,
11
Q. Is there somebody at VWAG whose only
12 responsibility is to maintain records?
13
MR. GRASSO: Well, again, you know,
14
how many kinds of records are we talking
15
about?
16
There's millions of kinds of
17
records. 1 could imagine some people spend
18
their lives on one.
19
Q. Is there anybody who is in charge of sales
20 records?
21
A. lam not into sales, so I don't know.
22
Q. Okay. Is there any kind of historian at
23 Volkswagen AG?
24
MR. GRASSO: Somebody with the title
25
historian?
Page 24
1
car?
2
MR. FOX: The actual car, yes.
3
A. Yes.
4
Q. Do you have any reason to believe that the
5 cars in the museums have or do not have the original
6 brakes and clutches that would have been on those cars
7 originally?
8
MR. GRASSO: When I say
9
"originally," you are talking about
10
originally when it rolled off the assembly
11
line?
12
MR. FOX: Yes.
13
MR. GRASSO: As opposed to what was
14
added to the car when it was originally in
15
the museum?
1
16
MR. FOX: Yes.
17
A. I don't know.
1
18
Q. Let's take a step back. I want to get back
1
19 into your background. I know we have kind of gone astray
20 here. I want to bring you back to that now?
|
21
A. Yes.
1
22
Q. When you first started at VWAG, were you at 1
23 Wolfsburg at that time?
j
24
A. I was.
1
25
Q. Were you in Wolfsburg when you started in
|
Page 23
1
MR. FOX: Yes.
2
A. Never heard of anybody.
3
Q. Never heard of anybody?
4
A. Right.
.
5
Q. Is there a museum?
6
A. Yes.
7
Q. Where is that located?
8
A In Wolfsburg.
9
Q. Do you know if historical records are kept
10 at the museum?
11
A. I can guess, yes.
12
Q. Would you be familiar with the inventory of
13 those records?
14
A. No.
15
Q. Do you know who the person is who would be?
16
A. No.
17
Q. At the museum, are there models of cars?
18
A. Yes.
19
Q. And do you know if any of the -- those models
20 of cars present at the museum are cars that were
21 manufactured in the mid-to late '60s?
22
A. Yes.
23
MR. GRASSO: When you say "models of
24
cars," are you talking about a --little
25
models you sit on a table or the actual
Page 25 f
1 1973?
|
2
A. Yes.
|
3
Q. What was your background before you went to I
4 VWAG?
I
5
A. I studied mechanical engineering at the
f
6 Technical University in Braunschweig, and have a master's |
7 degree and still have from that institute.
|
8
Q. Masters in?
{
9
A. Mechanical engineering. Actually,
*
10 automotive engineering. I was specializing in automotive 1
11 engineering.
12
Q. AH right. So, you actually have a masters
13 in automotive engineering?
14
A. Yes.
15
Q, Can you explain to me the kinds of courses
I
16 somebody would take to be given the masters in automotive
17 engineering?
|
18
A. Well, it is a study --well, it depends on
|
19 how many special courses you take. But, it is about an
f
20 eight-year education at the university level, and it
?
21 starts with basic sciences, like, chemistry, physics and
:
22 mathematics, and then goes into automotive-related field
23 as to construction and evaluation, calculation of
t
24 vehicle-related related issues.
j
25
Q, Now, when was the first time that you ever
i
1
7 (Pages 22 to 25)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 26
1 did a brake j ob, if at all?
2
A. A brake job?
3
Q. Yes.
4
A. Well, that is long ago. I mean, usually as
5 a young boy you are interested in taking the stuff, so I
6 can't exactly tell you when it was, but it was early.
7
Q. So, when you were in your teens. Is that
8 fair to say?
9
A. Yes.
10
Q. Have you ever done a brake job on a
11 Volkswagen car?
12
A. Oh, yes.
13
Q. Did you do that when you were a teen as well
14 or was that later on in life?
15
A. When?
16
Q. Did you do a brake job on a Volkswagen car
17 when you were a teen or was that later on in your life?
18
A. I mean, at any time in my life, I was
19 working on cars with friends.
20
Q. Volkswagen's?
21
A. Yes.
22
Q. So, you think you did brake jobs on
23 Volkswagen's as a teenager?
24
A. Yes.
25
Q. Did you do brake jobs on Volkswagen's when
Page 28
1
disc brake.
2
He was talking about drums.
3
Now, you are talking about a lining.
4
Answer the best you can, if you
5
can.
6
A. Well, I didn't remove the lining.
7
Q. Okay. Have you ever removed any brake
8 lining on any Volkswagen car?
9
A. No.
10
MR. GRASSO: Well, you are talking
11
about removing a lining, you are talking
12
about removing it from the brake or taking
13
14
A. From the brake shoe?
15
Q. Yes.
16
A. From the brake shoe, we have the brake shoe
17 covered by or the lining is attached on top of it.
j
18
Q. Okay.
|
19
A. My answer is, no.
20
Q. Have you ever seen it done?
21
MR. GRASSO: Removing a lining from
22
a brake shoe, have you ever seen that done?
23
A. I don't recall.
24
Q. How about a clutch facing, have you ever
25 remove4 a clutch facing from a Volkswagen?
|
Page 27
1 you were in school getting your masters, do you know?
2
A. Yes. I was part time working with a plumber
3 company, and I specifically was taking care of the
4 vehicles.
5
Q. So, can you just describe for me when you
6 were getting your masters and doing brakejobs on
7 Volkswagen's the process that you used to do that brake
8 job?
9
A. Well, you know, you have to take off the
10 wheel with the drum, and then you get into inner structure
11 of the brake system where the brake shoes are attached to
12 the back plate, and where, you know, take off the brake
13 shoes, exchange them with the ones that you have somewhere
14 bought or you have been supplied with by your boss, and
15 put it on, andreverse the entire installation putting on
16 the drum, and wheel, and that is it.
17
First, you have to naturally adjust the
18 brake system to the brake drum, but then it is all the
19 reverse of the brake drum and the wheel.
20
Q. How would you remove the brake pad when you
21 were doing one of thesejobs?
22
MR. GRASSO: You said "brake pad."
23
Q. Brake lining.
24
MR. GRASSO: Well, I am a little
25
confused here. Brake pad to me is lining a
Page 2"
1
A. No.
|
2
Q. Have you have seen it done?
3
A. I know how it works.
f
4
Q. Have you ever seen it done?
|
5
A. I personally have done it on a Fiat because
|
6 as a young kid I had a Fiat vehicle, and I have done
|
7 myself, but other --
8
Q. None on a Volkswagen?
9
A. No.
10
Q. All right. Now, when you were getting your :
11 masters, do you recall any discussion about the use of ;
12 asbestos in either the brake linings or clutch facings?
13
A. No.
;
14
Q. Did you know when you were getting your
15 masters that brake linings and clutch facings had asbestos
16 as a component part?
|
17
A. Not at that time.
:
18
Q. When did you first learn that asbestos was a
19 component part of brake linings and clutch facings?
20
A. I mean, to a wide degree only in the recent
j
21 couple of years.
\
22
Q. So, now, we are back to your first days at
23 Volkswagen, okay?
24
A. Okay.
j
25
Q. During the first, say, few years at
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 30
1 Volkswagen, VWAG, I am sorry, what kinds of projects did
2 you work on?
3
A. The main projects were compliance testing
4 with motor safety standards and other tests which have to
5 be done or had to be done in connection with prototypes,
6 prototype development.
7
Q. Were you assigned to a particular type of
8 car? Did it work like that?
9
A. It was related to the multipurpose vehicle.
10
Q. The multipurpose vehicle?
11
A. Yes.
12
Q. So, for how many years were you working on
13 the multipurpose vehicles?
14
A. Well, still. My duty hasn't changed that
15 much except for the last recent years I have more a
16 supervisoryjob in my division as to the safety testing.
17
Q. So -
18
A. But, I have done it all my life with
19 Volkswagen.
20
Q. Now, when you say you are working on the
21 multipurpose vehicles, does that mean that you were
2 2 working on the multipurpose vehicles to the exclusion of
2 3 the other vehicles manufactured by VWAG?
24
A. As far as the safety testing is concerned,
2 5 yes.
Page 32
1 choices.
2
A. This is the bug-shaped multipurpose vehicle
3 which has up to nine seats or you can move out seats and
4 transport cargo, so it was a sliding door, two doors in
5 front, basically, a bus-shaped vehicle.
6
Q. When you first got to VWAG, did you have j
7 anything to do with the specification of the brakes and
8 clutches on any VWAG vehicle?
j
9
A. What do you mean specification?
j
10
Q. How the brakes and clutches themselves were
11 manufactured or the component parts of the brakes and ji
12 clutches.
|
13
A. Well, myjob was basically related to safety
14 testing which means I had test to according to brake
!
15 testing standards,
f
16
Q. Okay. So, you would test whether or not the i
17 brakes and the clutches basically were defective?
18
A. Yes.
|
19
Q. And if they met standards?
:
20
A. Performance. You said, brakes and
21 clutches?
22
Q. Was it brakes and clutches orjust brakes?
!
23
A. . Actually, brakes, just brakes.
|
24
Q. And did the testing that you did in your
2 5 early years at VWAG, did the testing in any way measure
Page 31
1
Q. Is that throughout your career?
2
A. Yes.
3
Q. What are the model names of VWAG
4 multipurpose vehicles?
5
A. We call it bus.
6
Q. Bus?
7
A. Type two bus. Type two is actually the
8 internal distribution of this vehicle.
9
Q. So, if I were to go to a Volkswagen dealer
10 in the U.S.A., what model names or brand names would be on
11 those cars?
12
A. Nowadays, it is a Euro Van. Before, it was
13 Vanagon, and before that it was the type two generation.
14
Q. Type?
15
A. Type two.
16
Q. Do you know, when you first got there in
17 1973, what those cars would have been that were the
18 multipurpose vehicles, what they were called, if you would
19 have purchased them in the United States,
20
A. Volkswagen bus, micro bus, probably.
21
Q. So, for somebody that doesn't recall any of
22 this like me, were these buses or were these like what you
23 refer to as an SUV today?
24
MR. GRASSO: Or something else.
25
Q. Or something else? Don't be limited by my
Page 33 j
1 the effectiveness of the friction on the brake?
2
A. Yes.
3 Q- In what way?
j
4
A. By means of stopping distance.
|
5
Q. That when you were to put your foot on the
6 brake how quickly the vehicle would stop. Is that a
7 layperson's -
8
A. Yes. Basically, that is it. But, you have
j
9 to meet requirements of the applicable safety standard.
10 Q- Do you recall anytime in the first ten
f
11 years that you were at VWAG when you made a determination |
12 based on your tests that the friction on the brakes was
|
13 not sufficient to meet standards?
j
14
A. No.
1
15
Q. Do you recall during the first ten years
16 that you were at VWAG having any conversations with
17 anybody who ordered the linings for the brakes on the
I
18 vehicles?
19
MR. GRASSO: You mean, ordered them
|
20
from a supplier?
|
21
MR. FOX: Ordered from the supplier.
|
22 A. Back then?
|
23 Q- Yes.
|
24
A. Not that Irecall.
25
Q- Now, there's is a few companies that are
f
9 (Pages 30 to 33)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29,2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 34
1 identified in the interrogatories.
2
A. Yes, sir.
3
Q. And I want to go back to them later, but I
4 just want to ask you this at this point about them
5 initially.
6
There is a company called Energit?
7
A. Yes, sir.
8
Q. Are you familiar with them?
9
A. Yes.
10
Q. When was the first time that you knew a
11 company called Energit even existed?
12
A. Well, forever.
13
Q. Forever?
14
A. Yes.
15
Q. Who do you know them to be?
16
What kind of company are they?
17
A. Well, on the friction market, during the
18 last decades there have been so many reorganizations
19 between this and that company, ! can't really tell which
20 was when.
21
Q. You and I both, we have that in common.
22
A. Because it is pretty much not confusing, I
23 would say, but you have specifically get into it and find
24 out who was owned by who.
25
Q. Do you recall being familiar with Energit in
Page 36
1
A. Oh, yes, I can.
2
MR. FINBERG: Just to clarify, if I
3
could inteiject.
4
You mean, as original equipment or
!
5
as something that would be compatible in
|
6
general?
j
7
I assumed that you meant original
j
8
equipment only.
|
9
Q. Let me ask you this. Do you have any
10 knowledge what brake linings were used to replace original
11 brake linings on the original car?
<
12
A I could find out.
1
13
Q. How would you find out what was used to
14 replace original brake linings on a vehicle?
15
MR. FINBERG: In the United States,
16
in the after market?
17
A. Replace?
j
18
Q. Do you have any knowledge as to what brake
19 linings were used to replace the original equipment on the
20 Volkswagen cars?
j
21
A It was the EPE, European Parts Exchange, and
22 they used Mintex linings, and certainly there was a list
23 of which part replaced the other.
24
Q. Any others that you recall that you know of
25 that were used?
Page 35
1 1973?
2
A. Not specifically, but basic knowledge, yes.
3 I mean, as a supplier of brake linings.
4
Q. Was Energit the most significant supplier or
5 were theyjust one of many1?
6
A. One of four.
7
Q. And would you say that they -- what
8 percentage - do you know the percentage of brake linings
9 that they supplied VWAG?
10
A. Not to my knowledge. You have to take into
11 consideration that there are many models, which one model
12 may now have the Energit and the other has the Textar
13 lining.
14
Q. Textar?
15
A. T-E-Z-T-A-R.
16
MR. GRASSO: Z?
17
A. T-E-X-T-A-R, not Z. Sorry, did I say that?
18
Q. Yes.
19
A. Iam sorry.
20
Q. Do you know which vehicles the Energit brake
21 linings went on?
22
A. I have to refer to my, you know, file or
. 23 something, you know, to check.
24
Q. Is that something that you could determine
25 if you looked?
Page 37 .
1
A. I can check with, you know, drawings and
2 stuff and documentation to find out which was the
ji
3 original equipment lining.
4
Q. But, other than EPE relining the original
5 equipment for the VWAG cars, are you familiar with any '
6 other - would you have any other knowledge as to which
7 brake linings were used to replace original equipment on :
8 the VWAG cars in the United States?
'
9
MR. FINBERG: I have to object.
10
That is really --
j
11
MR. FOX: I don't know who --
;
12
MR. FINBERG: - 1mean ~
13
MR. FOX: Who do you represent?
14
MR. FINBERG: I represent
15
Volkswagen.
i
16
MR. FOX: I am concerned about two
'
17
of you objecting at once.
18
MR. FINBERG: That is why I
19
hesitated to put it on.
-
20
I think it is really confusing. It
21
is confusing to me, and I am not sure you
22
are talking about the same thing.
23
Q. Do you understand my question?
24
A. Yes, I understand. But, I mean, this is not
25 a question that I can answer because this is strictly
,
10 (Pages 34 to 37)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall V. Asbestos
Page 38
1 related to the Volkswagen of America Company.
2
Q. Right.
3
A. And I am representing AG which is a
4 different company.
5
Q. So, other than your knowledge about EPE, do
6 you have any other knowledge about any replacement linings
7 that were used on VWAG cars in the United States?
8
A. You mean, on the free market?
9
Q. Yes.
10
A. No. As 1 sit here?
11
Q. So, now we are back on the other question
12 which was I think -- 1forgot already.
13
MR. FOX: Thanks.
14
You got me completely offline.
15
It is not hard to get me off line.
16
Q. So, you testified that you could make some
17 determination as to which of the four companies that
18 supplied the brake linings were used on which vehicles if
19 you looked in your files. Is that correct?
20
A. Yes.
21
MR. FOX: What I will do depends how
22
you want to deal with it. There will be
23
certain things that come up today 1 am sure
24
I want to follow up on.
25
, Would you like me to write a letter
Page 40
1 and they come up with, you know, the specification for the
2 brake lining.
3
Q. Did you provide the information in the
4 interrogatories regarding these four companies?
5
A. Yes.
6
Q. How did you figure out that these were the
7 four companies that provided the brake linings?
8
A. I had checked first the company to come up
9 with these four suppliers.
10
Q. And did you do the search or did they do the
11 search?
12
A. I asked for it, and they did the search.
13
Q, Okay. Do you know what they did?
14
A. They looked in their system, nowadays the PC
15 stuff, and they have it there, and they provided me with
16 the information I was asking for.
17
Q. Did they provide you with some kind of a
18 readout orjust a verbal communication?
19
A. It was a readout.
20
Q, Do you know - what information did that
21 readout have on it?
22
A. Different model years and different models
23 and different linings to them.
24
Q. Do you still have that?
25
A. Yes.
Page 39
1
or make a statement at the deposition?
2
MR. GRASSO: I would rather you
3
write a letter. I don't see how anything
4
- as far as I know, there is no evidence
5
of what sort of brake linings or which
6
brake linings Mr. Wall actually handled, so
7
I don't know, really know where you are
8
going with this.
9
If you want to know on a 1962 car,
10
did it take Energit brakes or Textar
11
brakes, Mr. Kolms can probably figure it
12
out.
13
As to determining how it relates to
14
the brake shoes Mr. Wall was handling, I
15
have no idea.
16
MR. FOX: I do, okay, so let's move on.
17
Q. All right. Do you know if, for example, on
18 the Beetle which supplier supplied the brake linings for
19 the Beetle when you first got there?
20
A. I have to look it up.
21
Q. What kind of resource do you have that would
22 provide you with that information?
23
A. I can, for instance, call another factory
24 where the spare parts were actually or the parts, you
25 know, were manufactured, and they look up in their system,
Page 41
1
MR. FOX: That is an - we will put
2
it into a letter to you. That is an item
3
we would like to take a look at.
4
MR. GRASSO: Just for clarification,
5
is that something that you obtained
6
specifically for this case?
7
THE WITNESS: No.
8
MR. GRASSO: That is why he didn't
9
have it in his file. He got it sometime
10
for some other purpose, I guess.
11
Q. Do you know anything about the composition |
12 of the brake linings that were supplied by Energit,
13 Juridwerke, Pagid and Textar?
14
Do you know anything about the composition
15 of those brake linings?
16
A. In general.
17
Q. What do you know?
1
18
A. Well, depending on which model year you are i
19 referring to. There was - in the past, there was a time
f
20 where asbestos was part of the content, and there was a f
21 time after that, so. Basically, it is resin filler fiber
f
22 particles and dust of different substances.
23
Q. Okay. Do you know whether or not the
24 composition of the brake linings were different depending
25 upon the manufacturer?
11 (Pages 38 to 41)
0 Airbert Kolms
Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 42
1
A. To my knowledge, they differ a little bit,
2 but not that much.
3
Q. Do you know if for the ones that had
4 asbestos in them, if the asbestos content differed in
5 terms of percentage depending upon the manufacturer?
6
A. Well, actually, there is no - not --I mean,
7 not the manufacturer is the issue, but the specific lining
8 is the issue. But, even at a certain manufacturer
9 different linings have a different content.
10
Q. Okay. Who specified the content of the
11 linings that Volkswagen used on the cars?
12
A Basically, the technical need.
13
Q. So, it came from VWAG to the manufacturers?
14
A. No. It came from testing relining.
15
MR. GRASSO: I would like to ~ we
16
are confused here.
17
Mr. Fox asked you who was it that
18
said how much asbestos used to be in the
19
linings.
20
MR. FOX: No.
21
Q. Who specified what the manufacturer had to
22 provide to VWAG?
23
MR. FINBERG: You mean, in terms of
24
contents ingredients?
25
MR. FOX: Yes, yes.
Page 44 I
1
MR. GRASSO: That is compound.
j
2
Can you read that question back?
3
(The last question was read back)
4
MR. GRASSO: What they needed for
5
the cars?
6
MR. FOX: Yes. That is as simple as
7
you could get.
8
MR. GRASSO: Maybe it is me.
9
Q. Do you understand what I am talking
10 about?
|
11
MR. GRASSO: Could you rephrase it?
12
Q. Do you understand it?
13
A. In two ways.
14
MR GRASSO: Well, then, let's not
15
guess which way.
16
Can you rephrase the question,
17
please?
18
Q. My understanding from your testimony is that
19 Volkswagen technical people would communicate with the
20 brake lining manufacturers. They would tell them what
21 they needed to comply with the standards, and the brake
22 lining manufacturers would provide brake linings in accord
23 with those specifications. Is that fair?
24
A. Specifications, this has nothing to do with
25 ingredients or the mixture, right?
Page 43
1
Q. Who specified the brake linings?
2
A. You were asking about the asbestos content
3 and who specified?
4
Q. No. Who specified what the manufacturer had
5 to provide to VWAG for its brake linings for its cars --
6 for its brake linings?
7
MR. GRASSO: That is a different
8
question than you had before.
9
A. That is the same answer I gave you. The
10 technical need was the source for the specific mixture or
11 ingredients within the brake lining.
12
Q. Who determined what the technical need was?
13
A. Well, actually, it comes from the results of
14 the brake testing and within the conversation or
15 discussion between the lining supplier and the testing
16 people at the manufacturer, Volkswagen manufacturer there
17 was decided to change it or to come closer to comply with
18 the requirements.
19
Q. And the requirements of VWAG?
20
A. Well, generally, the requirements like SAE,
21 ISO and European standards.
22
Q. But, the technical people at Volkswagen VWAG
23 would tell the brake lining manufacturers what they needed
24 for the cars and then brake lining manufacturers would
25 provide them?
Page 45 1
1
Q. No.
2
A- Just a requirement as a technical goal to
f
3 arrive at in testing?
f
4
Q. Right.
I
5
A, Yes.
1
6
Q. So, is what I said a fair statement?
|!
7
A. Yes.
J
8
Q. Okay, Do you have any copies of documents
1
9 from VWAG to the brake lining manufacturers regarding the f
10 specifics of what was required?
f
11
MR. GRASSO: Could we have a time
12
frame for this?
(
13
Q. Well, you started in 73. Do you have any
;
14 access to documents that would reflect that sometime
f
15 before 737
*
16
A. No, I don't.
|
17
M R. FINBERG: You referred to SAE,
;
18
and ISO and European standards. Do those
;j
19
exist?
|
20
A. This is conversation between -- well, it is
|
21 also my information and belief that most of them was just
22 verbal, not in writing.
23
Q. Now, in terms of the time period between
24 1966 and 1970, do you have any knowledge as to which
i
25 companies provided the brake linings to Volkswagen AG (
i
12 (Pages 42 to 45)
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 46
1 during that period?
2
A. I can figure it out, but I don't have the
3 information right here.
4
MR. GRASSO: Well, was it at least
5
some of those four?
6
THE WITNESS: I guess so, yes.
7
Q. But, you are not sure?
8
A. I need the model year and the model, to be
9 precise andthe year, the time frame, that you are
10 referring to.
11
Sixty-six to 70? What model, what model
12 year?
13 Q. Do you knowwhether or not the brake linings
14 supplied to VWAGby the brake lining manufacturers between
15 1966 and 1970 contained asbestos?
16 A. That is my information, yes.
17 Q. Where does that information come from?
18 A. Well, at that time, everybrake lining had
19 asbestos in there.
20 Q. Do you have anyknowledge as to what percent
21 of the composition of the brake linings supplied to VWAG
22 replaced on the vehicles by VWAGbetween 1966 and 1970 had
23 asbestos?
24 A. The contents were different.
25 Q. And what percentage, do youhave any
Page 48 I
1
Q. What is it roughly?
|
2
A. About maybe 35 percent.
1
3
Q, Do you know what type of asbestos they were?
j
4
A. Chrysotile.
5
Q, How do you know they were chrysotile?
j
6
A. We usedjust chrysotile.
7
Q. How do you know?
8
A. 1know that.
I
9
Q, How do you know?
j
10 A. Out of discussion and information Ihave.
f
11 Q. Okay. Who was the discussion with?
|
12 A. With the people at the Volkswagen Company.
13 Q. Okay. What did theytell you?
|
14
Spedfically, what did they tell you?
1
15 A. I mean, this is the common knowledge. I
16 mean, 1was asking for some more information aboutbrake I
17 linings, and clutch facings, and so on, andthis came up
1
18 within the conversation and discussion.
19 Q. Who was it that told you that the clutch
1
20 facings contained chrysotile asbestos?
21
A. This was -- you mean, the name?
1
22 Q. Yes.
.
I
23 A. This was part of the information --
24 actually, it was coming from VWoA, Volkswagen of America.
25 Q. Who did you talk to there, do you recall?
Page 47
1 knowledge as to the percentage of asbestos used?
2
A. Yes, roughly. You know, if you ask about,
3 let's say, brake pads or -- what is your question, brake
4 pads?
5
Q. Brake pads.
6
A. We didn't have brake pads at that time.
7
Q. There were no brake pads between '66 and
8 70?
9
A. I don't think so, no.
10
Q, Are you sure about that?
11
A. I have to check. Maybe the type three had.
12
Q. Okay. Were there clutch facings at that
13 time that had asbestos on them?
14
A. Yes.
15
Q. Do you know what percentage of the clutch
16 facings were asbestos?
17
A. It depends which model year because it is
18 all different according to the model and the model year.
19
Q. Is that something that you can also
20 determine?
21
A. Yes, I can.
22
Q. Do you know, as you sit here today, the
23 range of percentage of asbestos on the clutch facings
24 between '66 and 70?
25
A. Only roughly.
Page 49 |
1
A. To the people in the legal department.
|
2
Q. So, the verbal information you got came from |
3 lawyers?
|
4
A. No, technical people.
s
5
Q. There are technical people in the legal
6 department?
1
7
A. Yes.
8
Q. Do you know on what basis they told you that
9 the clutch facings contained chrysotile asbestos?
10
A. This was the kind of information that I got
11 from the supplier of clutch facings.
12
Q. Do you know which supplier told them that? ;
13
A. Raybestos.
|
14
Q. Okay. Do you know, was Raybestos ever used |
15 on original VWAG vehicles?
|
16
A. Iam not sure whether it was used worldwide
17 orjust in the States, I don't know.
f
18
Q. But, the cars themselves were manufactured |
19 in Germany, correct?
f
20
A. Yes.
1
21
Q. So, if they were used in the United States,
1
22 they would be after market, correct?
|
23
MR. GRASSO: Say that again.
24
Q. If Raybestos was used in the United States
||
25 only, they would be after market brake linings, correct? I
13 (Pages 46 to 49)
Airbert Kolms Yol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 50
1
A. I cannot tell you that.
2
Q. How would a Raybestos clutch facing get on
3 an original Volkswagen car?
4
MR. FINBERG: We are talking 1966 to
5
1970?
'
6
MR. FOX: Yes.
7
Q. '66 to 70, if you know.
8
A. I have no information about that.
9
Q. You don't have any information that
10 Raybestos clutch facings were used on the original
11 equipment manufactured by Volkswagen AG, correct?
12
A. I have to figure it out and check it
13 factually to be precise about that.
14
Q. As I said earlier, you can review the
15 deposition and edit information that is necessary.
16
A. Okay.
17
Q. Other than the conversation with the
18 technical people in the legal department, what other
19 basis, if any, do you have for concluding that the clutch
20 faces contained chrysotile asbestos?
21
A. That is the only information that I have
22 except from general information from during the years.
23
Q. That you have heard?
24
A. Yes.
25
Q. I want to go back to something that you
Page 52 j
1 articles, studies, patents, speeches, presentations,
I
2 anything like that.
1
3
MR. GRASSG: You are saying written
4
on behalf of VWAG?
1
5
MR. FOX: Right.
6
Q. On behalf of them as their employee, have
.
7 you ever written anything on their behalfthat has been in j
8 the public domain?
9
MR. GRASSO: I don't know what you
10
mean by on their behalf.
11
MR. FOX: I will take that part out.
12
Q. Have you ever written anything about
13 Volkswagen vehicles?
14
A. In general or related to brake --
15
Q. In general.
16
A. Yes.
|
17
Q. What kinds o f materials have you written?
18
A. Just once. There was a coauthor on it, the
19 presentation or a paper, a meeting in Detroit in 1977,
20 which was dealing with the energy absorbing steering |
21 column on type two.
|
22
Q, Okay. Other than that, have you ever
|
23 written a letter to the editor regarding VWAG
|
24 cars? '
1
25
MR. GRASSO: A letter to the
j
Page 51
1 said. You said that VWAG, you are not sure, but you would
2 have to check whether or not between 1966 and 1970 VWAG
3 used brake linings or pads. Is that a fair
4 statement?
5
MR. GRASSO: Brake linings or pads?
6
Q, What is the difference between a pad and a
7 lining?
8
A. A lining is a drum brake or attached to the
9 brake shoes in drumbrakes, and the pad is on the disc
10 brake usually in the front axle.
11
MR- GRASSO: 1think your little
12
summary misstated his testimony. I think
13
he is going to check if there were pads
14
used.
15
MR. FINBERG: On type three's is
16
what he said.
17
THE WITNESS: Type three I wasn't sure.
18
Q. But, brake linings were used on VWAG cars
19 between 1966 and 1970?
20
A. Yes, sir.
21
Q. Okay, We are going to keep on switching
22 around here, so you will excuse my pattern or lack of
23 pattern here.
24
Have you ever written anything on behalf of
25 VWAG that has been in tbe public domain? That is,
Page 53 j
1
editor.
f
2
What editor?
1
3
Q. A letter to any editor. I don't care who it
j
4 is.
'
j
5
A. No.
f
6
Q. Have you ever given a speech about VWAG j
7 cars?
j
8
MR. GRASSO: To anybody, to lawyers,
j
9
to anybody?
|
10
MR. FOX: Anybody. I don't care.
,
11
MR. GRASSO: To an assembly of
12
people?
:
13
MR. FOX: To any assembly of people
14
with two or more that doesn't include us.
15
MR. FINBERG: Even a public speech
16
of some kind.
,
17
MR. FOX: A speech to a group.
18
A. Yes, often.
.
19
Q. What kind of speeches do you give?
20
A. Well, you know, as I told you earlier, I
21 kind of educate. I am educating younger engineers in
22 engineering matters and also in product liability issues
23 because this is part of the certification, so they need to
24 know about it, and that is what I do or I have done.
,
25
Q. During the course of your teaching your
14 (Pages 50 to 53)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 54
1 education, do you address in the product liability part any
2 issue related to asbestos?
3
A. Well, I have not and there is no need to do
4 it today.
5
Q. Ijust want to know if you did it or not?
6
A. No.
7
Q. You have never addressed that issue?
8
A. 1 might have mentioned it, but not in a
9 wider range.
10
Q. Would there be anything in writing from
11 where you may have mentioned it that would reflect what
12 you said?
13
A. No. Just out of my head.
14
Q. Have you ever written an article for a
15 magazine about VW cars?
16
A. No.
17
Q. Have you ever testified before a
18 governmental body or quasi-govemmental body regarding
19 VWAG cars?
20
MR. GRASSO: You mean aside from
21
testimony?
22
A. No, sir.
23
Q. Have you ever committed to writing any of
24 your recollection or opinions about the use of asbestos in
25 VWAG cars?
Page 56
1 with the beginning of a model, and then the end of it was
2 in the middle of the '80s. It depends on which model year
3 we are talking, so it was a kind of a period of phasing
4 out the asbestos out of the brake linings, but it is all
5 depending on the model year.
6
Q. When did it begin?
7
When was the first time that a Volkswagen
8 used brake linings that contained asbestos, if you
9 know.
10
MR. GRASSO: VWAG?
11
Q. VWAG, sorry.
12
A. With no asbestos?
13
Q. With asbestos, when did they first do it, if
14 you know?
15
A. It depends when the specific model started.
16 Let's say, '49 they started with type one with Beetle and
17 started right away with asbestos-containing linings.
18
Q. Do you know why they used asbestos on the
19 linings?
20
A. This was the material of choice because it
21 was --it had an advantage to the technical performance of
22 the brakes.
23
Q. What was the advantage?
24
A. The advantage was the mineral does not
25 really change in its structure or in its ability to, for
Page 55
1
A. What do you mean by committed, planned?
2
Q. In any form, have you ever written anything
3 about asbestos?
4
MR. FINBBRG: I would assume that
5
you would be excluding any communications
6
he may have given to counsel?
7
Q. Other than given to counsel, anything about
8 your review or recollection about asbestos in vehicles?
9
A. No.
10
Q. Have you ever addressed a group of lawyers
11 about asbestos-related issues?
12
A. No. You mean a group, more than two?
13
Q. More than two.
14
A. No.
15
Q. Do you know what period of years VWAG used
16 asbestos-containing brake linings on vehicles?
17
MR. GRASSO: You mean when they--
18
MR. FOX: When they began and when
19
they ended.
20
MR. GRASSO: When they built
21
vehicles that came equipped with the
22
original equipment brakelinings that had
23
asbestos?
24
MR. FOX: Period of years.
25
A. Well, myinformation that they started early
Page 57
1 instance, isolate heat from the caliper in the brake
2 system which is very important because this insulation
3 ability is a safety factor.
4
Q. So, is it your --as a product safety
5 engineer, is it your judgment that asbestos is asbestos,
6 no matter what you do with it, it stays as
7 asbestos?
8
MR. GRASSO: That is way too broad.
9
MR. FOX: It is very simple.
10
MR. GRASSO: Asbestos is asbestos?
11
MR. FOX: Asbestos is asbestos.
12
MR. GRASSO: And it doesn't matter
13
what you do to it?
14
Q. How much when you do-
15
MR. FINBERG: Let's make it clear,
16
Mr. Kolms is not being proffered by us as
17
an expert on brake engineering at trial or
18
in this deposition. There are material
19
scientists, there are brake engineers,
20
industrial hygienists and other people who
21
will be testifying on issues like that
22
aside from, you know, from the objections
23
that Mr. Grasso -
24
MR FOX: W ell-
25
MR. FINBERG: Besides the objections
a
15 (Pages 54 to 57)
Airbert Kolms Yol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbes'tos
Page 58
1
Mr. Grasso may assert to the form of the
2
question.
3
MR. FOX: Okay. We don't need to
4
get into discussions of who we are going to
5
call at trial.
6
You can object and state your basis
7
of the objection without going into
8
elongated comments about other people and
9
what they may do.
10
MR. FINBERG: You are asking him an
11
expert engineering question and that
12
presumes a whole lot aside from the ~
13
Q. You testified that asbestos does not change
14 its structure?
15
A. Well, I have to be preciser than that
16 because during the brake process the decomposition of
17 asbestos as well by grinding, abrasion, and friction and
18 by heat. But, I was referring to the asbestos within the
19 brake lining before it's going to be micro ground or
20 exposed to heat.
21
Q. So, before it is micro ground or heated to
22 some extent, it does not change its structure, correct?
23
A. Well, it depends on the heat might as well
24 change its structure.
25
Q. Okay. Do you consider yourself an expert on
Page 60
1
Q. Did they meet all the standards that were
I
2 applicable at that time?
I
3
A. Of course.
j
4
MR. GRASSO: At what time?
j
5
Q. Whenever they were supplied without
j
6 asbestos?
I
7
A. Any time. Otherwise, you can't sell them.
I
8
Q. Right. Do you have any reason to believe
9 that the ones that do not contain asbestos do not work as j
10 well or do not meet specifications --
j
11
MR. GRASSO: That is compound.
12
Q. --as ones that had asbestos in
13 them?
14
MR. GRASSO: That is a compound
I
15
question.
I
16
Q. Do you have any reason to believe that the
j
17 non-asbeStos containing brake linings did not work as well f
18 as ones that had asbestos in it?
"
19
MR. GRASSO: You are talking which
20
time frame, when first introduced?
21
MR FOX: In the '80s when they
22
substituted them, sometime in the '80s.
23
A. I have no specific knowledge. You can apply
24 a standard well ahead of the limit or you canjust comply
25 with it. But, I have no specific knowledge about how well
Page 59
1 how much heat is necessary to change its structure?
2
A. Only from publications I have access to.
3
Q. Read?
4
A. Yes.
5
Q. But, you don't consider yourself an expert
6 other than what you have read in publications, correct?
7
A. Correct.
8
MR. FINBERG: On this issue?
9
MR. FOX: Yes.
10
Q. All right. So, after Volkswagen AG ceased
11 to use asbestos, what did they use as a substitute for
12 asbestos, if you know?
13
A. Not specifically. Because every
14 manufacturer of brake linings had their own recipe.
15
Q. Do you have any idea about the substitute
16 materials, what they were?
17
A. Only I can guess more or less because -
18
MR. GRASSO: We don't want you to
19
guess here.
20
A. I know. That is why I don't tell you or I
21 can't tell you what it is because the recipe is trade
22 secrets.
23
Q. The brake linings that were supplied that
24 did not contain asbestos, did they meet specifications?
25
A. Yes, they have.
Page 61 I
1 the non-asbestos linings comply, but they have to comply I
2 with the standards. Otherwise, you can't introduce to the j
3 market.
|
4
Q. Do you know when in the '80s they stopped
|
5 using asbestos-containing brake linings?
I
6
A. It, again, depends on the model year or the
J
7 model.
J
8
Q. The last date was --
\
9
A. Well, in the '86 model year, I think there
j
10 was any car at Volkswagen model range without asbestos |
11 with the brake lining.
I
12
Q. Did Volkswagen --did VWAG tell the brake
:
13 lining manufacturers they didn't want asbestos anymore, if
14 you know, or was it done through the brake lining
:
15 manufacturers, theyjust changed their formula?Do you
:
16 know how it worked?
\
17
MR. GRASSO: Well, that is - how what
;
18
worked?
19
Q. How did it come to be that they stopped
f:
20 using the other --how did it come to be that VWAG stopped
21 using asbestos in their brake linings?
|
22
A. Well, there was the information or spread
?
23 by, you know, EPA, for instance.
24
Q. EPA?
.
25
A. Yes. When in the'70s they mentioned that
|
16 (Pages 58 to 61)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 62
1 they are going to intend to ban and phase out asbestos in
2 all uses, and so and so. This was notjust related to
3 brakes, but also to other products which had asbestos in
4 it, like, tiles, and paper, everything. So, this was the
5 first information that the technical world received that
6 asbestos was going to be banned in the future, and in '89,
7 actually, EPA promulgated the ban and phase out rule for
8 the '94 model year. So everybody knew at that time, the
9 supplier or the manufacturer of vehicles.
10
MR. GRASSO: We have been going
11
about an hour here.
12
Could we have a little break here?
13
MR. FOX: That is fne.
14
You can have a break any time you
15
want.
16
(Recess taken)
17
Q. In terms of the knowledge of what the EPE
18 was to doing back in the '70s, is that something that you
19 were privy to, that you were aware of, at the
20 time?
21
MR. GRASSO: In the '70s, you said?
22
A. No.
23
Q. EPE was the '70s?
24
A. EPE.
25
Q. EPA was in the'70s.
.
Page 63
1
A. Oh, EPA?
2
Q. Yes.
3
A. No. Now, I understand.
4
Q. Were you aware of ~ you mentioned their
5 pronouncements in the '70s.
6
Were you aware of it in the '70s or aware of
7 it later?
8
MR. GRASSO: Actually, his prior
9
testimony was 1989.
10
MR. FOX: You are talking about
11
something else?
12
A. I said they intended ~ they mentioned it in
13 the early 70s, but they are intending to, you know, ban
14 and give a phase out to asbestos-containing material.
15
Q. But. when this happened, were you aware of
16 it back then or did you leam about it later?
17
A. I learned about it later.
18
Q. When later?
19
A. Recent years.
20
Q. Okay. And how did you come to find out
21 about that?
22
A. Through publications and through information
23 I was scheduling from the internet.
24
Q. Have you reviewed any of the documents
25 internal to VWAG regarding the proposed ban on asbestos?
Page 64
1
MR. FINBERG: Lack of foundation.
2
Q. Have you seen any documents --withdrawn.
3 Well, have you seen you can answer.
4
A. The internal procedure, that is the
5 department at the factory which is dealing with the
6 governmental regulations, and they certainly must have
7 gotten information early on from any governmental agency
8 or --
9
Q. What is that called, that particular
10 department?
11
A. It is called vehicle related requirements.
12
Q. Do you know regarding that particular
!
13 department when that department started -- withdrawn.
14
Has it been in existence since the beginning
j
15 of Volkswagen AG?
16
A. Well, not that early. But, you know, later
17 when actually, for instance, the safety standards came out
18 in the mid '60s, so that is my impression. I have no
19 specific information about that.
20
Q. Is there any book, or articles, any which
1
21 way to figure out when that department started?
22
A. I got to ask them.
23
Q. Okay. And if you asked them they tell you?
j
24
A. Certainly, yes, if somebody knows. This is
j
25 the correction. We are talking of a time frame of 40
1
i
:
Page 6.'
1 years, 45 years, and most of the people are retired, and
s
2 young folks here, they don't know.
3
Q. Were you personally aware of any government
4 compensation for workers who had asbestosis while you had ,
5 been at VWAG?
6
MR. GRASSO: Government
7
compensation?
|
8
MR. FOX: German regulations
j
9
regarding workers that had asbestosis.
|
10
MR. GRASSO: Are you aware of
'
11
regulations or individuals that had been
:
12
compensated?
(
13
MR. FOX: Just regulations regarding workers
;
14 that had asbestos.
15
MR. GRASSO: Just generally workers
:
16
in German industry?
|
17
Q. Governmental regarding asbestosis, if you
;
18 are aware of it?
19
MR. GRASSO: Wait. You are talking
;
20
about compensation. I am talking
!
21
government regulations.
i
22
MR. FOX: I will withdraw it.
23
Q. Is there anything the equivalent of worker's
'
24 compensation in Germany?
;
25
A. Yes.
1
ESS
17 (Pages 62 to 65)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 66
1
Q. What is it called?
2
A. Occupational agency for safety and health.
3
Q. Is it true that they have been in existence
4 since certainly the early 1900s?
5
A. Yes. The first -- well, the first
6 appearance of such an idea was in 1858.
7
Q. Do you know if they, as part of their
8 regulatory scheme, have compensation for individuals with
9 asbestosis?
10
A. I have no knowledge about specifically
11 asbestosis.
12
Q. Okay.
13
A. But, you know, I have information on lung
14 cancer, which was in '43, or another regulation was
15 relating to mesothelioma in 77.
16
Q. Would the people in the government
17 regulations department, would they be able to tell you
18 when the German government began to recognize asbestosis
19 as a compensable disease?
20
MR. GRASSO: Wait, wait.
21
When the German government
22
recognized asbestosis as a compensable
23
disease?
24
MR. FOX: Yes.
25
MR. GRASSO: That is assuming facts
Page 68
1
Q. No, no.
2
A, In general?
3
Q. Any warning or caution about any potential
4 hazards on the vehicle itself, did they ever do that?
5
A. No,
6
Q. Did they ever issue any kind of caution or
7 warning statement in the vehicle manuals?
8
MR. GRASSO: Well, you are talking
9
about manuals published by VWAG?
10
MR. FOX: Yes.
11
A. It is not to my knowledge, no.
12
Q. When you purchase a vehicle, it comes with a
13 manual, correct?
14
MR. GRASSO: With it.
15
MR. FOX: Yes.
16
A. Yes, sir.
17
MR. GRASSO: What kind of manual
18 now?
19
MR FOX: I am going to ask him.
20
Q. A vehicle manual. Whenever you buy a car,
i
21 there is a manual?
|
22
MR. GRASSO: You were talking about
23
manuals published by VWAG?
j
24
Q. Who published the manuals that between 1966
25 and 1970 that were in the cars, was that published by VWAG
Page 67
1 not in evidence, for one thing.
2
Q. Would they be able to tell you that?
3
A. This specific department is not able to tell
4 you that.
5
Q. Is there another department that can tell
6 you that?
7
A. No. You have to --I mean, you have to ask
8 the occupational agency for safety and health when it
9 was. But, I told you asbestosis is nothing I know of. I
10 told you about lung cancer and mesothelioma, but
11 asbestosis, I don't know.
12
Q. Is it fair to say that as far as you know
13 even before you got to Volkswagen that Volkswagen AG was
14 aware of and kept in touch with all applicable regulations
15 that could affect their business or employees?
16
A. Oh, yes.
17 Q. Now, do you know whether ornot VWAG ever
18 placed any kind of a warning on any of its brakes or
19 clutches regarding the asbestos content?
20
MR. GRASSO: Well, on the brake?
21
Q. Anywhere on the vehicle itself including the
22 brake?
23
A. As to the asbestos content?
24
Q. Yes.
25
A. Percentage-wise?
. Page 69 !
1 or someone else?
j
2
A. VWAG.
3
MR. GRASSO: Are you talking about
4
owners manuals?
|
5
MR. FOX: Yes.
6
MR. GRASSO: I thought you referred
'
7
to another manual earlier.
|
8
You were talking about owners
|
9
manuals. You want to know talking about
i
10
asbestos in an owners manual?
f
11
Q. To your knowledge in the owners manuals
|
12 published by VWAG, was there a caution statement or |
13 warning statement on asbestos content on the brakes or ji
14 clutches?
|
15
A. I can't answer that. Not to my knowledge.
i
16
Q. As far as you know, you have never seen one, |
17 correct?
|
18
MR. FINBERG: You mean, referring to
1
19
the same time period that you ~
|
20
Q. Referring to any time period, have you ever
1
21 seen a caution or warning statement regarding asbestos? j
22
A. Owners manual, not that I recall.
|
23
Q. Did VWAG after it stopped using asbestos in |
24 its brakes and clutches contact previous owners or make f
25 efforts to make contact of previous owners of their
1
18 (Pages 66 to 69)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 70
1 vehicles to inform them of the potential hazards of
2 asbestos?
3
MR. GRASSO: I object to the form of
4
that question. It is kind of a wife beater
5
question.
6
It is assuming facts not in
7
evidence.
8
MR. FOX: I will rephrase it.
9
MR. GRASSO: And it is
10
argumentative.
11
MR FOX: I will rephrase it.
12
I don't see the argumentative part
13
of it, but I will rephrase it.
14
Q. After VWAG stopped using asbestos brake
15 linings and face clutches in its vehicles, did they ever
16 make an effort to contact either the dealers or the owners
17 of those vehicles to inform them of the asbestos content
18 on the brakes and clutches?
19
MR GRASSO: Sounds like the same
20
question to me.
21
Q. Did you inform them --was there any effort
22 made to inform them of the asbestos content?
23
A. Well, when you talk about after they stopped
24 using asbestos, they are making vehicles constantly. They
25 make vehicles that have asbestos and they make different
Page 72
1 clutch facings?
2
A. No.
3
Q. To your knowledge, did VWAG ever send out
4 any information, or manuals, or instructions to mechanics
5 or to dealers to inform them about how to work with or
!
6 around the asbestos-containing brake linings and clutch
7 facings?
8
MR. GRASSO: Or did they ever send
9
out materials. Is that your question?
|
10
Q. Any communication regarding how to deal with
11 the asbestos in the brake linings or clutches.
12
A. Here in the States?
13
Q. Yes.
14
A. Not to my knowledge.
15
Q. Anywhere?
16
A. I don't know.
17
Q. To your knowledge, were any other
I
18 asbestos-containing materials used in VWAG vehicles prior
19 to 1986?
20
MR. FINBERG: What-
i
21
Q. Other than brake linings and clutch facings
22 and brake pads, any other parts that contained asbestos?
23
MR. FINBERG: What relevance does
24
this have to Mr. Wall?
.
25
MR. FOX: This is a corporate
j
Page 71
1 that don't have.
1
2
Q, And the ones that they made that had
2
3 asbestos, were there any efforts made to contact those
3
4 owners to tell them that they had asbestos in their brakes 4
5 and clutches? It is yes or no.
5
6
MR. GRASSO: Tell the owners?
6
7
MR. FOX: Yes. The owners of the cars, yes.
7
8
MR. GRASSO: All right, okay.
8
9
A. The owners or the ones that are just buying
9
10 a car?
10
11
Q. The previous owners.
11
12
A. The previous owners '66 to '70 any time?
12
13
Q. Let me rephrase it.
13
14
After VWAG stopped manufacturing vehicles
14
15 with asbestos-containing brake linings and clutch facings, 15
16 did they make any effort to contact individuals who had 16
17 purchased their vehicles that had the asbestos-containing 17
18 brake linings and clutches to inform them that there was 18
19 asbestos in the vehicles?
19
20
MR. GRASSO: You mean the vehicles
20
21
that had these as original equipment?
21
22
MR. FOX: Yes, exactly.
22
23
A. That is not to my knowledge.
23
24
Q. Did VWAG ever recall any of its vehicles
24
25 based on the asbestos content of their brake linings and 25
Page 73
deposition. It doesn't have to.
j
MR. FINBERG: Regarding events that
1
Mr. Wall's family asserts happened. This
|
is just - we are going to listen to
j
questions about anything in the world at
f
all about Voikswagen AG in any component at
|
any time?
I
MR. FOX: This is no different than
1
the interrogatories which apply generally,
I
and this is pursuant to the case management
order. They don't want to repeat every
!
deposition by -
MR. GRASSO; Just to cut through it,
i
what you are saying by the case management
f
order, you don't feel constrained to ask
\
questions and pursue discovery related only
|
to the Wall case. You feel you have a
|
relief to conduct a global discovery
|f
regarding Volkswagen AG regardless of time.
}
MR. FOX: Absolutely.
*
MR. FINBERG: I don't agree with
J
that.
MR. FOX: There is not much of a
|
discussion about that because that is clear
|;|
within the case management order, and we
|
1
19 (Pages 70 to 73)
Airbert Kolms Vol, No.
Page 74
1
don't want to have the witness come back.
1
2
MR. FINBERG: Let's take a
2
3
two-minute recess.
3
4
MR. FOX: I will say this. I have
4
5
been careful to generally do that. Even if the
5
6
Wall case, I will still ask the same
6
7
question.
7
8
MR. GRASSO: We will take them
8
9
question by question.
9
10
MR. FINBERG: Let's take a recess.
10
11
MR. GRASSO: I think we managed to
11
12
get this far without too much disagreement
12
13
here and --
13
14
MR. FINBERG: I say it because I
14
15
think this is a --
15
16
MR. GRASSO: Let's just --.
16
17
MR. FINBERG: --lawsuit, and I
17
18
think people are working reasonably, and I
18
19
think, however, not to cast any aspersions
19
20
on you or your law firm, you may have
20
21
noticed that there are other asbestos
21
22
lawsuits in this nation, and the concept
22
23
that people use one lawsuit to collect
23
24
information for use in another lawsuit is a
24
25
sensitive matter. In some places it would
25
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
MR. FINBERG: Mr. Grasso said that
it is not something that VWAG was a
participant ~
MR. GRASSO: It may or may not
ultimately apply to me, the court order.
MR. FOX: If you thought you were
special, you could have done something to
limit this deposition.
It is not a limited deposition. I
have been very careful to keep on point
about Mr. Wall even if it did only relate
to Mr. Wall. I would still ask that
question if they were aware of other
situations with asbestos. It would still
be relevant. What they did with that other
asbestos would still be relevant to Mr.
Wall. It wouldn't make a difference. For
the purposes of getting through this, there
is a court order in this case which governs
these kinds of depositions, and they cover
any situation.
MR. GRASSO: I am telling you that
they may or may not ultimately, but I am
saying let's go ahead with this deposition
and get as far as we can.
.
Page 76
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
UHM
Page 75
be considered as a tort. So, I mean, nobody wants to restrain you in discovery related to the Wall case, and 1 think people want to work on that. If your mission is to collect information for global use, I have a very grave concern about that.
MR. FOX: You know what, it doesn't make a different because there is a court order in this case that applies that has dealt with the issues that you have raised that relates to this, and it's been clarified time and time again by the Special Master.
They don't want the witnesses to come back time and time again when we do a corporate designation deposition. It applies generally to the litigation.
MR. FINBERG: So, what you are saying is there is an intent to conduct further litigation against VWAG.
MR. FOX: That is a bizarre comment.
I am saying there is a court order covering this deposition.
Page 77
1
MR. FOX: You can instruct him not
2
to answer and I will come back.
3
MR. GRASSO: I have not instructed
4
him yet not to answer.
5
MR. FOX: This is the way the
6
litigation is conducted. That is the way
7
it is. I even sent you the December 10
8
memorandum from her.
9
MR. GRASSO: We did see that and
10
noticed that it very specifically said
11
because these things are negotiated, etc.,
12
etc. ~ let's not rehash.
13
MR. FOX: It is a court order.
14
Let's move on.
15
Q. Other than the brake linings and the clutch
16 facings, were there any other parts of the VWAG vehicles
17 that contained asbestos?
18
MR. FINBERG: With that question in
19
mind, we will take a recess and counsel
20
will confer.
21
MR FOX: Go ahead.
22
(Recess taken)
23
MR. GRASSO: Okay. To the extent
24
that the question posed goes beyond the
25
allegations in this case made on behalf of
........... . h b h
20 (Pages 74 to 77)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 78
Page 80
1
Mr. Wall, they are clearly not relevant
2
and, frankly, you know, there is talk about
3
doing a global deposition. We could be
4
here for days if you feel that you are
5
entitled to that.
6
As of now, VWAG is a single
7
deposition of defendant and single lawsuit
8
where die allegations are specific, and I
9
will instruct Mr. Kolms not to answer that
10
question and see how much further we can
11
get here. And let's move on with inquiries
12
directed more directly to the allegations
13
in this case.
14
MR, FOX: For the purpose of the
15
record, I want to say that if the witness
16
would have answered the question, I would
17
have obviously asked him questions about
18
where the asbestos was, when it was used,
19
whether or not any instructions were
20
provided regarding that, and where it was
21
obviously on the vehicle as well as other
22
follow-up questions that may be
23
applicable.
24
Either today or tomorrow we will
25
visit with the Special Master and we will
1 brake pads and clutch facings, did VWAG ever manufacture
2 any product equipment or component part that contained
3 asbestos?
4
MR. GRASSO: That is ambiguous. You
5
are suggesting that VWAG manufactured those
6
parts that had in the first part of your
7
question which they did not.
8
Q. Let's try it this way.
9
Did VWAG ever manufacture any product
10 equipment or component part that contained
11 asbestos?
12
MR. GRASSO: Maybe I will just
13
object as compound.
14
Q. Did VWAG ever manufacture any product that
15 contained asbestos, to your knowledge?
16
MR. GRASSO: Product could be a
17
whole vehicle, correct?
j
18
MR. FOX: Yes. I guess so.
19
MR. GRASSO: Well, that is what we
<
20
have been talking about for the last hour
21
and a half or two hours.
22
Q. Did VWAG ever manufacture anything that
j
23 contained asbestos?
i
24
MR. FOX: It is very simple.
25
MR. GRASSO: What have we been
. i
Page 79
1
address this issue and move forward.
1
2
Q. Do you know whether or not VWAG ever itself 2
3 manufactured a product, or piece of equipment, or a
3
4 component part that contained asbestos?
4
5
MR. GRASSO: Equipment or --
5
6
MR FOX: Product equipment or
6
7
component part that contained asbestos if
7
8
they manufactured it.
8
9
MR. GRASSO: You are talking about
9
10
did they make the component that had the
10
11
asbestos in it?
11
12
MR. FOX: Yes. Did they make any
12
13
product equipment or component.
13
14
Q. Did they manufacture any component product 14
15 or equipment that had asbestos?
15
16
MR. GRASSO: So we are clear, there
16
17
is ambiguity. Obviously, they manufactured
17
18
vehicles and these vehicles had a component
18
19
in it, some of (hem at some point had
19
20
asbestos in that component. You seem to be
20
21
drawing a distinction. Leaving that aside,
21
22
you are asking a different question now,
22
23
right?
23
24
Q. I will do it this way.
24
25
Other than the use of the brake linings, and
25
discussing the last two hours? If the answer is no, we can walk out of here and the deposition is over.
MR. FOX: You said you objected to the other question because it referred to the use of the brake linings pads and clutch facings. Ifthatisnot manufacturing, then it is not manufacturing. I am asking did they manufacture anything.
MR. GRASSO: Do you want to ask the question, did VWAG ever manufacture a component part that ever contained asbestos?
I put that question to you. What is the answer to that? That is one -- MR. FOX: If you want to ask the question, you can ask the question. MR. GRASSO: That is one of the parts of the question that you asked before. MR. FOX: Let's start with that. MR. GRASSO: Just component part. THE WITNESS: I mean, this is
Page 81 1
j |
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jj
|
i ; : i 1 j
\
;
|
s
| ; *
; |
l . f
21 (Pages 78 to 81)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 82
1
actually what you were objecting to, I
2
think. Isn't it?
3
MR. GRASSO: I amjust asking you.
4
Did VWAG ever manufacture any
5
component part that contained asbestos.
6
THE WITNESS: I don't think so.
7
Q. Did they manufacture anything that contained
8 asbestos?
9
MR. FINBERG: You are including the
10
whole automobile which is what Carl was
11
talking about before.
12
Q. Did they manufacture anything that contained
13 asbestos?
14
A. I can't think of anything else. Brake
15 linings are manufactured by suppliers. It is my
16 impression that suppliers provide Volkswagen with parts
17 containing asbestos.
18
Q. Did Energit, Juridwerke, Pagid or Textar
19 ever supply any other component parts to VWAG other than
20 the brake linings?
21
A. Not that I know of, no. It is my impression
22 they are strictly bound to the brake lining production and
23 brake pad production.
24
Q. 1asked you about any cautions or warnings
25 regarding asbestos as it related to the brakes and the
Page 84
1
MR. FOX: I am sorry.
2
Q. I thought you testified that there was a
3 warning on the boxes of replacement brake shoes?
4
MR. GRASSO: Yes, on the boxes.
5
That is not what you said.
6
MR. FOX: I see, fine.
7
Q. Who placed, if you know, a warning on the
8 boxes of replacement brake shoes?
9
A Whether this was the only department or not,
10 I don't know. But, I am aware that in Germany the
11 Volkswagen plant in Kassel, which was the plant for spare
12 parts, placed a sticker on asbestos-containing parts in
13 the mid '80s.
14
Q. Was that before or after they stopped using
15 asbestos?
j
16
A. It was within the period.
j
17
Q. And that component part plant, was that part
18 of VWAG?
19
A. It was a supplier plant.
20
Q. Was it owned by VWAG?
21
A The plant itself?
22
Q. The plant that put -
23
A Oh, yes.
24
Q. And do you recall what the warning said?
j
25
A. Generally, it was a sticker with an A on it
Page 83
1 clutches.
2
A. Yes.
3
Q. To your knowledge, did VWAG ever issue any
4 caution or warning statements about asbestos on any of the
5 component parts on its vehicles?
6
MR. GRASSO: Other than brake
7
linings?
8
MR. FOX: Yes, and clutch facings.
9
MR. GRASSO: I will let him answer
10
that.
11
A. On the car or, let's say, parts, or
12 something like that?
13
Q. Anywhere in any form.
14
A. Yes. There was a warning sticker, which was
15 attached to, let's say, the replacement boxes or including
16 --I mean, the content of which is replacement brake
17 shoes, so there was a warning stricker attached to it at
18 the time both were installed, asbestos-containing material
19 and non-asbestos containing material or part, I should say.
20
Q. Let's stop there for a moment and talk about
21 that. I want to understand this.
22
Who placed the warning on the replacement
23 brake shoes?
24
MR. GRASSO: Well, that misstates
25
the testimony.
'
"
I
Page 85 j
1 which stood for asbestos, and there was some warning in
2 writing that in this part there is asbestos in a certain
3 range content, and it is dangerous to your health. Like ;
4 that. I am not aware of the precise description that is
5 what it says.
.
6
Q. Have you ever seen that sticker?
7
A. Yes, I have.
8
Q. In what context did you see that sticker?
9
A. Well, in the context of general information
:
10 about asbestos and asbestos brake linings and stuff.
11
Q. Did you see it at a time that it was being
12 used or did you see it after litigation?
13
A. Afterwards.
14
Q. Through litigation?
15
A. Yes.
16
Q. Do you have a copy of the sticker or do you :
17 know where it would be?
18
A. I don't have it with me, but I can provide
19 you with one if you want to or at least a copy.
20
Q. Do you know what year that sticker was first .
21 placed on the replacement parts?
22
MR. GRASSO: Misstates the
23
testimony. It is on the boxes, not on the
24
replacement parts.
25
Q. On the boxes.
22 (Pages 82 to 85)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 86
1
A. Well, starting in the early '80s.
2
Q. Early'80s?
3
A. Yes.
4
Q. Do you know when they stopped using the
5 sticker?
6
MR. GRASSO: When they stopped using
7
the sticker?
8
MR. FOX: On the boxes, yes.
9
MR. GRASSO: Assuming that they
10
stopped using a sticker.
11
MR. FOX: That is true.
12
Q. Have they stopped using a sticker?
13
A. Yes.
14
Q. Do you know when that happened?
15
A. Yes. When there was no use to it.
16
Q. When was that?
17
A. When all the brake linings had non-asbestos
18 content.
19
Q. You said that was around 1986?
20
A Yes.
21
Q. In that zone?
22
A. Excuse me?
23
Q. In that general area?
24
A. Yes. I think it was in '86 according to, I
25 mean, referring to the brake lining. The clutch was the
Page 88
1
A. lam not specifically informed of anybody
j
2 else, but, you know, 1assume that the company advised the j
3 dealership about it.
!
4
Q. When you say you would assume, do you have j
5 any knowledge?
6
A. No precise knowledge.
7
MR. GRASSO: When you said
j
8
"dealership," which dealership are you
9
talking about?
1
10
THE WITNESS: Any dealership.
j
11
MR. GRASSO: Dealerships in the
12
United States?
13
THE WITNESS: I mean, the
14
information here to the dealership was
15
primarily or exclusively sent out by
16
Volkswagen of America which is not my
1
17
company.
1
18
MR. GRASSO: It is a different company.
19
THE WITNESS: It is a different
j
20 company.
21
MR. GRASSO: Was VWAG sending any -
22
MR FOX: You can't just ask
23
questions like this. This is not usual.
24
It is not right. You can ask follow-up
\
25
questions. I don't mind if you interject
I
Page 87
1 same year, I think, yes.
1
2
Q. Okay. These replacement brake shoes and
2
3 clutches, they were soldby VWAG, is that correct, the
3
4 once that had the sticker on them?
4
5 A. Since I represent Volkswagen AG, that is
5
6 true for Volkswagen AG. Whether that is true in the
6
7 States for Volkswagen of America, 1don't know.
7
8
Q. Where did the boxes that contained the brake
8
9 shoes and clutches that hadthe stickers on them, where
9
10 were they sent to?
10
11 A. To the dealership.
11
12 Q. Inthe United States?
12
13 A. 1don't knowthat in those years. Ihave to
13
14 check that.
14
15
MR. GRASSO: Wait a second.
15
16
You are talking about boxes coming
16
17 fromKassel of replacement parts.
17
18
THE WITNESS: Yes. Whether they
18
19 were sent to America, to the States, and
19
20 which model, 1mean, Ihave to checkthat.
20
21
Q. That is something that you can figure out?
21
22 A. I hope so, yes.
22
23 Q. Otherthan the sticker on the boxes, are you
23
24 aware of any other way that VWAG communicated the asbestos 24
25 content of either the brakes orthe clutches to anybody?
25
objections. I am not somebody that tends to interject myself in these things. It is getting a little too much now with your asking questions.
You can ask follow-up questions. I am sorry.
MR. GRASSO: I am trying to clear up something.
MR. FOX: It is not right to do it this way.
MR. GRASSO: Then, 1 move to strike the last two questions because there is a profound misunderstanding going on, I believe.
MR. FOX: You can't give speeches. MR. GRASSO: I am trying to help you. MR. FOX: Go ahead, okay, so you say. But, so far I don't get that sense that you are trying to help me, but go on. I prefer we not have any further conversation about this unless there is an objection. MR. GRASSO: It is a simple ~ MR. FOX: You want to testify, and
j
Page 89 j
|
| S
j
j
5 1 i \ j : : 1 j j i j 1 -i ,
23 (Pages 86 to 89)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
Page 90
1
that is not really appropriate. If you
1
2
want the witness to leave the room, have
2
3
the witness leave the room, and you can
3
4
communicate to me whatever you want to
4
5
communicate. That is fine. With him here
5
6
for you to clarify things is not
6
7
appropriate.
7
8
MR. FINBERG: Do you want to step
8
9
out?
9
10
THE WITNESS: Sure.
10
11
(The witness left the room)
11
12
MR. GRASSO: Why don't you ask him,
12
13
did VWAG send anything to any dealer in the
13
14
United States.
14
15
MR. FOX: I already did that. I
15
16
already asked him if they sent anything to
16
17
anybody. I already did that. He already
17
18
said "No."
18
19
MR. FINBERG: I mean, I think you
19
20
are kind of talking about different
20
21
things. I don't think there is a shared
21
22
understanding.
22
23
I think Carl was just trying to
23
24
assert an objection to help clarify that.
24
25
I mean, your point is well taken. This is
25
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 92
MR. GRASSO: So you understand, VWAG
isn't sending anything to any dealer in the
United States. It doesn't happen.
MR. FOX: They could.
MR. FINBERG: It is a fair
question. I don't think he was on the same
wavelength.
MR. FOX: I am not here to make my
closing statement either. I amjust here
to ask questions, that is all I amhere to
do, and neither are you to make a closing
j
statement. So -
MR. FINBERG: We are certainly here
on the other side of a lawsuit.
j
We are not here to misinform you and
1
to have you thinking there are different
|
facts than -
MR. FOX: That is fine. I
appreciate that. That is why you have an
opportunity at the end to clarify it and
set me straight.
MR. GRASSO: So, in two days I can
ask a clarification question.
MR. FINBERG: I think an objection
*
that the question is ambiguous and the next
j
Page 91
Page 93 j
1
your line of questioning, but I think it
2
was just my impression from listening that
3
the witness had a different concept of what
4
the topic was than what you were asking
5
about.
6
MR. FOX: If there was something
7
said that he hasn't talked about yet, you
8
guys are perfectly capable -
9
MR. FINBERG: You were talking about
10
different continents.
11
MR. FOX: 1 asked anywhere.
12
MR. FINBERG: To me, the appropriate
13
objection would be misstates facts or vague
14
and ambiguous.
15
MR. FOX: If I said have you sent
16
anything anywhere, other than the sticker,
17
and he says "No." I don't know how it is
18
vague and ambiguous.
19
MR. FINBERG: This is something
20
about companies.
21
MR. GRASSO: That was to dealers.
22
MR. FOX: He brought that up, not
23
me.
24
If you want to clarify with him, you
25
guys can do that. I don't care.
1
question assumes facts.
j
2
MR. FOX: You can object to that.
1
3
MR. FINBERG: I think it is a
|
4
language -
1
5
MR. FOX: I don't want speeches to
|
6
happen. A lot of times that is, not by
|
7
you, used to direct the witness in a
!
8
certain way that is not really appropriate.
i
9
MR. GRASSO: I agree.
10
MR. FOX: I would rather not get to
11
that point.
|j
12
MR. GRASSO: I would love to.
|
13
Frankly, I am holding myself back.
|
14
MR. FOX: Let's continue.
j
15
MR. FINBERG: All set?
|
16
(The witness entered the room)
f
17
Q. Let's kind of back up.
!
18
Have you ever conducted a review of all of
f
19 the available documents, if any, regarding VWAG's
1
20 knowledge of any potential dangers to asbestos.
f
21
MR. GRASSO: It is vague, ambiguous,
1
22
overbroad.
j
23
Q. I want to find out whether you have ever
|
24 done anything to systematically, not talk to lawyers,
|
25 actually go out and look at documents, and look at
.
.........
....... ''
--
--' . . '" T~T, > . : 1 . 1 ! 1
24 (Pages 90 to 93)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 94
1 specifications to look at things, and make communications,
2 letters?
3
A. You are just referring to internal document?
4
Q. Internal only.
5
A. Nothing other than speaking to the people.
6
Q, Okay. Do you know what color the brake
7 linings were?
8
MR. GRASSO: Which brake linings?
9
What time frame?
10
Q. In the '66 to '70 frame.
11
A, Dark gray or brownish. I mean, this is a
12 mix of everything, you know, but basically it is dark
13 brownish, grayish.
14
Q. How about the clutch facings, do you know
15 what color they were between '66 and '70?
16
A. On die clutch?
17
Q. Yes.
18
A. I don't recall. It is, again, depending on
19 the manufacturer because we had four of them, so that they
20 are all different.
21
Q. But, you don't know the range of colors, do
22 you?
23
A. No, no.
24
Q. So, do you know whether or not VWAG has
25 today any asbestos-containing brake linings in its
Page 96
1
Q. No. Let me go back.
2
When Energit, Juridwerke, Pagid and Textar,
3 when they, supplied the brake linings to VWAG, were they
4 attached to a brake shoe when they supplied them or how
5 did that work?
6
Did theyjust supply the linings and you put
7 the linings on the shoe? Did you send them the shoe and
8--
9
A. I would have to check them as to every model
10 and model year. This was different. If it was sent, the
11 lining, to the factory, it was riveted on, for instance,
12 and then it was ground to the diameter, the size, which
13 had to, you know, fit into the drum, so this is basically
14 the procedure which was performed.
15
Q. Who did the grinding?
16
A. This was done in another factory in
j
17 Braunschweig.
18
Q. Was that a VWAG factory?
19
A. Yes.
20
Q. Have you ever seen that grinding process?
21
A. No.
22
Q. Do you know what tools they used?
23
A. Yes. I have a general knowledge.
24
It is a machine with a grinding going on top
25 of the brake lining.
...... _
..........
Page 95
Page 97
1 possession?
2
A. You mean, in possession in general?
3
Q. Yes.
4
A. I mean, if we were referring to the museum
5 and suddenly if there are --
6
Q. Other than at the museum, are you aware of
7 any other information about them having a sample?
8
A. We don't do them anymore.
9
Q. When ~ withdrawn.
10
Are you familiar with the process that was
11 used in the VWAG plants to install the brake linings once
12 they were received from those manufacturers?
13
A. In general, yes. But, not all of them.
14
I mean, this is a long period and too many
15 different models and model years.
16
MR. GRASSO: Let me impose a belated
17
objection, installing brake linings.
18
Q. Taking the ones that came from the four
19 manufacturers and placing them onto VWAG
20 vehicles.
21
MR. GRASSO: The lining is already
22
on the shoe. You are not talking about
23
installing the lining onto a shoe?
24
MR. FOX: Let me withdraw that and go back.
25
A. You mean, replacing?
1
Q. Why would they have to grind the brake
2 lining?
3
A. To provide the exact fit into the brake
4 drum.
5
Q. Do you know if the same grinding process was
6 applied to the clutch facings?
.
7
MR. GRASSO: The same process?
1
8
MR. FOX: Yes.
|
9
MR. GRASSO: Obviously, not the same
10
process.
j
11
Q, Was there a grinding process?
1
12
A. No.
1
13
Q. Why was that?
j
14
A. Because the clutch facing is just a parallel
f
15 thing. It is not within, like, a drumbrake. It is a
f
16 circumference. It is a flat surface and you don't have to 1
17 grind it.
1
18
Q. So I am clear, in terms of what the four
f
19 manufacturers who supplied the brake linings to VWAG, in 1
20 terms of what they sent to you, is it fair to say, if I
f
21 don't understand this you will correct me, hopefully, is
1
22 it fair to say at times they wouldjust supply the
j
23 linings? There are times you would send them the brakes j
24 and they would apply the linings and send them back. Is |
25 that not fair?
|
1
'
.. ~
er
25 (Pages 94 to 97)
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 98
1
A. No. I mean, you are referring now to the
2 replacement of old linings?
3
Q. No.
4
A. I mean, otherwise, we don't send the shoes
5 to the supplier because they can get it from somewhere,
6 you know. But, again, I have to check as to every model,
7 range as to every model year, because every manufacturer
8 even is different.
9
Q. Between 1966 and 1970, when these four
10 companies would send the brake linings to VWAG, do you
11 know whether or not they sent just the linings or did they
12 send the linings already attached?
13
A. I have to check that.
14
Q. Okay. Do you know if they had sent the
15 brake linings already attached? Would that be attached to
16 an original Volkswagen VWAG equipment?
17
MR. GRASSO: You mean something made
18
by VWAG?
19
MR. FOX: Right, yes.
20
A. I don't know whether it was made by
21 Volkswagen or another supplier, but, you know, the OEM
22 standard --the OEM status is just when the stamp is
23 printed on. There are other parts which are identical,
24 but have not the Volkswagen stamp on it.
25
Q. That are used?
Page 100
1
Q. Do you know for sure?
2
A. No.
3
Q, Do you know if the clutches had any kind of
4 marking on them?
5
A. I mean, just an assumption, yes. But, I
6 don't know. I have to check.
7
Q. Do you know whether or not part numbers were
8 embossed on either the brakes or the clutches between 1966
9 and 1970?
10
A. It is not the part --it is not the part
11 number, it is just embossed Volkswagen insi -*
12
Q. There is no part number, but it would be
13 maybe a Volkswagen?
14
A. Again, to be precise, you have to tell me
15 which model and which model year, and then I can check.
16
Q. Okay. But, as you sit here today, you are
17 not aware whether or not the Volkswagen insignia was
18 embossed on any of the brakes or clutches between 1966 and
19 1970?
20
A. 1don't know whether on all of them. That,
21 I don't know.
22
Q. On any of them?
23
A. Certainly, yes, which I said. But, I don't
24 know which model year and which model.
25
Q. But, as you sit here today, you are not
Page 99
1
A. For spare part market. They are the ones --
2
Q. On the new cars?
3
A. No, spare parts.
4
Q. Spare parts?
5
A. Yes.
6
Q. In terms of what they supplied for the new
7 cars, do you know whether or not these four manufacturers
8 supplied only the linings or did they supply the linings
9 already attached to the brakes?
10
A. I have to check that.
11
Q. All right. Did original VWAG brakes and
12 clutches, not the linings, but the brake drums and the
13 clutches themselves, were they marked in any way to your
14 knowledge between 1966 and 1970?
15
MR GRASSO: You said, drums
16
marked?
17
MR. FOX: Right.
18
Q. The brakes themselves or clutches
19 themselves, were they marked in any way between 1966 and
20 1970?
21
A. You mean, the brake shoe, for instance?
22
Q. Yes, brake shoe.
23
A. 1think so.
24
Q. You think so?
25
A. Yes.
Page 101
1 aware of whether the ones from 1966 or 1970 contained any
2 insignia from Volkswagen?
3
A. No.
4
Q. Let's shift gears for a moment. I guess a
5 poor choice of terms.
6
Did VWAG supply replacement brakes and
7 clutches for their vehicles between 1966 and 1970?
8
A. Volkswagen AG supply?
9
Q. Replacement brakes from anywhere.
10
A. Yes.
11
Q. Did they supply to the United States
12 replacement brakes and clutches between 1966 and 1970?
13
A. I have to check that, again, and which model
14 year and which model again.
15
Q. Do you know, during the years 1966 and 1970,
16 I know you weren't there at the time, do you know whether
17 or not the replacement brake linings were supplied by the
18 same four companies that we have discussed?
19
A. Yes.
20
Q. How do you know that?
21
A. 1was referring to my conversation with the
22 plant in Kassel which was responsible for supplying the
23 applicable brake parts.
24
Q. Any other basis other than conversation?
25
A. No.
26 (Pages 98 to 101)
* Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 102
1
Q. Did the replacement brake linings contain
2 asbestosjust like the original ones did?
3
MR. GRASSO: That is vague and ambiguous.
4
Q. From 1966 through 1970?
5
A- Yes.
6
Q. If you were to have in front of you an
7 original VWAG brake and areplacement VWAGbrake, would
8 there be anyway to distinguish one fromthe other that
9 were manufactured in the 1966 through 1970 period?
10
A. When you are referring to brake, you mean
11 the brake shoe or the brake lining?
12
Q. The brake linings were on the brake shoes,
13 correct?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q. So, the brake shoes.
16 A. So, you have two different.
17 Q. You have the original and you have the VWAG
18 replacement. Visually looking at both of them on atabic,
19 could you distinguish between the two?
20
A. No.
21
MR. GRASSO: Let me know if you want
22
to take a lunch break at any point.
23
MR. FOX: Maybe in five minutes.
24
Q. Do you have any knowledge regarding how, on
25 the average, how manymiles a VWAG vehicle manufactured
Page 104
1
MR, FOX: Iamjustaskingifheis
2
familiar with it. With you, I am
3
discussing. I amjust asking if he knows.
4
MR. GRASSO: Owners manual and
5
repair manual is totally different animal.
6
MR. FOX: That is true.
7
I am asking if he is aware of it.
8
Just a couple more questions and we will
9
take a break.
10
Q. Have you ever been issued any
11 patents?
12
A. No.
13
Q. Have youever reviewed--withdrawn.
14
Do you know whether VWAG has any patents
15 that relate to the manufacturer of brakes, or clutches or
16 their component parts.
17
MR. GRASSO: That is pretty
18
compound, but, okay.
19
MR. FOX: I am trying to get an answer?
20
A. As to the manufacturer, I mean, the
21 manufacturer, you can't certainly get a patent on the
22 manufacturer. You can get a patent on the ability on the
23 design. I don't know.
24
Q. Do you know whether or not there is some
25 repository or library maintained by VWAG wherein all of
Page 103
1 between 1966 and 1967 on would travel before areplacement
2 of the brake lining would be required?
3
A. It depends on the driving of the customer,
4 but usually about 30,000 miles, 25, 30. It all depends on
5 the type of driving.
6
Q. Do you have --is there a number of
7 millimeters that abrake lining would go down to before it
8 had to be replaced?
9
A. It is riveted just above the rivet heads,
10 right?
11
Q. Okay.
12
A. Otherwise, you would damage the brake drum.
13
Q. Do you know how many millimeters that is,
14 approximately?
15
A. About three millimeters.
16
Q. Do you recall what the VW --Volkswagen
17 owners manuals indicated was the appropriate amount of
18 millimeters?
19
A. No.
20
MR. GRASSO: That is assuming that
21
the owners manual said anything about that.
22
MR. FOX: It does.
23
MR. FINBERG: You are agreeing that
24
it assumes that. You are not asserting
25
that it does say that.
Page 105
1 its patents are stored?
2
A. Yes.
3
Q. Where would that be?
4
A. That is in Braunschweig.
5
Q. The department dealing with patents?
6
A. Would also be Braunschweig.
7
Q.Is it called the patent department or
8 something like that?
9
A. Yes.
10
MR. GRASSO: Just for clarification,
11
you want to know about patents relating to
12
the design of a brake component or
13
something?
14
MR. FOX: Yes.
15
A. Not the patent of a manufacturing process.
16
Q. Just the product, its manufacture, the
17 process comes afterwards?
18
MR. GRASSO: Yes. I could imagine
19 someone getting a patent on some
20
manufacturing process when you asked about
21
patenting or manufacturing of brakes.
22
MR. FOX: That is true.
23
MR. GRASSO: I am not sure.
24
Q. Do you know whether or not the patents that
25 we discussed relate to a process, or a piece of equipment
1 ----! 27 (Pages 102 to 105)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 106
1 or manufacturing process?
2
A. You are asking about a patent?
3
Q. Yes.
4
A. In relation to that?
5
Q. Yes.
6
A. I have to check that.
7
Q. And then - all right.
8
Do you know whether or not VWAG at this time
9 has any promotional literature, brochures, information,
10 communications from any of the four companies that we have
11 discussed so far, Energit, Juridwerke, Pagid or Textar, if
12 they have now any - I will withdraw the question.
13
Do you know whether or not they now have any
14 promotional literature, or communications, or documents
15 from these four companies, Energit, Juridwerke, Pagid or
16 Textar that date back to the period of 1966 through 1970?
17
A. That, I don't know. 1mean, it is 45 years
18 ago, 48 or something.
19
Q. Do you know where that would be if it
20 existed at VWAG?
21
A. No. 1 don't know.
22
MR. FOX: All right.
23
Take a break
24
MR. GRASSO: It is about 40 minutes
25
after 1:00.
Page 108 i
1
Q. Do they indicate to you in any way what
j
2 percentage - withdrawn.
;
3
Did they indicate to you in any way do, how
j
4 any quantity of brake linings that they provided to
1
5 Volkswagen AG?
6
A. No.
;
7
Q. When did these conversations take place?
8
A. A couple of years ago.
{
9
Q. Okay. Which company's representatives did |
10 you talk to?
11
A. Pagid and on the phone I talked to the
12 person from Juridwerke.
13
Q. Okay. Do you know whether or not any
j
14 representatives of either Pagid, Juridwerke, Textar or
15 Energit had given legal testimony either in court or by
16 deposition regarding the brake linings?
17
A. That is not to my knowledge.
18
Q. Okay. I apologize in advance for some of
j
19 the jumping around. We will be all over the place here.
20 I want to get through the material.
i
21
A. Go ahead.
22
Q. First, do you know whether or not VWAG,
|
23 during the time that you have been with them, has ever 1
24 acquired any company that either manufactured, sold or 1
25 distributed any. products that contained asbestos?
Page 107
1
Do you think you can finish
2
today?
3
Do you intend to try and finish
4
today?
5
MR. FOX: Off the record.
6
(Lunch recess).
7
(Read back)
8
Q. Have you had any communications ever with
9 either Energit, Juridwerke, Pagid or Textar?
10
A. Yes.
11
Q. In what way?
12
A. Just to retrieve some information, more
13 information, about the manufacturing process on the brake
14 lining and stuff.
15
Q. So, your communication with them was in
16 terms of litigation, correct?
17
A. Well, it was not specifically relating to a
18 specific case, but it was for my general information about
19 the subject.
20
Q. The reason that you were interested in it,
21 am I correct, was because of litigation?
22
A. Yes.
23
Q. Did they provide you with any written
24 materials?
25
A. No.
Page 109
1
A. I don't understand the question.
2
"Acquired," you said?
3
Q. During the time that you have been there has
|
4 VWAG ever acquired any company that was in the business,
5 in part or in whole, of manufacturing, or selling or
f
6 distributing products that contain asbestos?
|
7
MR GRASSO: Since 1973?
.
8
MR. FOX: Yes.
j
9
A. You mean, asked to produce?
|
10
1 don't understand the acquired to.
|
11
Q. Did VWAG buy any company?
12
A. No.
1
13
MR. FINBERG: Just to be clear, it
|
14
is extremely broad, and judging from some
|
15
of the previous questions, you are asking
|
16
about products, a company buys a product.
1
17
As I listen, I imagine hypothesizing that
}
18
VWAG bought another car company. Your
f
19
definition of a product, including a car,
|
20
so if VWAG bought another car company that
j
21
would qualify as a yes in your question.
22
It is not self-evident from the question.
i
23
MR. FOX: Yes. Well, if I include
24
car companies into the mix -
f
25
Q. Did VWAG acquire any car companies after
\
....." i ?i.
28 (Pages 106 to 109)
A Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 110
1 1973?
2
A. Yes.
3
Q. Do you know which ones?
4
A. Skoda.
5
Q. S -K -
6
A. S-K-O-D-A.
7
Q. Thank you.
8
A. Seat, S-E-A-T.
9
Q. Okay.
10
A. Well, at one time point in time, it was
11 Rolls Royce.
12
Q. Any others?
13
MR. GRASSO: Do you know, for
14
example, did Rolls Royce have products that
15
contained asbestos?
16
Q. That is not the question right now.
17
MR. GRASSO: When you asked --
18
MR. FOX: It changed.
19
MR GRASSO: The only question is
20
car companies.
21
Forget about whether the car had
22
asbestos.
23
MR. FINBERG: He is doing his best
24
as to the nature of the acquisition and so
25
on.
Page 111
1
MR. FOX: I can tell he is doing his best.
2
A. I think that is it.
3
Q. We don't want you to speculate on anything.
4
MR. FINBERG: The best source of
5
information about whether VWAG was the
6
acquiring entity and so on is not Mr.
7
Kolms's view of it, but he gave you his
8
best answer.
9
Q. Do you know when the Skoda acquisition was?
10
A. Not precisely.
11
Q. How about Seat?
12
A. Same.
13
Q. How about Rolls Royce?
14
A. Maybe five years ago.
15
Q. Do you know in 1973, when you first began
16 working at VWAG, at that time, did VWAG own other car
17 companies?
18
A. No.
19
MR. GRASSO: Well, can I --just a
20
thought for a second.
21
MR. FOX: This is an unusual
22
deposition.
23
MR. FINBERG; We are trying to help.
24
MR. GRASSO: May I?
25
(Pause in proceedings)
.......
.........."
"
Page 112 !
1
(Discussion held off the record)
j
2
A. I think it is not that important, but I mean
3 Audi may be one, and another company which comes to my j
4 mind is Skania, the truck, the Swedish truck, and the
|
5 manufacturer, but only to a certain percentage, not the
!
6 entire thing.
j
7
Q. Do they - did they own Skania in 1973?
j
8
A. Later.
j
9
Q. How about Audi?
j
10 A. Around that time, 1don't know, 73.
11
Q. In 1973, when you began, was Volkswagen
|
12 manufacturing vehicles to be sold under another name other I
13 than Volkswagen?
1
14
A. No.
15
Q. Do you know whether or not Volkswagen AG
1
16 ever conducted tests on whether or not the grinding of
|
17 brake linings released asbestos fiber -- whether VWAG ever j
18 conducted tests on the release of asbestos fiber, from
1
19 brake linings by grinding?
f
20
A. I have no specific information about that.
|
21
Q. Do you know of tests conducted by anybody on I
22 the release, if any, of asbestos fibers, fromthe grinding
1
23 of brake linings sold by Volkswagen AG?
1
24
A. No.
I
25
Q. Do you know whether or not Volkswagen AG
1
1 !
Page 113 j
1 ever funded, sponsored or conducted studies on the release |
2 of asbestos fibers from any product?
3
A. No.
|
4
MR. GRASSO: Wait a second.
;
5
Your question was, do you know?
;
6
MR. FOX: Do you know.
1
7
A. I don't know.
.
8
MR. GRASSO: Your answer is you
.
9
don't know?
;
10
THE WITNESS: I don't know.
11
Q. You are not aware of any?
12
A. No.
13
Q. Have you asked anybody if any studies were
14 conducted on fibers released on products sold by VWAG? j
15
A. No.
16
Q. When a car is sold by VWAG, and I am
17 referring to the time period of 1966 to 1970,1know you
18 weren't there, if you know, in addition to shipping the
|
19 actual car, let's say, to the United States, what else
j;
20 would be shipped by VWAG, if anything?
ii
21
I am talking about not the body of the car,
p
22 but any information, manuals or anything that would come 1
23 with the car?
Si
24
A. Except the manuals?
J
25
Q. Other than the body of the car itself, what
j
$
'I-... V .
... .'. m-<, -.iX:*.'/'-'-- , . .'..""'x,' :5C5i!Sja# '
29 (Pages 110 to 113)
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall V. Asbestos
Page 114
1 else was shipped?
2
A. Well, the thing is --well, the position of
3 the car goes over to Volkswagen OA at the harbor.
4 Q. Which harbor?
5
A. The harbor in Germany. So, the shipment
6 needs to be done by somebody else of AG.
7 Q. When it gets to the harbor in Germany, what
8 exactly are they shipping?
9
A. The entire car, owners manual, probably not
10 with the car. It must be in another box or --
11 Q. So, basically the car?
12
MR. GRASSO: Do we have a time frame?
13 Q. 1966 to 1970?
14 A. Yes.
15 Q- Do you know if it wasjust the box and car?
16 A. Just the car.
17 Q- And the manuals separately?
18 A. Yes.
19 Q- Afterthese cars were sold and were taken
20 possession by VWoA, are you familiar --what, if any,
21 communications about these cars existed between VWAG and
22 VWoA?
23
MR. GRASSO: After taking possession?
24 Q What forms of communication was there
25 between Volkswagen in Germany and Volkswagen inthe United
Page 116
1
Q. To who?
2
A. I mean, I don't -- I mean, whether it is
3 expressed or not, I don't know whether it is express or
4 not. I don't know.
5
Q. They did warranty the cars as being in safe
6 and good condition?
7
MR. GRASSO: In any time frame or -
8
Q, In 1966 through 1970.
9
A. Yes.
10
Q. Do you know if during the period between
11 1966 and 1970, there were any recalls of products -- of
12 cars sold in the United States by VWAG?
13
A. For any reason?
14
Q. For any reason?
15
A. I have to check that.
16
Q, Is that something that you could determine?
17
A. Yes.
18
Q. Do you know during that period what the
19 process was, if there was a recall, how that would be
20 communicated to people in the United States?
21
A. The normal way is that the Volkswagen OA
22 contact the customer and make them aware that there is
23 certain part has been to be exchanged.
24
Q. Who would communicate from VWAG to VWoA
25 about the problem?
Page 115
1 States?
2
MR. GRASSO: Any specific cars?
3
Q. Let's say there is a problem with a car, how
4 would that be communicated to the dealers?
5
MR. GRASSO: Some type of warranty
6
claim?
7
MR. FOX: Whatever. If there was a
8
problem with the car.
9
A. I don't see any reason to, you know, contact
10 dealer for dealer if we have a problem with the car. The
11 car has left the final quality control, and it is in the
12 proper condition, and it's been sold to the distributor.
13
Q. Let's back up. Who warrantied, if anybody,
14 the cars sold by VWAG and then sold in the United
15 States?
16
MR. GRASSO: What time frame?
17
MR. FOX; For 1966 to 1970, we will start.
18
A. Who did what?
19
Q. Who warrantied it?
20
MR. GRASSO: Who had the warranty?
21
Q. Who had the warranty, if you know?
22
A. The warranty is kept by Volkswagen OA.
23
Q. Did VWAG warrant their cars to be in good
24 condition?
25
A. Yes.
M W ia k fc i B
Page 117
1
A. I mean, the directions, vice versa. It is
2 coming from the customer, and then if the claims are
3 numerous then AG would advise OA to do something about it
4 to solve the problem.
5
Q. Do you know who at VWAG would communicate
6 with VWoA during the period of 1966 to 1970?
7
A. I don't know that.
8
Q. Have you ever searched for any
9 communications between VWAG and VWoA during that
10 period?
11
MR. GRASSO: That is way too broad.
12
Any communication for a period?
13
MR. FOX: To determine what kind of
14
communication existed.
15
MR. FINBERG: On that topic.
16
MR. FOX: On any topic.
17 Q. Have you looked to see what was going on
18 between VWAG and VWoA during that time?
19
MR. GRASSO: I think there was daily
20
communication selling cars.
21
I don't understand where you are
22
going.
23
Q. I want to find out if you ever actually
24 looked at any document, did a historical search, between
25 '66 and '70 to determine what was being communicated
BfJW! 30 (Pages 114 to 117)
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall V. Asbestos
Page 118
1 between VWAG and VWoA during that period?
2
MR. GRASSO: Off the subject of
3
recalls now.
4
Generally.
5
A. I did not.
6
Q. When you first got to VWAG, do you know was
7 there a science library at the facilities?
8
A. A general library, yes.
9
Q. Where was that located?
10
A. In Wolfsburg at the factory.
11
Q, What kinds of materials were contained in
12 the library?
13
A. Basic science, like, physics, chemistry,
14 automotive engineering, languages pretty much printed
15 compared to today. Everybody has access to internet.
16
Q. At that time when you got there, there was
17 no internet, and it was done through books and through
18 publications?
19
A. Yes.
20
Q. Do you know if there exists anywhere an
21 inventory of the kinds of materials that existed in the
22 library at that time?
23
A. I doubt that.
24
Q, You are not aware of any?
25
A. No.
Page 120
1 there in 1973?
2
A. Yes.
3
Q. Do you know how long it had been in
4 existence for at that time?
5
A. No.
6
Q. What kind of people worked in the medical
7 department?
8
A. Medicine doctors.
9
Q. Okay. Was there more than one doctor?
10
A. Well, my impression is, yes, more than one.
11 But, I can't be precise about the number.
12
Q. Do you recall the names of any of the
13 doctors that worked in that facility?
14
MR. GRASSO: In 1973?
1-5
MR. FOX: In 1973.
16
A. That, I don't know, no, no name from that
17 time.
18
Q. All right Does the medical library that
19 you referred to still exist?
20
A. I have no idea.
21
MR. GRASSO: Well, you mean, the
22
library that existed in '73 still existed
23
in the same form?
24
MR. FOX: Not the exact same form.
25
Q. Just, is there still a library there?
Page 119
1
Q. Do you know which, if any, magazines or
2 journals, VWAG subscribed to when you first got there?
3
A. No.
4
Q. Does that library still exist?
5
A. Yes.
6
Q. Is there a card catalog?
7
A. Oh, yes, everything.
8
Q- Does it indicate when the books were
9 received?
10
A. That, I don't know.
11
Q. Is there a database at the library, if you
12 know, when the books were received?
13
A. I don't know that.
14
Q. Was there a separate --any other libraries
15 other than the general library that you are aware of?
16
A. Well, I ~ no. I am not aware of anything
17 else.
18
Everybody has a kind of library in his
19 office, and certainly there's some libraries - the
20 medical department is very oriented to their field of
21 expertise.
22
Q. Did you ever see the medical department's
23 library?
24
A. No.
25
Q. Was there a medical department when you got
Page 121
1
A. I think so. It was just an example I gave
2 you.
3
Q. Did employees, if you know, in 1973, did
4 they receive annual physicals?
5
MR, GRASSO: You mean, given by the
6
company?
7
MR. FOX: By the company.
8
A. You mean, standard physical examination?
9
Q- Yes.
10
A. No.
11
Q- Do you know whether or not they were, either
12 before they were employed or after they were employed,
13 given any type of routine chest x-rays?
14
MR. GRASSO: Again, by the company?
15
MR. FOX: By the company.
16
A. No.
17
Q. They were not?
18
A No.
19
Q. Do you have any knowledge as to what medical
20 journals if any, VWAG subscribed to in the 1973 time
21 period?
22
A No.
23
Q. Do you know of any way if somebody wanted to
24 find out they could find out?
25
A No. 1tried it, and there is no information
31 (Pages 118 to 121)
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 122
1 about that.
2
Q. How did you go about trying to find that
3 out?
4
A. I went to the medical department and asked
5 them that, and they didn't know. This was four years ago.
6
Q. Are you aware of any articles or studies
7 conducted by any doctors associated with the VWAG that
8 related to lung disease?
9
A. Haven't seen any.
10
Q. Do you know whether or not any doctor
11 associated with VWAG --let me withdraw it and try it
12 again.
13
The doctors that were in the medical
14 department, what did they do?
15
What was their role in the plant?
16
MR. GRASSO: As best you can.
17
It is kind of vague.
18
What do doctors do. I don't know.
19
A They closely work together with the company
20 and with different departments where a worker might be
21 working with hazardous material, so their duties are to
22 protect the workers from occupational diseases.
23
Q. Okay. Do you know how they went about doing
24 that?
25
A. Well, they are special --I mean, therefore,
Page 124
1 A. Yes, I do.
2
Q. Were there any industrial hygienists
3 employed by VWAG in 1973?
4
A. We don't have that position in Germany.
5
Q. Do you know if anybody assisted these
6 occupational medicine doctors in determining if there was
7 any kind of a danger to workers to hazardous materials?
8
A. That, I don't know.
9
Q. Do you know whether or not there -- in 1973,
10 when you got there, was there any air testing, testing of
11 the air quality or particles in the air by anybody at
12 VWAG?
13
A. I have no precise knowledge. But, I mean,
14 it was common at that time in the industry to come up with
15 dust counting at the working place. They came up with
16 some certain number PPM, parts per million, so this was a
17 common known figure.
18
Q. Do you know what tools were used by VWAG to
19 conduct dust counts?
20
A. At that time, no.
21
Q. Do you know what a midget impinger is?
22
A. My knowledge midget impinger is?
23 Q- Yes.
24
A. I don't know what that is.
25
Q- Have you ever seen anyresults of dust
Page 123
1 special departments where the workers are getting kind of
2 in contact with, for instance, poisonous chemicals, so
3 they have to check the workplace as to the hazard and make
4 examination on the workers.
5
Q. So, these were occupational, then, doctors,
6 basically"?
7
A. Yes.
8
Q. Do you know if those doctors did that same
9 function between 1966 and 1970?
10
A. That, I don't know.
11
Q. Do you recall or do you have any knowledge
12 at all whether or not these doctors ever addressed the use
13 of asbestos in the workplace?
14
A. No.
15
Q. Do you know anything about the backgrounds
16 of the doctors, where they were trained, what kind of
17 degrees they had or if they were board certified or
18 anything like that?
19
A. Just Ph.D.
20
Q. They were not medicine doctors?
21
A. Medicine doctor.
22
Q. And in Germany, are those called Ph.D's?
23
A. Doctor, medicine.
24
Q. Okay. Do you know what an industrial
25 hygienist is?
Page 125
1 counts taken at VWAG?
j
2
A. No.
|
3
Q. Do you know who would be in possession of j
4 any dust counts taken at VWAG?
!
5
MR. GRASSO: In 1973 or at any
6
time?
7
MR. FOX: Conducted around that time.
8
A. Sixty-six or '70?
9
Q. Even when you were there -
10
MR. FINBERG: You are asking today?
11
Q. The reports of the dust counts, where they
12 would be?
13
A. I doubt that any reports from those days are
14 still available if they were there at that time.
15
Q. Why do you doubt that?
16
A. Because there is no reason to keep it
17 forever.
18
Q- Do you know whether or not there were any - \
19 withdrawn.
|
20
Were you ever in the manufacturing plant of
;
21 VWAG?
|
22
A. Whether I have been?
f
23
Q. Yes.
|
24
A. Yes.
|
25
Q- How much of your time between 1973 and 1975 |
|
32 (Pages 122 to 125)
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 126
1 was spent in the manufacturing plant,
2 approximately?
3
MR. GRASSO: Well, or a
4
manufacturing plant.
5
I am sure they had more than one.
6
Q. Or in the manufacturing plant.
7
A. This was not my duty to be there.
8
Q. Okay.
9
A. I went there for information, but my primary
10 duty was to perform tests.
11
Q. How much percentage of your time was
12 actually spent --
13
A. I can't figure my percentage. This is just
14 couple of *- maybe ten times a year I went there to get
15 information and then went back.
16
Q. Do you recall ever seeing any signs in the
17 plant facilities between 1973 and 1975 that contained any
18 warning, or warnings or instructions to their employees -
19
A. Yes.
20
Q. - for any reasons?
21
A. Yes.
22
Q. Do you recall what kinds of reasons, what
23 kinds of things?
24
A. Noise, dust, wear your glasses, stuff like
25 that.
Page 128
1 there were any signs in that area, if you know?
2
A. I don't know.
3
Q. Do you know whether or not the individuals
4 who did the grinding wore masks?
5
A. Whether they wore mask or it was a covered
6 machine, I have no idea.
7
Q. It was either a, what they call, the covered
8 machines like --
9
A. Grinding?
10
Q- -- like a hood?
11
A Yes.
12
Q It was either a hood or mask.
13
MR. FINBERG: In a particular time frame.
14
THE WITNESS: At that time.
15
Q. Nineteen seventy-three?
16
A. I have no precise information about it, but
17 that is what 1would expect to be.
18
Q. Ml right. Do you know if the hoods were
19 used --why was a hood used?
20
A. Well, this is my assumption. 1don't know
21 exactly what was --the way it was, you know, covered.
22
Q. What would a hood do?
1
23
MR. FINBERG: You are asking -- he
24
just said he didn't know if they used one
25
or had one.
Page 127
1
Q. What kind of signs do you recall about dust
2 in the plant or plants?
3
MR. FINBERG: From 1973 -
4
MR. FOX: Through 1975.
5
A. Just normal advisement.
6
Q- Like what?
7
A. Like, you know, put on your breathing mask
8 or something of that --
9
Q. What type of employees would be wearing
10 breathing masks?
11
A. At the cast department.
12
Q. Cast?
13
A. Yes.
14
Q. C-A-S-T?
15
A. Yes. Because they were working with sand
16 and forming sand.
17
Q. What was the concern about, if you know,
18 about breathing sand?
19
A. Well, anything. You can accumulate the
20 minerals in your lung.
21
Q. What would happen to you?
22
A. This is a medical expression I don't know
23 what happens. Protection is the main concern about it.
24
Q. Do you know whether or not in the plant
25 where they would grind the brake linings whether or not
Page 129
1
You are asking as an expert on
2
goods.
3
Q. If they had one, what was the function of a
4 hood, to protect people?
5
A. Yes. To protect people.
6
Q. How does it do it?
7
A. If you grind, for instance, steel or so, the
8 materia] is flying at you, and you have a hood or you have
9 --or you wear your glasses.
10
Q- What does the hood do to protect --
11
A. It takes away to prevent material --
12
Q. How does a hood do that?
13
A. By structure, by its structure.
14
Q. Is there any kind of exhaust in the hood?
f
15
A. Can be.
16
Q- Do you know whether on or not the hoods at
17 any of the plants at VWAG had exhausts?
|
18
MR. FINBERG: In 1973, has he
I
19
testified that they were there?
20
MR. FOX: Generally, I think.
|
21
A. The information I have is from talking over
22 the phone, I mean, that some people.
;
23
Q. What did you discover?
24
A. I didn't discover anything about it, just an
25 assumption that a hood or other protection would be
33 (Pages 126 to 129)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 130
1 helpful to protect the worker.
2
Q. Do you know if the hoods that were used in
3 1973 time frame, some of them, had an exhaust?
4
A. Well, I didn't even know whether there was a
5 hood.
6
Q. Okay.
7
A. But, I didn't see any.
8
Q. What land of respiratoryprotection
9 equipment was available in 1973 at VWAG for the employees?
10 A. In general?
11
Q, In general.
12 A. I didn't check.
13 Q. But, you saw people with masks, correct, in
14 certain parts?
15 A. In the cast department, yes.
16
Q. What kind of masks were those?
17
A, Just to cover nose and mouth (indicating).
18
Q. Were they paper masks or were --
19 A. Yes.
20
Q. - or with the tubes?
21
A. No, paper mask.
22
Q. Can you describe, if you can, the area where
23 the brake linings were being grinded by the VWAG
24 employees?
25
A. No, I can't.
Page 132
1 thing.
2
Q. There is a legal department?
3
A. Yes.
4
MR. GRASSO: Wait, this is a claim
5
by worker, you said?
6
THE WITNESS: Yes?
7
A. You are not talking about legal
8
complaint?
9
Q. Well, any claim.
10
A. Any claim.
11
Q. Compensation or other claim that they were
12 injured from the use of asbestos.
13
A. Oh, well, any claim. I thought it is a
14 legal issue.
15
Q. So, it is the legal department?
16
A. Well, no. If somebody feels that he's
17 contracted any disease, by a worker due to his occupation,
18 he's been examined by a doctor, and if it is a disease he
19 contracted it in combination or due to his position at the
20 factory or due to his occupation, this is negotiated with
21 the federal agency for health and safety. Whether it is,
22 you know, a compensable disease, it is going to be -- he
23 would be compensated for that.
24
Q. And was that hue in 1973 as well?
25
A. Yes.
.
Page 131
1
Q. Do you know if there was any kind of
2 ventilation?
3
A. No. I don't know.
4
Q. Do you know --have you ever seen any
5 photographs of individuals grinding the brake linings at
6 VWAG?
7
A. No.
8
Q. Do you know whether or not VWAG ever
9 produced any videotapes before 1986 that captured
10 individuals doing brakejobs?
11
A. Not that I know of.
12
Did you say '86?
13
Q. Yes.
14
A. No.
15
Q. Do you have any knowledge about any claims
16 by employees at VWAG - withdrawn.
17
Who would know at VWAG today what, if any,
18 claims have been made by employees alleging any injury due
19 to exposure to asbestos?
20
A. Who would know?
21
Q. Who would know.
22
MR. FINBERG: Who at VWAG would
23
know, you said?
24
MR. FOX: Right. Who at VWAG would know.
25
A. I assume legal people because it is a legal
Page 133
1
Q. Have you ever studied or reviewed the
t
2 claims, if any, made by individuals alleging any injury
3 from asbestos-related use at VWAG?
4
A. No.
5
Q. Do you have any knowledge about any claims
6 made by anybody, any employee of VWAG, of injury from
7 asbestos-related activity?
8
A. No.
9
Q. Okay. Do you know whether or not any of the
10 companies that supplied either the brake linings or the
11 clutch facings to VWAG ever issued any warning or caution
12 statement about asbestos on the materials that they sold
13 to VWAG?
s?
14 A, I haven't seen that, no.
I
15
Q. When you were there in 1973, 1974, 1975, did
16 you ever see the packaging that came in from any of the
I
mmzmm?;
17 companies that sold the brake linings and clutch facings
18 to VWAG?
19 A. No.
20
Q. Do you know whether or not in terms of
8
! 21 Energit, Juridwerke, Pagid and Textar whether or not any
22 of those companies today are related to each
23 other?
24
MR. GRASSO: What do you mean by
25
related?
T5 B1BBB
H M sTO sim iiii
34 (Pages 130 to 133)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 134
1
MR. FOX: Have any corporate
2 relationship.
3
MR. GRASSO: You mean by
4
contractual?
5
MR. FOX: Subsidiaries or owned any
6
other company.
7
A. As I mentioned this morning, these companies
8 have been, you know, doing mergers or being bought by
9 somebody, so I don't know what the position is now.
10
Q. Have you ever talked to any representatives
11 of companies from Luxembourg?
12
A. No.
13
Q. Do you know whether or not - withdrawn.
14
In 1973, was Energit a company that resided
15 in Germany?
16
A. Yes.
17
Q. Was Juridwerke a company that resided in
18 Germany?
19
A. Yes.
20
Q. How about Pagid?
21
A. Same.
22
Q. And Textar?
23
A. Same.
24
Q, Do you know whether or not VWAG was ever
25 informed of any claims against those companies alleging
Page 136
1
Q. Do you know whether or not the results of
2 those tests still exist anywhere?
3
A. From that time?
4
Q. Yes.
5
A. I don't know, but I doubt not.
6
Q. Is there still a brake department?
7
A. Yes.
8
Q. What kind of equipment was present in the
9 brake area, in the test area of the brake department in
10 1973?
11
A. Well, certainly, you might be looking for
12 any test machines or something --that is not true because
13 this is a performance testing, so the brakes, the brake
14 shoes, and brake linings were actually installed on the
15 vehicles and test runs have been done at different
16 stopping distances, and different force to the pedal and
17 stuff.
18
Q. Okay. When force was applied to the pedal,
19 what was that testing?
20
A. What force is needed to get the vehicle to a
21 standstill.
22
Q. Did the brake department in the test area
23 measure the extent to which the friction material would
24 deteriorate after use or during use of the vehicle?
25
A. I mean, they might have after long test
Page 135
1 any injury related to asbestos?
2
A. No.
3
Q. You are not aware of any?
4
A. lam not aware of any.
5
Q. You wouldn't be in a position to be aware of
6 any, correct?
7
A. Yes.
8
Q. Yes, you would not be?
9
A. Correct.
10
Q. All right. Do you know what process was
11 used to choose Energit, Juridwerke, Pagid and Textar to
12 supply the brake linings to VWAG?
13
A. Performance and quality.
14
Q. How do you know - were you part of the
15 process to choose them?
16
A. No. 1 was not. But, this is the very
17 common way to, you know, get a supplier to contact,
18 whether they comply with the requirements we have of them
19 or the quality.
20
Q. Okay. Do you know who atVWAG, if anybody,
21 tested the brake linings manufactured by these companies
22 to see if they were of good quality?
23
A. Yes.
24
Q. Who is that?
25
A. The brake department in the test area.
Page 137
1 runs, for instance, for two weeks or three weeks. They
2 certainly will check on the brake lining itself.
3
Q. Do you know whether or not any air sampling
4 or dust counts were taken in the brake department test
5 area?
6
A. For what?
7
Q. For anything.
8
MR. FINBERG: Any particular time? Same
9 time period?
10
MR. FOX: During 1973 time frame, if
11 you know.
12
A. I don't know.
13 Q. Were there microscopes in the brake
14 department test area?
15
A. No.
16
Q. Were there microscopes in other laboratories
17 at VWAG?
18
A. Yes.
19
Q. What areas would those be?
20
A. The test lab.
21
Q. In 1973, how many people worked in the test
22 lab?
23
MR. GRASSO: Brake test lab?
24
MR. FOX: No.
25
A. The general?
35 (Pages 134 to 137)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 138
1
Q. The general test lab.
2
A. Hundreds.
3
Q. Hundreds?
4
A. Hundreds. I don't know.
5
Q. How many of them were, you know,
6 scientists?
7
MR. GRASSO: This is getting a
8
little far afield.
9
A. I have no precise number and I, you know.
10
Q. Is it fair to say that the test laboratory
11 at VWAG in 1973 was state of the art?
12
A. Of course, yes, or ahead even.
13
Q. Or ahead?
14
A. Yes.
15
Q. That was a source of great pride for VWAG?
16
A. Yes.
17
Q. That test laboratory, did that exist between
18 1966 and 1970?
19
A. It is not the same, but some kind of testing
20 laboratory, of course.
21
Q. Do you know whether or not in the testing of
22 the brake linings the brake department ever broke down the
23 constituents of the lining itself to determine what was in
24 there?
25
A. The ingredients?
.
Page 140 I
1 frame?
2
A. No.
3
Q. Do you know whether or not prior to 1996
[
4 there was any communication by any company to VWAG
5 inquiring about the asbestos content of the brake linings 1
6 or clutch facings?
7
A. Do I know?
8
Q. Do you know?
9
A. No.
.
10
Q. You have testified that VWAG stopped
J
11 manufacturing cars that contained the asbestos-containing
12 brake linings and clutch faces around 1996?
13
MR. GRASSO: Well, that is not
j
14
exactly true, but...
15
Q. It is not true? Is that true?
j
16
A. Well, the phase out period.
|
17
Q. Phase out period?
18
A. Eighty-six is the year where we didn't have
19 any brake or asbestos-containing brake linings on the
;
20 cars.
21
Q. My question to you is, was that true
22 worldwide orjust for the United States?
j
23
A. This is worldwide.
24
Q. Was there any differentiation in when VWAG
25 stopped selling cars with asbestos-containing brake
Page 139
Page 141
1
Q. Yes.
2
A. No.
3
Q. You don't know if they did that?
4
A. I don't know.
5
Q- Did they have the capacity to do that?
6
A. At that time?
7
Q. Yes.
8
A. Maybe, maybe not, I don't know.
9
Q. Do you know if in 1973 they had any
10 high-powered microscopes in the general testing
11 department?
12
A. Yes. Electron microscopes, yes.
13
Q. Do you know what TEM means?
14
A. Yes.
15
Q. Did they have any TEM at that time?
16
A. In '73?
17
Q. Seventy-three.
18
A. Or before?
19
Q. Or before.
20
A. I have no idea.
21
0. Do you know with the electron microscopes
22 how powerful they were in 1973?
23
A. No. I don't know.
24
Q. Are you aware of any pictures, photographs,
25 of any of the laboratories in the 1973 or before time
1 linings and clutch facings in terms of the country to
2 which the cars were sold?
3
A. I didn't get that. I am sorry.
4
Q. When they determined over this period of
5 time ending in 1986 to phase out the asbestos-containing
6 brake linings and clutches, was there any differentiation, \
7 any difference, in terms of the different countries?
j
8
A. Was not.
1
9
Q. It was all the same as far as you know?
f
10
A. Yes.
11
Q. Do you know whether or not VWAG did any g
12 competitive testing on other manufacturers' brake linings 3
13 or clutch facings?
j
14
MR. GRASSO: What time period?
;
15
Q. In the 1970s?
16
MR. FINBERG: What?
!
17
Do you mean by other manufacturers?
>:
18
MR. FOX: Other companies.
19
MR. FINBERG: You mean other car
:
20
makers' sub-components?
21
MR. FOX: Right.
(
22
A. I don't know what the reason would have been ;
23 to do that because, you know, different cars have
24 different designs, and you arejust testing the lining.
j!
25
If the lining is coming from the same
SU.*
36 (Pages 138 to 141)
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 142
1 supplier, it doesn't make sense to put it on another car,
2 but they might have.
3
Q. If you know.
4
A. I don't know. I haven't checked that.
5
Q. You don't know, for example, in the brake
6 department if they looked at how the brakes manufactured
7 by other car manufacturers performed?
8
MR. FINBERG: 1think it is --you
9
said brakes manufactured by other car
10
manufacturers?
11
MR. FOX: Yes.
12
MR. FINBERG: W ell-
13
MR. GRASSO: You are talking about
14
other cars?
15
A. Usually, an automotive manufacturer really
16 wants to know what the competition does. This is a very
17 normal every day work to compare with other vehicles or
18 other make, so it might have been.
19
Q. Okay. But, do you know in the brake
20 department if they did that competitive test?
21
A, I don't know.
22
Q. Again, you think if there were records that
23 reflected that, you are not sure where it would be, if
24 anywhere, at this point?
25
A. You mean, still available? I don't know. .
Page 144
1 of anybody.
2
Q. You know some of themhad been there for a
3 long time?
4
A. Yes. But, nowadays, I should add, due to
5 the early retirement, they don't stay that long as up to
6 the 65 years age.
7
Q. Have you ever received any awards from VWAG?
8
A. Warranties?
9
Q. Awards.
10
A. Awards, no.
11
Q. Employee of the month or anything like that?
12
A. We don't have that.
13
Q. You don't have that stuff?
14
A. No, no.
15
Q. Do you have a resume?
16
A. I have a resume?
17
Q. Do you have a resume?
18
A. On my --
19
MR. GRASSO: CV.
20
A. Yes.
21
Q. Do you have one of those?
22
A. Not here.
23
Q. Do you have one in Germany?
24
A. Yes.
25
MR. FOX: 1am going to ask that
Page 143
1
Q. Do you know of anybody in the brake testing
2 lab area, brake department testing area, that was working
3 for VWAG in the 1970s that is still there today?
4
A. I knew one engineer who is now retired, but
5 1know that a couple of people at the actual blue collared
6 working place are there for a long time.
7
Q. The who?
8
A. Blue collared.
9
Q. Do you know how long they were there for
10 when they began?
11
A. No.
12
Q. Was it in the '70s?
13
A. Yes. In the 70s.
14
Q. Do you know what their names are?
15
A. No.
16
Q. But, you can find them if need be?
17
A. Oh, yes.
18
Q. How about the general testing area, do you
19 know anybody who had been there since the '70s?
20
A. Yes. About the same.
21
Q. Do you know their names?
22
A. In the general?
23
Q. In the general, people that have been there
24 for a very long time.
25
A. Hundreds of people. I don't know the names
Page 145
1
that be produced as well.
2
MR, GRASSO: I will take it under
3
consideration.
4
I will give it to you.
5
MR. FINBERG: Would you like it in
6
German?
7
Q. Is it in English or German?
8
A. It's three, four-line resume.
9
Q, That is it?
10
A. Very short, yes.
11
MR. FINBERG: All employers since 1973
12
A. I mean, by resume you mean curriculum
13 vitae?
14
Q. Yes, yes. Do you have one of those?
15
A. Can't tell you.
16
MR. FINBERG: Do you want to relay
17
it to him? You know, date of birth and
18
stuff, you know. Any more than that?
19
MR. GRASSO: Maybe rank and serial
20
number.
21
MR. FINBERG: It's got your date of
22
birth, current employment, which dates back
23
to 73, and your education which you
24
stated.
25
THE WITNESS: Or daughter, that kind
37 (Pages 142 to 145)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 146
1
of family.
2
MR. FINBERG: Is there anything else
3
that you have not told him that is on your
4
resume?
5
MR. FOX: A verbal free-for-all,
6
this deposition.
7
MR. FINBERG: We are just trying to
8
help.
9
MR. FOX: We are finders of the
10 fact.
11
MR GRASSO: Searchers for the
12
truth.
13
Q. Were there any trade associations that VWAG
14 belonged to in 1973?
15
A. Yes.
16
Q. Do you recall which ones they were?
17
A. Many, many. The whole list? 1 don't have
18 it in my --
19
Q. Does that list exist somewhere?
20
A. I could ask for it. I have seen it
21 before.
22
MR. GRASSO: This is a list that
23
they were members of in 1973?
24
MR. FOX: Any time.
25
Q. Does that list indicate when they first
Page 148
1
THE WITNESS: Yes.
2
Q. Any others that you recall?
3
A. The standard associations they belong to.
;
4
Q. Like?
|
5
A. I have to refer to the list. I don't know.
6
Q. As a safety test engineer, were there
j
7 associations that involved safety that VWAG belonged to in j
8 the 70s or before that as far as you know?
j
9
MR. FINBERG: Do you want me to help?
j
10
MR. FOX: No.
^
11
A. Safety-related association, well, I don't
12 know of any.
13
MR. GRASSO: Are you talking about
14
corporate membership as opposed to its
15
employees being members?
16
Q. Individuals or corporate membership in any
17 safety organization in the 1970s, are you aware of any?
18
A. Well, 1mean, for instance, the American
j
19 SAE, Society of Automotive Engineering. That is a very
20 common association where there's quite a, and also the
21 company is a member too.
1
22
Q. Are you a member of that?
'
23
A. No.
24
Q. Were you a member of any trade associations,
|
25 organizations?
j
Page 147
1 joined?
2
A. I don't know. That I don't know. Just the
3 membership, I guess it is.
4
Q. Are there any --
5
MR. FOX: Again, I will put that in
6
a letter to you and request it officially,
7
the list.
8
Q. Are there any trade associations in Germany
9 that existed in the 70s amongst the car manufacturers?
10
A. You mean, committees about brakes or stuff?
11
Q. I am asking in general, trade associations
12 where all the car manufacturers would get together in one
13 trade association?
14
A. I don't know that.
15
Q. Was there a communication between one car
16 manufacturer in Germany and the other in the 1970s?
17
A. Very little, I guess.
18
Q. As you sit here to today, do you recall any
19 of the trade associations that VWAG belonged to?
20
MR. GRASSO: In the 70s?
21
MR. FOX: In the 70s or before.
22
A. Generally, these trade organizations like
23 engineering organizations VDI and VDR and --
24
MR. GRASSO: Are those two different
25
ones, VDI and VDR?
Page 149 j
1
A. No.
2
Q. Never?
|
3
A. No.
;
4
Q. Not part of your benefit package.
f
5
A. I mean, it is not in Germany to be a member
1
6 of some trade organizations.
7
Q. SAE, is that a German group?
|
8
A. American. SAE, Society of Automotive
1
9 Engineers.
.
1
10
Q. Do you know if you were --if they were a
(
11 member of that in the 1970s?
|
12
A. Yes.
|
13
Q. You are not aware of when that membership
jf
14 began?
I
15
A. No.
|
16
Q. Were there any other American associations,
|
17 organizations that you are aware of that VWAG was aware of 1
18 or participated in, a member of?
19
A. I have to check the list.
,
20
Q. Do you know whether or not VWAG ever
21 participated in any safety-related studies either in the
|
22 1970s orbefore?
|
23
MR. GRASSO: Wait a second.
;
24
Any sort of safety related to
1
25
anything at all?
1
1
38 (Pages 146 to 149)
Aiibert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall V. Asbestos
Page 150
1
MR. FOX: Yes.
2
Q. Any safety-related studies beyond what you
3 did in the laboratory, something that was either published
4 or was done on behalf of a trade association or group of
5 people.
6
MR: FINBERG: You mean, like, crash tests?
7
MR. FOX: Not something that was
8
done inside the company, but outside.
9
MR. FINBERG: This is not asbestos
10 now?
11 Q. Anything safety related.
12
A. There are a couple of international
13 committees. We are, the automotive manufacturers, sending
14 a member or an employee there to sit in and help decide on
15 safety measures and, of course, Volkswagen was a member of
16 many of them.
17
Q. Do you know the names of any of those
18 organizations?
19
A. No. But, I know there was, for instance,
20 the brake committee, International Brake Committee where
21 Volkswagen still is a member of, and they sit together and
22 find out about new standards, and what the standard should
23 ask for and stuff like that.
24
Q. Where is the International Brake Committee
25 based out of? Where is their home base?
Page 152
1
A. The issues they are dealing with is a
2 combination of medical and engineering problems with
3 automotive or, you know, using the automobile in traffic,
4 so it is injury, crash, collision-related sides.
5
Q. And it is called the American Association?
6
A. Triple AM.
7
Q. What do the three A's stand for?
8
A. American Association of Automotive Medicine.
9
Q. Okay.
10
MR. GRASSO: Could I speak to him
11
for just a moment?
12
MR. FOX: If he is done with his
13
answer, yes.
14
A. I am.
15
(Pause in proceedings)
16
A. You were asking for its name in the '70s?
17
Q. Yes.
18
MR GRASSO: That was its name in
19
the 70s, okay.
20
Q. Is it the same name now?
21
Does it exist now?
22
A. Yes, it does.
23
Q. It was called that in the 70s?
24
A. I guess so.
25
MR. GRASSO: If you are really
Page 151
1
A. That, I don't know. They meet here and
2 there, in Japan and U.S., and wherever.
3
Q- It is not a German association. It is
4 international?
5
A. International, yes.
6
Q. Do you know whether VWAG was a member of the
7 International Brake Committee in the 1970s?
8
A. Yes.
9
Q. Do you know if they were in the '60s?
10
A. I don't know.
11
Q. Did you ever attend any conferences in the
12 1970s regarding safety, you, personally?
13
MR. FINBERG: You mean, beyond brakes?
14
MR. FOX: Any safety-related issues.
15
A. A meeting in Detroit where we present our
16 paper, and Ihave been to a number of triple AM
17 Association of Automotive Medicine of America, triple AM.
18 Q- Where are they located?
19
A. They used to reside in the Chicago area, and
20 these meetings are at different locations in the States or
21 overseas
22
Q- Did they exist in the 1970s as far as you
23 know?
24
A. Yes.
25
Q. What kind of issues did they deal with?
Page 153
1
curious, I will go off the record and
2
explain.
3
MR. FOX: Okay. Off the record.
4
(Discussion held off the record)
5
Q. Do you recall ever attending any conference
6 or meeting where the issue of asbestos exposure was
7 raised?
8
A. Whether I have?
9
Q. Whether you have personally.
10
A. No.
11
Q- Do you recall during the entire time that
12 you have been with VWAG ever receiving in writing any
13 memoranda, or notification, or newsletter that addressed
14 the exposure to asbestos other than something that you may
15 have received from your attorneys?
16
A. Me, personally?
17 Q. Yes.
18
A. By somebody?
19 Q. By anybody at VWAG.
20
A. Yes. I recall it. Yes, I do. I haven't
21 got it.
22
Q. But, you received something?
23
A. No.
24 Q. Never?
25
A. Your question was, do you recall?
39 (Pages 150 to 153)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 154
1
Q. Yes.
2
A. I said ~
3
Q. Yes, you do recall not receiving
4 anything?
5
A. Yes, right. So, I didn't get anything. I
6 didn't receive anything.
7
Q. So, just so I am clear, during the entire
8 time that you have been at VWAG, you have never seen
9 anything in writing from the company that addressed
10 asbestos exposure?
11
MR. FINBERG: Subject to our privilege.
12
Q. Outside of lawyers, but from VWAG itself,
13 you have never received anything that addressed that
14 issue, correct?
15
A. Internal? Within internal?
16
Q. Yes.
17
A. No. Well, except talk to the lawyers and
18 the legal department. Except for that?
19
Q. Yes. Except for that.
20
A. Okay.
21
Q. Do you have any knowledge as to the quantity
22 of VWAG vehicles that were sold in the United States
23 between 1966 and 1970?
24
A. Not exactly.
25
Q. Do you have an estimate?
Page 155
1
A. No.
2
Q. Can you give any factual basis to make any
3 estimate as to what that quantity would be?
4
A. This was four years.
5
Q. Yes
6
A. Maybe 500,000.
7
Q. Is that per year or -
8
A. No.
9
Q. Over four years?
10
A. I am not sure. That is just a guess over
11 four years.
12
Q. Do you have any way of estimating of the
13 500,000 approximately that you estimated, what percentage
14 of those would be Beetles during those four years?
15
A. Well, Beetles were the car sold with the
16 highest numbers, but I have no idea.
17
Q. Would you say that more than 50 percent were
18 Beetles?
19
A. Yes.
20
Q. Would it be more than 75 percent?
21
A, Maybe. I don't know. I am sorry.
22
Q. Somewhere over 50 percent and maybe as high
23 as 75 percent. Is that a fair statement?
24
A. Well, it is over 50 percent.
25
Q. You mentioned earlier in the deposition the
Page 156 |
1 European Parts Exchange?
j
2
A. Yes.
3
Q. When was the first time that you became
j
4 aware that there was an European Parts Exchange or EPE
5 that existed?
I
6
A A couple of years ago.
7
Q. Under what circumstances did you find out
j
8 that they existed?
9
A. By talking to folks from Volkswagen of
10 America - well, OA,
11
Q. Under what circumstances? Was it
12 litigation-related conversation?
13
A Yes.
14
Q. What did you discover at that time about
|
15 EPE?
j
16
MR. GRASSO: That is kind of broad.
1
17
I mean, what do you mean?
1
18
Q. I want to ask--well, what did you ask them
19 and what did they tell you about EPE?
20
A. I didn't ask anything. This was --well, it
|
21 came up during our discussion - the general discussion on 1
22 certain subject.
f
23
Q. How did it come up?
24
A. I just learned that there was an EPE.
|
25
Q. They started talking about it?
.
I
f
!
Page 157 j
1
A. No. During our conversation, right, it was
1
2 mentioned that there was an EPE, European Part Exchange, f
3 here in the U.S.
j
4
Q. That was the first time that you have heard
1
5 about it?
|
6
A. Yes.
|
7
Q. This was a couple of years ago?
|
8
A. Yes.
1
9
Q. I know this was a conversation, but what did
1
10 you learn, if anything, in that conversation about what
|
11 EPE did?
!
12
A. EPE was the organization where used brake
|
13 parts were sent to, and they were replaced by new ones.
1
14 The manufacturer of the brake lining was Mintex, so this
15 is basically the way -- this is the way used parts are
(
16 being replaced by new ones.
|
17
Q. You mentioned Mintex?
|
18
A. Yes.
|
19
Q. When did you first discover or hear that
|
20 Mintex was the manufacturer of the replacement parts?
|
21
A. The same time.
|
22
Q. Two years ago?
23
A. No. I mean, when I say couple, I don't mean
24 two. I mean five or six years.
!
25
MR. GRASSO: For clarity, you said
40 (Pages 154 to 157)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 158
1
that Mintex was the manufacturer of the
2
replacement parts?
3
Q. Replacement lining.
4
Was that in the same initial conversation?
5
A. Yes.
6
Q. That person that told you was somebody who
7 worked at VWoA?
8
A. Yes.
9
Q, Do you know who that person was?
10
A. Yes.
11
Q. Who was that?
12
A, Yves Lecoz.
13
Q. Could you spell that?
14
A. Y-V-E-S L-E-C-O-Z.
15
Q. What position did Yves Lecoz have with VWoA,
16 if you know?
17
A. I don't know exactly his position.
18
Q. Do you know how he knew about EPE?
19
A. No. It was just his general knowledge
20 because he is here located in the U.S., and he knows about
21 the relation of Volkswagen of America and his suppliers.
22
Q. Was he in the legal department?
23
A. Yes.
24
Q. Okay. When you had this conversation with
25 Mr. Lecoz, did you take any notes regarding that
Page 159
1 conversation?
2
A. No.
3
Q. Was it just one conversation with him or was
4 it more than one conversation?
5
A. Certainly, it was just one when I learned
6 about the EPE. But, we get in contact with each other on
7 business-related things.
8
Q. Did you ever see any documents that
9 reflected VWoA's business arrangement, if any, with EPE?
10
A. No.
11
Q. Did you ask for any?
12
A. No.
13
Q. Do you have any knowledge as to whether or
14 not the Mintex brake lining was in any respect any
15 different, whether it be in the constituents, or in the
16 color, or the size, or the performance, than the ones that
17 were used on the original equipment by VWAG?
18
MR. GRASSO: What time frame?
19
Q, Well, you were there since 1973?
20
A. That is not to my knowledge.
21
Q. Did VWAG ever use Mintex produced
22 manufactured brake linings, if you know?
23
A. Volkswagen AG, no.
24
Q. Other than the conversation or conversations
25 that you had with Mr. Lecoz regarding EPE, have you ever
Page 160
1 conducted any other investigation regarding what EPE did?
2
A. No.
3
Q. During the time that you were at VWAG, was
4 there ever an instance that VWAG wanted to communicate
5 something, an issue or a problem, to Volkswagen
6 dealerships or repair shops in the United States and, if
7 so, how did they get the communication fromVWAG to the
8 individual dealers in the United States?
9
MR. GRASSO: Okay. I am a little
10 troubled with this.
11
MR. FOX: Do you want me to rephrase
12
it?
13
MR. GRASSO: Yes.
14
Q. I guess the question is, if VWAG wanted to
15 let the individual dealers or repair shops associated with
j
16 Volkswagen in the United States know something, how would |
17 it communicate that?
f
18
A. Not directly,
*
19
Q, How would it be done?
j
20
A. They would go through Volkswagen OA,
j
21
Q. Did VWAG ever get --withdrawn,
J
22
Did VWAG receive any --withdrawn again.
|
23
If a car was defective in some way, that is,
I
24 there was some problem with the car, and an individual in 1
25 the United States would return the car to a Volkswagen of j
i Page 161 11p
1 America, would that car find its way back to VWAG in any
2 respect?
3
MR. GRASSO: Wait a second.
j
4
First of all, give me time frame.
f
5
Q. In the 1970s, were cars returned from the
6 United States to VWAG?
7
A, For what reason?
8
Q. For any problem with the car?
j
9
A. You mean, it can be repaired, o f course, it
10 would be repaired.
j
11
Q. Okay.
12
A. If there is an obvious malfunction?
|
13
Q. Right. I guess what I am asking, would that
|
14 repair be done in Germany --
15
A. No.
|
16
Q. - or would it be done in the United States?
j
17
A. In the United States.
|
18
Q. Were cars ever sent back to Germany to be
|
19 repaired from the United States?
|
20
A. No.
.
|
21
Q. How would you communicate to the United
j
22 States VWoA how those repairs should proceed?
23
MR. GRASSO: You mean, if a specific
(
24
problem in a specific car as opposed to
|
25
publishing a repair manual.
1
--mm
""
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ............................. I'JXdlU................ . 1
.... J E
41 (Pages 158 to 161)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
Page 162
1
MR- FOX: Let me withdraw that.
1
2
Q, You don't recall any instance where a car or
2
3 a set of cars were returned from the United States back to 3
4 Germany?
4
5
A. No.
5
6
Q. Were there, I guess I would call them,
6
7 advisories about certain conditions or patterns of
7
8 conditions?
8
9
MR. GRASSO: I am sorry.
9
10
I don't understand what that means.
10
11
Are you finished with the question?
11
12
MR. FINBERG: Let's take five
12
13
minutes.
13
14
(Recess taken)
14
15
MR. GRASSO: For the record, we have
15
16
been going for about an hour and a half now
16
17
since lunch.
17
18
I have not heard a whole lot of
18
19
questions having to do with really this
19
20
case or even having to do with asbestos at
20
21
all.
21
22
Now, I have been, I think pretty
22
23
lenient and I don't think even you would
23
24
argue that the court order that you claim
24
25
governs gives you carte blanche to ask
25
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 164
don't have answers to those.
1
I am compelled to have to revisit
j
them with this witness who has some
knowledge about them, but not complete
j
knowledge about a lot of topics, so I have
1
no choice, but to go through this with him
1
now, so you know I amjust doing what I
|
have to do.
MR. FINBERG: May I ask you this?
Do you intend to sue Volkswagen AG in
|
another lawsuit?
f
MR. FOX: I have no intention on
|
answering that question.
j
MR. FINBERG: Why with regard to
this case are you asking any of the
f
questions that you asked this afternoon
because none of them has to do with
anything pre 1970 regarding a guy who
worked at a VW facility sorting brake shoes
|
and picking brake shoes which he already
!
testified he did.
j
MR. FOX: You produced somebody in
response to a Notice of Deposition for
Corporate Designee who did not start until
1973, so...
.
1
Page 163
Page 165
1
about any subject in the world to this
2
witness.
3
Like I say, I think I have been
4
pretty easy in letting you go where you
5
want to go.
6
In an off the record conversation,
7
you indicated you were pretty sure you
8
could finish this deposition today.
9
I don't want to hear that when we
10
get to 5:00,1have a whole bunch of case
11
specific questions that we have to
12
reconvene.
13
If you have case specific questions,
14
I would urge you to get to them and not
15
hold them in abeyance to bring the witness
16
back another day. This is a practical
17
matter here.
18
Do you see what I am saying?
19
MR. FOX: I don't see what you are
20
saying.
21
Part of my problem here, my
22
questions to a large extent followed the
23
court ordered interrogatory standard
24
liability interrogatories that were not
25
answered completely by your client, so I
1
MR. FINBERG: He is as good as he
2
could be to answer questions during the
1
3
relevant time period. He has tried to do
4
that where he can. You are asking
j
5
questions in 1986 and 1987 and about cars
6
with warranties and, I mean, nothing that
7
has to do, that I can tell, with anything
j
8
relating to Mr, Wall and his activities and
i
9
his time period and, you know, what of the
10
questions since lunch has related to
11
anything germane to Mr. Wall's activities
12
or circumstances.
|
13
MR. FOX: I am not going - what I don't
14
want, what I think is inappropriate, is you
i
15
asking me questions.
16
MR. FINBERG: I wasn't -
17
MR. FOX: I have never been in a
18
situation where someone is asking me to
j
19
justify. I think every question I have
j<
20
asked is relevant to this case.
j
21
MR. GRASSO: Since I -
!
22
MR. FOX: I think every question I asked ~
j
23
MR. GRASSO: Since I am being left
:
24
out there, I would note many of your
j
25
questions has nothing to do with court
j
i sa iE
42 (Pages 162 to 165)
Airbert Kolms Yol. No.
Page 166
1
ordered interrogatories.
1
2
MR. FOX: Like what.
2
3
MR. GRASSO: What sort of
3
4
microscopes in a general lab.
4
5
MR. FINBERG: 1973 to 1975.
5
6
MR. GRASSO: Whether cars are
6
7
shipped back to Volkswagen AG for repairs.
7
8
MR. FOX: If you don't see the
8
9
relevance of that, I can't help you with
9
10
that. If you don't see the relevance of
10
11
microscopes that were accessible to them in
11
12
1973 or may have been accessible
12
13
information beforehand, I can't help you.
13
14
That is all I have to say.
14
15
MR. GRASSO: All I can say is this
15
16
deposition --
16
17
MR. FOX: Nor am I going to help
17
18
you.
18
19
MR. GRASSO: This deposition will
19
20
not last forever.
20
21
If you have more case specific
21
22
questions, I would advise you to ask them.
22
23
MR. FOX: What I intend to do is
23
24
have Volkswagen AG respond as ordered by
24
25
the court as noted without objection.
.
25
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 168
authority or perhaps some kind of mandate
that authorizes you to ask these general
questions of VWAG, and you are going to do
that first before you get to any of the
case specific questions.
MR. FOX: I think it's been pretty
clear so far. I am not done with my
deposition, that he doesn't have much
knowledge about Mr. Wall's situation, that
he doesn't know Mr. Wall other than parts
of his testimony, heard about EPE, never
went to the facility. I don't know what I
will ask him at some point, what else he
has to offer in this case. But, I have not
asked him that. If he has any knowledge
that I am not aware of, he will have to say
that.MR. FINBERG: All I think Carl was 1
asking, not to pile two against one, I
would encourage you to ask those kinds of
questions before we finish today, and let's
.
try and cover that today and whatever else
you think you can do or intend to do and
get a court order to do --get that stuff
today.
Page 167
Page 169
1
MR. FINBERG: Without regard to the
2
claim of Mr. Wall?
3
MR. FOX: Without objection.
4
You can violate the order o f the
5
court. That is your choice.
6
What I want is an answer to every
7
question, I want the documents that are
8
required to be produced. Once I get the
9
complete --without objection, the complete
10
answer to every question in those
11
interrogatories, then I will make a
12
determination as to whether or not I
13
believe a continuing deposition of him or
14
somebody else is required, and then we can
15
talk about it.
16
MR. FINBERG: What you are saying,
17
just to make sure I understand, in an
18
attempt to summarize what you are saying,
19
what you are doing and what you have been
20
doing for the last several hours really
21
does not relate to Mr. Wall's particular
22
claim against VWAG.
23
It relates to your understanding
24
first of the scope of the general order,
25
and the general discovery, and your
1
MR. FOX: Ironically, I have a court
2
order to do that. I don't need an
3
additional one in any event.
4
MR. GRASSO: I am not going to say
5
anything more.
6
Please, go ahead.
7
Off the record.
8
(Discussion held off the record)
9
MR. FOX: I was going to say that
10
given the responses to the interrogatories
I
11
which were basically, you know,
12
nonexistent, not a single document
13
produced, that if I were to truly go and
14
ask every question that I need to ask, this
15
deposition would last several days, if not
16
weeks.
17
MR. FINBERG: Actually, I recall you
18
saying before we went back on the record if
19
you wanted to you could go on for days and
20
weeks asking questions about anything you
!
21
wanted to ask.
1
22
MR. FOX: Now, you are not telling the
23
truth.
24
MR. GRASSO: Accurate except for the
)
25
last phrase.
1
43 (Pages 166 to 169)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 170
Page 172
1
MR. FOX: You are dealing with a
2
very significant company. You are dealing
3
with, you know, a company that existed
4
since 1939, whatever it was, who
5
manufactured and sold cars throughout the
6
world that contained asbestos for many,
7
many years, so I could, yes. I could
8
certainly be justified in going through
9
each of the interrogatory answers asking
10
him if he has knowledge of these, and there
11
are many of them, and not just for the time
12
frame that you chose to ask them in
13
answering them in, but the entire time
14
frame.
15
I have chosen not to do that. I
16
have chosen even to try and extend this
17
deposition for only one day and revisit it
18
once I get the documents and the answers
19 without objections and self-serving
20
limitations that existed in the responses
21
that I got. That is my response.
22
Do you enjoy this?
23
THE WITNESS: Ido.
24
MR. GRASSO: Please, proceed.
25
Q. When you first got to VWAG, were there
1 linings and clutch facings?
2
A. No. I don't know.
3
Q. Are you aware of any car manufacturer that
4 stopped using it before VWAG stopped using it?
5
A. No. I don't know.
6
Q. Were you part of any conversation amongst
7 VWAG personnel regarding when to stop using asbestos in
8 brake linings and clutches?
9
A. No. I was not.
10
Q. To your knowledge, did VWAG ever ask any of
11 the manufacturers o f the brake linings and clutch facings
12 for any tests that those companies may have conducted on
13 any fiber release from the asbestos brake linings and
14 clutches?
15
A. You mean test reports?
16
Q. Test reports from those companies regarding
17 those brake linings.
18
A. No.
19
Q. Do you know if there was any request for any
20 kind of test results from those brake lining manufacturers
21 or clutch facing manufacturers from VWAG?
22
A. That I don't know.
23
Q. Is there somebody presently at VWAG that may
24 know the answer to that question?
25
MR. GRASSO: What time frame are you
Page 171
1 specifications for each component part of the VWAG
2 vehicles promulgated by VWAG?
3
MR. GRASSO: For every single part?
4
MR. FOX: Yes.
5
A. You are starting, for instance, with a
6 design drawing which is a specification, yes.
7
Q. When VWAG ordered their brake linings and
8 the clutch facings from these different companies, did
9 they provide them with specifications, do you know?
10
A. Yes,
11
Q. Do you know whether or not the standards
12 that were promulgated by the different government agencies
13 that you referred to earlier, whether or not any of those
14 regulations required the use of asbestos in brake linings
15 or clutch facings?
16
A. No.
17
Q. They did not require it?
18
A. Correct.
19
Q. Do you have any knowledge as to when other
20 car manufacturers, other than VWAG, stopped using asbestos
21 in their brake linings and clutches?
22
A. All 1know is they had to stop asbestos in
23 their products as of'94.
24
Q. I am asking if you know when other car
25 manufacturers stopped using asbestos in their brake
Page 173
1
talking about now?
2
Q. Well, they stopped between the '70s and '80s?
3
A. I doubt that any written report is still
4 available from the '70s, let's say. I can check with the
5 brake department to find out.
6
Q. Is there anybody now at VWAG, as far as you
7 know, that was part o f the decision-making process
8 regarding when to stop using asbestos in brakes?
9
A. I don't know of anybody.
j
10 Q. Do you know when you received the brake
11 linings from these different manufacturers or the clutch
12 facings were they in any way marked or embossed with
*
13 either --
14
A. Their origin?
|
15 Q. Yes.
16
A. Yes.
|
17 Q- And what kind of marking was it?
;
18
A. There was an edge code on the side on the
19 flange of the brake lining indicating to the manufacturer
20 to the specific number or identification for the brake
'
21 lining, then the friction range by two digits.
|
22
Q- This way VWAG would know which vehicles the ;
23 brake linings belonged to. Is that a fair statement?
24
A. Yes.
'
I
25
Q- And the code that was on the side ofthe
44 (Pages 170 to 173)
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 174
1 brake linings, what do you refer to that as?
2
A. Edge code.
3
MR. GRASSO: Etch or edge?
4
THE WITNESS: Edge, E-D-G-E.
5
Q. Do you know how many --was it numbers or
6 letters?
7
A. Actually, letters as to the name of the
8 company, let's say, Textar or Pagid or Juridwerke. And
9 then there was a specific number for the identification of
10 the specific brake lining which it says Juridwerke 224.
11 And then there was double digit identification of the type
12 of friction, so let's say FF. The first F stands for the
13 performance up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and the second
14 digit stands for the hotter, 400 degrees and over, and F
15 stands for point 35 to point 45 friction coefficient, so
16 they are different, different numbers.
17
Q, Do you know whether or not these different
18 etchings or markings were used by these companies between
19 1966 and 1970?
20
A. I have no reason not to believe that.
21
Q. But, you don't have any personal knowledge.
22 Is that correct?
23
A. I can't recall that I have not seen it.
24 But, basically, yes. It has to. I remember seeing the
25 identification for the model years should be on the edge
Page 176
1 there either the base coat on the flange of the brake
2 lining or the back side towards the brake shoe.
3
Q. As I understand, that edge code was designed
4 not for the ultimate consumer, but for you, that being
5 VWAG, to determine which particular car that should go on,
6 correct?
7
A. Yes.
8
Q. Do the brakes manufactured by VWAG, do they
9 have any kind of a numbeT on them, or code on them, or
10 model number on them?
11
A. What do you mean by brakes?
12
Q. The-
13
A. The drum?
14
Q. Or the shoes?
15
A. Usually, yes.
16
Q. Did the clutch --didthe clutches have some
17 kind of model number on there?
18
A. We covered this this morning already. I
19 wasn't sure about it. Usually, yes. The parts have parts
20 number, but it has it. There is a possibility there was
21 no number on it.
22
Q. Based on your reading of part of Tom Wall's
23 testimony, do you have any understanding of the areas that
24 you may testify about other than what we have discussed
25 already?
Page 175
1 code.
2
Q- Should be?
3
A. Yes, or the back side of it.
4
Q- But, on the lining itself, you are saying?
5
A. Yes.
6
Q. If the lining were to deteriorate or get
7 used, would that can - marking go away?
8
A. Well, when the brake lining is worn down to
9 a certain thickness, maybe half of the identification is
10 gone.
11
Q. Okay.
12
MR. FINBERG: The edge code?
13
THE WITNESS: Yes.
14
Q- Was the entire name of the manufacturer on
15 the lining itself or only some kind of symbol for that?
16
A. The entire name of it.
17
Q. So, for example, with Energit, the entire
18 name Energit would be on there?
19
A. Yes.
20
Q. And you saw them in the 1970s?
21
A. That, I don't know.
22
Q- You saw it?
23
A. Yes.
24
Q. In the 1970s?
25
A. That, I don't know. Basically, it should be
Page 177
1
MR. GRASSO: Just based on Mr.
j
2
Wall's testimony or based on anything
I
3
else?
4
MR. FOX: Well, I will withdraw the
;
5 question.
6
Q. You know, do you anticipate providing
|
7 testimony on any area in this trial that we have not
8 testified about already or that you have not testified
j
9 about already?
10
MR. GRASSO: Excuse me, let me
11
interrupt.
i
12
We have not designated Mr. Kolms as
j
13
a witness. He may or may not testify at
f
14
trial.
|
15
He is here to give deposition on
16
behalf of the corporation. Ifh eisa
|
17
witness at trial, I don't think when
j
18
whatever he testifies to would be desired
19
to by counsel, and I don't think we have
20
even figured out what all we may ask him.
1
21
Q. Is there any other area based upon your
jj
22 review of his testimony that you consider of any import or |
23 significance to his case?
24
A. Well, not related to his deposition. I am
|
25 here to answer your questions. That is all.
?
K
....
45 (Pages 174 to 177)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 178
1
Q. All right. Do you have any other knowledge
2 that we have not discussed regarding the specifics of the
3 allegations in Tom Wall's Complaint?
4
MR. GRASSO: Well, based upon
5
consultations with counsel? I don't
6
understand.
7
MR. FOX: 1 am trying to find out --
8
I thought this was a follow up to his other
9
question.
10
Q. I want to find out if there is anything else
11 that relates to Tom Wall's case that you know that we have
12 not discussed that may be of some import or
13 relevance?
14
MR. GRASSO: Well, if you understand
15
the question, go ahead and answer it.
16
A. No, I mean, I have read part of Mr. Wall's
17 deposition and one point which struck my eyes was that he
18 was working for quite a time in the shipyard location
19 where he was getting into contact withjust the amount of
20 asbestos fibers, friable asbestos fibers, and certainly
21 that is quite, in my view, a hazardous occupation.
22
Q. Why is it hazardous?
23
A. Because he was probably exposed to a lot of
24 friable fibers.
25
Q. Because why?
Page 180
1
A. That is true. I wasn't present when he was
2 performing hisjob there.
3
Q. And in your view because he was manipulating
4 asbestos-containing materials he should have been given a
5 mask or some kind of respiratory equipment?
6
A. Whatever protection was available.
7
Q. Should have been given him?
8
A. Yes.
9
Q. Should have protected him, correct?
10
MR. GRASSO: In that particular
11
asbestos exposure.
12
A. Yes.
13
Q. Because he was manipulating
14 asbestos-containing products?
15
MR. FINBERG: You are anticipating
16 his testimony. All he testified was type of
17 asbestos.
18
Q. Whatever type of asbestos it was, should
19 somebody have protected him against the manipulation of
20 those asbestos-containing materials?
21
A. Yes.
22
Q. Are you aware of any communication fromVWoA
23 to VWAG regarding any potential hazard from
24 asbestos-containing brake linings or clutch
25 facings?
Page 179
1
A. Because he was --because he did work on the
2 insulation of pipes in ships.
3
Q. What did he do that caused those fibers to
4 be released?
5
A. He put it on with his own hands. I mean,
6 this is, you know, very hazardous.
7
Q. Because those fibers get released into the
8 air?
9
A. Yes. This specific asbestos there.
10
Q. How long did he do that for, do you recall?
11
A. No. I don't recall.
12
Q. Okay. On what basis do you say as a product
13 safety engineer that his activity with the pipe covering
14 on the ship was dangerous? What do you base that on?
15
A. As I recall, he didn't wear any protection
16 for his - for the exposure he was in, and the type of
17 asbestos used in insulation was a type of mineral which
18 has been linked to diseases, lung diseases, as far as I
19 know, in publications that I have read, so amosite or
20 chrysotile was asbestos used for insulation of pipes.
21
Q. Do you have any knowledge that the pipe
22 covering that he came into contact with, what type of
23 asbestos was in those pipes? Specifically, do you have
24 any knowledge as to that other than what you read in an
25 article?
Page 181
1
MR. GRASSO: At any time?
2
Q. At any time from 1940s onward?
3
A. No.
4
Q. Again, you have not done any kind of a
5 search to determine if those kinds of documents exist,
6 correct?
7
A. Correct.
8
Q. Do you know of anybody that has done a
9 historical search to look for documents historically
10 within the company to make that determination?
11
A. I don't know of anybody, no.
12
MR. FOX: To the extent that I have
13
been able to ask you questions, you have
14
been very polite, and kind, and helpful,
15
and I appreciate your testimony today.
16
However, as we have discussed ad
17
nauseam today, and it had nothing to do
18
with you, there are issues that exist about
19
the nature of the discovery in this case,
20
and it may be they may have issues, and I
21
may have issues - - 1do have issues that
22
will have to get resolved. But, in terms
23
of today, to the extent I have been able to
24
ask questions based on what I have
25
previously asked and based on what you
i
,
46 (Pages 178 to 181)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 182
1
said, I have completed my direct
2
questions.
3
However, because these disputes
4
still exist, I am reserving, as I indicated
5
earlier, my right to call you back and to
6
answer further questions as more material
7
and more discovery is produced by VWAG.
8
But, in the meantime, I have completed my
9
direct questions.
10
MR. GRASSO: Let's take a real quick
11
break.
12
I may want to ask questions.
13
MR. FOX: Yes, absolutely.
14
MR. GRASSO: There are a couple of
15
follow-up questions that I have, just a
16
few.
17 BY MR. GRASSO:
18
Q. In talking about an average or a possible
19 number of miles between brakejobs or how many miles the
20 car would likely have before its first brakejob, could
21 you explain a little bit what you meant by some sort of
22 average?
23
A. Well, I mentioned in my answer that this is
24 pretty much depending on the way the driver drives the
25 car, whether he applies his brakes often and at what
Page 184
1 codes and the reason for these edge codes and, again, I am
2 not sure exactly what it was. There were some questions
3 about the purpose of these codes and were they VWAG only,
4 or were they for retail customers or --
5
A. Well, for everybody, actually, because this is
6 the special identification of this special lining. So, it
7 gives you information about the manufacturer, about the
8 precise identification, like, 224 something, and then the
9 edge code with two letters. So, it is there for everybody
10 who is interested in getting this or buy this type of
11 lining.
12
Q. There was testimony about Tom Wall when he
13 was working with asbestos on ships and whether he should ;
14 have perhaps worn some protection while he was doing that, j
15 and you mentioned that the asbestos you believe was
\
16 chrysotile or amosite. Is that correct?
17
A. Yes. That is what I said.
18
Q. Your --as I understood it, your opinion
19 that he perhaps should have been wearing protective gear
20 was based upon the fact that you understood that those two
21 types of asbestos were in there. Is that correct?
22
MR. FOX: Objection. You are
23
misstating his testimony.
24
You can ask him anything you
25
want.
.
Page 183
1 speed, whether it was a country, city traffic. In
2 general, my impression was to compare to the knowledge I
3 have from cars in Germany. It is about 25,000, 30,000
4 miles where we have the first brakejob is necessary and
5 very much depending on the type of driver.
6
Q. So, it could be more, it could be less?
7
A. Right, yes, substantially.
8
Q. It could be substantially more or
9 substantially --
10
A. Even less than more, substantially less.
11
Q. All right. There was testimony about Mintex
12 linings and whether they were similar or identical, I
13 don't remember exactly, to linings provided by Energit and
14 the other three original suppliers. I am not sure I
15 remember the testimony exactly. But, were the
16 constituents of the Mintex linings identical to what was
17 provided by the original suppliers?
18
MR. FOX: Objection.
19
Lack of foundation.
20
A. Not necessarily, 1mean, if you compare
21 linings you compare the performance, and when I was asked
22 this question Ididn't really pick up on the ingredients.
23 It need not be the same. The performance is the most
24 important thing on the ability of the lining.
25
Q. Okay. There was some testimony about edge
Page 185
1
A. Yes.
2
Q. There were some questions about worker's
|
3 compensation type claims which may have been made by I
4 guess employees of VWAG, and you were asked about how
5 these are processed, and you mentioned the individual
6 would go to a doctor.
7
My question to you is, would VWAG ever
8 receive back a copy of some sort of claim that the person f
9 would have made?
10
A. No. The employer doesn't get a feedback of
|
11 that, does not get a report what happened, you know, to
|
12 his employee.
|
13
Q. Okay. The claim goes through the - what is
||
14 the name of that?
|
15
A. The Berufsgenossenschaft.
16
Q. Please spell that for the court reporter,
||
17
A. B-E-R-U-F-S-G-E-N-O-S-S-E-N-S-C-H-A-F-T. It |
18 is equivalent to OSHA here in this country, and it is
!
19 occupational agency for safety and health. When an
20 employee feels that he is sick, so he goes to the doctor,
f
21 and if the doctor diagnose, for instance, a mesothelioma, |
22 he might have contracted this, this is a disease you have
f
23 to report to a mesothelioma register which is under the
1
24 patronage of the Berufsgenossenschaft. And when there is |
25 evidence that he contracted this type of disease due to
jf
-- M M .
.
47 (Pages 182 to 185)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 186
1 his occupation, then this will be compensated by a type of
2 insurance by the Berufsgenossenschaft,
3
Q. Well, does -
4
A. But, the report, again, that was your first
5 question about that, there is no feedback to the employer
6 to the company.
7
Q. So -
8
A. Volkswagen wouldn't know that there was an
9 employee contracting some disease.
10
Q. Okay. Does VWAG have a file of worker's
11 compensation type claims of its workers who may have made
12 claims or received compensation for asbestos-related
13 diseases?
14
A. No. That is why Volkswagen cannot have such
15 a list because they don't get the information.
16
MR. GRASSO: Okay. That is all 1have.
17 BY MR. FOX:
18
Q. Just a few more. In terms of the markings
19 on the clutches, clutch facings and the brake linings, if
20 they were there at that time, certainly if they were
21 deteriorated, then whatever markings were on there could
22 not be read if the clutch facings or the brake linings
23 were deteriorated, correct?
24
A. Yes.
25
Q. And --
Page 188
1 then he should knowwhich model year, which car, and
2 probablyalso what the lining was. But, basically the
3 linings have -- all the linings which are on the market
4 whether they are original or OEMor after market linings
5 theyhave to complywith standards, andthe performance is
6 a major issue ofthe lining.
7
Q. Did VWAG in any way communicate to either
8 the dealers orto the ultimate owners of these vehicles
9 what kind of replacement should be used on the brake
10 linings andthe clutch facings?
11 A. The service station would know.
12 Q. How would theyknow?
13 A. By information fromVolkswagen OA. They are
14 being trainedto service their car.
15 Q, Did VWAGnotify these dealers ormechanics
16 instructions on what was an appropriate replacement from
17 VWAG?
18 A. Any replacement. The mechanics arebeing
19 trained as well as the dealership, so they are very well
20 trainedhow to handle such a service.
21
Q. It is all based on what specifications are
22 used by VWAG andwhat would be an appropriate replacement
23 according to VWAG of the brake linings on the clutch
24 faces, correct?
25
A. Yes.
,
Page 187
1
MR. GRASSO: When you say
2
"deteriorated," you are including normal
3
wear on that?
4
MR. FOX: Normal wear.
5
MR. GRASSO: Okay.
6
Q. It may not be there?
7
A. Certainly, if you are aware, the lining if
8 that is worn down, that the flange is worn off, there is
9 nothing down.
10
Q. Why would anybody care to know or look to
11 know who manufactured that brake lining other than you
12 guys when VWAG received a shipment from these
13 manufacturers?
14
MR. GRASSO: I have to object to
15
that. He doesn't know what is in anybody's
16
mind.
17
Q. Do you have any reason to believe why
18 anybody would have any reason to want to know who
19 manufactured that brake lining or what code there was on
20 it other than VWAG?
21
MR GRASSO: Or other than some
22
lawyer bringing a lawsuit?
23
A. Certainly, it might be important for when,
24 you know, the dealer has to or the garage really has to
25 get a replacement, you know, to replace the old lining,
Page 18'
1
Q. Now, in terms of these claims against
2 Volkswagen AG, when an employee --withdrawn.
3
Did you ever, at any time in your career,
1
4 ever be in a position to work with or deal with worker's
5 compensation claims?
6
MR. FINBERG: You mean U.S. worker's
7
compensation claims or Berufsgenossenschaft
8
claims?
9
MR. FOX: Thank you.
;
10
A. No.
11
Q. That wasn't your job, correct?
f;
12
A. Correct.
13
Q. You never interacted with that group he
f
14 mentioned?
II
15
A. No.
!
16
Q. The German name?
jj
17
A. No.
p
18
Q. And when an employee claimed that they had
19 some injury related to their employment, was, if you know, '
20 was VWAG notified that there was a claim that existed? |
21
A. No.
|
22
Q. If you know, did VWAG have any right to
|
23 challenge any claim by employee?
;
24
A. No personal data, protection.
;
25
MR. GRASSO: No what?
|
48 (Pages 186 to 189)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 190
1
THE WITNESS: Data.
2
Q. How would the German worker's compensation
3 claim board know if the claim was legitimate or not, do
4 you know?
5
A. This has been decided, you know, by the
6 Berufsgenossenschaft, the worker's compensation.
7
Q. Did they ever contact VWAG and say, did this
8 person even work there?
9
A. They would probably not, you know, mention
10 the name or the person. I mean, the way it works is that
11 if it is obvious that this employee got the disease due to
12 his occupation, the worker's compensation is an
13 institution which then would promulgate certain regulation
14 for that workplace to protect the other workers, so it is
15 kind of an increasement of the regulation.
16
Q. If an individual was diagnosed with a
17 respiratory disease, wouldn't VWAG be notified that that
18 individual has a problem and then they should be
19 protected?
20
A. No. There is no feedback.
21
Q. How do you know?
22
MR. FINBERG: Subject to what you
23
just said, you just said there is a way in
24
which there is a feedback.
25
A. Did I say? No.
Page 192
1
A. There is no way. There is no way to find
2 out.
3
Q. Do you know if --withdrawn.
4
A e you aware of VWAG ever shifting
5 employees to different areas of the plant based upon
6 medical condition?
j
7
MR. GRASSO: Any medical condition,
j
8
you are talking? I mean, if somebody can't
|
9
stand up anymore, they give them a desk
j
10
job?
11
A. That is very common, yes.
j
12
Q. They would shift people depending on medical |
13 condition?
1
14
A Yes.
15
Q. If a person felt ill to work, would the
j
16 first place that they would go to, would that be the German j
17 compensation or would it be the doctor?
18
A. His personal doctor.
|
19
Q. How about the doctors at VWAG, if somebody j
20 had a problem or complaint about their health would they 1
21 go there to talk to those doctors at any time?
J
22
MR. GRASSO: I am sure that depends
23
on the complaint, if somebody cuts his
24
finger off ~
25
MR. FOX: Don't answer the question.
L
Page 191
1
Q. What is your basis for saying that VWAG was
2 never notified about claims made from its own employees
3 that they were injured from the workplace? How do you
4 know that?
5
A. Well, this is the type of - you know, the
6 organization, the Berufsgenossenschaft, is not entitled to
7 notify the company. What they do is if there is a hazard
8 or danger for the employees, they look for the change of
9 the regulation how to work at that place in general for
10 all the companies. That is the way it works.
11
Q. As far as you know, VWAG has no right to
12 provide any facts to the worker's compensation board in
13 support of or against the claim?
14
A. Oh, the compensation board will probably at --
15 will check with the working place --
16
Q. With the employer?
17
A. Yes.
18
Q. About what?
19
A. Just, you know. Checking the working place
20 how the protection is being maintained for the employee.
21
Q. Are you awarejust personally of anybody
22 that had any lung impairment or mesothelioma who worked
23 for VWAG?
24
A. No.
25
Q. Have you ever attempted to try to find out?
i
Page 193 I j
1
MR. GRASSO: - he would probably go
.
2
to the doctor that is in the plant.
|
3
A. Only if there is an emergency accident, then
1
4 the internal medical department will interact or make an
5 examination on people, examinations on people who are |
6 exposed to, let's say, chemicals and stuff,
1
7
Q. Did VWAG ever perform pre-employment chest i
8 x-rays, if you know?
9
A. You asked that before.
10
Q. Pre-employment?
1
11
A. Pre-employment, no.
12
Q. Did VWAG ever have a consulting doctor
|
13 during the time that you were there who came in to review f
14 any issue regarding the health of the employees?
jj
15
A. Other than the internal medical?
f
16
Q. Yes.
|
17
A. No.
1
18
Q. A e you aware of any study of the entire
;
19 plant related to safety issue while you were
|
20 there?
'
|
21
MR. GRASSO: Any safety issue?
|
22
A. No.
|
23
Q. Did you have any contact with the German
|
24 compensation board while you were at the plant?
|
25
A. .No.
|
1
49 (Pages 190 to 193)
Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 194
1.
Q. Did the compensation for injured employees,
2 did that come fromthe government or from the employer?
3
A. This type of insurance is covered by the
4 employer, but the board consists of employer and employees
5 which is a union basically or unions.
6
MR. GRASSO: Wait a second, are you
7
talking about, which board? I thought we
8
were talking about Berufsgenossenschaft.
9
THE WITNESS: Right. There has to
10
be a decision.
11
Q. Who is on that board?
12
A. Members of the employer and of the employees
13 and that is the unions, members of the unions.
14
Q. So, there is a representative of VWAG and a
15 member of the union on there?
16
MR. FINBERG: Of the Berufsgenossenschaft?
17
A. Yes. But, the insurance is covered by the
18 employer or paid for.
19
Q. Is the representative --do you know if the
20 representative from the VWAG would be a medical person or
21 a nonmedical person?
22
A. That, 1 don't know.
23
Q. Do you know who that person was?
24
A. No.
25
MR. FOX: Okay. That is all I have.
Page 196
1
didn't know of anybody, correct?
2
A. No.
j
3
MR. FOX: Was there --
4
MR. GRASSO: I am asking questions.
5
Q. The Berufsgenossenschaft, I think you have
6 indicated before it had the power to make regulations if
j
7 it decided there was some problem in the workplace
j
8 industry-wide?
9
A. Yes.
10
Q. This Berufsgenossenschaft is some kind of
1
11 governmental agency?
j
12
A. Well, is it governmental or - since the
j
13 board is, you know, formed by members of the employer and
14 employees, it is not a governmental.
15
MR. FINBERG: As an officer of the
16
court, I amjust going to represent my
|
17
understanding is --
1
18
MR. FOX: You can't do that now.
19
You are not an officer of the court. I am
1
20
not ajudge or --and nobody, no one is asking
|
21
for opinion or comments. Don't do it.
j
22
MR. FINBERG: Don't tell me what to
23
do or not to do. I think it is obligatory
24
for counsel if a witness misstated the
|
25
facts on the record to state it.
j
Page 195
1 BY MR. GRASSO:
1
2
Q. Whether or not there is a formal way to find
2
3 out, are you personally aware of anyone at VWAGwho worked 3
4 in anyway with brakes or clutches who came down with
4
5 mesothelioma?
5
6
A. No, I don't. I mean, you are asking if
6
7 formal, no.
7
8
MR. FINBERG: Besides a formal way,
8
9
aside from formal way.
9
10
THE WITNESS: No, I don't. I asked
10
11
about whether there is any knowledge about
11
12 anybody who has been working with brake
12
13 jobs has contracted any disease, and there
13
14 was the answer no. There was no.
14
15
MR. FINBERG: There was no knowledge
15
16
of it?
16
17
THE WITNESS: No, there was no
17
18
person.
18
19
MR. FOX: Do they know or not?
19
20
THE WITNESS: Yes. You know, I
20
21
asked, for instance, the brake shop, the
21
22 people, do you know of anybodywho has
22
23
contracted any disease from working here.
23
24
No, nobody.
24
25
MR. FOX: Whoever you talked to
25
HUs
Page 197
MR. FOX: No. It is not. It is
1
called testimony or leading.
MR. GRASSO: It is on the record,
1
isn't it? It doesn't make a difference.
!
MR. FINBERG: I am not saying -
MR. FOX: Let's not having running
conversations.
Any other questions?
MR. GRASSO: No.
MR. FOX: Thank you very much, sir.
(The testimony was concluded at 4:57 p.m.)
'
$
1 1 1
1 1 i
50 (Pages 194 to 197)
* Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29,2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 198
1
REPORTER'S CERTIFICATE
2
3
,
4
I, Kerry D. Halpem, Shorthand Reporter,
5 certify;
6
That the foregoing proceedings were taken
7 before me at the time and place therein set forth, at
8 which time the witness was put under oath by me;
9
That the testimony of the witness and all of
10 the objections made at the time of the examination were
11 recorded stenographically by me and were thereafter
12 transcribed;
13
That the foregoing is a true and correct
14 transcript of my shorthand notes so taken.
15
I further certify that I am not a relative or
16 employee of any attorney or of any of the parties, nor
17 financially interested in the action.
18
I declare under penalty of perjury under the
19 laws of the State of New York that the foregoing is true
20 and correct.
21
Dated this 30th day of January, 2004.
22
23
24
KERRY D. HALPERN, Shorthand Reporter
25
1
REPORTER'S CERTIFICATION OF CERTIFIED COPY
2
3
4
5
I, KERRY D. HALPERN, Shorthand Reporter in
6 the State of New York, certify that the foregoing pages 1
7 through 199, constitute atrue and correct copy ofthe
8 original deposition of AIRBERT KOLMS, taken on January29,
9 2004.
10
I declare under the penalty of perjury under
11 the laws of the State of New Yorkthat the foregoing is
12 true andcorrect.
13
Datedthis 30th day of January, 2004.
14
15
\
16
KERRY D. HALPERN, Shorthand Reporter
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
!
|
Page 199
1 STATE OF
)
2 COUNTY OF
) SS.
3
4
5
I, the undersigned, declare under penalty of
6 perjury that I have read the foregoing transcript, and I
7 have made any corrections, additions, or deletions that I
8 was desirous of making; that the foregoing is a true and
9 correct transcript of my testimony contained therein.
10
11
EXECUTED this
day of
,
12 2004, at
,
.
13 City
State
14
15
16
WITNESS:
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
;
i
i
l s
*
1 1to 1
51 (Pages 198 to 200)
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 1
A________
abeyance 163:15 ability 56:25 57:3
104:22 183:24 able 6:19 66:17 67:2,3
181:13,23 abrasion 58:17 absolutely 73:20
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113:19 143:5 ad 181:16 add 144:4 added 13:3 24:14 addition 113:18 additional 6:22 169:3 additions 199:7 address 54:1 79:1 addressed 54:7 55:10
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age 144:6 agencies 171:12 agency 64:7 66:2 67:8
132:21 185:19 196:11 ago 6:6 15:16,19 26:4 106:18 108:8 111:14 122:5 156:6 157:7,22 agree 73:21 93:9 agreed 2:1,7,11,14,18 7:9 agreeing 103:23 ahead 60:24 76:24 77:21 89:18 108:21 138:12,13 169:6 178:15 air 124:10,11,11 137:3 179:8 AIRBERT 1:5,12 4:2 5:1 200:8 allegations 77:25 78:8 78:12 178:3 alleging 131:18 133:2 134:25 ambiguity 79:17 ambiguous 80:4 91:14 91:18 92:25 93:21 102:3 amendment 6:22 America 38:1 48:24 87:7,19 88:16 151:17 156:10 158:21 161:1 American 148:18 149:8,16 152:5,8 amosite 179:19 184:16 amount 103:17 178:19 animal 104:5 annual 121:4 answer 4:11 28:4,19 37:25 43:9 64:3 69:15 77:2,4 78:9 81:2,16 83:9 104:19 111:8 113:8 152:13 165:2 167:6,10 172:24 177:25 178:15 182:6,23 192:25 195:14 answered 7:18 78:16 163:25 answering 164:13
170:13 answers 6:6 16:24 17:2
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:
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90:7 91:12 93:8 103:17 188:16,22 approximately 11:1,2 11:14,15 103:14 126:2 155:13 area 6:10 86:23 128:1 130:22 135:25 136:9 136:9,22 137:5,14 143:2,2,18 151:19 177:7,21 areas 137:19 176:23 192:5 argue 162:24 argument 8:10 argumentative 70:10 70:12 arguments 8:14 arrangement 159:9 arrive 45:3 art 138:11 article 54:14 179:25 articles 52:1 64:20 122:6 asbestos 1:3 14:3 15:2 15:9 18:14 29:12,15 29:18 41:20 42:4,4 42:18 43:2 46:15,19 46:23 47:1,13,16,23 48:3,20 49:9 50:20 54:2,24 55:3,8,23 56:4,8,12,13,18 57:5 57:5,7,10,10,11,11 58:13,17,18 59:11,12
59:24 60:6,9,12,18 61:10,13,21 62:1,3,6 63:25 65:14 67:19,23 69:10,13,21,23 70:2 70:14,17,22,24,25 71:3,4,19,25 72:11 72:22 74:21 76:14,16 77:17 78:18 79:4,7 79:11,15,20 80:3,11 80:15,23 81:14 82:5 82:8,13,17,25 83:4 84:15 85:1,2,10,10 87:24 93:20 102:2 108:25 109:6 110:15 110:22 112:17,18,22 113:2 123:13 131:19 132:12 133:12 135:1 140:5 150:9 153:6,14 154:10 162:20 170:6 171:14,20,22,25 172:7,13 173:8 178:20,20 179:9,17 179:20,23 180:11,17 180:18 184:13,15,21 asbestosis 65:4,9,17 66:9,11,18,22 67:9 67:11 asbestos-containing 55:16 56:17 61:5 63:14 71:15,17 72:6 72:18 83:18 84:12 94:25 140:11,19,25 141:5 180:4,14,20,24 asbestos-related 55:11 133:3,7 186:12 aside 54:20 57:22 58:12 79:21 195:9 asked 7:17 40:12 42:17 64:23 78:17 81:21 82:24 90:16 91:11 105:20 109:9 110:17 113:13 122:4 164:16 165:20,22 168:15 181:25 183:21 185:4 193:9 195:10,21 asking 19:4 40:16 43:2 48:16 58:10 79:22 81:9 82:3 89:4 91:4 104:1,3,7 106:2 109:15 125:10 128:23 129:1 147:11 152:16 161:13 164:15 165:4,15,18 168:19 169:20 170:9 171:24 195:6 196:4 196:20 aspersions 74:19 assembly 24:10 53:11
53:13 assert 58:1 90:24 asserting 103:24 asserts 73:3 assigned 11:18,20 30:7 assistance 10:16,18
11:22 assisted 124:5 associated 122:7,11
160:15 association 147:13
148:11,20 150:4 151:3,17 152:5,8 associations 146:13 147:8,11,19 148:3,7 148:24 149:16 assume 55:4 88:2,4 131:25 assumed 36:7 assumes 93:1 103:24 assuming 66:25 70:6 86:9 103:20 assumption 100:5 128:20 129:25 astray 24:19 attached 27:11 28:17 51:8 83:15,17 96:4 98:12,15,15 99:9 attempt 167:18 attempted 191:25 attend 151:11 attending 153:5 attorney 2:21 198:16 attorneys 2:2,19 10:17 12:21 13:4,15 153:15 Audi 112:3,9 August 9:21 authority 168:1 authorizes 168:2 automobile 82:10 152:3 automotive 25:10,10 25:13,16 118:14 142:15 148:19 149:8 150:13 151:17 152:3 152:8 automotive-related 25:22 available 18:18 19:10 93:19 125:14 130:9 142:25 173:4 180:6 Avenue 3:4 average 102:25 182:18 182:22 awards 144:7,9,10 aware 16:8 62:19 63:4 63:6,6,15 65:3,10,18 67:14 76:13 84:10
Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 2
85:4 87:24 95:6 100:17 101:1 104:7 113:11 116:22 118:24 119:15,16 122:6 135:3,4,5 139:24 148:17 149:13,17,17 156:4 168:16 172:3 180:22 187:7 191:21 192:4 193:18 195:3 axle 51:10 A'S 152:7 a.m 1:18
B ________
back 6:4,9 13:4 15:20 20:13 21:10 24:18,18 24:20 27:12 29:22 33:22 34:3 38:11 44:2,3 50:25 62:18 63:16 74:1 75:16 77:2 93:13,17 95:24 96:1 97:24 106:16 107:7 115:13 126:15 145:22 161:1,18 162:3 163:16 166:7 169:18 175:3 176:2 182:5 185:8
background 24:19 25:3 backgrounds 123:15 ban 62:1,7 63:13,25 banned 62:6 base 150:25 176:1
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...
behalf 51:24 52:4,6,7 52:10 77:25 150:4 177:16
belated 95:16 belief 45:21 believe 7:2 18:7 19:18
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38:18 39:5,6,14,18 40:2,7 41:12,15,24 43:1,5,6,11,14,23,24 44:20,21,22 45:9,25
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Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wallv. Asbestos
Page 3
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Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 4
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Airbert Kolms Voi. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 5
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January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
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January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
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Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
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Airbert Kolms Vol. No.
January 29, 2004 Wall y. Asbestos
Page 12
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January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
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January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
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witnesses 75:15
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wore 128:4,5
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Z
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1 1 200:6 1:00 106:25 10 77:7 100051:17 3:9 10017 3:5 10314 1:24 11 4:22 11:05 1:18 1444:18 1474:18 1521:21,24 182 4:5
1858 66:6 1864:4 1900s 66:4 1939170:4 1940s 181:2 195 4:5 1962 39:9 196645:24 46:15,22
50:4 51:2,19 68:24 98:9 99:14,19 100:8 100:18 101:1,7,12,15 102:4,9 103:1 106:16 113:17 114:13 115:17 116:8,11 117:6 123:9 138:18 154:23 174:19 1967103:1 1970 45:24 46:15,22 50:5 51:2,19 68:25 98:9 99:14,20 100:9 100:19 101:1,7,12,15 102:4,9 106:16 113:17 114:13 115:17 116:8,11 117:6 123:9 138:18 154:23 164:18 174:19 1970s 141:15 143:3 147:16 148:17 149:11,22 151:7,12 151:22 161:5 175:20 175:24 1973 25:1 31:1735:1 109:7 110:1 111:15 112:7,11 120:1,14,15 121:3,20 124:3,9 125:5,25 126:17 127:3 129:18 130:3,9 132:24 133:15 134:14 136:10 137:10,21 138:11 139:9,22,25 145:11 146:14,23 159:19 164:25 166:5,12 1974 133:15 1975125:25 126:17 127:4 133:15 166:5 1977 52:19 1986 72:19 86:19 131:9 141:5 165:5 1987 165:5 1989 63:9 199 200:7 1996140:3,12
2
24:17 20 11:15 12:6 13:25
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13:25 103:4 25,000 183:3 29 1:18 200:8 295 3:4
3 30 9:23 12:15 14:1
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4 4:57 197:11 40 1:17 3:9 12:15 14:1
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9 94:13 94 62:8 171:23 9815:16 983-1234 1:24
January 29, 2004 Wall v. Asbestos
Page 16
EXHIBIT C
ROBERT P CAMERON, JR VOLUME 2
219
S U P E R IO R C IT Y
C O U RT S T A T E OF C A L IF O R N IA OF SAN TA BARBARA
X R IC H A R D S T E IN E R a n d C H R IS T IE S T E IN E R ,
P la in t if f s ,
- vs-
C ase N o. 1 374169
ADVANCE AUTO PA R TS , ET A L .,
D e fe n d a n ts .
X
V ID E O T A P E D D E P O S IT IO N o f R O B E R T P . C A M ER O N , J R . , (VO LU M E 2 ) t a k e n p u r s u a n t t o N o t ic e , h e ld a t t h e D O U B LE T R E E B Y H IL T O N H O T E L , 2 1 1 7 R o u te 4 E a s t, F o r t L e e , New J e rs e y , on F rid a y , Ju n e 2 4 , 2 0 1 1 , a t 9 : 3 0 a . m . b e f o r e J E A N N E T T E M C C O R M IC K , a C e r t if ie d S h o rth a n d R e p o rte r, a nd a N o ta ry P u b lic .
220
1
A P P E A R A N C E S:
2
TH E FARRISE LAW FIRM
3
Attorneys for Plaintiffs
225 South O live Street, Suite 102
4
Los Angeles, California 90012
BY: BRENT ZADOROZNY, ESQ.
5
(310) 424-3355 (Telephone)
(510) 588-4536 (Fax)
6
bzadorozny@ farriselaw.com
7
HERZFELD & RUBIN, LLP
8
Attorneys for Defendant
Volkswagen Group of America and the W itness
9
1925 Century Park East, Suite 600
Los Angeles, California 90067
10
BY: CRAIG L. W IN TE R M A N , ESQ.
(310) 553-0451 (Telephone)
11
(310) 553-0648 (Fax)
cwinterman@ hrllp-law.com
12
13
CHARLES FINBERG, ESQ, PLLC
Attorneys for the W itness
14
266 E. S hore N.
G rand Isle, V e rm o n t 05458
15
BY: CHARLES FINBERG, ESQ.
(917) 697-4430 (Telephone)
16
cfin berg@ herzfeld-rubin.com
17
PERKINS COIE, LLP
18
(VIA TELEPHONE)
Attorneys for Defendant
19
Honeywell International Inc.
1888 Century Park East, Suite 1700
20
Los Angeles, California 90067-1721
BY: BENJAMIN SOFFER, ESQ.
21
(310) 788-3222 (Telephone)
(310) 788-3399 (Fax)
22
bsoffer@ perkinscoie.com
23
24 25
221
A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONTINUED)
SEMPER LAW GROUP, LLP
3
(VIA TELEPHONE)
Attorneys for Defendant Parker Hannifin
4
Corporation as successor in interest to
EIS Brake Parts
5
333 South Hope Street, Suite 3950
Los Angeles, California 90071
6
BY: SUKO GOTOH, ESQ.
(213) 437-9700 (Telephone)
7
(213) 596-1479 (Fax)
sgwja@aol.com
8
9
BOWMAN AND BROOKE, LLP
(VIA TELEPHONE)
Attorneys for Defendant
Nissan North America, Inc.
11
879 W. 190th Street, Suite 700
Gardena, California 90248-4227
12
BY: JOHN A. EBERLEIN, ESQ.
(310) 380-6559 (Telephone)
13
(310) 719-1019 (Fax)
john.eberlein@bowmanandbrooke.com
HAWKINS, PARNELL, THACKSTON & YOUNG, LLP
(VIA TELEPHONE)
16
Attorneys for Defendant
i7
Maremont Corporation
444 South Flower Street, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California 90071-2912
BY: KELLY M. HAGEMANN, ESQ.
(213) 486-8087 (Telephone)
19
(213) 486-8080 (Fax)
khagemann@hptylaw.com
POND NORTH, LLP
22
(VIA TELEPHONE) Attorneys for Defendants Genuine Parts Co.
and National Automotive Parts Association
23
350 South Grand Avenue, Suite 3300
Los Angeles, California 90071
BY: RUSSELL W. SCHATZ, ESQ.
(213) 617-6170 (Telephone)
25
(213) 623-3594 (Fax)
rschatz@pondnorth.com
222
A P P E A R A N C E S: (C O N T IN U E D ) 2
3
DeHAY & ELLISTON, LLP
(VIA TELEPH O N E)
4
Attorneys for D efendants Pneum o Abex, LLC
and K aiser G ypsum Com pany, Inc.
5
800 W e st 6th Street, Suite 788
Los Angeles, C alifornia 90017
6
BY: KELVIN W Y LE S , ESQ.
(213) 271-2727 (Telephone)
7
(213) 271-2730 (Fax)
kwyles@ dehay.com 8
9
BOOTH, M ITCH EL & STRANGE, LLP
(VIA TELEPH O N E)
10
A ttorneys for D efendant Borg W a rn e r Corp.
by its s u c c e s s o r in in te re st B org W a rn e r
11
M orse TE C , Inc.
707 W ilshire Boulevard, Suite 4450
12
Los Angeles, C alifornia 90017
BY: STEVEN M. M ITCHEL, ESQ.
13
(213) 422-2122 (Telephone)
(213) 380-3308 (Fax)
14
sm m itchel@ boothm itchel.com
15
16
A lso Present:
17
STANLEY M. RODEN, JD
18
(VIA TELEPH O N E)
Discovery R eferee for S anta B arbara
19
S uperior Court
1455 V incenti Place
20
Santa Barbara, California 93108
(805) 895-7241 (Telephone)
21
sm radr@ cox.net
22
23
THO M AS D ELVECCH IO (Videographer) 24
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR. VOLUME 2
223
1
I N D EX
2 WITNESS
EXAMINATION BY
3
PAGE
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
4
5
MR. ZADOROZNY
224
6
7
EX HIBITS
8
NUMBER
9
DESCRIPTION
PAGE
10
14
Volkswagen Documents
311
11
15
Volkswagen of America's
12
Responses in Simmons Cooper
v. A.W. Chesterton
317
13
16
Volkswagen of America's
14
Responses in Penza v. Audi AG 325
15
17
Defendant's Preliminary
Statement and Objections in
16
Reese v. AC Delco
334
17
18
VWGOA's Responses in
Gaskill v. Abex
338
18
19
Volkswagen Documents
348
19
20
Volkswagen Documents
362
20
21 22
23 24
25
224
1
THE VIDEOGRAPHER: Good morning. The
2
time is approximately 9:37 a.m., Friday, June
3
24, 2011. This is tape number 1, Volume 2 of
4
the videotaped deposition of Mr. Robert
5
Cameron, Junior. We're back on the record.
6
7
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.,
8
previously sworn,
9
10
CONTINUED EXAMINATION
11 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
12
Q. Good morning, Mr. Cameron.
13
A. Good morning.
14
Q. You understand you're still under oath?
15
A. Yes.
16
Q. I think when we were going through your
17 background we ended I think in about '83. Can you 18 tell me after you became -- I'm just trying to find
19 the note so we don't have to go back -- after you
20 became a tech analyst, what was your next position?
21
A. After tech analyst?
22
Q. Yes.
23
A. That wasn't in '83. That was way back in the
24 '70s. I'm sorry. That was in the '60s. I became
25 the product liaison -- supervisor of product
225
1 liaison. That was about '70, '71.
2
Q. Okay. And after that?
3
A. I became the product liaison manager.
4
Q. Okay. And that was when?
5
A. That was about '74, '75.
6
Q. And then after that?
7
A. I became the manager of product liaison.
8 Instead of a section, it became the department. The
9 manager title goes in front in our company.
10
Q. And what were the dates of that?
11
A. That would have been '76, maybe, '77,
12 somewhere in there.
13
Q. Okay. And then what was the next position?
14
A. I held that position until 2005 when I became
15 the general manager product liaison.
16
Q. And at some point did you begin testifying as
17 part of your duties for Volkswagen?
18
A. Yes.
19
Q. And when was that?
20
A. I believe 1968 was the first time I
21 testified.
22
Q. And you testified as an expert, correct?
23
A. Again, I believe I did. I testified
24 concerning mechanical component of the vehicle, how
25 it functioned and how it functioned in the accident
226
1 in question, and what its performance was, and why
2 it did not relate to the recall campaign. At this
3 point I don't recall whether I was qualified as an
4 expert, but that's the type of testimony I gave.
5
Q. Have you since that time testified as an
6 expert?
7
A. Yes.
8
Q. On what areas?
9
A. I testified concerning the fuel systems on
10 our vehicles, the suspension systems on our cars,
11 the braking systems on our vehicles, engine
12 disassembly and assembly. That's what comes to mind
13 right at the moment. I didn't think back on it too
44 far.
15
Q. Okay. In terms of during your whole career
16 at Volkswagen, did you receive any other kind of
17 training or certifications that we haven't talked
18 about?
19
A. Well, I have attended all of the typical
20 schools that the manufacturers provide for their
21 mechanical employees, engines, transmissions, drive
22 train, general repairs, brakes, clutches, things of
23 that nature for Volkswagen and for Audi. I have
24 attended some optional courses for accident
25 reconstruction and injury causation courses at a
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR. VOLUME 2
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1 num ber o f colleges in C alifornia that they put on.
2
Q. A n d is that in preparation fo r som e o f
3 your -- have you te stifie d in accident cases
4 involving Volkswagens?
5
A. Yes.
6
Q. As an expert?
7
A. I believe I have. But again, I don't make
8 notes o f what I am testifying. Usually the Person
9 M ost Knowledgeable or as a person testifying
10 concerning the perform ance o f the product itself,
11
but in a num ber o f cases th e y did e nter me I
12
rem em ber as an expert testimony, which allows for I
13 guess different cross-exam ination.
14
Q. At som e point did you becom e an officer o f
15 Volksw agen?
16
A. No.
17
Q. Now, let's just say currently, how m uch o f
18 your tim e is spent testifying, what percentage?
19
A. O f a year you mean or?
20
Q. Yes, let's say in a year.
21
A. Testifying over a year?
22
Q. Let's say 2010.
23
A. Less than ten percent, maybe five percent or
24 less.
25
Q. And how about w hat percentage would be
228
1 involved in say preparation for testimony or, you
2 know, looking at documents for testimony, anything
3 that would --
4
A. To prepare for that testimony that was
5 scheduled?
6
Q. Yes.
7
A. Maybe another five percent.
8
Q. Are you part o f a liaison group that really
9 heads up testimony for Volkswagen on various issues?
10
A. Well, we provided technical and engineering
11 information and testimony for the group companies.
12
Q. Have you ever -- any other certifications or
13 training that you've received as part o f your job at
14 Volkswagen?
15
A. I think I have mentioned what I recall at the
16 moment.
17
Q. Let me ask you this. Have you taken any
18 courses or done any training in term s o f how to
19 present as a witness?
20
A. How to present as a witness?
21
Q. Yes.
22
A. No. The only information I received in that
23 area was way back in the '80s. At one point in time
24 I was going to appear on the 60 Minutes program and
25 I did receive a day's training for television, not
229
1 presentation, but presence in front o f a television
2 cam era, w h ich is d ifferent than a m ovie cam era.
3
Q. I mean, you have an am azing ability to look
4 at the cam era and not m ake eye contact. I'm
5 wondering if you had some training for that?
6
A. No. I ju s t prefer it if the ju ry is going to
7 see this that they can look at me and I'm looking at
8 them.
9
MR. W INTERM AN: As opposed to attorney
10
sitting at an angle and trying to get the
11
witness to look at them.
12
MR. Z AD O R O ZN Y: I'm ju s t surprised at
13
his focus. He's trem endous, but --
14 B Y MR. ZAD O R O ZN Y:
15
Q. So you didn't take any courses in term s o f
16
how to present to a jury or anything o f that sort?
17
A. No. W hat you see is what you get.
18
Q. Let me ask you this. In term s o f your role
19 testifying say in the last five years, would it be
20
about the -- preparation and testifying, would it be
21
the same, approxim ately 15 percent o f your time?
22
MR. W INTERM AN: Misstates.
23
M ischaracterizes testimony.
24
TH E W IT N E S S : No. I have -- in the last
25
five years? I don't think I have testified
230
1
at trial in the last five years. It's only
2
been depositions, but it's small. Overall
3
for the year it's five percent or less.
4 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
5
Q. Okay. How about the last ten years?
6
A. Ten years? It's been pretty quiet for the
7 last ten years. Probably about the same, maybe a
8 little bit more, but certainly not m uch more.
9
Q. How m any in the last ten years, what would
10 you average, how m any depositions say in a month?
11
A. A month average?
12
Q. Yes.
13
A. One maybe, if you can average it out. They
14 get scheduled over and over and over again. They
15 get postponed. A fter a w hile it's tough to rem em ber
16 w hether you actually did the deposition or not
17 because it gets rescheduled so m any times.
18
Q. Now, I want to talk about your com pensation.
19 Are you com pensated with a bonus in term s o f your
20 perform ance?
21
MR. W INTERM AN: The question is vague
22
and ambiguous.
23
THE W ITNESS: No.
24
BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
25
Q. And have you ever received a bonus, has that
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR. VOLUME 2
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1 ever been part of your compensation package?
1
2
A. The company has a bonus package in place. If
2
3 the company makes money, then there is a bonus paid
3
4 to all employees based upon the percentage o f profit
4
5 that the company makes. Unfortunately, except for
5
6 the last two years, we haven't made money in a long
6
7 time. We have made money in the last two years. So
7
8 there were bonuses paid to all employees, not just
8
9 me.
9
10
Q. So you don't have a -- let me ask you this.
10
11 During your whole time at Volkswagen, you didn't
11
12 have a performance-based bonus?
12
13
A. Performance in your job function is part of
13
14 the evaluation to get the company's bonus, but
14
15 that's not the reason for the bonus. If you're a
15
16 bad-performing employee, then you didn't contribute
16
17 to the success o f the company in making profit, you
17
18 are either not going to get a bonus or get a smaller
18
19 bonus. If you're a good-performing employee, then
19
20 you get the normal bonus.
20
21
Q. Let's just say in the last five years, what
21
22 has your salary averaged?
22
23
A. I'm not going to tell you that.
23
24
MR. W INTERMAN: That invades his right
24
25
to privacy.
25
232
1
MR. ZADOROZNY: I do believe it goes to
1
2
bias. And so I do think it's -- generally,
2
3
witnesses give this information all the time.
3
4
MR. WINTERMAN: Well, I disagree. And I
4
5
think it violates his right to privacy. And
5
6
I am going to instruct him not to answer.
6
7
You can ask the discovery referee if he wants
7
8
to make any recom m endations for a ruling on
8
9
it if you think it's improper, but I think it
9
10
totally violates his right to privacy.
10
11
MR. ZADOROZNY: I do. Mr. Roden?
11
12
MR. RODEN: W hat's the justification for
12
13
this? How does how much money you earn show
13
14
bias, whether it's X or Y dollars?
14
15
MR. ZADOROZNY: W ell, it certainly
15
16
obviously gives him a motivation to do well
16
17
in term s o f his testimony. I mean, I think
17
18
it's a very common question that is asked of
18
19
PM Q witnesses, and it goes directly to, you
19
20
know, why he's doing what he's doing.
20
21
MR. RODEN: W ait a second. You are
21
22
arguing, if I am reading this correctly, you
22
23
are arguing that if he does well in the
23
24
deposition it saves money for the company, he
24
25
will be rewarded in some way so he's, in
25
233
essence, his testim ony is contingent or his salary, rather, is contingent on the outcome o f the case which could link back to his testimony? Is that what you are arguing?
MR. ZADORO ZNY: That's what I'm arguing. MR. RODEN: Is this depo going to finish today? MR. ZADOROZNY: I am hoping to, but I don't know. MR. RODEN: All right. So I'm going to -- right now I'm not going to rule on this. W hile you're yakking away on all the other subjects, I'm going to do a little quick research. Do you have any authority to cite by the way? MR. ZADORO ZNY: I could probably find some. Do you want me to -MR. RODEN: I don't want to bog this down, but I don't want to -MR. ZADORO ZNY: I can send a message to the office and have them send you something. MR. RODEN: Oh, all right. That would be great. Yeah. Because this is a sensitive area. I am not saying you're wrong, trust me on that, but it strikes me that that's pretty
234
farfetched, pretty tenuous, but for discovery purposes maybe it's allowable. I don't know. I am sure there must be something out there on it that I'm not aware of. Anybody on the line have anything to contribute?
MR. WINTERMAN: This is Craig Winterman, Mr. Roden, and clearly I believe it's totally irrelevant. This witness has been with the company for over 40 years. If anybody wants to allege bias, go ahead and allege bias because he happens to be a long-term company employee. They asked for a PMQ of a company to get -- going back to the '60s. We produced a person who has been with the com pany the longest. And now he's being accused of purportedly being biased because he gets paid by the com pany? I mean, that's a non sequitur. It doesn't make any sense. You know if this --
DEFENSE COUNSEL: It just seem s to me -- I know that expert witnesses are asked how much money they make in connection with expert testimony, not the total amount they make. The only reason I'm chiming in is because I don't want to get bogged down
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR. VOLUME 2
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1
because. I w ant to get this thing finished
2
so I can get out of here.
3
MR. RODEN: I understand. If anybody
4
has any authority, please just e-m ail it to
5
me. I am on W est Law. So just give me
6
w hatever it's going to take to rule on this,
7
and let's just -- don't forget, B rent, to
8
rem ind m e not to conclude this until I've
9
ruled on it. I d o n 't w a n t to th a t happen,
10
but I also don't w ant to bog this down. If
11
you could m ove on to another subject, we will
12
ju s t hold th is in abeyance.
13
MR. ZADOROZNY: Let's just take a
14
one-m inute break. I am going to ask fo r some
15
authority to be sent to you.
16
MR. RODEN: Okay. I appreciate that
17
very much.
18
MR. ZADO RO ZN Y: Should it be sent to
19
everybody? I guess yes.
20
MR. RODEN: Yes, I would assume so.
21
MR. ZADOROZNY: Let's go o ff the record
22
for just a second.
23
(Discussion off the record.)
24
BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
25
Q. Som ething that I forgot to ask yesterday. Do
236
1 you know if VWGOA ever put out any MSDS sheets for
2 any o f its products that contained asbestos?
3
MR. FINBERG: Objection. Lack of
4
foundation.
5
THE WITNESS: Volkswagen of America
6
itself, not that I know of.
7 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
8
Q. Do you know if VW GOA ever received any MSDS
9 sheets for any of the asbestos-containing products
10 that it distributed?
11
A. I believe they did in the past. Sheets were
12 received from the suppliers o f the parts.
13
Q. Okay. Do you know if those were ever passed
14 on to dealerships?
15
A. I don't know.
16
Q. Have you ever seen a copy o f one o f the MSDS
17 sheets that were received for asbestos-containing
18 parts by VW GOA?
19
A. No.
20
Q. We talked a little bit about the conversation
21 that you had regarding the product being chrysotile.
22 Do you remember that testimony?
23
A. Our conversation with one o f the factory
24 engineers, yes.
25
Q. Yes. Do you remember at that time -- was
237
1 that in G erm any or w as that in the United States?
2
A. I believe it was in the United States.
3
Q. He had brought the docum ent to you?
4
A. He had the docum ent in his briefcase.
5
Q. And that w as in preparation for testim ony?
6
A. He w as here in reference to a case that he
7 was involved in and I was discussing asbestos with
8 him. He was the designated asbestos engineer from
9 Germany.
10
Q. And you didn't m ake a copy o f that paperwork
11 that talked about the form ulations o f the
12 asbestos-containing products?
13
MR. FINBERG: Objection. Misstates.
14
Lack o f foundation.
15
THE WITNESS: No. He simply showed me
16
the document. I believe, as I said
17
yesterday, it w as in G erm an, so I couldn't
18
read the whole thing, but he did point me to
19
a line that talked about percent asbestos,
20
and it said 30 percent for that particular
21
brake shoe that was involved in that case.
22
BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
23
Q. And the first lawsuit in which som eone
24 alleged exposure to asbestos from a Volkswagen
25
product was in 1983?
238
1
A. We received it in 1983, yes.
2
Q. And was that when you -- in preparation for
3 that lawsuit, is that when you saw this document
4 from Volkswagen AG?
5
A. No. It was a number of years later when I
6 saw that document.
7
Q. Let me ask you this. In terms of defense of
8 asbestos-related injury or death cases, does
9 Volkswagen AG assist VWGOA in defending those cases?
10
MR. FINBERG: Objection. Argumentative.
11
Conclusory. Vague and ambiguous.
12
THE WITNESS: Yes, they do provide
13
technical assistance for us.
14 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
15
Q. Witnesses?
16
A. Yes.
17
Q. Have you ever asked whether they still have
18 the document that talks about the material
19 specifications for asbestos-containing products sold
20 by Volkswagen?
21
A. Well, again, I couldn't tell you if that's
22 what that document is classified as. My question
23 was what was the percentage of asbestos in our brake
24 shoes, and he took this document out and it showed
25 on a line 30 percent. So that's what was on that
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR. VOLUME 2
239
1 document. Was that the document showing the makeup
2 of brake linings and the specifications for it? I
3 don't know. It was in German and I don't read
4 German.
5
Q. Let me just rephrase my question then. Have
6 you -- during the time period when Volkswagen AG is
7 lending assistance, have you said hey remember that
8 document that you showed me do you still have that?
9
A. Well, I can't do that because that particular
10 engineer has retired a number of years ago. But I
11 have never asked them for a copy of the document.
12
Q. You ever asked them hey do you have any
13 documents that show how much asbestos and what type
14 of asbestos was in any of our asbestos-containing
15 products?
16
A. I've never asked them, but I'm sure they have
17 technical specifications for the brake shoes which
18 would outline what's in them.
19
Q. But you've never asked for that?
20
A. No.
21
Q. How difficult would it be? If you just
22 picked up the phone and called them, do you think
23 you could get that information?
24
A. Well, right now they are going on vacation,
25 so I doubt if I could get it right now, but I could
240
1 ask them for it. W hether they would supply that
2 particular document to me, they would have to decide
3 w hether they wanted to release it or not. They
4 don't always give us the stuff that we ask for.
5
Q. I want to ask you this. Have you ever -- has
6 Volkswagen ever had an industrial hygienist visit a
7 plant where the friction products themselves were
8 being installed or removed?
9
MR. FINBERG: Objection. Vague.
10
MR. W INTERMAN: I didn't catch who you
11
asked for, which com pany did you say?
12
MR. ZADOROZNY: I will rephrase. I
13
think I said the wrong company.
14
MR. WINTERMAN: That's what I thought.
15 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
16
Q. Has VW G O A ever had an industrial hygienist
17 visit a plant where friction products were being
18 installed or rem oved?
19
A. I'm sorry, what was the last word?
20
Q. Or removed.
21
A. Or removed? Well, the only place that
22 Volkswagen had the industrial hygienist was in
23 W estm oreland. The products were being installed
24 there, but they were included in another assembly.
25
So they weren't -- there was nobody actually
241
1 handling the friction products in W estm oreland.
2 They were installed in wheel assemblies that were
3 being put on the vehicles. Other than him being
4 there and inspecting those plants and the work areas
5 in there, I don't know o f him doing anything else.
6
Q. W hen did you first find out about an
7 industrial hygienist going to the plant?
8
A. Going to the plant?
9
Q. Yes. Going to the plant.
10
A. Or being part o f the work force at the plant.
11
Q. Either way. Being at the plant.
12
A. I believe it was when we received in a
13 W orkm en's Comp claim concerning one o f our
14 warehouses in Ohio. And when I read the report from
15 the insurance company in there, there was
16 information from an industrial hygienist who turned
17 out was an employee o f the W estm oreland plant.
18 That's when I first came across the person.
19
Q. And when was that?
20
A. Oh, that -- late '80s, early '90s, somewhere
21 in there. I am just guessing. I couldn't give you
22 an exact date.
23
Q. I am going to try not to mark it because the
24 court reporter is already going to be carrying a lot
25 o f things. She's such a great court reporter.
242
1
I'm going to hand you this. Let your counsel
2 see it first. It's a transcript from the Circuit
3
Court, Third Judicial Circuit, Madison County,
4
Illinois, C a ndas K. F rost and Greg F rost v. A. W.
5
C hesterton, e t al. It's a d eposition on M ay 27,
6 2009 of you.
7
DEFENSE CO UNSEL: I'm sorry, Counsel,
8
w hat year did you say this transcript is
9
from ?
10
MR. ZADO RO ZN Y: It is from 2009. May
11
27th, 2009.
12
MR. W INTERM AN: Okay. Thank you.
13
BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
14
Q. Can you please take a look at page 139?
15
A. Page 139 of the transcript?
16
Q. O f the transcript.
17
A. There is two --
18
Q. It is two different things.
19
A. Okay.
20
Q. I'm going to read from line 19 on page 139 to
21
line 10 on page 140 skipping the colloquy.
22
MR. FINBERG: Please read the colloquy
23
too.
24
MR. ZADOROZNY: Okay.
25
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243
1 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
2
Q. "Question: Okay. Have you ever had an
3 industrial hygienist visit any of the plants where
4 the asbestos-containing friction material was being
5 removed or installed? Mr. Toohey: Objection as to
6 any discussion regarding any aspect of Volkswagen's
7 operations after December 31, 1976. Mr. Connelly:
8 I am not agreeing to that stipulation, counsel.
9 Question: Go ahead and answer that, sir. Answer:
10 Your question is have we ever had an industrial
11 hygienist visit a plant where the products were
12 being -- the friction products themselves were being
13 installed or removed? Question: Which contained
14 asbestos. Yes, sir. Answer: Not that I know of."
15
So I'm confused. In 2009, you appear not to
16 have an understanding that there was an industrial
17 hygienist at the plant where asbestos-containing
18 materials were being installed?
19
MR. WINTERMAN: And removed.
20
A. Is that your question?
21
Q. Yes.
22
A. I just explained to you that we don't install
23 and remove the asbestos friction products at the
24 plant in Westmoreland. Those components come inside
25 of another -- front wheel assembly, left or right or
244
1 the whole rear axle. So I said if you mean within
2 another component, yes, we do put them on the car,
3 but we don't touch the friction products. They are
4 inside o f other component. Nobody is taking the
5 brake shoes and putting them on the car or taking
6 them o ff the car. They are putting a whole wheel
7 assem bly on, and within that wheel assem bly is the
8 brake shoes.
9
Q. So your testim ony today under oath is that
10 you don't have any inform ation that an industrial
11
hygienist was present and monitoring any -- at any
12 V olksw agen plant the actual -- let me m ake it very
13 specific -- taking out o f boxes o f brake parts that
14 contain asbestos?
15
MR. FINBERG: Object to the form o f the
16
question. It's -- it is oppressive and
17
harassing in that form.
18
MR. W INTERM AN: I object to the form of
19
the question just because it's vague and
20
ambiguous now because you started and
21
stopped. If you w ant to rephrase it, maybe
22
it will be clearer for the record.
23
MR. ZADOROZNY: I don't, but if he
24
doesn't understand it, I will rephrase it.
25
MR. WINTERMAN: Okay. Then my formal
245
1
objection is vague, ambiguous, uncertain and
2
unintelligible.
3
THE WITNESS: I am not sure of what your
4
question is right at the moment. Maybe you
5
could restate or have the reporter read it
6
back to me.
7 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
8
Q. I will restate it. My question is, are you
9 aware that there was an industrial hygienist
10 employed by Volkswagen that monitored work in plants
11 that actually involved the -- I'm going to make it
12 very simple -- the removal o f asbestos brakes from
13 boxes?
14
MR. WINTERMAN: Would you read the
15
question back to me, please, Ms. Reporter.
16
Thank you.
17
(Question read back as follows:)
18
"QUESTION: My question is, are you
19
aware that there was an industrial hygienist
20
employed by Volkswagen that monitored work in
21
plants -- "
22
MR. W INTERMAN: Okay. Stop. That's all
23
I needed. You mean Volkswagens Group of
24
America, Incorporate, not Volkswagen --
25
MR. ZADOROZNY: Volkswagen Group of
246
1
America.
2
MR. WINTERMAN: Okay. With that
3
understanding, go ahead.
4
THE WITNESS: Volkswagen Group of
5
America only had one assembly plant. That
6
was in Westmoreland, Pennsylvania. And I
7
explained to you that nobody was opening up
8
boxes of brake shoes and installing them on
9
vehicles or taking them off vehicles in
10
Westmoreland. The brake shoes were included
11
in other assemblies that we received in big
12
boxes and took the whole assembly and put it
13
on the car, or took it off the car if they
14
had to take it off to reinstall it for some
15
reason. We were not dealing with boxes of
16
brake shoes coming in and assembling brake
17
components. That was not done in
18
Westmoreland.
19 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
20
Q. So you don't recall any sort of industrial
21 hygienist doing any kind of study of that type of
22 removing asbestos-containing brake shoes from boxes?
23
MR. WINTERMAN: At the factory?
24
THE WITNESS: At the factory?
25
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247
1 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
2
Q. Anywhere at Volkswagen.
3
A. Now you have changed it again.
4
MR. FINBERG: Objection. Object to the
5
form. Vague and ambiguous as to Volkswagen.
6 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
7
Q. Excuse me. I keep forgetting. VW GOA?
8
A. You changed the question again. W e have one
9 assembly plant where the industrial hygienist was
10 monitoring the interior o f the plant. I mentioned
11 earlier there was a W orkm en's Com p claim concerning
12 a parts warehouse where there was a claim concerning
13 asbestos, and he did go there, monitored the work
14 area for returned brake parts, which were being
15 taken out o f boxes and sorted into other boxes for
16 return to the brake reliner. He monitored that,
17 found out that the asbestos levels in the work area
18 were below OSHA specifications. That he did do.
19 That is the only thing I know of. I know he also,
20 in his monitoring o f the factory in W estm oreland,
21 found some maintenance room in the plant that had
22 high levels o f asbestos, but again below the OSHA
23 levels. Those are the only two asbestos readings
24 that I know that this man ever found.
25
Q. Okay. And were there reports for either of
248
1 those?
2
A. Yes.
3
Q. And have those reports been produced in this
4 litigation?
5
A. I don't know.
6
Q. Do you have copies of those reports in your
7 office someplace?
8
A. I don't, no. But m y counsel does.
9
Q. And this warehouse that you're talking about,
10 this parts w arehouse, is that a Volksw agen -- excuse
11 me -- is that a V W G O A facility?
12
A. Y es, it w as at the time. It's the one that
13 we to o k over from the distributor that owned it
14 prior to us buying the distributorship back.
15
Q. Did VW G O A then send the industrial hygienist
16 to all o f the parts warehouses to m onitor to see if
17 there w as any issue with asbestos exposure?
18
A. No. It was felt that the levels were okay
19 th e re , they should be okay in the other ones.
20
Q. And when was this, do you know?
21
A. I don't want to guess. The report would
22 reflect the date.
23
Q. Not only is one o f your duties at V W G O A to
24 testify as an expert w itness, but you also are
25
responsible for providing technical assistance in
249
1 the defense of product liability cases, correct?
2
A. Yes.
3
Q. What percentage of your job is that part of
4 it, providing the technical assistance in the
5 defense of product liability cases?
6
MR. WINTERMAN: You are talking about
7
presently?
8 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
9
Q. Presently?
10
A. In actual case defense?
11
Q. Yes.
12
A. Less than ten percent.
13
Q. And as part of that, have you researched
14 historical knowledge of asbestos?
15
A. I'm sorry, is that your question?
16
Q. Yes.
17
A. I didn't know you were finished. I am sorry.
18
Q. Yes.
19
A. I had researched some information on asbestos
20 years ago, but again, I'm not the main person who
21 would testify concerning asbestos and what it's made
22 up of.
23
Q. Okay. Have you done research in terms of
24 when VW GOA first obtained any information concerning
25 dangers associated with exposure to asbestos?
250
1
A. I haven't done research. I w as there in the
2 '70s when this inform ation w as unfolding, and that's
3 where my knowledge comes from.
4
Q. And w hy do you say that the know ledge w as
5 unfolding in the '70s? Let's ju st say today. Are
6 you not aware that there was research and papers,
7 you know, as early as the '40s involving dangers
8 associated with asbestos?
9
MR. W IN T E R M A N : T he question is
10
compound. Argumentative.
11
TH E W IT N E S S : I'm sorry. Is everybody
12
finished with their objections?
13
MR. W INTERMAN: Yes.
14
THE W ITNESS: I was talking about the
15
autom obile industry, and the inform ation that
16
there w as asbestos in autom obiles and that --
17
w hich everybody in the autom obile industry
18
knew anyway from day one, but that there was
19
som e question as to w h e th er the asbestos in
20
autom obiles was harmful to people working on
21
the vehicles and people driving the vehicles
22
and people around the vehicles, as it w as
23
being discussed, norm ally in buildings and
24
other areas.
25
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251
1 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
2
Q. But w hat I'm talking about is m ore general
3 knowledge. T he know ledge that if you breathe in
4 asbestos it can kill you. You're aw are that there
5 were papers and studies going back actually to the
6 Teens and the '20s, certainly by the '40s, talking
7 about dangers associated with breathing asbestos?
8
MR. FINBERG: Objection. Argumentative.
9
Misstates. Lack of foundation.
10
THE W ITNESS: W ell, again, I know there
11
are different types of asbestos, and I know
12
the type of asbestos th a t's in autom obiles.
13
And w as m ore interested in th e p e rform ance of
14
that particular product, not what was
15
happening with the buildings and other
16
things, insulation materials, siding for
17
houses, floor tiles, and all those things
18
going on. W e didn't have th o se th in g s in
19
autom obiles. W e were using som ething else.
20
And my research had led me to believe that
21
those typ e s o f asbestos used in autom obiles
22
was not causing this particular type of
23
injury.
24
BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
25
Q. Okay. Tell me w hat -- strike that.
252
1
W hen did you do that research?
2
A. It started in 1983.
3
Q. Okay. So -- and I want to make this clear.
4 VW G O A started researching the issue after it was
5 served with its first lawsuit?
6
MR. FINBERG: Misstates.
7
TH E W ITN ESS : You just asked me when did
8
I first do it. I first started doing it in
9
1983. Other people at Volkswagen Group of
10
America or Volkswagen o f America, as it was
11
known then, may have done it. I don't know.
12 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
13
Q. Have you tried to talk to anyone or ask
14 anyone about when they may have started to raise
15 issues concerning dangers associated with asbestos?
16
A. Yes, I did.
17
Q. W ho did you try to talk to about that
18 specific issue?
19
A. Back when this case first came in in 1983, I
20 started looking into what we knew at Volkswagen of
21 America, and Volkswagen Group o f America is a
22
marketing company. We're not an engineering
23 company. W e're not a research company. W e're a
24 sales company. W e sell cars, parts and accessories.
25 And, therefore, there's limited information as to
253
1 how a car is designed and what a car is made o f at a
2 marketing organization. But when the case came in,
3 I started asking around as to what we had in the way
4 o f information concerning asbestos. I talked to
5 G unther Storbeck, who was in charge o f the emissions
6 group at the time. He was the guy that I thought
7 would be receiving whatever information there was
8 concerning asbestos or anything concerning bad air
9 quality in the cars. And I talked to him. And I
10 also talked to a couple o f the factory engineers at
11 the time for other reasons.
12
Q. W hat did they tell you?
13
A. That, as I know, that there is asbestos in
14 cars. The type o f asbestos that we had been using
15 and were using was chrysotile. That it was not seen
16 to be a cancer-causing material in the applications
17 within vehicles, and that there was no problem with
18 it. Other types o f asbestos, which were being found
19 in buildings and other products, and those were
20 harmful to the public.
21
Q. And did they point you to any literature that
22 supported that position?
23
A. No.
24
Q. Did they tell you they had researched it or
25 talked to a doctor about that position?
254
1
A. The factory engineers had, yes.
2
Q. Do you know which doctor they had talked to?
3
A. No. A German doctor within the factory at
4 the time.
5
Q. And you keep talking about chrysotile as --
6 strike that. Let me ask you this.
7
Were you told that chrysotile asbestos does
8 not cause cancer?
9
A. I was told that there was no evidence that
10 chrysotile asbestos used in automobiles was causing
11 any cancer problems.
12
Q. Any cancer at all?
13
A. That's what I just said.
14
Q. And based on what these engineers told you,
15 did any o f them have any medical background?
16
A. They were dealing with medical staff at the
17 factory. I had no reason to doubt them. They are
18 experts in their own particular areas.
19
Q. And these were engineers from Volkswagen AG?
20
A. Yes.
21
Q. And is it your testimony that Volkswagen,
22 based on these conversations with engineers in the
23 '80s, made a determination that the asbestos in
24 whatever products that they were distributing was
25 not dangerous?
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255
1
MR. WINTERMAN: Would you restate the
2
question? I'm sorry. W ould you reread the
3
question to me please, Ms. Reporter?
4
(Question read back as follows:)
5
"Q UESTIO N: And is it your testim ony
6
that Volkswagen, based on these conversations
7
with engineers in the '80s, m ade a
8
determ ination that the asbestos in w hatever
9
products that they were distributing was not
10
dangerous?"
11
MR. W INTERM AN: Let's go back. My
12
objection is you've now switched Volkswagen
13
again and we got to stay with --
14
MR. ZADOROZNY: VWGOA.
15
MR. WINTERMAN: Could I have the
16
question --
17
MR. ZADO RO ZN Y: You want it restated?
18
MR. W INTERM AN: Yes, please.
19 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
20
Q. So, is it your testim ony today that V W G O A in
21 reliance upon what a couple o f engineers told you
22 determ ined that they believed that the asbestos in
23 th e ir -- what they were distributing did not cause
24 cancer?
25
MR. FINBERG: Objection. Argumentative.
256
1
THE W ITNESS: I don't think that's the
2
whole story.
3
BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
4
Q. W hat's the whole story?
5
MR. FINBERG: Objection. Vague and
6
am biguous. C alls fo r a narrative.
7
THE W ITNESS: It does call fo r a
8
narrative. The question of asbestos w as
9
g e n era lly b e in g d iscussed in the autom obile
10
industry at that time. And the autom obile
11
m anufacturers and the people involved with
12
the braking system s within vehicles were
13
talking to one another and being involved.
14
And the conclusion w as that the type of
15
a sb e sto s being used in the ca rs, and
16
sp e cifica lly in o u r ca rs, w a s not the
17
dangerous type and w as not causing any harm
18
to our custom ers or the people working around
19
our cars or the people walking around our
20
cars. And that w as the conclusion based upon
21
input from a num ber o f people, both from
22
G erm any and within the company. But again,
23
Volkswagen of Am erica w as a marketing
24
com pany, and we rely upon the m anufacturer
25
and supplier of the part to advise us
257
1
concerning the application o f the part and
2
the safety o f the part.
3 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
4
Q. One o f the m anufacturers and suppliers o f the
5 part was Volkswagen AG, correct?
6
A. They were our main supplier and manufacturer,
7 yes.
8
Q. Right. And at som e point there was warnings
9 on the products that you received, correct?
10
A. W hich products?
11
Q. A sbestos-containing products that VG O A
12 received from its m anufacturers.
13
A. From some o f the suppliers there were
14 w arnings on th e boxes, not from all suppliers.
15
Q. How about Volksw agen AG, did it warn?
16
A. No.
17
Q. How about the European -- I don't know what
18
it is -- EVA or EVE or w hatever you were talking
19 about --
20
A. European Parts Exchange? EPE?
21
Q. Yes.
22
A. They did put w arnings on their boxes.
23
Q. W hat about Abex?
24
A. I don't know --
25
MR. WYLES: Objection. Calls for
258
1
speculation. Wyles.
2
THE WITNESS: I don't know what Abex put
3
on its boxes. I don't believe we received
4
boxes from Abex.
5 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
6
Q. But VWGOA never went out and put any warnings
7 on any of its products regarding a cancer risk
8 associated with asbestos?
9
A. You mean the products that we imported? We
10 didn't make products. W e imported the products.
11
Q. You distributed products?
12
A. And distributed them, that's correct. No, we
13 did not put anything on the boxes ourselves.
14
Q. And you never had somebody go to a doctor and
15 make a determination as to whether there was a
16 danger associated with the asbestos in parts, in
17 asbestos-containing parts, that VW GOA was
18 distributing?
19
A. Again, we are a marketing organization. We
20 have to rely upon the makers and the suppliers of
21 the components to us to do the research, and we
22 believed that they had done the research, and the
23 assurances we received from them was sufficient.
24
Q. They were warning you though at some point?
25
A. Who?
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1
Q. The manufacturers. They were telling you
2 this product can cause cancer, correct?
3
MR. WINTERMAN: Misstates.
4
Mischaracterizes testimony. The question is
5
vague, ambiguous, uncertain and
6
unintelligible. I apologize again, Counsel,
7
I have to have it read back because it just
8
didn't make any sense to me.
9
MR. FINBERG: Also --
10
MR. ZADOROZNY: Let's finish this one
11
and then we'll take a break.
12
(Question read back as follows:)
13
"QUESTION: And you never had somebody
14
go to a doctor and make a determination as to
15
whether there was a danger associated with
16
the asbestos in parts, in asbestos-containing
17
parts, that VWGOA was distributing?
18
"ANSWER: Again, we are a marketing
19
organization. We have to rely upon the
20
makers and the suppliers of the components to
21
us to do the research, and we believed that
22
they had done the research, and the
23
assurances we received from them was
24
sufficient.
25
"QUESTION: They were warning you though
260
1
at some point?
2
"ANSWER: Who?
3
"QUESTION: The manufacturers. They
4
were telling you this product can cause
5
cancer, correct?"
6
MR. WINTERMAN: That question is vague,
7
ambiguous, uncertain and unintelligible. I'm
8
not sure who you're referring to.
9
MR. ZADOROZNY: The manufacturers.
10
MR. WINTERMAN: I don't know who they
11
are. He's testified to a multitude of them
12
that supplied parts.
13 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
14
Q. Any of them. Did any of the manufacturers of
15 the asbestos-containing products warn you that the
16 product could cause cancer?
17
A. The only supplier to us that I know of that
18 had any warning label on its product was EPE, which
19 they put a warning label on all boxes that they used
20 for distribution of brake parts to any manufacturer
21 that they made brake parts for, which there were
22 other people that they made besides us. For us they
23 did reline brake shoes for us. And the boxes we
24 received from them had a standard, what I call the
25 standard warning label that was being put on boxes
261
1 back then by some people, and they put it on all
2 their boxes for a while.
3
Q. It warned you that the product could cause
4 cancer, correct?
5
A. That's what it said on the warning label,
6 yes.
7
Q. That the product could kill people, correct?
8
A. I don't recall whether it said it could kill
9 people, but it said it could cause cancer, as I
10 recall.
11
Q. And you didn't at that time say --
12
MR. ZADOROZNY: You know what? It's
13
time to take a break. I am sorry. Let's go
14
off the record.
15
THE VIDEOGRAPHER: We're now going off
16
the record. The time is approximately 10:26
17
a.m.
18
(Recess from 10:26 to 10:37.)
19
THE VIDEOGRAPHER: We are now going back
20
on the video record. The time is
21
approximately 10:37 a.m.
22 BY MR. ZADOROZNY:
23
Q. Mr. Cameron, when we got off I was asking
24 about warnings that VWGOA had received and what was
25 done about that. And I think we established that
262
1 there were some warnings received by VWGOA by at
2 least one manufacturer that warned about a cancer
3 risk, correct?
4
A. One of the suppliers was putting a warning on
5 its boxes, yes.
6
Q. And my question is, when VWGOA received that
7 warning, did they hire an expert doctor or an
8 industrial hygienist, or did they hire somebody to
9 go out and research the issue to determine whether
10 there was a danger associated with products that
11 they were distributing?
12
A. No.
13
Q. Did they go out of their way to put any kind
14 of warning on any of the products that they were
15 distributing that contained asbestos?
16
A. No. They relied upon the information
17 supplied by the other manufacturers who were not
18 putting warnings on their boxes that it was not
19 necessary to put that warning on there.
20
Q. Okay. Now let me follow up on that. So
21 you're saying that while some of the manufacturers
22 were sending boxes that contained warnings, others
23 were not. Is that your testimony?
24
A. No.
25
Q. Okay. Then I didn't understand your
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
P. CAMERON, JR. - VOLUME 2
395
1
Obviously, we're going to meet and confer in
1
2
good faith. Hopefully, we can resolve all
2
3
these issues without having to file a motion.
3
4
However, we do th in k it's im perative that any
4
5
documents that are to be produced be produced
5
6
in a fashion such that we can review them
6
7
with time to prepare for the deposition,
7
8
which in my mind m eans either, one, I do come
8
9
out here a couple days early and they are
9
10
produced, or two, they are produced in
10
11
electronic form or som e other form in Los
11
12
Angeles days before, so that I have a chance
12
13
to review them prior to the deposition.
13
14
MR. WINTERMAN: As I indicated to
14
15
counsel earlier and to everyone else who was
15
16
on the phone, I am more than happy to meet
16
17
and confer with counsel. It is our position
17
18
that we produced the appropriate documents
18
19
that were called for and that we did assert
19
20
appropriate objections to various documents
20
21
because o f them being overbroad, vague and
21
22
ambiguous, and variety o f other reasons that
22
23
are all set forth in our objections. But
23
24
notwithstanding all o f that, I will be happy
24
25
to meet and confer with counsel and see if we
25
396
1
can agree on which d ocum ents counsel is
1
2
interested in getting, and we w ill see if we
2
3
can agree to get those documents if they
3
4
exist. And then I am also agreeable to not
4
5
having counsel have to com e all the w ay back
5
6
out here during the 4th o f July weekend or
6
7
any tim e around that, but we will try to get
7
8
them to him in LA as quickly as possible.
8
9
So, I would urge that the two o f us get
9
10
together, hopefully, maybe M onday or at least
10
11
talk on Monday, if not over the weekend. I
11
12
am m ore than happy to do it over the w eekend.
12
13
I will give you my cell phone. W e can get
13
14
the ball m oving and see w hat w e can agree on.
14
15
W e can w o rk this out and it shouldn't be a
15
16
p roblem .
16
17
MR. RODEN: All right. I appreciate -
17
18
believe me, all the w ay th rough this, both o f
18
19
you have dem onstrated the highest level of
19
20
professional skill-sets and respect for one
20
21
another. So it's much appreciated. And I
21
22
didn't want that to go unnoticed.
22
23
MR. ZADOROZNY: I do want to say -- we
23
24
can actually do this on or off the record,
24
25
that counsel at one point put on his
25
397
sunglasses and threw me off. I recovered quickly. So that w as okay.
MR. W INTERM AN: The fluorescent light w a s so b righ t in here.
MR. ZADOROZNY: That m akes sense. MR. W IN T E R M A N : W e are -- ju s t in te rm s of the expansion of the scope of the deposition to include an am endm ent, again, that will be som ething that we will address with counsel. I don't w ant to let anybody believe that we are agreeing with that, but we will certainly address it, and m eet and confer and see if we can arrive at an agreem ent w ith respect to that. If we can't, then it will be som ething that would have to be taken up with the discovery referee. MR. RODEN: And then be sure to get on R.A. C arrington's dance card fo r the 5th. MR. W INTERM AN: Oh, that's right. T hank you very much. MR. ZADOROZNY: There's going to be a switch-off. I forgot. You are going to be in the B a ltic som eplace having a good tim e. MR. RODEN: I am going to be teaching that particular w eek at Chautauqua, and it's
398
a morning class from 8:30 to 10:30 Eastern tim e. So it w ouldn't be possible fo r me to jum p on the line for this, even if we wanted to keep continuity. So if there is a problem with R.A., he and I will w ork it out.
MR. ZADOROZNY: Are you going to sort of update him on the issues?
MR. RODEN: Yes. I will send him an e-mail right now actually.
MR. W INTERM AN: That would be great. Both for m yself and for Brent, I will tell you that we appreciate you're being involved and appreciate all your efforts on this.
MR. ZADOROZNY: Thanks. MR. RODEN: You did all the work. Take care. Have a great weekend. Travel safely. (W hereupon, the deposition was adjourned at 3:33 p.m.)
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR. VOLUME 2
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I wish to m ake the follow ing changes, fo r the
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ROBERT CAMERON, JR.
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DATE
400
1
C ERT IFICAT E
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I, JEANNETTE McCORMICK, a Certified
6 Shorthand Reporter and Notary Public, certify that
7 the foregoing is a true and accurate Computerized
8 Transcript o f the Deposition within. 9
10
I further certify that I am neither
11 attorney, o f counsel for, nor related to or employed
12 by any o f the parties to the action in which the
13 Depositions are taken, and further that I am not a
14 relative or employee o f any attorney or counsel
15 employed in this case, nor am I financially
16 interested in the action. 17
18
19
20
21 JEANNETTE McCORMICK, C.S.R.
NJ CSR No. XI-920 Expiration Date 6/30/10 22 My Notary Commission Expires on December 20, 2012
Firm No. Dallas: 69 Houston: 373
23 1-888-656-DEPO 24
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
EXHIBIT D
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
1
3
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
----------------------------------------------------------- x
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: 2
3
LAWRENCE BOMAN and SHIRLEY BOMAN,
P laintiffs,
-against-
Case No.
ALFA LAVAL, INC. (sued
BC 405823
in d iv id u a lly and as
successor-in-interest to THE
DELAVAL SEPARATOR COMPANY and
SHARPLES CORPORATION), et a l.,
Defendants.
----------------------------------------------------------- x
4 SIMON, EDDINS & GREENSTONE, L.L.P. 5 BY: JAY E. STUEMKE, ESQ. 6 3232 McKinney Avenue 7 Suite 610 8 Dallas, Texas 75204 9 (214) 276.7680 / (214) 276.7699 (FAX) 10 jstuemke@seglaw.com 11 Attorneys for the Plaintiffs 12
13 HERZFELD & RUBIN, L.L.P.
VIDEOTAPED DEPOSITION OF: ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR. Friday, July 31, 2009 New York, New York
14 BY: CRAIG L. WINTERMAN, ESQ. 15 1925 Century Park East 16 Suite 600 17 Los Angeles, California 90067 18 (310) 553.0451 / (310) 553.0648 (FAX)
19 cwinterman@hrllp-law.com
20 Attorneys for the Defendant,
21 Volkswagen of America, Inc. and
Reported in stenotype by: Rich Germosen, CCR, CRCR, RPR, CRR, CLR
22 Robert P. Cameron, Jr. 23 24 25
2
1
Videotaped Deposition o f ROBERT P. CAMERON,
2 JR., taken in the above-entitled matter before RICH
3 GERMOSEN, Certified Court Reporter, (License No.
4 30XI00184700), Certified Realtime Court Reporter-NJ,
5 (License No. 30XR00016800), NCRA Registered
6 Professional Reporter, NCRA Certified Realtime
7 Reporter, Certified LiveNote Reporter, and a Notary
8 Public within and for the States of New York and New
9 Jersey, taken at the offices o f HERZFELD & RUBIN,
10 L.L.P., 40 W all Street, New York, New York 10005,
11 on Friday, July 31,2009, commencing at 10:07 a.m.
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
4
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2 3
4 CHARLES FINBERG, ESQ., P.L.L.C. 5 266 East Shore North 6 Grand Isle, Vermont 05458 7 (802) 372.5175 8 cfinberg@gmail.com 9 Attorneys for the Defendant, 10 Volkswagen of America, Inc. and 11 Robert P. Cameron, Jr. 12
13 ADAMS NYE TRAPANI BECHT, L.L.P. 14 BY: GEORGE A. HADDAD, ESQ., 15 (appearing telephonically) 16 222 Kearny Street 17 7th Floor 18 San Francisco, California 94108 19 (415) 982.8955 / (415) 982.2042 (FAX) 20 ghaddad@adamsnye.com 21 Attorneys for the Defendants, 22 Whirlpool Corporation and Maytag Corporation 23 24 25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
5
1
A P P E A R A N C E S: (C O N T 'D .)
2
3
4
H O W A R D R O M E M A R TIN & R ID LEY , L.L.P.
5
BY: T R IN A M. C LA Y TO N , ESQ .,
6
(appearing te le p ho n ica lly)
7
1775 W o o d sid e Road
8
S uite 200
9
R ed w o o d C ity, C a lifo rn ia 94061
10
(650) 356.7715 / (650) 364.5297 (FA X)
11
tcla yto n@ hrm rla w .co m
12
A tto rn eys fo r the D efendant,
13
IM O In d u strie s, Inc.
14
15
P E R K IN S C O IE, L.L.P.
16
BY: S T E V E N K. H W A N G , ESQ .,
17
(appearing te le p ho n ica lly)
18
1888 C entury Park East
19
S uite 1700
20
Los A ngeles, C alifornia 90067-1721
21
(310) 788.3217 / (310) 843.1275 (FA X)
22
skh w a n g @ p erkin sco ie .co m
23
A tto rn eys fo r the D efendant,
24
H o n e y w e ll In te rn a tio n a l, Inc.
25
6
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
4 LYNBERG & WATKINS 5 BY: THOMAS W. REMILLARD, ESQ., 6 (appearing telephonically) 7 888 South Figueroa Street 8 16th Floor 9 Los Angeles, California 90017 10 (213) 625.8700 / (213) 892.2763 (FAX) 11 tremillard@lynberg.com 12 Attorneys for the Defendant, 13 Hill Brothers Chemical Company 14
15 PALMIERI, TYLER, WIENER, WILHELM & WALDRON, L.L.P. 16 BY: JOHN R. LISTER, ESQ., 17 (appearing telephonically) 18 2603 Main Street 19 Suite 1300 20 Irvine, California 92614 21 (949) 851.7285 / (949) 757.1225 (FAX) 22 jlister@ptwww.com 23 Attorneys for the Defendant, 24 Cla-Val Company 25
7
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (C O N T'D .) 2
3
4 SELMAN BREITMAN, L.L.P.
5
BY: JENN IFER A. CLINGO, ESQ.,
6 (appearing telephonically)
7 11766 W ilshire Boulevard
8 Suite 600
9 Los Angeles, California 90025
10
(310) 689.7042 / (310) 473.2525 (FAX)
11 jclingo@ selm anbreitm an.com
12 A ttorneys fo r the Defendant,
13
Pep Boys
14
15
POND NORTH, L.L.P.
16
BY: TIM O TH Y C. PIEPER, ESQ.,
17
(appearing telephonically)
18
350 South Grand Avenue
19
Suite 2850
20
Los Angeles, California 90017
21
(213) 617.6170 / (213) 623.3594 (FAX)
22
tpieper@ pondnorth.com
23
Attorneys for the Defendants,
24
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Genuine Parts Company,
25
and W estern Auto Supply Company
8
1
A P P E A R A N C E S: (C O N T 'D .)
2
3
4
D e H A Y & E L L IS T O N , L.L.P.
5
BY: P A U L C H R IS T O P H E R W H IT E , ESQ .,
6
(a p p e a rin g te le p h o n ica lly)
7
800 W e st 6th S treet
8
S u ite 788
9
Los A n g e le s, C a lifo rn ia 9 0 0 17
10
(213) 2 7 1 .2 7 2 4 / (213) 2 7 1 .2 7 3 0 (FA X )
11
p w h ite @ d e h a y.co m
12
A tto rn e ys fo r th e D efendant,
13
P n e u m o A bex, L.L.P.
14
15
JA C K S O N & W A L L A C E , L.L.P.
16
BY: C A T H E R IN E E. G O L D E N , E S Q .,
17
(a p p e a rin g te le p h o n ica lly)
18
5 5 F ra n cisco S tre e t
19
6 th F loo r
20
S a n F ra n cisco , C a lifo rn ia 9 4 1 3 3
21
(415) 98 2 .6 3 0 0 / (415) 98 2 .6 7 0 0 (FA X )
22
cg o ld e n @ ja ckso n w a lla ce .co m
23
A tto rn e ys fo r th e D efendants,
24
D a p , Inc. a n d C u m m in s , Inc.
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
9
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
4 HASSARD BONNINGTON, L.L.P. 5 BY: MARK C. DAVIS, ESQ., 6 (appearing telephonically) 7 Two Embarcadero Center 8 Suite 1800 9 San Francisco, California 94111-3993 10 (415) 288.9800 / (415) 288.9802 (FAX) 11 mcd@hassard.com 12 Attorneys for the Defendant, 13 John Crane, Inc. 14
15 BOOTH, MITCHEL & STRANGE, L.L.P.
16 BY: JACKIE K. VU, ESQ.,
17 (appearing telephonically)
18 707 Wilshire Boulevard
19 Suite 4450
20 Los Angeles, California 90017
21
(213) 738.0100 / (213) 380.3308 (FAX)
22 jkvu@boothmitchel.com
23 Attorneys for the Defendant,
24
Borg-Warner Corporation
25
10
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
4 POOLE & SHAFFERY, L.L.P. 5 BY: BRIAN R. TINKHAM, ESQ., 6 (appearing telephonically) 7 445 South Figueroa Street, Suite 2520 8 Los Angeles, California 90071 9 (213) 439.5390 / (213) 439.0183 (FAX) 10 btinkham@pooleshaffery.com 11 Attorneys for the Defendant, 12 PTO Sales Corporation 13
14 FOLEY & MANSFIELD, P.L.L.P.
15 BY: KEITH M. AMEELE, ESQ.,
16 (appearing telephonically)
17
150 South Los Robles Avenue
18
Suite 400
19 Pasadena, California 91101
20 (626) 744.9359 / (626) 744.1702 (FAX)
21 kameele@foleymansfield.com
22 Attorneys for the Defendants,
23 Nacco Materials Handling Group, Inc. and
24 Yale Materials Handling Corp.
25
11
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CO NT'D.) 2
3
4 M cKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE, L.L.P.
5 BY: LESA M. M EYERS, ESQ.,
6 (appearing telephonically)
7 444 South Flower Street
8 Los Angeles, California 90071
9 (213) 243.6122 / (213) 243.6330 (FAX)
10 lm eyers@ m ckennalong.com
11 Attorneys for the Defendants,
12
Dana Companies, L.L.C.;
13
Union Carbide Corporation; Kelsey-Hayes Company
14
15
BUTY & CURLIANO, L.L.P.
16 BY: M ADELINE L. BUTY, ESQ.,
17 (appearing telephonically)
18 555 City Center
19 555 12th Street
20 Suite 1280
21 Oakland, California 94607
22
(510) 267.3000 / (510) 267.0117 (FAX)
23 m lb@ butycurliano.com
24 Attorneys for the Defendant,
25 PACCAR, Inc.
12
1
A P P E A R A N C E S: (C O N T'D .)
2
3
4
PR IN D LE, D E C KER & A M A R O , L.L.P.
5
BY: JA M E S G. M U R R AY, ESQ.,
6
(appearing telephonically)
7
310 G olden Shore, 4th Floor
8
Long Beach, C alifornia 90802
9
(562) 436.3946 / (562) 495.0564 (FAX)
10
jm urray@ pdalaw .com
11
A ttorneys for the Defendant,
12
E delbrock Corp.
13
14
BRYDON HUGO & PARKER
15
BY: JO S E T T E D. JO H N S O N , ESQ.,
16
(appearing telephonically)
17
-and-
18
BY: PEGAH SHETABI, ESQ.
19
135 M ain Street, 20th Floor
20
San Francisco, C alifornia 94105
21
(415) 808.0300 / (415) 808.0333 (FAX)
22
jjohnson@ bhplaw .com / pshetabi@ bhplaw .com
23
Attorneys for the Defendants,
24
Luk C lutch System s, L.L.C. and
25
S ch a e ffle r G rou p USA, Inc.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
13
15
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
1
EX HIBIT S
2 DESCRIPTION
PAGE LINE
3 (Exhibit 1 for
27 1
4 WALSWORTH, FRANKLIN, BEVINS & McCALL, L.L.P.
4
identification, multi-page
5 BY: STEPHANIE ROTHBERG , ESQ.,
5
document on Simon Eddins &
6 (appearing telephonically)
6
Greenstone letterhead, dated
7 One City Boulevard West
7
July 28th, 2009, not bearing
8 Fifth Floor 9 Orange, California 92868
8
Bates stamps.)
9
10 (714) 634.2522 / (714) 634.0686 (FAX)
10 (Exhibit 2 for
37 1
11 srothberg@ wfbm.com
11
identification, multi-page
12 Attorneys for the Defendants,
12
document entitled Notice of
13 Bondex International, Inc.; RPM, Inc.;
13
Taking The Videotaped
14 RPM International, Inc.; Hamilton Materials, Inc.;
14
Deposition of Volkswagen of
15 Dowman Products, Inc.; CRA Trailers, Inc.;
15
America, Inc. and For
16 Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company;
16
Production of Documents, not
17 Jerguson Gage & Valve Co.; Clark-Reliance 18 Corporation, as the claimed successor-in-interest
17
bearing Bates stamps.)
18
19 to Jerguson Gage & Valve Co.
19 (Exhibit 3 for
63 6
20
20
identification, one-page
21 ALSO PRESENT:
21
document entitled Volkswagen
22 DAVID DUNN, Legal Video Specialist
22
Group of America, not bearing
23
23
a Bates stamp.)
24
24
25
25
14
1
IN D EX
2 WITNESS
EXAMINATION
3 ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
4
BY MR. STUEMKE
27
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
16
1
E X H I B I T S (CONT'D.)
2 DESCRIPTION
PAGE LINE
3 (Exhibit 4 for
66 18
4
identification, multi-page
5
document entitled Volkswagen
6
Makes Automotive History, not
7
bearing Bates stamps.)
8
9 (Exhibit 5 for
135 20
10
identification, one-page New
11
York Times article published
12
September 30th, 1972 entitled
13
Shipyard Workers of 1940s
14
Told of Cancer Peril, not
15
bearing a Bates stamp.)
16
17 (Exhibit 6 for
140 8
18
identification, one-page New
19
York Times article published
20
October 5th, 1972 entitled
21
Wider Link to Cancer Found in
22
Asbestos Workers, not bearing
23
a Bates stamp.)
24
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
17
1
E X H I B I T S (CONT'D.)
2 DESCRIPTION
PAGE LINE
3 (Exhibit 7 for
185 1
4
identification, multi-page
5
document entitled Gt I, Golf,
6
and Jetta Official Factory
7
Repair Manual 1985, 1986
8
Including GLI, Gasoline,
9
Diesel, and Turbo Diesel, not
10
bearing Bates stamps.)
11
12
(Exhibit 8 for
206 3
13
identification, multi-page
14
document on Herzfeld & Rubin
15
letterhead, dated July 29th,
16
2009, not bearing Bates
17
stamps.)
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
18
1
E X H I B I T S (C O N T'D .)
2
D ESC R IPTIO N
PAG E LINE
3
(E xhibit 9 fo r
206 8
4
identification, m ulti-page
5
d ocum ent entitled A uthorized
6
V o lksw agen D ealer D irectory,
7
N orth and C entral A m e rica,
8
D ece m b e r 1 9 8 7 , not bearing
9
Bates stam ps.)
10
**original exhibits returned w ith original
transcript by HG LITIG A TIO N SE R V IC E S to
11
S IM O N E D D IN S & G R E E N S T O N E , L.L.P.
(exhibit index concluded) 12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
19
1 PRODUCTION OF DOCUMENTS AND/OR INFORMATION
2
Page Line
3
(none)
4
5
6 DIRECTION TO WITNESS NOT TO ANSWER
7
Page Line
8
79 2
9
154 19
10
11
1 2 QUESTIONS MARKED FOR LATER RULING
13
Page Line
14
(none)
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
20
1
IT IS HEREBY STIPULATED AND AGREED, by
2
and between the attorneys for the respective parties
3
herein, that filing and sealing be and the same are
4
hereby waived.
5
IT IS FURTHER STIPULATED AND AGREED
6 that all objections, except as to the form of the
7
question, shall be preserved to the time of trial.
8
IT IS FURTHER STIPULATED AND AGREED
9
that the within deposition may be signed and sworn
10
to before any officer authorized to administer an
11
oath, with the same force and effect as if signed
12
and sworn to before the officer before whom the
13
within deposition was taken.
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
21
1
PROC EED INGS
2
THE VID EO G R APH ER : Stand by,
3 please.
4
M y name is David Dunn. Today is
5 Friday, July 31st, 2009.
6
The tim e is approxim ately seven
7 m inutes after 10 a.m.
8
W e are at the law office of
9 Herzfeld & Rubin, 40 W all Street, 54th Street, New
10 York, New York.
11
This Cause Num ber is BC405823
12
entitled Boman versus Alfa Laval, Incorporated, et
13 al.
14
The deponent for to d ay is
15
M r. Robert P. Cam eron, Jr.
16
The video deposition is requested
17
by the Plaintiffs' counsel Simon Eddins &
18
G reenstone, L.L.P.
19
Will each o f the attorneys present
20
please identify them selves and state their
21
interest in the case.
22
MR. STUEMKE: Jay Stuemke with
23
Simon Eddins & Greenstone appearing on behalf of
24
the Plaintiffs.
25
MR. W INTERM AN: Craig W interm an of
22
1 Herzfeld & Rubin appearing on behalf o f Defendant
2 V olksw agen G roup o f A m erica, Inc.
3
THE VIDEOGRAPHER: If the attorneys
4 on the phone will also state their appearance for
5 the video record.
6
MS. CLAYTON: Good morning.
7
This is Trina Clayton for Defendant
8 IMO Industries.
9
MR. LISTER: Good morning.
10
This is John Lister appearing on
11
behalf o f Cla-Val Company.
12
MS. C LING O : T his is Jennifer,
13
Jennifer Clingo, appearing on behalf o f Pep Boys.
14
MS. JOHNSON: Josette Johnson
15
appearing on behalf o f Luk Clutch Systems, L.L.C.
16
and Schaeffler Group USA, Inc.
17
MR. HADDAD: Good morning.
18
This is G eorges Haddad on behalf of
19 W hirlpool C orporation and M aytag Corporation.
20
MR. DAVIS: Good morning.
21
Mark Davis for Defendant John
22
Crane, Inc.
23
Yale Materials Handling Corp.
24
MR. AM EELE: Good morning.
25
Keith Am eele for Yale and Nacco
23
1 Handling Corp.
2
MR. HWANG: Good morning.
3
Steve Hwang for Honeywell
4 International, Inc.
5
MR. MURRAY: Good morning.
6
Jim Murray on behalf of Edelbrock.
7
MS. ROTHBERG: Good morning.
8
My name is Stephanie Rothberg on
9 behalf o f Bondex International, Inc.; RPM, Inc.;
10 RPM International, Inc.; Hamilton Materials, Inc.;
11 Dowman Products, Inc.; CRA Trailers, Inc.; Utility
12 Trailers Manufacturing Company; Jerguson Gage &
13 Valve Company; and Clark-Reliance Corporation, as
14 the claims successor-in-interest to Jerguson Gage
15 & Valve Company.
16
MR. TINKHAM: Good morning.
17
Brian Tinkham on behalf o f PTO
18 Sales Corporation.
19
MR. REMILLARD: Good morning.
20
Thomas Remillard on behalf o f Hill
21 Brothers Chemical Company.
22
MS. MEYERS: Good morning.
23
Lesa Meyers appearing on behalf of
24 Dana Companies, L.L.C., Kelsey-Hayes Company and
25 Union Carbide Corporation.
24
1
MS. GOLDEN: Good morning.
2
This is Catherine Golden for Dap
3 and Cummins.
4
MR. PIEPER: Good morning.
5
This is Tim Pieper on behalf of
6 Genuine Parts Company, Western Auto Supply Company
7 and Sears Roebuck and Co.
8
THE VIDEOGRAPHER: At this time the
9 court reporter may swear in the witness.
10
(Whereupon, the court reporter
11 administered the oath to the witness.)
12
MR. STUEMKE: And we'll wait just a
13 moment for defense counsel who stepped out
14 momentarily.
15
THE VIDEOGRAPHER: Would you like
16 me to go off the record, Mr. Stuemke?
17
MR. STUEMKE: No, he should be
18 right back.
19
THE VIDEOGRAPHER: Okay.
20
MR. STUEMKE: All right.
21
Before we get started, the
22 deposition notice which I'll attach as Exhibit 1
23 requested that documents be produced at the
24 deposition.
25
Prior to the deposition
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
25
1 Plaintiffs' counsel made numerous written
2 requests to defense counsel that we be provided
3 these docum ents in advance o f the deposition so
4 that we may fully and fairly consider the
5 docum ents and interrogate the witness about those
6 documents so that we may conclude the deposition
7 today.
8
Other than certain I think four,
9 m ay be five listings o f authorized Volkswagen
10 dealers from various years in the
11
nineteen-eighties, no docum ents were produced to
12
the Plaintiffs prior to this deposition and the
13
only docum ents that have been brought to the
14
deposition by Defendant is one additional
15
authorized Volkswagen dealer directory from 1987.
16
As a result o f this, the
17
Plaintiffs will not be able to conclude the
18
deposition o f Volkswagen today and fully
19
anticipate that we will need to resume this
20
deposition at a later date after having received
21
the requested documents.
22
Subject to that qualification,
23
Plaintiffs are prepared to and will take the
24
deposition of Volkswagen's PM K today to the
25
extent that it's possible in light o f the phase
26
1 o f discovery and reserve our rights to resume
2 later.
3
MR. WINTERMAN: Let me just respond
4 by indicating that there -- I think it's prem ature
5 for counsel to indicate that he can't conclude a
6 deposition until he's had an opportunity to
7 question the witness and find out if there is any
8 documents that even pertain to the various
9 categories that have been requested.
10
In addition, there is nothing in
11 the Code o f Civil procedure that requires that
12 docum ents be produced in advance o f the deposition
13 notice where the deposition notice specifically
14 requested that the docum ents be produced at the
15 depo.
16
A s a courtesy we did produce some
17 records in advance.
18
MR. STUEMKE: Let's mark this as
19 Exhibit 1.
20
COURT REPORTER: (Complies.)
21
(Whereupon, multi-page document on
22
Simon Eddins & Greenstone letterhead, dated July
23 28th, 2009, not bearing Bates stamps, is received
24 and marked as Plaintiffs' Exhibit 1 for
25
Identification.)
27
1
CO U R T REPO RTER: Num ber 1.
2
MR. STUEMKE: Marked as Exhibit 1
3 the correspondence dated July 28th, 2009 from
4 Jennifer Bartlett at Simon Eddins & Greenstone to 5 Craig W interm an o f Herzfeld & Rubin in
6 Los Angeles, relating to the deposition notice and 7 also included in Exhibit 1 is the first am ended
8 notice o f taking videotaped deposition of 9 V olksw agen Group o f Am erica, Inc. and for
10 production o f docum ents. 11
12
R O B E R T P. C A M E R O N, J.R.,
13 conducting business at V olksw agen o f Am erica,
14
Inc., One Executive Drive, Suite LL50, Fort Lee,
15
New Jersey 07024, having been first duly sworn or
16 affirm ed by a Notary Public w ithin and fo r the
17
States o f New York and New Jersey, was examined
18 and testified as follows:
19
EXAMINATION BY MR. STUEMKE:
20
Q. Mr. Cam eron, I'd like to go
21 through with you the areas o f inquiry that are
22
identified in Exhibit 1.
23
It's my understanding, sir, that
24
you have a copy o f the original notice o f taking
25 this deposition in front o f you, is that correct?
28
1
A. I have a notice o f taking
2
dep osition . I d o n 't kn o w w hich one it is.
3
Q. Okay.
4
A. It's one th a t w as given to me.
5
Q. A ll right.
6
And if you would turn, sir, to
7 the, it's probably the third page. It has a t the
8 top o f it areas o f inquiry, perhaps the fourth
9 page.
10
MR. W IN TE R M A N : It's the second
11
page.
12
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
13
A. It has down at the top o f the
14
page, not a t the top o f the page unless you're
15
w orking from a d ifferent d o cum ent th a t I'm
16
working from.
17
18
BY MR. STUEMKE:
19
Q. I am. It's a slightly different
20
docum ent, but the areas o f inquiry are the same.
21
MR. W INTERM AN: Do you w ant a copy
22
o f the original, Counsel?
23
MR. STU EM KE : I have, I have it
24
here. I can flip to it.
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
29
1
BY MR. STUEMKE:
2
Q. In a n y event, sir, you se e th a t
3 there are areas of inquiry that are set forth for
4 w hich you are going to be giving testim ony, is
5 that correct?
6
A. Yes, that's correct.
7
Q. And have you review ed those areas
8
of inquiry, sir?
9
A. Yes, I have.
10
Q. Okay.
11
And are you prepared to give
12
testim ony on behalf of Volkswagen G roup of
13
A m erica, Inc. relating to area of inquiry N um ber
14
1?
15
A. Yes.
16
Q. Are you the person most
17
know ledgeable at V olksw agen o f A m erica, Inc.
18
relating to area o f inquiry N um ber 1?
19
A. A t the present tim e, yes.
20
Q. Are you the person most
21
know ledgeable relating to area of inquiry Num ber
22
2, sir?
23
A. Yes, I am.
24
Q. Are you the person most
25
know ledgeable relating to area of inquiry Num ber
30
1 3, sir?
2
A. Yes.
3
Q. Are you the person most
4 know ledgeable regarding area o f inquiry Num ber 4,
5 sir?
6
A. Yes.
7
Q. Are you the person most
8 know ledgeable regarding area o f inquiry Num ber 5,
9 sir?
10
A. Yes.
11
Q. Are you the person most
12
knowledgeable regarding area o f inquiry Number 6?
13
A. Yes.
14
Q. Are you the person most
15
knowledgeable regarding area o f inquiry Number 7?
16
A. Yes.
17
Q. Are you the person most
18
know ledgeable regarding area o f inquiry Num ber 8,
19 sir?
20
A. Yes.
21
Q. Okay.
22
MR. STUEMKE: And for counsel on
23 the phone, if, if you don't mind putting your
24 te lephones on m ute unless you anticipate an
25
objection, that would be appreciated. W e're
31
1 hearing some interference and some talking in the
2 background.
3
Thank you.
4
MR. WINTERMAN: Counsel, can we get
5 an agreement that if there are any objections, an
6 objection by one is an objection by all so that
7 counsel don't have to state their names --
8
MR. STUEMKE: Certainly.
9
MR. WINTERMAN: -- on the record?
10 That would be as to the Defendants.
11
MR. STUEMKE: Certainly.
12
MR. WINTERMAN: Thank you.
13
14
BY MR. STUEMKE:
15
Q. Mr. Cameron, are you the person
16
most knowledgeable for Volkswagen of America
17
relating to area of inquiry Number 9?
18
MR. W INTERM AN: As to Num ber 9,
19 there is an im proper request and we're going to be
20 objecting to any inquiry into 9 which asks for
21
Defendant's contentions. Going to be doing the
22
same thing with respect to request Num ber 10; same
23 thing with 11; and same thing with regard
24 to -- well, I'll let 16 go, but those particular
25
ones are legal. They're not factual. He's here
32
1 as a representative of the company to discuss 2 factual m aterials with respect to the company, not
3 legal matters.
4
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
5
So just to cut this short,
6 Mr. W interm an, you're telling me that he's not
7 produced as a PM K with respect to areas 9, 10 and
8 11?
9
MR. W INTERM AN: Correct.
10
11 B Y MR. STUEM KE:
12
Q. Mr. Cam eron, are you the person
13
most knowledgeable with respect to area of
14
inquiry Number 12?
15
A. Yes.
16
Q. Mr. Cam eron, are you the person
17
most knowledgeable with respect to area of
18
inquiry Number 13?
19
A. Yes.
20
Q. Mr. Cam eron, are you the person
21
most knowledgeable with respect to area of
22
inquiry Number 14?
23
MR. W INTERM AN: And 14, again, he
24
w on't -- he is the person most, one o f the persons
25
most knowledgeable at the company, but he will not
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
33
1
be responding to th a t until there is an
2
appropriate m otion made under California law that
3 allow s the party to inquire into financials.
4
MR. STUEM KE: So he's not produced
5 today as a PM K on that issue?
6
MR. W IN TER M AN : He is produced
7 today, but he's not going to respond to any
8 questioning on th a t area because there's been no
9 appropriate m otion made as required by California
10
law.
11
MR. STUEM KE: So ju s t to save time,
12
is it my understanding that you're going to
13
instruct him not to answ er any questions on those
14
issues?
15
MR. W IN TER M AN : Yes, to save time,
16
that would be correct.
17
MR. STUEMKE: Thank you.
18
MR. W IN T E R M A N : A n d I'll stipulate
19
th a t he'll --
20
MR. STUEM KE: And we'll preserve
21
our rights under that. Very good.
22
MR. W IN TERM AN: Absolutely.
23
24
BY MR. STUEMKE:
25
Q. Mr. Cam eron, are you the person
34
1
m ost know ledgeable w ith respect to area of
2
inquiry N um ber 15?
3
A. Yes.
4
Q . A re you the person m ost
5
know ledgeable w ith respect to area o f inquiry
6
Num ber 16?
7
A. Yes.
8
Q. Okay.
9
S ir, if you look at the section of
10
th e notice e ntitled in stru ctio n s re w ritin g s
11
requested.
12
Do you see that?
13
A. Yes.
14
Q. Okay.
15
Do you see th a t you are requested
16
to p ro d u ce a t th is d e p o sitio n all w ritin g s used
17
to either su p p ort your testim ony or refresh your
18
re c o lle c tio n .
19
H ave you looked at any docum ents
20
in a d v a n c e o f to d a y 's d e p o s itio n to p re p a re fo r
21
the deposition?
22
A. Yes.
23
Q. W h a t have you looked at?
24
A. I looked at the notice and I
25
lo o ke d at o u r re sp o n se s to I b elieve it w as
35
1 interrogatories requested to produce or 3, legal 2 documents.
3
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
4
MR. W INTERM AN: Those are the ones
5 that I provided to you, Counsel, prior to going on
6 the record.
7
MR. S TU EM KE : I'll ju s t identify
8 these for the record.
9
10
BY MR. STUEMKE:
11
Q. W e have firs t a d o cu m e n t filed by
12
Mr. W interm an's office entitled responses to form
13
interrogatories propounded to Defendant
14
V o lksw a g e n G roup o f A m erica, Inc., s e t 1.
15
Is that one o f the docum ents you
16
reviewed, sir?
17
A. Yes, it is.
18
Q. Okay.
19
I w as also handed a docum ent filed
20
by Mr. W in te rm a n 's office entitled resp o n se s to
21
standard interrogatories propounded to friction
22
Defendant Volksw agen G roup o f Am erica, Inc., set
23
1.
24
Is that one o f the docum ents you
25
reviewed, sir?
36
1
A. Yes, it is.
2
Q. Finally I w a s handed a do cu m e n t
3 file d by Mr. W in te rm a n 's office entitled
4 responses to standard interrogatories propound to
5
Defendant Volksw agen G roup o f Am erica, Inc. set
6 1.
7
Is that one o f the docum ents you
8 reviewed, sir?
9
A. Yes, it is.
10
Q. Okay.
11
And is the copy o f the notice that
12
you were, you've been looking at fo r the
13
questions I've asked you already today, is that
14
the notice that you reviewed?
15
A. Yes.
16
Q. Okay.
17
MR. STUEM KE: Let's go ahead and
18
m ark that as Exhibit 2 ju s t for the record.
19
COURT REPORTER: (Complies.)
20
(W hereupon, m ulti-page docum ent
21
entitled Notice o f Taking The Videotaped
22
Deposition o f Volksw agen o f Am erica, Inc. and For
23
Production of Documents, not bearing Bates
24
stamps, is received and marked as Plaintiffs'
25
Exhibit 2 for Identification.)
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
37
1
C O U R T R E P O R T E R : N u m b e r 2.
2
3
BY MR. STUEMKE:
4
Q. Mr. C am eron, did you review any
5
docum ents other than w hat w e've ju st discussed?
6
A. No.
7
Q. Sir, if you lo o k back at the
8
n o tice in th e w ritin g s re q u e ste d section, do you
9 see that Num ber 2 requests all writings that
10
relate to the areas of inquiry num bered above.
11
A. (Reviews.)
12
Q. D o you see that?
13
A. Yes.
14
Q. Okay.
15
And we looked back at area of
16
in q u iry N u m b e r 1, it a sks a b o u t fa cts, w itn e s s e s
17
and docum ents regarding D efendant's corporate
18
history.
19
Now, you would agree that there
20
are certain -- Volksw agen G roup of Am erica, Inc.
21
c e rta in ly d o e s have d o cu m e n ts re la tin g to its
22
corporate history, correct?
23
MR. W INTERM AN: That's an im proper
24
question as to form.
25
Q. You can answ er the question.
38
1
A. W hat do you m ean docum ents to its
2 history? The company has been around since 1955.
3 W hat are you looking for?
4
Q. Are there docum ents, sir?
5
A. I don't know what you mean.
6
MR. WINTERMAN: Excuse me, the
7 question is vague and am biguous.
8
A. Are you looking for a copy o f the
9 incorporation or something o f that nature?
10
Q. Are there documents that exist
11 relating to D efendant's corporate history, sir?
12
A. There should be a copy o f the
13 incorporation som eplace, yes.
14
Q. Okay.
15
Is that the only docum ent relating
16 to D efendant's corporate history?
17
A. I don't know what you mean by the
18 com pany's corporate history.
19
MR. WINTERMAN: That was the
20 problem with the request, Counsel. It's vague and
21 am biguous and we're not obligated to piece stuff
22 together to give you corporate history and that's
23 w hy there is nothing that's being produced here
24 today.
25
Q. Sir, does Volkswagen have a
39
1 docum ent destruction policy? A docum ent
2
retention policy?
3
A. Yes, it does.
4
Q. Okay.
5
Is that written down anywhere?
6
A. Y e s, it is.
7
Q. Y ou've not produced th a t to d ay,
8 have you?
9
A. N o, it's a recent docum ent
10
retention policy. It's about two years old.
11
Q. Okay.
12
You've not produced that today,
13
correct?
14
A. No, I thought you wanted the one
15
th a t w a s in e ffe ct a t the tim e w e're ta lkin g
16
a b o u t in th is p a rticu la r litigation and w e don 't
17
have copies of that any longer.
18
Q. Okay.
19
MR. W INTERM AN: And again, Counsel,
20
ju st for the record, that's w hy we didn't produce
21
it. It's irre le va n t be ca use it only pertains to
22
m ost recent tim es --
23
MR. STUEMKE: W ell --
24
MR. W INTERM AN: -- and this lawsuit
25
involves --
40
1
MR. STUEM KE: -- as you know,
2
Mr. W interm an, the te s t is not relevance. The
3 te s t is reasonably calculated to lead to the
4 discovery of relevant evidence.
5
MR. W IN TER M AN : That's correct
6 and --
7
MR. STUEM KE: And --
8
MR. W IN TE R M A N : I'm sorry, Counsel,
9 I didn't m ean to interrupt you.
10
MR. ST U E M K E : A n d I th in k th is is
11
reasonably calculated, and we object to it not
12
being produced.
13
MR. W IN T E R M A N : I th in k -- I'm not
14
stopping you from inquiring about the docum ent
15
retention policy, and I th in k once you inquire
16
you'll find out th a t it's not relevant, nor is it
17
reasonably calculated to lead to the discovery of
18
adm issible evidence and accordingly it w as not
19
produced.
20
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
21
22
BY MR. STUEMKE:
23
Q. You indicated, Mr. C am eron, th a t
24
earlier versions of the docum ent retention policy
25
have been destroyed, correct?
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
41
1
A. They're no longer available,
2
that's correct.
3
Q. Okay.
4
And were those destroyed pursuant
5
to the current docum ent retention policy?
6
A. W ell, they w ere destroyed pursuant
7
to the fa ct th a t they w ere replaced. T hey w ere
8
no longer current. So the docum ent retention
9
p olicy is to destro y item s th a t you p u t into
10
storage.
11
The records retention policies
12
supersede one another and, therefore, they are
13
discarded once a new one takes effect.
14
Q. Okay.
15
And you see area of inquiry N um ber
16
3 relating to V olksw agen brand vehicles sold by
17
V o lksw a g e n G roup o f A m e ric a sin ce 1950 and it
18
asks about num erous specific item s relating to
19
those vehicles, correct?
20
A. I'm sorry, you're ta lkin g about
21
w ritings requested?
22
Q. A rea of inquiry --
23
A. N um ber 3 talks about forklifts on
24
my copy.
25
Q. Okay.
42
1
I'm talking about area o f inquiry
2 N um ber 3, sir.
3
A. Oh, I'm sorry. I thought you were
4 talking about the writings requested.
5
Q. Well, you see how Num ber 2 on
6 writings requested refers back to the areas of
7 inquiry, sir?
8
A. Yes.
9
Q. I'm looking at area o f inquiry
10
N um ber 3.
11
A. Okay.
12
Q. And you would agree that
13
Volkswagen G roup o f Am erica, Inc. has docum ents
14
relating to the inform ation requested in area o f
15
inquiry N um ber 3, correct?
16
MR. W IN T E R M A N : W ell, first o f all,
17 the question is --
18
MR. STU EM KE : Let's ju s t have him
19
answ er the question. You can m ake a legal
20
objection, but let's just have him answer the
21
question.
22
MR. W INTERM AN: Well, you
23
interrupted me before you'd give me an opportunity
24
to com plete my legal question.
25
I'm going to give you the courtesy
43
1 o f letting you finish what you have to say and
2 likewise I'd appreciate if you'd do the same
3 thing.
4
The problem that I have with your
5 question is it's vague, a m biguous and uncertain.
6 There are m ultitudes o f topics set forth in
7 inquiry N um ber 3.
8
In addition, the inquiry is
9 overbroad as to time. The vehicles that you're
10
asking for in this particular inquiry are not
11
relevant to this particular lawsuit because
12
Mr. Bom an did not w o rk on any o f the -- but fo r a
13
handful o f vehicles that he's identified in his
14
deposition and accordingly this request was way
15
overbroad.
16
17
BY MR. STUEMKE:
18
Q. You can answ er the question, sir.
19
A. W e m ay have som e inform ation in
20
reference to som e o f them, but we don't have any
21
one docum ent that w ould answ er all o f these
22
questions.
23
Q. Right. And you understand we're
24
not looking just for one document. W e're asking
25
for a production of many documents so that we can
44
1
review those and determ ine w hat's relevant.
2
You understand that, correct?
3
A. Yes.
4
Q. Okay.
5
And nevertheless you've not
6 brought any documents, correct?
7
A. T hat's correct.
8
Q. Even w ith respect to those
9 v e h ic le s w h ich in y o u r u n d e rs ta n d in g M r. B o m a n
10
did identify having w orked with, correct?
11
A. T hat's correct. W e brought no
12
do cu m e n ts.
13
Q. Okay. But those d ocum ents exist,
14
correct?
15
MR. W IN TER M AN : That's vague and
16
am biguous.
17
A. There may be som e docum ents
18
concerning som e of the vehicles involved, yes.
19
Q. Okay.
20
You say there may be some. Are
21
there any?
22
A. W ell, th a t w ould depend on which
23
qu e stion yo u 're ta lkin g about, sir.
24
Q. Okay.
25
A. You have about ten different areas
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
45
1 o f inquiry with sidelines going off of each one.
2 So there m ay be some documents. It would depend
3 on w hat we're looking for and w hat the answ er is
4 and what we would find if we looked.
5
Q. But the sim ple answ er is you don't
6 know what docum ents exist because you haven't
7 looked for any, correct?
8
A. That --
9
MR. W INTERM AN: That's -- excuse
10 me.
11
That's vague, am biguous and
12
uncertain and unintelligible and assumes facts not
13 in evidence.
14
The fact o f the m atter is this
15
request is w ay overbroad. It wasn't tailored for
16 this particular case. It's clearly done because
17 you guys had ad seriatim litigation and you're
18 trying to get inform ation out o f this suit for
19 other suits. W e're going to lim it it to this
20 suit. W e're going to lim it it to w hat's relevant
21 to Mr. Bom an.
22
MR. S TU EM KE : W e --
23
MR. W INTERMAN: So the witness was,
24 the w itness w as told not to bring anything to this
25 deposition.
46
1
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
2
3
BY MR. STUEMKE:
4
Q. Mr. C am eron, you d id n 't even lo o k
5
fo r any d o cum ents responsive to this notice, did
6 you?
7
A. In general, no.
8
Q. Specifically did you look fo r any
9
docum ents?
10
A. W ell, docum ents to refresh my
11
recollection w h ich is part of th e th in g th a t w e
12
have here. T he inform ation on b rakes and
13
clutches, I already know w hat exists on that
14
particular area.
15
Q. Okay.
16
B u t in resp o n se to th is notice
17
w hich you review ed, you did not look fo r any
18
docum ents, correct?
19
A. No, after discussion w ith counsel
20
I did not go any further.
21
Q. Okay.
22
Now, turning to area o f inquiry
23
N um ber 4, th is request or this is identified as
24
facts, w itnesses and docum ents concerning
25
D efendant sponsorship of brake and/or clutch
47
1 seminars, program and/or classes as described by
2 P laintiff in his deposition at Page 1287, Line 16
3 through 1289, Line 12.
4
A. (Reviews.)
5
Q. Do you see that?
6
A. Yes, I see it.
7
Q. And you've not brought any
8 docum ents relating to any such seminars, programs
9 or class, have you?
10
MR. W INTERMAN: Assum es facts not
11 in evidence.
12
Lacks foundation.
13
A. There w as nothing to bring, sir.
14
Q. How do you know that there was
15 nothing to bring?
16
A. Because we don't sponsor this type
17 o f sem inar, so we would have nothing to bring.
18
Q. W hat type, what type of seminar do
19 you m ean?
20
A. I'm sorry?
21
Q. W hat type o f sem inar do you m ean?
22 You say you don't sponsor that type o f sem inar.
23
I just want to be sure it's clear what you're
24
referring to.
25
A. Well, you referred to a particular
48
1 sem inar in a section o f the Plaintiffs'
2 deposition. W e've reviewed that sections, those
3 sections of the deposition and we do not have
4 anything in response to that. W e do not do those
5 types of seminars that he was talking about.
6
Q. Never did?
7
A. No.
8
Q. Volkswagen never sponsored
9 sem inars to train people on working with their
10 products?
11
MR. W IN T E R M A N : The question is
12 vague and am biguous, uncertain and unintelligible.
13
A. W e provide training to Volkswagen
14
m echanics who are employed by authorized
15 V olksw agen dealers through our authorized
16 training centers. T hat's w hat we provide. It's
17
m y understanding from reading the deposition that
18 the P laintiff w as not a m echanic at an authorized
19 V olksw agen dealer, w as not attending any
20
authorized Volkswagen training sessions which are
21
not called seminars, but are called training
22
sessions, hands-on training sessions and,
23 therefore, the sem inars he's referring to must
24
have been for some other manufacturers, but not
25 for Volksw agen.
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
49
1
Q. Okay.
2
Now, these sem inars th a t you're
3
referring to that Volkswagen did sponsor, you say
4 those are only fo r em ployees of authorized
5 service centers or dealers?
6
MR. W IN TERM AN: M isstates,
7
m ischaracterizes evidence.
8
He said they were not sem inars.
9
Q. T hese hands-on training course, is
10
that the phrase you used?
11
A. W e have service training that we
12
provide through our authorized training centers.
13
That's w hat we do to em ployees o f authorized
14
Volkswagen dealers. They're not sem inars.
15
They're actually training sessions that go on for
16
between one and five days.
17
Q. Okay.
18
A n d w h a t in y o u r m ind is a
19
distinction between that and a seminar?
20
A. G enerally a sem inar is som ething
21
sponsored by som ebody to bring across some
22
info rm a tio n and p o ssib ly in th e end sell a
23
product or som ething. W e're conducting training
24
sessions for em ployees of authorized Volkswagen
25
dealers.
50
1
Q. Okay.
2
So only employees o f Volkswagen
3 dealers were ever allowed at these training
4 seminars, training workshops or whatever?
5
A. Okay, they're training -- it's
6 authorized -- it's training -- yes, it's not a
7 sem inar, but it's, it's authorized training and
8 only members of authorized Volkswagen dealers are
9 allowed at those things or company employees are
10 obviously allowed there too.
11
Q. Okay.
12
W hat kind o f security is there to
13 m ake sure that there is nobody else that goes
14 there?
15
MR. W IN TER M AN : The question is
16 vague, am biguous, uncertain and unintelligible.
17
A. Well --
18
MR. WINTERMAN: And overbroad.
19
THE W ITNESS: Excuse me.
20
A. The field people within service
21 are responsible for determ ining that the service
22 personnel that are working on Volksw agen vehicles
23 at authorized Volksw agen dealers are properly
24 trained, and that the dealership has sufficient
25
num bers o f m echanics trained in its particular
51
1 areas, and particularly when reference to a new
2 product com es out and there is new system s on it,
3 the dealership has to send its m echanics or a
4 certain num ber o f them to be trained on them.
5 That's the responsibility of the area
6 representative.
7
And he m akes sure when he goes to
8 the dealership that he checks the training
9 records o f all o f the em ployees o f the dealership
10 w ithin the service departm ent to see w hat their
11
training records are and rem inds the dealer if
12
he's short in any particular area and will
13
schedule at that tim e the attendance of that
14
employee to come to the seminar.
15
The dealer pays for the employee's
16 tim e at the sem inar and we provide the training
17
and other things necessary for him to be at the
18
sem inar and we track those and they would know
19 w hich m echanics had which training at which
20
particular time.
21
Q. Okay. W e'll come back to that.
22
Sir, does V o lksw agen G roup of
23
Am erica have any docum ents responsive to area of
24
inquiry Number 5?
25
A. No.
52
1
Q. D oes V o lksw a g e n have any d o cu m e n ts
2
responsive to area o f inquiry Num ber 6?
3
A. No.
4
MR. W INTERM AN: Counsel, so that I
5 don't have to keep objecting, I'm going to assum e,
6 and please co rre ct me if I'm w rong me if I'm
7 wrong, that when you refer to Volksw agen you're
8 m eaning to refer to Volkswagen Group o f Am erica,
9 Inc. throughout this deposition?
10
MR. STUEMKE: Yeah.
11
12
BY MR. STUEMKE:
13
Q. Let's, let's ta lk a b o ut th a t ju st
14
fo r a second on the record so that we are clear.
15
V o lksw a g e n G roup o f A m erica, Inc.
16
is the current entity by w hom you're employed,
17
correct, Mr. C am eron?
18
A. That's correct, yes.
19
Q. A nd p rior to th a t corporate nam e
20
it had a t least one o th e r corporate nam e in its
21
history, correct?
22
A. Yeah, it w as Volkswagen of
23
Am erica --
24
Q. O kay.
25
A. -- Inc.
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
53
1
Q. A nd th ro u g h o u t th is deposition I
2 suspect that I will lapse into sim ply referring
3 to that entity as Volkswagen. So for purposes of
4 today's deposition if I ju st say Volkswagen, can
5 we understand that to mean Volkswagen Group of
6 Am erica, Inc.?
7
A. Yes, that's w hat I assum ed that
8 you were talking about when you mentioned
9 Volkswagen.
10
Q. Correct.
11
A. No other Volkswagen entity other
12
than Volksw agen o f Am erica, Inc. or Volkswagen
13
G roup o f Am erica, Inc. w ho I'm here to represent.
14
Q. Right.
15
A nd there is, o f course,
16
Volkswagen AG, correct?
17
A. There is a Volkswagen AG, yes.
18
Q. A nd th a t is the G erm an auto
19
m an u fa ctu re r th a t w a s started in the
20
nineteen-thirties, correct?
21
A. That's the parent com pany of a
22
n u m b e r o f au tom obile fran ch ise s in G erm any, yes.
23
Q. Okay.
24
And for purposes of today's
25
deposition I may at tim es refer to Volkswagen AG
54
1 as Volkswagen of Germany.
2
W ill you understand me to be
3 referring to Volkswagen AG if I use that
4 term inology, sir?
5
A. If you say Volkswagen o f Germany,
6 we will assum e you're talking about the com pany
7 in G erm any that ow ns various autom obile
8 companies, yes.
9
Q. V ery good, sir.
10
And, sir, does Volksw agen have
11
docum ents responsive to area o f inquiry Number 7?
12
A. No.
13
Q. Does Volkswagen have documents
14
responsive to area o f inquiry Number 8?
15
A. O ther than w h a t's in som e o f the
16 after m arket w orkshop m anuals, no.
17
Q. Does Volkswagen have items
18
responsive, excuse me, docum ents responsive to
19 area o f inquiry N um ber 12?
20
A. No.
21
Q. Other than the docum ents which
22
V olksw agen has produced in this case, does
23
Volkswagen have other docum ents relating to area
24
o f inquiry Num ber 13?
25
A. No.
55
1
Q. Certainly Volksw agen has docum ents
2 relating to its financial condition, correct?
3
A. There may be some documents. I
4 assume the tax authorities know what they are.
5
Q. Does Volkswagen have any docum ents
6 responsive to area o f inquiry Number 15?
7
A. No.
8
Q. No?
9
A. No.
10
Q. And for the record, area of
11 inquiry Num ber 15 is facts, witnesses and
12 docum ents regarding workers' com pensation claims,
13
if any, made against Defendant for injuries
14 and/or death arising out o f exposure to asbestos
15 at Defendant's m anufacturing and/or authorized
16 dealer repair facilities, correct?
17
A. Yes.
18
Q. All right. All right.
19
Could you state your name for the
20 record, please.
21
A. Sure. It's Robert P. Cam eron, Jr.
22
Q. And, Mr. Cam eron, what is your
23 current or who is your current employer?
24
A. Volkswagen Group o f America,
25
Incorporated.
56
1
Q. A nd w h a t is your current job
2 title?
3
A. I'm the general m anager product
4
liaison.
5
Q. And can you describe --
6
S trike that.
7
W hen were you first em ployed by
8 Volkswagen, sir?
9
A. A gain, by Volksw agen you mean
10
Volksw agen of Am erica?
11
Q. Yes.
12
A. May of 1965.
13
Q. Okay.
14
And can you tell the ju ry the
15
d iffe re n t jo b title s th a t yo u 've h ad in yo u r
16
forty-four years of em ploym ent with Volksw agen?
17
A. Sure. I joined the com pany as a
18
te ch n ica l a n a lyst in th e c u s to m e r se rvice
19
relatio n o r te ch n ica l c o rre sp o n d in th e c u s to m e r
20
service relations departm ent. Becam e a
21
te ch n ica l -- th a t w a s in '65. B e ca m e a te ch n ica l
22
a n a lyst I b e lie ve it w a s in th e 1968 area.
23
Becam e a supervisor of product liaison about
24
1970, '71. I becam e the product liaison m anager
25
in '72, '73, so m e w h e re a ro u n d there. Held th a t
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
57
1
position until I becam e th e m a n a g e r product
2
liaison w hich th e group w a s elevated to a
3
d e p a rtm e n t le v e l p o s itio n s o m e tim e in th e
4
e ig h tie s I b elieve it w a s . A n d th e n th e g eneral
5
m an ager's title w a s a b o u t seven ye a rs a go.
6
Q. O kay. A n d it's tru e th a t --
7
W ell, strike that.
8
H o w old a m an are you?
9
A. I'm sixty-six.
10
Q. Do you intend to retire soon?
11
A. I have no retire m en t plans at the
12
p re se n t tim e.
13
Q. Do you have a pension program
14
th a t's been funded by V o lksw agen?
15
A. Yes.
16
Q. I assu m e yo u're fu lly ve ste d after
17
forty-four years?
18
A. Yes.
19
Q. I w ould hope so.
20
N o w , sir, y o u 'v e b e e n in
21
V o lk s w a g e n 's p ro d u c t lia is o n g ro u p s in c e it
22
s o u n d s like 1970 o r 1971, is th a t right?
23
A. Yes.
24
Q. Okay.
25
A n d th a t p ro d u c t lia is o n g ro u p is
58
1 seventy-five -- seventy-five percent o f its work
2 is devoted to litigation support, correct?
3
A. The total group's w ork is
4 probably, probably closer to sixty percent when
5 you include the various types o f litigation and
6 other items that we do.
7
Q. Now --
8
A. And just to qualify what I said,
9 we're talking today, we're using today's numbers,
10 correct?
11
Q. W ell, sure. O ver tim e has it been
12 different?
13
A. Yes.
14
Q. Okay.
15
H ow has it been different over
16 tim e?
17
A. Well, the group was much sm aller
18
w ay back in the seventies, and then it evolved
19 that tim e fram e in its w o rk and assignm ents has
20 varied over the years.
21
Q. Okay.
22
Now, just to give the jury some
23
context o f who your em ployer is Volkswagen Group
24
o f A m erica, that is a com pany that w as founded in
25
A m erica in 1955, correct?
59
1
A. Y es, it w a s in c o rp o ra te d in N ew
2
J e rs e y in 1955.
3
Q. Okay.
4
A nd it is a w holly-ow ned
5
subsidiary of Volksw agen of G erm any, correct?
6
A. That's correct.
7
Q. Okay.
8
And you under --
9
A. A t the present tim e w e're talking
10
about?
11
Q. Sure.
12
A. Okay.
13
Q. And when it w as founded th a t w as
14
also true, correct?
15
A. It w as true then, yes. There were
16
s o m e c h a n g e s in b e tw e en , b u t th a t -- b u t it w a s
17
then and it is at the cu rre n t tim e.
18
Q. Okay.
19
And Volksw agen of G erm any you
20
u n d e rs ta n d w a s fo u n d e d in 1937, co rre c t?
21
A. I don't know exactly w hen
22
V o lk s w a g e n o f G e rm a n y, w h a te v e r th a t e n tity is,
23
w as founded.
24
Q. Okay.
25
In your forty-four years w ith
60
1 Volkswagen o f America you've never learned when
2 Volkswagen of Germany was started?
3
A . O h, it was started in the
4 thirties, no question about that.
5
Q. Okay.
6
A. But you said it was founded in
7 1937. I don't know if that's correct. I don't
8 know what founding means in Germany.
9
Q. Okay.
10
I'm not going to translate it for
11 you. I don't think I'm qualified.
12
Now, Volkswagen, the term, means
13 car for the people, is that right?
14
A. Well, that's one of the ways
15 people interpret it. It's peoples' car or
16 something o f that nature.
17
Q. Right. And the original
18 Volkswagen car was designed by Ferdinand Porsche,
19 correct?
20
A. He's generally attributed to be
21 the original designer o f the car, yes.
22
Q. Okay.
23
A. The original Volkswagen.
24
Q. And that car that he designed
25
became what was properly known as the Beetle when
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
61
1 it w a s sold in the United States, correct?
2
A. Som ething sim ilar to his design
3 w as sold here --
4
Q. Sure.
5
A. -- in the United States, yes.
6
Q. It w a s an evolution from the
7 original design?
8
A. Yes.
9
Q. A n d V o lksw a g e n o f A m erica is an
10
im porter and m arketer of vehicles m anufactured by
11
Volkswagen of Germany, correct?
12
A. It's the sole authorized im porter
13
into the United States fo r Volksw agen and a
14
num ber of other autom obile cars, parts and
15
accessories.
16
Q. Okay.
17
And obviously it sells Volkswagens
18
in the United States, correct?
19
A. That's correct.
20
Q. A lso A u d is and certain o ther
21
brands, correct?
22
A. Yes, there are a num ber of other
23
b ra n d s th a t it, th a t it im ports and d istributes
24
to dealerships.
25
Q. Okay.
62
1
Volksw agen also sells replacem ent
2
parts fo r the veh icle s th a t it sells, correct?
3
A . That's correct.
4
Q. A n d it has sin ce it w a s fo u nd e d in
5
1955, correct?
6
A. That's correct. It sells
7 authorized parts, yes.
8
Q. Yes.
9
And you'd agree th a t within ten
10
years o f its founding, Volksw agen o f Am erica had
11
more than nine hundred dealers across the United
12
States, correct?
13
A. I don't recall the exact num ber
14
th a t th e y had in 1965 w hen I jo in e d the com pany.
15
I don't have any -- off the top of my head I ju st
16
don't recall. I've never gone back and checked
17
w h a t the total n u m b e r is.
18
Q. Sure.
19
A. Six hundred and som ething rings a
20
bell w ith me, but it m ay be nine hundred. If
21
you've got som e docum ents th a t w ould reflect
22
that, then that's fine.
23
Q. Okay.
24
MR. STUEM KE: Let's m ark this as 3
25
(indicating).
63
1
COURT REPORTER: (Complies.)
2
(Whereupon, one-page document
3 entitled Volkswagen Group o f America, not bearing
4 a Bates stam p, is received and m arked as
5
Plaintiffs' Exhibit 3 for Identification.)
6
C O U R T REP O R TE R : N um ber 3.
7
8 BY MR. STUEMKE:
9
Q. You can show that to your lawyer
10 first.
11
A. (Complies.)
12
MR. W INTERMAN: Thank you.
13
MR. STUEMKE: Thanks.
14
15
BY MR. STUEMKE:
16
Q. Sir, you've been handed Exhibit 3.
17
I'll represent to you that I printed that o ff o f
18
the V olksw agen website and the site address is
19
listed at the top o f the page.
20
A. (Reviews.)
21
Q. Do you see that?
22
A. Yes, I see it.
23
Q. Okay.
24
And you see that this is a b rief
25
statem ent o f the legacy o f Volkswagen o f America,
64
1 correct?
2
A. T hat's w hat it says.
3
Q. Okay.
4
And this docum ent indicates that
5 within ten years o f Volkswagen o f Am erica being
6 founded, that is by 1965, the com pany had more
7 than nine hundred dealers across the United
8 States, correct?
9
A. T hat's w hat it says, yes.
10
Q. And you have no reason to dispute
11 that, correct?
12
A. No, if it's a com pany publication
13
I would assume it's accurate.
14
Q. And just to back up a second,
15
you'd agree that before Volkswagen o f Am erica was
16 started in 1955, V olksw agen cars were already
17
being imported into the United States under other
18
gray market type means, correct?
19
A. Yes, the cars were coming here
20 from other m eans other than through authorized
21 channels, yes.
22
Q. Okay.
23
Do you know when it w as that the
24
first V olksw agen w as sold in the United States?
25
A. It's generally talked about being
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
65
1
1949,1950, the first one was imported. I don't
2 know w hether that was specifically to be sold to
3 som ebody, b u t o ve r the years I've seen
4 inform ation, I've even seen som e old pictures a
5
long tim e ago o f a Beetle being unloaded off a
6 ship, a picture o f a couple o f gentlem en watching
7 it being done saying this is the first car
8 imported, but when that car w as sold, I don't
9 know.
10
Q. Okay.
11
A nd you'd agree th a t V W s in the
12
nineteen-fifties, nineteen-sixties,
13
nineteen-seventies tim e fram e were especially
14
p o p ular in C alifornia?
15
A. California w as certainly one of
16
the m ajor markets, yes.
17
Q. Yes. Okay.
18
And the prim ary car sold by
19
V o lksw a g e n in the United S tates up until the
20
nineteen-seventies w as what is com m only referred
21
to as the Beetle, correct?
22
A. That w as the m ost popular model,
23 yes.
24
Q. Okay.
25
A nd it's true th a t in 1972 the
66
1 Beetle becam e the m ost popular car in history,
2 correct?
3
A. That --
4
MR. W IN TER M AN : The question is
5 vague and ambiguous.
6
A. I don't recall quite frankly. It
7 received a number o f awards over the years.
8 Again, if you have something that reflects that
9 from the company, then I wouldn't disagree with
10 it.
11
MR. STUEM KE: Let's mark this as
12 Exhibit 4.
13
COURT REPORTER: (Complies.)
14
(W hereupon, multi-page document
15 entitled Volksw agen M akes A utom otive History, not
16 bearing Bates stamps, is received and marked as
17
Plaintiffs' Exhibit 4 for Identification.)
18
CO URT REPO RTER: Num ber 4.
19
THE W ITNESS: Do I need to show it
20 to counsel?
21
MR. WINTERMAN: Yes. Thanks.
22
MR. STUEMKE: Craig, I only intend
23 to ask him about one paragraph on the second page
24 under the heading 1960 to 1980.
25
MR. WINTERMAN: Okay.
67
1
Let me read the thing if you don't
2 mind.
3
Thank you.
4
I'm sorry, which, which part did
5 you say, second page?
6
MR. STUEM KE: The first paragraph
7 under 1960 to 1980.
8
MR. W IN TER M AN : Can you lay a
9 fou nd a tio n as to w h a t this is, E xh ib it 4?
10
11
BY MR. STUEMKE:
12
Q. W ell, sir, I'll rep re se n t to you
13
that I printed Exhibit 4 off of the Internet, off
14
o f Volkswagen.com . The entire -- actually not
15
the entire address o f this particular page is
16
available online because it was too long, but you
17
see that at the top of the page that this came
18
from Volkswagen.com ?
19
A. Yes, I see that.
20
Q. Okay.
21
And if you turn to the second page
22
o f the exhibit, sir, it is stated that on
23
February 17th, 1972 Volkswagen breaks the world
24
c a r production record with fifteen million seven
25
thousand thirty-four units assem bled, the Beetle
68
1 surpasses the legendary m ark achieved by the Ford
2 Motor Company's Model T, popularly known as the
3 Tin Lizzy between 1908 and 1927.
4
A. (Reviews.)
5
Q. Do you see that?
6
A. Yes, I see that.
7
Q. And you certainly don't have any
8 reason to dispute that, do you?
9
A. No, but you're talking about the
10 United States. The fifteen million is the
11 worldw ide --
12
Q. Sure.
13
A. -- production, production numbers
14 for the com pany fo r the Beetle throughout the
15 w hole world, not just the United States.
16
Q. Sure.
17
And my point was not to suggest
18 that V olksw agen of A m erica had sold that m any
19 B eetles here. S im ply that it w as a very popular
20 car, correct?
21
A. Yes, it was a ve ry popular car.
22
Q. And you'd agree with respect to
23 V olksw agens a ctually sold in Am erica, there were
24
at least several m illion that were sold in the
25
nineteen-sixties, correct?
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
69
1
A. I believe yes, I believe the total
2
if you added it altogether through the sixties
3
into the seventies w as several m illion.
4
Q. Okay.
5
B ut in the nineteen-sixties itself
6 you'd agree that it w as several m illion just
7 within that decade, correct?
8
A. Yes, depending on what you mean by
9 several million. W hat is several million? Two
10
m illion? Five m illion? Seven m illion? W hat is
11
several m illion?
12
Q. W ell, can you, can you provide the
13
jury a more exact number other than several
14
million o f how many million Volksw agens were sold
15
in the nine tee n -sixtie s in A m erica?
16
A. N ot sitting here today, no, I
17
can't.
18
Q. Okay.
19
And you'd also agree that there
20
w ere several m illion V o lksw a g e n s sold in A m erica
21
in the nineteen-seventies, correct?
22
A. Nineteen-seventies there probably
23
w ere. It started to slo w up in the, I'm trying
24
to think, 1969, '70. The m arket slowed up and we
25
had a fuel crisis in the early se ve n ties and
70
1
s a le s d ro p p e d o ff d ra s tic a lly in th a t p a rtic u la r
2
area, b ut again, w ith o u t looking at, at, you
3
know , figures that m ay be out there som eplace, I
4
w ould have to say, yeah, m aybe a couple m illion
5 m o re in th e s e v e n tie s .
6
Q . Okay.
7
S o is it a couple m illio n ? Is it
8
a m axim um of tw o? I m ean I'm ju s t trying to
9 figure out w hat w e're talking about here.
10
A . S itting here today I can't give
11
you exact sales figures.
12
Q . Okay.
13
A . I d o n 't w a n t to be in a c c u ra te in
14
w h a t I say to the jury. It w a s certa in ly several
15
m illion in th e s ix tie s a nd se v e ra l m illio n m ore
16
through the seventies.
17
Q. Very good.
18
You can se t th a t aside, sir. I
19
don't have any further questions about the
20
docum ent.
21
A. (C om plies.)
22
Q. Okay.
23
A nd we talked about this a bit
24
earlier, but V olksw agen o f A m erica's contract
25
w ith Volksw agen of G erm any requires it to train
71
1 se rvice people in special V o lksw a g e n courses,
2 correct?
3
A . I don't know that the contract
4
lays that out, b u t it requires that Volksw agen of
5 Am erica provide service fo r the products th a t it
6
is se llin g in the m a rk e t w h ich w o u ld include
7 tra in in g fo r th e m fo r the m e c h a n ic s a t its
8 dealerships, sure.
9
Q. Okay.
10
And Volkswagen does put on
11
training schools for various system s of
12
Volkswagen vehicles, correct?
13
O r strike that.
14
Let me reword the question.
15
Volksw agen does put on training
16
schools that relate specifically to various
17
system s o f Volksw agen vehicles, correct?
18
A. Yes, they have, they have training
19
for certain com ponents, and then they have
20
overall training for certain I should say
21
m aintenances and repairs th a t should be done to
22
the cars.
23
Q. Right.
24
A. And they have very specified
25
training for certain new system s as they come out
72
1 on the market.
2
Q. Okay.
3
And they have training schools
4 that are dedicated to engines, transmissions,
5 brakes, body repair, carburation, fuel systems,
6 things of that nature, correct?
7
A. Yes, they do.
8
Q. Okay.
9
And these schools can take
10 anywhere from tw o days to two w eeks depending on
11 the subject, correct?
12
A. The schools could take anywhere
13 from one day to about five days. I don't off the
14 top o f my head recall any schools that went on
15 for two w eeks unless you were stringing a whole
16 bunch o f schools together.
17
Q. Okay.
18
And, sir, we didn't discuss this
19 before, but you've given depositions on behalf of
20 Volksw agen many, m any tim es before, before today,
21 correct?
22
A. I've given many depositions over
23 the years, yes.
24
Q. Okay.
25
And I assume and I know your
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
73
1
counsel w ould have objected otherw ise, but I
2
assum e I can dispense with giving you the usual
3
instructions about w h a t a deposition is and the
4
fa ct th a t you're under oath and things of that
5
nature, correct?
6
A. I believe the basics I understand
7
unless you have som e special rules and
8
re g u la tio n s th a t yo u o p e ra te u n d e r in C a lifo rn ia .
9
Q. But you've alw ays understood that
10
w hen giving deposition te stim o n y you're under
11
oath to tell the truth, correct?
12
A. Absolutely.
13
Q. Okay.
14
A. No question about that.
15
Q. A nd I'm not suggesting otherw ise.
16
I'm ju s t la yin g th e fo u n d a tio n , sir.
17
Do you reca ll g ivin g te s tim o n y in
18
a ca se e n title d P rio r in 2 0 0 1 ?
19
A. I believe that's a C alifornia
20
case.
21
Q. Yes, sir.
22
A. I don't -- I know I testified at a
23
trial. I don't know if I gave deposition
24
te s tim o n y o r n o t in th a t case.
25
Q. Okay.
74
1
W ell, let m e a sk you how m any
2
tim es have you testified at trial fo r Volksw agen
3
in a c a se relatin g to a s b e s to s e x p o su re ?
4
A. To asbestos exposure?
5
Q . Yes, sir.
6
A. A t trial?
7
Q. Y es, sir.
8
A. Ju st tw ice.
9
Q. Okay.
10
A n d o n e o f th o s e I ta k e it w a s th e
11
P rio r case?
12
A. Yes.
13
Q. O kay. And w hat w as the other
14
case?
15
A. I b e lie ve it w a s R eyes, R -e -y-e -s.
16
Q. O kay. A nd w here w as th a t trial
17
h e ld ?
18
A. San F ra ncisco I believe.
19
Q. Okay.
20
A nd do you recall the nam e o f the
21
P laintiff's law yer th a t cross-e xa m ine d you?
22
A. No, I don't.
23
Q. O kay. D idn't m ake m uch of an
24
im pression?
25
A. I'm sorry?
75
1
Q. I'll w ithdraw that.
2
MR. W INTERMAN: I want that on the
3 record. I'm sending it to him. Counsel, w henever
4 you find an appropriate spot to --
5
MR. STUEMKE: Yeah, we've been
6 going an hour. Let's take a break.
7
MR. W INTERMAN: Thank you.
8
THE VIDEO G RAPHER: W e are going off
9 the record.
10
The tim e is approxim ately 11:02.
11
This is the end of Videotape Number
12
1 in the deposition o f Robert Cam eron.
13
(W hereupon, a short recess is
14 taken.)
15
TH E V ID E O G R A P H E R : Stand by,
16 please.
17
We are now back on the record.
18 19 a.m.
The tim e is approxim ately 11:14
20
This is the beginning of Videotape
21
N um ber 2 in the deposition o f Mr. Robert Cam eron,
22 Jr. 23
You may now proceed.
24
25
BY MR. STUEMKE:
76
1
Q. Before the break, Mr. Cam eron, we
2 were talking about the training schools that
3 Volkswagen has put on for m echanics.
4
It's my understanding from som e of
5 your earlier testim ony that you believe only
6 Volkswagen service or dealer em ployees were
7
perm itted to attend those classes, is th a t right?
8
A. Volkswagen em ployees or dealer
9 employees, yes.
10
Q. W hy do you believe that?
11
A. W ell, the training schools were
12
for the m echanics em ployed by authorized
13
Volkswagen dealers. T hat w as the whole concept
14
that they were set up for. I attended a num ber
15
o f them when I first joined the com pany and over
16
the years and that's who w as at the training
17
sessions.
18
Q. How m any different training
19
sch o o ls in te rm s o f w h e re th e y w ere located w ere
20
there?
21
A. W ell, it d e p e n d s on w h a t p o in t in
22
tim e. There w as -- way back at the beginning
23
each distributor of which there were fourteen
24
independent distributors around the United
25
States, each distributor had a training facility.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
77
1
Right now there are less training facilities than
2 fourteen but I don't know w hat the exact num ber
3 is today.
4
Q. Okay.
5
And do you know if any o f those
6 train in g fa cilitie s w ere e v e r located in
7 California?
8
A. Yes, they were.
9
Q. How many?
10
A. W ell, th e re w o u ld have been tw o in
11
C a lifo rn ia .
12
Q. W here were they?
13
A. W ell, back a t the beginning it
14
w o u ld have been one in th e L o s A n g e le s area and
15
one in th e S a n F ra n cisco area w here w e had tw o
16
separate distributors covering parts of
17
California at th a t time.
18
Q. Okay.
19
And w hat were the nam es o f those
20
distributors?
21
A. W ell, the nam es changed. The
22
Los Angeles distributor was Volkswagen Pacific or
23
Volksw agen o f C ulver City or som ething like that,
24
but it w as Volkswagen Pacific the last tim e I
25
rem em ber and the distributor for San Francisco
78
1 w as originally a com pany called Reynold C.
2 Johnson.
3
Q. Okay.
4
And backing up for a second, where
5 do you office?
6
A. I'm sorry?
7
Q. W here do you office?
8
A. W here do I -- where is my office?
9
Q. Yes.
10
A. M y office is in N ew Jersey.
11
Q. Okay.
12
H ave you always worked in New
13 Jersey when you've been em ployed by V olksw agen?
14
A. Yes.
15
Q. Okay.
16
Did you attend the, any training
17 sessions at the Los A ngeles or S an F rancisco
18 training facilities?
19
A. No.
20
Q. Okay.
21
Do you know from your own personal
22 know ledge w hether those distributors th a t ran
23 those training facilities lim ited the people that
24 could attend the training?
25
MR. W INTERM AN: Don't answer the
79
1 question.
2
(Direction not to answ er the
3 question.)
4
MR. W IN TER M AN : Counsel, his own
5
personal knowledge is not w hat he's here to
6 testify to. He's here to testify as to the person
7 m ost knowledgeable, the person m ost qualified on
8 behalf of the company.
9
MR. STUEMKE: Sure.
10
I'm ju s t testing the basis fo r his
11
belief.
12
MR. W INTERM AN: W ell --
13
14
BY MR. STUEMKE:
15
Q. You can answer.
16
MR. W INTERM AN: -- he can answer as
17
to w h a t he know s the co m p a n y inform ation is.
18
A. W ell, I know the training
19
facilities were required to be held by the
20
regional distributors, and Volkswagen of Am erica
21
had trainers who would train the trainers
22
basically.
23
Q. Uh-huh.
24
A. Volkswagen of Am erica's people
25
would go there and train the trainers at the
80
1 regional or at the independent distributors'
2 offices, and then over the years those offices
3 and distributorships were purchased back from
4 the, from the owners or the deceased owners'
5 fam ilies and were turned into Volksw agen of
6 Am erica offices and continued to operate as
7 distributors for a number o f years.
8
Q. Okay.
9
Let's break that down a little bit
10 because you said a lot and I want to m ake sure
11 that the ju ry is, is clear on this.
12
W e talked earlier about how by
13
1965 there are more than nine hundred Volkswagen
14 dealerships in the United States.
15
Do you recall that?
16
A. Yes, that's what it said on the
17 website.
18
Q. And you said that there were
19 fourteen independent distributors w ithin the
20
United States for Volksw agen products, is that
21 correct?
22
A. At a certain given time, yes.
23
Q. Okay.
24
And at what --
25
A. That was the maximum there were.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
81
1
Q. And when was that maximum
2 achieved?
3
A. It would be in the early sixties.
4
Q. Okay.
5
And then over time -- as I
6 understand what you just testified to, over time
7 Volkswagen o f America purchased those independent
8 distributorships, correct?
9
A. Yes, the distributorships are
10 either rented back or they were purchased from
11 the families or the deceased owners o f the
12 distributorships and then were com bined, the
13 areas were combined over the years and the number
14 became less than fourteen.
15
Q. Okay. And are there any left
16 today?
17
A. Independent distributors?
18
Q. Yes, sir.
19
A. No.
20
Q. W hen was the last one repurchased
21 by Volkswagen o f America?
22
A. I believe it was about in the
23 early nineties maybe, '93, '94.
24
Q. Okay.
25
A. '92, somewhere around there.
82
1
Q. Now, th e se training fa cilitie s
2 you've talked about were actually run by the
3
independent distributors, correct?
4
A. Yes, that was part of their
5 contract with us, that they had to provide
6 training to the dealers who they had authorized
7 to sell Volkswagen parts and accessories within
8 their distributorship areas.
9
Q. A n d V o lksw a g e n knew th a t
10
consumers, people that actually purchased
11
Volkswagen vehicles would oftentim es do w ork on
12
them themselves, correct?
13
A. W ell, generally speaking you, you
14
knew that some custom ers would try to do some
15
repair w ork on their own, yes.
16
Q. Sure.
17
And certainly Volkswagen knew and
18
understood th a t not all cu sto m e rs w ould take
19
their vehicle for service to authorized
20
Volkswagen service centers, correct?
21
A. Once it w as out o f w arranty that
22
would be something that a custom er could do, yes.
23
Q. Right.
24
And if it w asn't a w arranty
25
repair, that's som ething they m ight even do
83
1 during the warranty period, correct?
2
A. It's possible that they could do
3 th a t if the repair shop or they had access to
4 parts and --
5
Q. Sure.
6
A. -- special tools and procedures,
7 yes.
8
Q. Sure.
9
And did dealers that sent
10
m echanics to these training facilities run by
11
independent distributors have to pay fo r those
12
m echanics to get training?
13
A. They paid the m echanics for their
14
tim e a t the facility, but my recollection is they
15
did not pay fo r the course itself. The course
16
w as provided by the distributorship.
17
Q. Okay.
18
And do you know w hether either of
19
the two distributorships in California ever
20
offered Volkswagen training courses to m echanics
21
not employed by Volkswagen dealers?
22
A. I have never heard of any o f the
23
distributorships throughout the United States
24
that were working under our system providing
25
training to outside people for the regular
84
1 Volkswagen training courses.
2
Q. Okay. W ho have you asked about
3 that?
4
A. I h a v e n 't aske d a n yb o d y a b o u t it.
5
Q. Okay.
6
A. It's ju st m y fam iliarization with
7 the com pany ove r the years. It's a very -- it
8 w as a very tightly held organization back at that
9 tim e, and they wanted to ensure th a t it w as --
10
the m echanics were properly trained because the
11
Volksw agen w as different than other cars,
12
required special tools and special procedures.
13
And any dealerships were very proud of their
14
m echanics that they had attended the training and
15
they kept -- they got certificates for each
16
course, and they would very often have them on
17
the dealership w alls at the service counters so
18
that they could advertise that their people were
19
properly trained.
20
Q. Okay.
21
MR. S TU E M K E : I'm going to object
22
as non-responsive.
23
Q. Sir, the training schools run by
24
the independent distributors, those were not
25
supervised by the product liaison group of
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
85
1
Volkswagen, were they?
2
A. By the product liaison group, no.
3
Q. Okay.
4
And that's the group that you have
5
been in sin ce 1970 o r 1971?
6
A. That's correct.
7
Q. Okay.
8
And you haven't review ed any
9
docum ents th a t w ould tell you w hat policies the
10
Volkswagen training schools run by the two
11
C alifornia distributorships had relating to
12
w hether non-Volksw agen dealer em ployees were
13
perm itted to attend, have you?
14
A. I have not seen anything like
15
that, no.
16
Q. Okay.
17
And you yourself have attended the
18
Volkswagen training schools for m any of the
19
different car systems, correct?
20
A. Yes.
21
Q. Okay.
22
W hich training schools did you
23
attend?
24
A. You m ean the location of the
25
schools?
86
1
Q. Yes, sir.
2
A. T h e y w ere located in O rangeburg,
3
New Y ork at the local area distributor which w as
4 worldwide Volkswagen corporation.
5
Q. Okay.
6
And have you ever been to either
7 o f the train in g sch o o ls in C a lifo rn ia ?
8
A. I have been to th e one in
9 Los Angeles, yes.
10
Q. Okay.
11
And w as there training being
12
conducted at the tim e you were there?
13
A. Yes.
14
Q. Okay.
15
And did you -- how m any people
16
were there being trained?
17
A. The cla ssro o m I w a s in I believe
18
had about seven, seven people plus an instructor.
19
Q. Okay.
20
And did you ask each o f those
21
seven people by w hom they were em ployed?
22
A. No.
23
Q. Okay.
24
Did each of those seven people
25
w ear clothing or anything else indicating by whom
87
1 they were employed?
2
A. Some o f them had shirts on with
3 dealership names on them, but I quite frankly
4 didn't pay any attention to them.
5
Q. Right.
6
So you don't know whether each and
7 every person taking that course was, in fact,
8 employed by a VW dealer or if they may have been
9 employed by other people, correct?
10
A. That's correct. They could have
11 been company em ployees too.
12
Q. Okay.
13
And as far as you know they could
14 have been from outside the company, correct?
15
A. Well, I would doubt that they were
16 from outside the company because my understanding
17 even today is that outside, outside personnel are
18 not allowed to participate in the training
19 procedures that go on.
20
Q. Okay.
21
W hat document is there that
22 reflects that, sir?
23
A. I don't know o f any document that
24 reflects that.
25
Q. W ell, you say they're not allowed.
88
1 It sounds like you're referring to som e rule. Is
2 there a rule that only Volkswagen dealership
3 employees are permitted to attend training
4 schools?
5
A. W ell, again, first o f all, you
6 have to make an appointm ent to go to the school.
7 O ur engineers even today within my group attend
8 these schools on a regular basis, and we have to
9 call up and make an appointm ent to get our people
10
into the training facility and we get an
11
exception because we don't have a running --
12
now adays th e y keep tra ck o f it all by com puter
13
who the m echanic is and what schools he's been to
14
and we get an exception for that because our
15
people are not regular mechanics.
16
So, therefore, they need an
17
exception and they don't get all o f the training
18
records put in th e ir system , but it's designed
19 for em ployees o f dealerships who need training.
20
They're referred to the training by the area
21
representative who is one o f our em ployees now
22
and he tracks who is com ing in and which
23
m echanics should or do need training and he
24
actually goes over that every month with the
25
dealership when he's at the dealership.
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1
Q. W hen were the independent
2 distributorships in California acquired by
3 Volkswagen o f America? When were they purchased
4 back?
5
A. I couldn't tell you exactly. I
6 would say in the seventies.
7
Q. Okay.
8
A. My recollection it was Competition
9 M otors originally. Then it became Volkswagen
10 Pacific and then some time after that we
11 purchased it and the Reynold C. Johnson one I
12 believe was also in the seventies some time.
13
Q. Okay.
14
And prior to whatever time it was
15 that Volkswagen acquired these independent
16 distributorships, it was the independent
17 distributorships them selves that were running the
18 training schools in California, correct?
19
A. Yes, but they were running them in
20 conjunction with the requirements o f the training
21 courses and the training that their trainers got
22 and the docum ents and the m aterials that were
23 supplied through Volkswagen o f America.
24
Q. Okay.
25
Can you identify for me a
90
1 requirement imposed by Volkswagen of America that
2 nobody other than Volkswagen dealership employees
3 or Volkswagen employees were permitted to attend
4 the training?
5
A. N o, I can't.
6
Q. And you've not reviewed the
7 deposition testimony given by Mr. Boman in this
8 case, have you?
9
A. W ell, we did review verbally the
10 docum ents that were referred to in the one area
11 o f inquiry if you gave some page numbers, and I
12 know counsel read that information. You know, we
13 discussed it. I personally did not look at it
14 and read it myself. I relied on counsel to read
15 it accurately.
16
Q. Okay.
17
Did you read the part of
18 Mr. Bom an's testimony where he indicated that he
19 attended a program class or sem inar put on by
20 Volkswagen?
21
A. Yes, I, I -- that was --
22 Volkswagen I believe was one o f the brands that
23 was mentioned in that sentence. Do you have the
24 sentence or do you have the testim ony there? W e
25 could read it and accurately see what it says.
91
1
Q. W ell, I'm ju s t asking you did he
2 read you the part where Mr. Bom an testified that
3
he attended a program, class or sem inar put on by
4 Volkswagen?
5
A. A s I recall, he read a sentence
6 w h e re Mr. B om an said he had a ttended cla sse s or
7 seminars, as he called them, put on by a couple
8 o f different manufacturers, and I think
9 Volksw agen w as one o f the nam es th a t he
10
m entioned. I don't think he said he attended
11
V o lksw a g e n sch o o ls specifically, but again, if
12
you've got the testim ony there, let's read it and
13
we can g et it accurately done.
14
Q. Okay.
15
I'm ju s t asking you yes or no did
16
he read th a t pa rt to you? It so u n ds like the
17
answ er is yes, correct?
18
MR. W INTERM AN: W ell, he doesn't --
19
Counsel, the problem is he doesn't know w hat
20
you're specifically referring to.
21
He can tell you and he already has
22
told you th a t we looked at the pages that were
23
referred to in yo u r notice o f taking deposition.
24
That's what w as discussed with the witness.
25
Q. Did V o lksw a g e n training schools
92
1 give certificates to the people that attended
2 them?
3
A. The training centers would issue a
4 certificate to the dealership and to the, excuse
5 me, to the m echanic for his attendance at any
6 training session that he attended so that he
7 could show that he had been there.
8
Q. Okay.
9
And did you -- where you read the
10
portion o f Mr. B om an's testim o n y w here he
11
indicated that he had been certified as an
12
automotive brake mechanic by a number of
13
com panies including Volkswagen?
14
A. There was testim ony read by
15
counsel from the transcripts which were the pages
16
listed in N um ber 4 in the Notice o f Deposition,
17
Pages 1287 colon 16 through 1289 colon 12 where
18
he said som ething about being certified to
19
perform brake repairs.
20
Q. Okay.
21
And so that's consistent with the
22
practice of the Volkswagen training schools
23
giving certificates to those people that had
24
attended the course, correct?
25
A. No, that's a totally different
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1 subject.
2
Q. How so?
3
A. W ell, we don't certify people to
4
do anything. W e train them and then give them a
5
certificate that says they have attended the
6 training. T hat doesn't certify them to do
7
anything.
8
Q. Okay.
9
A. It ju s t sim ply says they have
10
a tte n d e d th e tra in in g and p a sse d it.
11
Q. Okay.
12
Now, to a layperson receiving a
13
certificate could reasonably be interpreted as
14
being certified, correct?
15
MR. W INTERM AN: Calls for
16
speculation, conjecture and lacks foundation.
17
T here is no w ay he knows.
18
A. W e ll, g e n e ra lly s p e a kin g in the
19
autom obile industry when you are certified by
20
som ebody, that's an official course th a t you've
21
gone through. Like right now you can be
22
ce rtifie d in a n u m b e r o f a re a s a cco rd in g to th e
23
N A S A A o r w h a te v e r th e re is, th e re is A S E
24
certifications that you can get and actually
25
pass. You take a te st and you pass it and you
94
1 are an approved technician for that particular
2 operation. T hat's a little bit different than
3 attending a Volkswagen service school and getting
4 a certificate to put on the wall o f your
5 dealership saying you've attended that particular
6 service school.
7
Q. Okay.
8
But in either case you're getting
9 a certificate, correct?
10
A. Well, you would get a
11
certification -- you would get a certificate that
12
says you attended that, yes, but there are
13
certain com panies that give courses, and you can
14
be a certified m echanic in a certain aspect o f
15
repair o f a particular item put on by a company
16
representative for particular parts or
17
carburetors or fuel injection system s or whatever
18
it is, brake system s.
19
The com panies will give courses,
20
and you can become a certified brake mechanic for
21
Bendix brakes or som ething like that. It m ay not
22
be Bendix, but som e o f those com panies used to
23
hold training courses and they would give out
24
certificates so that if you wanted to open a
25
Firestone repair store, your people went to the
95
1
Firestone school and were certified m echanics to
2 w o rk a t F irestone in th e b ra ke area o r w h a te ve r
3
it w as they were doing.
4
Q. Okay. You don't have any --
5
Strike that.
6
Volkswagen o f Am erica does not
7
have any docum ent that would indicate that
8 Mr. Bom an was prohibited from attending a
9 training course held by Volksw agen relating to
10
brakes, correct?
11
A. N o, if Mr. Bom an worked for an
12
authorized Volkswagen dealer he could attend
13
w hatever courses are being offered by a
14
Volksw agen training facility as long as his
15
em ployer w as willing to pay fo r him to be there.
16
MR. STUEM KE: Objection.
17
N o n -re s p o n s iv e .
18
19
BY MR. STUEMKE:
20
Q. Sir, does Volksw agen o f Am erica
21
have a docum ent indicating th a t Mr. Bom an w ould
22
not have been perm itted to attend a Volkswagen
23
training course relating to brakes?
24
A. I think I already answered that
25
question. Mr. Bom an w as an em ployee o f an
96
1 authorized Volkswagen dealer. He would be
2 permitted to train, to attend any training that
3 w as put on by V olksw agen as long as his em ployer
4 approved o f it and w as willing to allow him to
5 come to that training. That's, that's, that's
6 w hat we would have.
7
Q. Okay.
8
So Volkswagen does not have any
9 reason to believe that Mr. Boman did not attend a
10 training course relating to brakes held by
11
Volkswagen as he testified, correct?
12
MR. W INTERM AN: Misstates,
13
m ischaracterizes the witness' testimony.
14
A. That's not correct.
15
Q. W hat inform ation, w hat --
16
Strike that.
17
W hat document exists that
18
Volkswagen o f Am erica can show this jury to
19
support your testim ony that Mr. Bom an w ould not
20
have been allowed to attend a Volkswagen training
21
course for brakes?
22
A. Oh, I'm sorry.
23
MR. W INTERM AN: Excuse me. This,
24
Counsel, with all due respect, I think you're
25
killing a dead horse here. I mean you've been
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1 over this and over this and over this and his
2 answers aren't going to change. It's pretty clear
3 w hat the position is so I m ean I'm not going to
4 instruct him not to answ er as o f yet, but all of
5 this has been asked and answered now.
6
A. I have no record that Mr. Boman
7 was ever an employee o f an authorized Volkswagen
8 dealership. As such, he would not be able to
9 attend any authorized Volkswagen dealer training.
10
Q. But you --
11
A. I don't have any records that show
12 that he tried to apply and was rejected because
13 he was not an em ployee o f an authorized
14 Volksw agen dealer. He him self would not apply.
15 T he application procedure is that the area
16 representative fo r the dealership review s the
17 dealership's training records when he's there on
18 his m onthly or bi-weekly visit and he m akes the
19 appointm ents for the m echanics with the dealer's
20 approval to attend the training sessions.
21
Now, if Mr. Boman -- if you -- are
22 you telling me Mr. Boman w as em ployed by an
23 authorized Volksw agen dealership som e tim e during
24 his w ork career?
25
Q. Okay.
98
1
Now, it sounds like you've
2 actually looked through the records o f the
3 train in g sch o o ls in C alifornia to see that, have
4 you?
5
A. No, there are no records going
6 back --
7
Q. Okay.
8
A. -- to the sixties and the
9 seventies --
10
Q. Okay.
11
A. -- from those repair facilities,
12
but w hat I said w as that the training is still
13
co n d ucte d in the sam e m anner b a sically u n d er the
14
sam e rules and regulations that we had back then.
15
It's ju s t been im proved to include the newer
16
types o f system s and materials.
17
Q. Okay.
18
A. And it's still done the same way.
19
Q. B ut when you told th is ju ry a
20
m inute ago, I don't have any records that show
21
that he tried to apply and w as rejected because
22
he w as not an em ployee o f an authorized dealer,
23
you're not m eaning to suggest that you have
24
records that you could even look at for that, are
25
you?
99
1
A. There are no records to look at.
2
Q. Okay.
3
A. W hat I said w as I have no
4 inform ation. I have no record anywhere that
5
Mr. Bom an w a s an em ployee o f an authorized
6 Volksw agen dealer.
7
Q. Okay.
8
And you also --
9
A. W as he an authorized or em ployee
10
any tim e during his w ork career?
11
Q. Mr. C am eron, you u n d ersta n d I'm
12
asking the questions here today. This isn't --
13
this isn't Volksw agen's tim e to learn inform ation
14
from my client. They've already had their chance
15
to do that.
16
A. N o, I u n d ersta n d that, sir.
17
Q. Do you understand that? All
18
right?
19
A. But if he was w orking for a
20
d e a le rsh ip th a t m ay still be in e xiste n ce th a t
21
w a s in e xiste n ce b a c k in the sixtie s and the
22
seventies and you can point me to that dealership
23
where he worked, then maybe the dealership has
24
som e em ployees. I have no idea. I can't ask
25
e ve ry d e a le rsh ip in the U n ite d S ta te s th a t
100
1 Mr. Boman ever worked for them back in the
2 sixties and the seventies.
3
Q. Okay.
4
MR. STUEM KE: I'm going to object
5 as non-responsive.
6
Q. So just to kind of sum up, let me
7 see if I understand your testimony: Volkswagen
8 does not have any records o f the training schools
9 conducted by the independent distributorships in
10 California in the nineteen-sixties and
11 nineteen-seventies, correct?
12
A. That's correct.
13
Q. Okay.
14
At the time independent
15 distributorships were running those training
16 courses, Volksw agen did not own those
17 distributorships, correct?
18
A. At the time the independent
19 distributor w as running a Volksw agen did not own
20 it, it would not be an independent distributor if
21 Volksw agen owned it.
22
Q. And that's m y point. It wasn't a
23 Volkswagen owned com pany that was running those
24 training schools in the nineteen-sixties and
25 nineteen-seventies, correct?
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1
MR. W INTERM AN: That m isstates and
2
m ischaracterizes the testimony. Depends on what
3 p oint in tim e.
4
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
5
6 BY MR. STUEMKE:
7
Q. It w as not a Volkswagen owned
8 co m p a n y th a t ran the tra in in g schools in the
9 nineteen-sixties and the nineteen-seventies up
10
u n til the point in tim e w hen V o lksw a g e n acquired
11
those independent distributorships, w henever that
12 w a s, correct?
13
A. W hen they were independent
14
distributors they were run by the people that
15
owned the independent distributors and not by
16
Volkswagen, but they operated under the
17
Volkswagen rules and regulations for operating a
18
distributorship. It w as a contractual
19
relationship.
20
Q. Okay.
21
And you can't identify any rule or
22
regulation that indicates that only Volkswagen
23
dealership m echanics or Volkswagen company
24
em ployees were perm itted to attend those training
25
schools, can you?
102
1
A. I can't show th a t particular piece
2 of paper, no.
3
Q. Okay.
4
A n d so you're n o t in a po sitio n to
5 tell this ju ry th a t Mr. Bom an w a s either lying or
6 otherwise incorrect when he testified to having
7 attended a brake school put on by Volkswagen,
8 correct?
9
A. No, I can only tell the jury that
10
Volksw agen would not allow anyone to attend its
11
training sessions unless they were an em ployee of
12
an authorized Volkswagen dealer. That's the way
13
the system w as set up.
14
Q. Okay.
15
And, again, there is no docum ents
16
that reflect that, correct?
17
MR. W INTERM AN: That's asked and
18
answered.
19
Let's m ove on, Counsel.
20
Q. You can answ er the question.
21
A. There is no docum ent that reflects
22
that, that's correct.
23
Q. Okay.
24
Now, sir, it's true th a t every
25
single car that Volkswagen o f Am erica sold from
103
1 its beginning in 1955 to the late
2
nineteen-eighties contained asbestos, correct?
3
A. To the when, sir?
4
Q. Late nineteen-eighties.
5
A. That's not correct.
6
Q. Do you recall giving testim o n y in
7 a case named G askill?
8
A. I recall testifying at Gaskill. I
9 think I had one or two depositions or deposition
10
sessions at Gaskill.
11
Q. I point you to, sir, Page 47 of
12
the tra n scrip t o f yo u r deposition given in the
13
Gaskill case dated July 14th, 2008 here a t this
14
sam e office in N ew York. Page 47, Line 2 through
15
Line 10.
16
MR. W INTERMAN: Okay.
17
Q. A nd you can read along w ith me,
18 sir.
19
Do you see that beginning at Line
20
2 on Page 47 you're asked: So from 1955 until
21
som e tim e in the late nin e tee n -e ig htie s all o f
22
the cars sold by Volkswagen contained asbestos?
23
There is an objection.
24
You ask: Again, we're talking
25
about Volkswagen of Am erica?
104
1
Yes, sir.
2
Q uestion, so the answ er is yes?
3
And you answer: Yes.
4
A. (R eview s.)
5
Q. Do you see that?
6
MR. W IN T E R M A N : T hat's an, th a t is
7
an incorrect statem ent or characterization of the
8
transcript and so let's -- w hy don't you correctly
9
identify w hat he says.
10
MR. S T U E M K E : I did.
11
MR. W IN T E R M A N : He says --
12
M R. S T U E M K E : I ju s t rea d it.
13
MR. W IN T E R M A N : T ha t is incorrect,
14
C o u n s e l.
15
It says, q u o te : In th a t area, yes,
16
sir, dep en d in g on the m odel line.
17
A re a of tim e, sir, not, not, not
18
direct as you have tried to m islead this ju ry to
19
b e lie v e .
20
MR. STU EM KE: That's offensive.
21
I'm reading verb a tim from the transcript.
22
MR. W IN TER M AN : W ell, then --
23
MR. STU E M K E : I don't know w hat
24
y o u 're lo oking at.
25
MR. W IN TER M AN : Then you ought to
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1
read, read the w hole thing then.
2
MR. STUEM KE: Are you serious?
3
MR. W IN T E R M A N : I'm dead serious.
4 Y ou're m isleading this jury.
5
MR. STUEM KE: That -- wow.
6
MR. W IN T E R M A N : O r attem pting to.
7
MR. STU EM KE : W ow. All right.
8 W ell, let's read the entire page then starting
9 w ith the question on Line 2.
10
11
BY MR. STUEMKE:
12
Q. So fro m 1955 until so m e tim e in
13
th e late n in e tee n -e ig htie s all o f the ca rs sold
14
by Volksw agen contained asbestos.
15
There is an objection.
16
A n d y o u r a n s w e r is: A g a in , w e 're
17
talking about Volksw agen of Am erica?
18
Yes, sir.
19
Did I read that portion correctly,
20
Mr. C am eron?
21
A. Yes, sir, th a t's w h a t it says.
22
Q. Okay.
23
And beginning at Line 9 the
24
question is asked so the a n sw er is yes, and w hat
25
is your answ er on Line 10, sir?
106
1
A. Yes.
2
Q. Okay.
3
And isn't that the same thing that
4
I ju s t read a m om ent ago?
5
A. That's w hat you read, sir, but
6 you've got to read the rest o f the com m ents and
7 the answ ers to the questions on Page 47 all the
8 way over to Page 49 to understand w hat cars
9 co n taine d a sb e sto s and w h ich o n e s d id n 't in th a t
10
tim e fram e th a t you're talking about.
11
Q. Okay.
12
MR. S T U E M K E : I'll o b je ct as
13
non-responsive.
14
Q. The question is asked on Line 11:
15
Did you also sell asbestos-containing replacem ent
16 parts?
17
W hat's your answer, sir?
18
A. The parts for those cars would
19
have contained asbestos, yes.
20
Q. Okay.
21
And then the question is asked:
22
And during w hat period of tim e would the parts
23
for the cars that you sold have contained
24
asbestos?
25
W hat's your answer, sir?
107
1
A. A t the sam e tim e.
2
Q. Okay.
3
T hen it says: So fro m 1955 all
4
the w ay through late nineteen-eighties.
5
A n d w hat's your answ er?
6
A. In th a t area, sir, yes, d e pending
7
on th e m odel line.
8
Q. Okay.
9
A n d th a t question is relating to
10
the parts, correct, replacem ent parts?
11
A. Yes, fo r the cars from 1955 into
12
the late eighties.
13
Q. Okay.
14
MR. W IN T E R M A N : I'm going to m ove
15
to strike this w hole line of questioning as
16
im p ro p e r use o f the deposition. It's not
17
im peachm ent.
18
MR. STUEM KE: Okay.
19
20
BY MR. STUEMKE:
21
Q. G ive that back.
22
A. (C om plies.)
23
Q. So, sir, is it true o r not true
24
th a t fro m 1 955 until s o m e tim e in th e late
25
n in e te e n -e ig h tie s all o f the ca rs so ld by
108
1 Volkswagen contained asbestos?
2
A. It's not true.
3
Q. Okay.
4
And you recognize that you
5 testified that it w as true just a year ago?
6
MR. W INTERM AN: Misstates,
7 m ischaracterizes the testimony.
8
A rg u m e n ta tive .
9
A. I testified that some of the cars
10
had it in them until 1989 I believe it was, but
11 we started taking out -- if you continue to read
12 that transcript and go on one or tw o pages, it
13 talks about we started to take or received
14 vehicles from the m anufacturers with non-asbestos
15 pa rts starting in the early eighties.
16
So that continued on so that all
17 product lines w hich you characterize, all
18 Volksw agens from 1950 through 1989 had asbestos
19 in them . That's not true.
20
Q. Okay. I didn't say 1989, did I?
21
A. In your original question I
22 believe you did. You said: B ut we tried to
23 characterize it into the late eighties, whatever
24 you would characterize the late eighties.
25
I'm telling you that in the early
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1 eighties som e o f the product lines did not have
2
a sb e sto s in them , and it w a s ta ke n o u t o v e r a
3
period o f tim e so that by the end o f the eighties
4 the cars were asbestos-free.
5
Q. Okay.
6
So you're telling this ju ry that
7
in the e arly n in e te e n -e ig h tie s V o lksw a g e n w a s
8 able to produce vehicles that didn't contain a
9 single fiber o f asbestos?
10
A. W h a t I am saying w a s th a t in the
11
early eighties we started receiving vehicles from
12
the m a n u fa ctu re r w h ich co n taine d no a sb e sto s in
13
the brakes or the clutches gaskets which is the
14
area th a t you're talking about here.
15
Q. Okay.
16
Did it have other asbestos
17
co m p o n e n ts?
18
A. I don't know if it did or not
19
right at the moment.
20
Q. Okay.
21
So from the early
22
nineteen-eighties when Volksw agen w as first able
23
to produce cars that didn't contain asbestos
24
brakes and asbestos gaskets and asbestos
25
clutches, they continued to still sell other
110
1 m odels that did have those asbestos components,
2 correct?
3
A. I have a problem. You said
4 Volkswagen. Volkswagen, we agreed when you use
5 the word Volkswagen, you're talking about
6 Volkswagen Group o f America, is that correct?
7
Q. Okay. Fine. Let's re-ask the
8 question.
9
A. Volkswagen Group of America never
10 manufactured a car.
11
Q. Okay.
12
Volkswagen o f Germany first
13 started delivering to Volkswagen o f America cars
14 that didn't contain any asbestos components
15 you're telling us in early nineteen-eighties,
16 correct?
17
A. They started removing the asbestos
18 from the cars in the nineteen-eighties, in the
19 early nineteen-eighties, that's correct.
20
Q. Okay.
21
When was the first car -- when was
22 the first car that did not incorporate any
23 asbestos-containing components sold by Volkswagen
24 o f America?
25
A. I couldn't give you a date for
111
1 that, sir.
2
Q. All right.
3
A. I don't have that date.
4
Q. Can you say that's the early
5
nineteen-eighties or no?
6
A. W ell, in the early
7
nineteen-eighties they rem oved the asbestos from
8 the brakes and the clutch system s and they
9 started taking it out o f gaskets is w hat I can
10
tell you.
11
Q. Okay.
12
And w hat docum ents exist to
13
support that belief, sir?
14
A. I d o n 't have any docum ents. It's
15
from my personal knowledge.
16
Q. Okay.
17
So w as there a car sold before
18
1985 by Volkswagen of Am erica that did not
19
include either asbestos-containing gaskets,
20
clutches or brakes?
21
A. I believe the type 3, excuse me,
22
type 3 or Quantum or Passat, I forget w hat we
23
were calling them back then, w as the first series
24
th a t cam e in and w ere rep re se n te d to us as being
25
asbestos-free.
112
1
Q. And when was that first sold by
2 Volkswagen of America?
3
A. Oh, in the early eighties, '82,
4 '83, som ewhere around there. That's what we were
5 informed.
6
Q. Okay.
7
And were you inform ed in writing
8 or was this just a phone call or what?
9
A. I don't know how the message was,
10 cam e across but over the years w hen we discussed
11 this and answered interrogatories and there's
12
been testim ony from factory witnesses that that's
13 the tim e fram e.
14
Q. Okay.
15
W hat was the -- after the Passat
16 or w hatever -- well, first o ff was it the P a ssa t
17 th a t you're referring to th a t th a t w as the first
18 car to be asbestos-free sold by Volksw agen?
19
A. Well, it was the Passat model
20
line. I don't recall exactly what we were
21 calling it back then.
22
Q. Okay.
23
W hat was the next model line that
24 V olksw agen sold that w as asbestos-free?
25
A. I couldn't give you a m odel line.
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
113
1 The vehicles had the asbestos removed by the end
2 o f the eighties. That's w hat we were informed.
3
Q. Okay.
4
Volkswagen o f Am erica sold
5 asbe sto s-co n taining rep la ce m e n t parts from its
6 beginning in 1955 until the late
7 nineteen-eighties, correct?
8
A. W e sold asbestos-containing
9 rep la ce m e n t parts, th e re p robably w ere som e in
10
the system up through the late eighties, yes.
11
Q. Okay.
12
And those asbestos-containing
13
products sold by Volkswagen o f Am erica included
14
asbestos-containing brakes, correct?
15
A. Yes.
16
Q. A nd th o se brake linings contained
17
about thirty percent asbestos, correct?
18
A. My inform ation is from one o f the
19
engineers that it w as a thirty percent mix, yes.
20
Q. Okay.
21
Now, within Volkswagen of Am erica
22
w hat does the term m aterial specification mean?
23
A. W ell, material specification, I
24
th in k that's a, it's a docum ent that's produced
25
by a supplier for, to label w hat the com ponents
114
1 are within the part that he's supplying. That's
2
my understanding.
3
Q. Okay.
4
And for the replacem ent products
5 th a t it sold, well, specifically fo r the
6
replacem ent brakes that Volkswagen of Am erica
7 sold, it provided the specifications for
8
m anufacture o f those replacem ent linings,
9 correct?
10
A. I don't understand w hat you mean
11
by that question.
12
Q. Okay.
13
Did Volksw agen o f Am erica provide
14
the specifications for the m anufacture of any of
15
the bonded brake linings which it purchased from
16
the European Parts Exchange?
17
A. I believe they passed on the
18
perform ance specifications from the m anufacturer
19
of the vehicle which would have been Volkswagen
20
in G erm any.
21
Q. Okay.
22
And m aterial specifications as
23
well, correct?
24
A. If such existed I would assume
25
they passed them on, yes.
115
1
Q. Okay.
2
And so that w ould be Volksw agen of
3 Am erica telling the m anufacturer or supplier of
4
replacem ent linings w hat those replacem ent
5
linings should consist of, correct?
6
A. No, I don't believe w e told them
7 w h a t th e y should consist of.
8
In fact, so m e tim e s th e m ate ria ls
9 that they were made out of m ight have been a
10
trade secret, so to speak, because they had their
11
own w ay of m aking the linings, but w hat w e gave
12
them were perform ance specifications for w hat
13
perform ance the linings should do, and if they
14
subm itted linings to us, I believe we passed the
15
linings on to G erm any so that they could test
16
them to make sure that they m et the Volkswagen
17
perform ance specifications.
18
Q. Okay.
19
Is it yo u r testim ony that
20
Volksw agen of A m erica did not provide m aterial
21
specifications for those replacem ent linings?
22
A. T h a t's n o t w h a t I said, sir.
23
Q. Did V olksw agen of Am erica supply
24
m aterial specifications fo r those replacem ent
25
linings?
116
1
A. A s I said, I don't know exactly
2
w h a t w e supplied to them . If w e w ere given that
3
inform ation from the m anufacturer of the car, we
4
w ould have passed it on to the people w ho w ere
5
trying to sell us brake linings.
6
Q. Okay. Okay.
7
And are there any docum ents that
8
exist that relate to any of that?
9
A. No.
10
Q. Okay.
11
W hy not?
12
A. Because our normal docum ent
13
retention program is tw o years and th a t
14
inform ation to o k place or that, those
15
tra n s a c tio n s to o k p la ce in th e late se ve n tie s ,
16
early eighties.
17
Q. And fo r how long has yo u r docum ent
18
retention policy ju s t been two years?
19
A. S in ce s o m e tim e b a c k in th e
20
eighties.
21
Q. W h a t w as it before that?
22
A. T hey didn't have one th a t you w ere
23
allow ed to keep m aterials fo r w hatever length of
24
tim e yo u th o u g h t it w o u ld be sp e c ific to keep it,
25
b u t th e n in th e sixtie s, m id dle s ix tie s th e y c a m e
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
117
1 out with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety
2 Standards which required us to keep docum entation
3 in reference to safety items for a specific
4 amount o f time.
5
There is IRS regulations for
6 financial regulations. So in the eig h tie s they
7 solidified a records retention program, but
8 general correspondence and general materials are
9 kept for two years.
10
Q. Okay.
11
How long were safety related
12 docum ents required to be retained by the Federal
13
Motor Vehicle Safety Act?
14
A. I believe it w as five years.
15
Q. And can you tell the jury when
16 V olksw agen of A m erica last sold replacem ent brake
17
linings that contained asbestos?
18
A. I can't give you an exact date.
19
It would have been som e tim e in the late
20 eighties, probably '87, '88.
21
Q. Okay.
22
The replacement products that
23 contained asbestos which V olksw agen sold also
24
included asbestos-containing clutches, correct?
25
A. Yes, that's correct.
118
1
Q. Okay.
2
And that was true from 1955 when
3 the com pany started until the late
4 nineteen-eighties, correct?
5
A. Until 1989.
6
Q. Okay.
7
And the replacement
8 asbestos-containing products sold by Volkswagen
9 also included asbestos-containing exhaust
10
manifold gaskets, correct?
11
A. Som e o f them did, that's correct.
12
Q. Okay.
13
And Volksw agen o f Am erica sold
14
asbestos-containing exhaust manifold gaskets from
15
1955 until the late nineteen-eighties, correct?
16
A. That's correct.
17
Q. Okay.
18
A. Som e o f the g askets did. Not all
19 gaskets contained asbestos.
20
Q. All right.
21
Did any exhaust manifold gaskets
22
not contain asbestos prior to 1985?
23
A. I don't know.
24
Q. Okay.
25
Did Volkswagen o f Am erica ever
119
1 sell vehicles that included asbestos-containing
2
in s u la tio n ?
3
A. I don't know o f any.
4
Q. Okay.
5
N o w , the reason I a sk, sir, is
6 th a t you've te stifie d in a p rio r d e p osition that
7 certain cars incorporated asbestos-containing
8 insulation.
9
Do you recall that?
10
A. I recall talking about insulation
11
a ro u n d the h e a te r b o xe s in the veh icle s, yes.
12
Q. Okay.
13
Did -- can you identify any
14
vehicles that contained asbestos insulation?
15
A. In the h e a te r bo xe s?
16
Q. A n yw h e re in the ca r?
17
A. W ell, I recall it being in the
18
heater boxes on some o f the type 3s and som e of
19
the vans.
20
Q. Okay.
21
So Volksw agen did sell vehicles
22
that had asbestos-containing insulation?
23
A. W ithin a confined -- I thought you
24
were talking about insulation like w e're talking
25
about to insulate the roof of your house, you
120
1
insulate the body o f the car. I th o u g h t th a t's
2
w h a t you're talking about.
3
Q. Okay.
4
B u t th e a n s w e r to th e q u e s tio n is
5
yes, V o lksw a g e n did sell cars w ith
6
asbe sto s-co n taining insulation, correct?
7
A. W ithin the heater boxes, yes.
8
Q. A nd w hen you say w ithin -- w here
9
is th e h e a te r box?
10
A. It's a tta ch e d to th e e ngine, on
11
the air cooled engines.
12
C O U R T R EP O R TE R : On the w hat?
13
T H E W IT N E S S : On th e a ir cooled
14
e n g in e s .
15
16
BY MR. STUEMKE:
17
Q. A nd w h a t w as the outside m aterial
18
of the heater box?
19
A. M etal.
20
Q. Okay.
21
And w hat w as the purpose o f the
22
in s u la tio n in th e h e a te r b o x?
23
A. To insulate the heater box and
24
m aintain the heat w ithin the heater box.
25
Q. Okay.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
121
1
A. It w as the heater box that
2 transm itted heat to the car and, therefore, you
3
insulate it ju s t like you do with your house to
4
keep the heat within the heater box.
5
Q. Okay.
6
And what type of asbestos was
7
included in th a t insulation?
8
A. I don't know.
9
Q. W hen did Volksw agen last sell
10
ve h ic le s in co rp o ra tin g a sb e sto s in su la tio n in the
11
heater box or anywhere else?
12
A. T hat would have to be air cooled.
13
So that would -- that would have to be probably
14
m aybe mid eighties, late eighties.
15
Q. Okay.
16
A. S om e w h e re in th a t area.
17
Q. Could the heater box be opened?
18
A. I'm sorry?
19
Q. Could the heater box be opened?
20
A. Could it be opened? No, it w as a
21
crim ped welded design. It w as not som ething you
22
took apart. I mean if the heater box was not
23
functioning, you replaced the whole heater box.
24
Q. Okay.
25
A n d in rep la cin g the h e a te r box,
122
1 would, would the operator be able to see any of
2 this insulation th a t you're referring to?
3
A. The operator? You mean --
4
Q . The person --
5
A. -- the driver?
6
Q. T he person replacing it.
7
A. Oh, you mean the m echanic
8
replacing the heater box? Should be able to see
9 it. It's inside the h e a te r box.
10
Q. Okay.
11
And th a t's my question, is even as
12
it's being rem oved, is it, is it acce ssib le ?
13
A. No.
14
Q. Now, Volksw agen knew that certain
15
custom ers would change their own brakes on their
16
vehicles, correct?
17
A. Volkswagen Am erica was aware that
18
custom ers did their own repairs, yes.
19
Q. Okay. Including repairing brakes,
20
correct?
21
A. They could, yes.
22
Q. Okay.
23
Including repairing clutches,
24
correct?
25
A. They could, yes, if they had the
123
1 tools and the knowledge to do it, yes.
2
Q. Okay.
3
Including replacing exhaust
4 manifold gaskets, correct?
5
A. They could, yes.
6
Q. Okay.
7
And ju st in term s o f how
8 frequently brakes would need to be replaced, on a
9 Volkswagen Beetle, about how much mileage would
10 you expect to get out o f a set o f brakes?
11
A. Front brakes fifteen to
12 tw enty-five thousand miles. Rear brakes could be
13 assum ing they weren't abusing them or running
14 with the hand brake on tw enty to forty thousand.
15
Some people got more than that out o f them.
16
Q. Okay.
17
Now, if som ebody were using the
18 Beetle as a race car, that would cause heavier
19 usage o f the brakes, correct?
20
MR. W IN TER M AN : The question is
21 vague, am biguous, uncertain and unintelligible.
22
A. If they were using the Beetle as a
23 race car I assum e in most race cars that I had
24 association with you changed the brakes after
25 every race.
124
1
Q. Okay.
2
And how frequently w ould clutches
3
on V olksw agens, say up to the late
4
nineteen-seventies, have to be replaced?
5
A. F or the norm al driver?
6
Q. Yes.
7
A. S hould be able to get at least
8
sixty thousand m iles out of them . M ost of the
9
ones th a t I recall w ould be seventy-five,
10
eighty-five, ninety-five thousand m iles before
11
you'd co n sid e r replacing it assum ing, you know,
12
you're driving it correctly.
13
Q. Okay.
14
A n d if, if th a t V o lk s w a g e n w a s
15
being utilized as a race car, w ould, w ould the
16
clutches need to be replaced m ore frequently?
17
MR. W IN T E R M A N : T he question is
18
vague, am biguous, uncertain and unintelligible.
19
It ca lls fo r spe cu la tion and
20
c o n je c tu re .
21
C O U R T R EPO R TER : C ertainly
22
unin tellig ib le ? Is th a t w h a t you said?
23
MR. W IN T E R M A N : U ncertain and
24
unintelligible. It calls fo r speculation and
25
c o n je c tu re .
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
125
1
A. Again, race cars w ould norm ally
2
n o t use a sta n d a rd clutch, a t le a st in the
3
applications that I know about them . They use
4
som ething different including a w hole different
5
clu tch se tu p in there.
6
Because of the am ount of clutch
7
activation and the forces that are being exerted
8
during the races, they use a different setup, but
9
generally speaking you -- again, to take the
10
e n g in e in and o u t w a s n o t th a t d ifficu lt if you
11
had the correct tools, and the ones I w as
12
associated with, they w ould be checking that.
13
They usually rem oved the engine anyw ay after
14
e ve ry race to c h e c k it, and th e n th e y w o u ld c h e c k
15
the clutch at the sam e tim e and if necessary
16
re p la ce it.
17
18
BY MR. STUEMKE:
19
Q. Okay.
20
H ow frequently w ould exhaust
21
m anifold gaskets need to be replaced on
22
V o lk s w a g e n s ?
23
A. W hich exhaust m anifold gaskets and
24
w hich V olksw agens are w e talking about?
25
Q. W ell, can you give us a range?
126
1
A. No.
2
Q. W h a t is th e le a st a m o u n t of
3
m ileage th a t yo u'd expect to get out of an
4
exhaust m anifold gasket, any exhaust m anifold
5
g a s k e t?
6
A. W ell, th a t w ould be som ething
7
co n nected w ith th e m uffler. Y ou sh o u ld get a
8
couple o f ye ars out of a m uffler. D epends on --
9
you know, m ileage is not th e de term in in g fa cto r
10
norm ally w ith th e m uffler.
11
Q. Okay.
12
So exhaust m anifold gaskets m ay
13
need to be replaced every couple of years?
14
A. Yes, w ith the m uffler, th e y get
15
re p la ce d a t th e tim e th e m uffle r is replaced.
16
Q. Okay.
17
A n d you're aw are th a t -- turn your
18
attention b ack to brakes, yo u're aw are th a t
19
brakes can glaze, correct?
20
A. I am aw are th a t there are, there
21
is such a th in g as glazed brakes, yes.
22
Q. A n d ju s t d e fin e w h a t th a t is fo r
23
th e jury, please.
24
A. W ell, norm ally if you get som e
25
kind o f fo re ig n m atter into the brake drum area
127
1 between the brake shoe and the brake drum and you
2 apply the brakes, because of the heat that's
3 generated during the braking operation, this
4 material can form like a glaze over the brake
5 shoe.
6
I mean you're driving through a
7 puddle and there is some oil in that puddle and
8 it gets onto the brakes and you apply the brakes
9 later on, you can get a glazing on the surface of
10 the brake lining itself. That's what I would
11 refer to it as a glaze, glaze brake.
12
Q . And you know that people have used
13 sand paper to take the glaze o ff o f brakes,
14 correct?
15
A. I have heard of people doing that.
16 It is not an approved method o f doing that.
17
Q . And you're aware that sanding
18
brakes will create visible dust?
19
MR. STUEMKE: On the phone, could
20 you please mute, could you please mute your
21 telephone so we don't have to hear your
22 conversation on the video?
23
Thank you.
24
Q. Let me ask the --
25
A. I don't think they're paying
128
1 a ttention and th is is, th is is louder than you in
2 my ear.
3
MR. W INTERMAN: Hang on.
4
Counsel, w hoever has their phone
5 and is ta lking in the background, w ould you please
6 put it on mute?
7
(No response.)
8
MR. W INTERM AN: Counsel, Counsel,
9 would you please put your phone on mute?
10
(No response.)
11
MR. W INTERM AN: Hello.
12
(No response.)
13
MR. W INTERM AN: Counsel?
14
(No response.)
15
MR. W INTERM AN: Let's take a break
16
and figure o u t w ho he is.
17
THE VIDEO G RAPH ER: W e're going off
18
the record.
19
The tim e is approxim ately 12:04.
20
(W hereupon, a short recess is
21 taken.)
22
TH E V ID E O G R A P H E R : Stand by,
23
please.
24
W e are now back on the record.
25
The tim e is approxim ately 12:23.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
129
1
You may now proceed.
2
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
3
4 BY MR. STUEMKE:
5
Q. Before our break, sir, we were,
6 Mr. Cam eron, we were talking about sanding brakes 7 when they become glazed.
8
Do you recall that?
9
A. I think I had given you some
10 explanation as to what I knew as a glazed brake 11 line.
12
Q. Yes.
13
A. Or how it occurred.
14
Q. And you agree that when someone
15 sands a brake, that that will create visible
16 dust, correct?
17
A. Well, whatever they sand off
18 depends on how th e y sand it and w hat kind of
19 sanding they're doing, but certainly if they're
20 going to sand the glaze off, that would create 21 glaze dust or w hatever w as there.
22
Q. Sure.
23
And if th e y keep sanding it and
24 they a ctually sand off som e o f the brake
25
material, that too would create visible dust,
130
1 correct?
2
A. If they kept on sanding beyond the
3 glaze, yes. Again, as I said, that's not an
4 approved repair.
5
Q. And you have seen mechanics use
6 compressed air to blow dust and debris off of
7 brakes, correct?
8
A. I had seen it happen a long tim e
9 ago at one of the dealerships, yes.
10
Q. Okay.
11
And you've, in fact, seen that
12 done with V olksw agen brakes, correct?
13
A. W ell, it w as a V olksw agen dealer
14 and a m echanic had blown out som e brakes. It was
15 the last tim e he did it. He only did it once
16 w hen I w as there anyway. I w as there for two
17 years.
18
Q. Okay.
19
And blowing, excuse me, using
20 com pressed air to blow dust and debris off of
21
brakes creates a cloud of dust, correct?
22
A. It w ould create a cloud of
23 w hatever w as on the brakes, mud, dirt, w hatever
24 w as there.
25
Q. Sure.
131
1
And blowing out brake drum s
2
cre a te s a cloud o f d irt and d u s t th a t g o e s all
3 over everything.
4
Is that fair?
5
A. It could, yes. That's why you
6 d o n 't do it.
7
MR. STUEM KE: O bjection to the
8
non-responsive portion.
9
10
BY MR. STUEMKE:
11
Q. Now, Volksw agen of Am erica never
12
told m echanics or anyone else not to use
13
com pressed air to blow out drum s, correct?
14
A. They never issued that kind o f an
15
order, no. That's som ething a m echanic should
16
kn o w in his norm al m e ch a n ic tra in in g n o t to do.
17
Q. Okay.
18
W hat normal m echanic training
19
tells m echanics not to use com pressed air to blow
20
out brake drums?
21
A. W ell, again it creates a cloud of
22
dirt and dust around the vehicle th a t you're
23
working on and yourself. I m ean you ju s t get
24
everything covered with dirt and dust. You
25
shouldn't norm ally use com pressed air other than
132
1 to d ry s o m e th in g o ff th a t is, th a t is w e t after
2
you've cleaned it o ff w ith solvent or water.
3
Q. Okay.
4
B u t as you say, that's just
5
som ething you think a m echanic should know.
6 That's not anything that Volkswagen ever told
7
m echanics or other people, correct?
8
A. That's part of your normal -- I
9
mean if you're a m echanic you don't take
10
com pressed air and create clouds of dust around
11
the area w here you're working. E verything gets
12
dirty. Then you have to clean it up. T hat's
13
ju st som ething you don't do. Like you don't
14
spill battery acid around. A lot o f things you
15
don't do as a m echanic. You don't touch steering
16
w heels when you have greasy hands. Things of
17
that nature.
18
Q. Okay.
19
B u t the answ er is no, Volksw agen
20
never told anybody that, correct?
21
A. That's correct.
22
Q. All right.
23
N ow , I'd like to ta lk w ith you
24
about w hat's com m only referred to as state of the
25
art.
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
133
1
W hat Volkswagen of Am erica knew
2
about the potential hazards o f asbestos and when
3 they knew them , okay? Are you prepared to offer
4 that testim ony, sir?
5
A. I can tell you w hat my
6
recollection is fo r w hat Volksw agen o f Am erica
7
knew while I w as em ployed with them over my
8
period o f employm ent, yes.
9
Q. Okay.
10
A n d w a s V o lksw a g e n aw are th a t in
11
the nineteen-forties studies confirm ed that
12
asbestos could cause cancer?
13
MR. W IN TER M AN : The question is
14
vague, am biguous, uncertain and unintelligible.
15
A. W a s V o lksw a g e n aw are in the
16
nineteen-forties?
17
Q. S trike it.
18
Let's a sk it th is way: Prior to
19
the end of the nineteen-eighties, say up to 1990,
20
okay, w as Volkswagen aware that as early as the
21
nineteen-forties studies had confirm ed that
22
asbestos could cause cancer?
23
A. I don't have any inform ation about
24
that.
25
MR. W INTERM AN: Excuse me.
134
1
I'm going to m ove to strike the
2
answ er and interpose an objection.
3
T he question is vague, am biguous,
4
uncertain and unintelligible.
5
Q. P rio r to 199 0 w as Volksw agen aware
6
th a t by the, by the m iddle of the
7
nineteen-sixties there w ere over seven hundred
8
articles show ing that asbestos could kill people?
9
A. I'm not aw are of a n y of those
10
articles.
11
Q. Okay.
12
Now, you stated th a t your office
13
is in N e w Je rse y, c o rre c t?
14
A. T hat's correct.
15
Q. A n d w h a t to w n in N e w J e rse y?
16
A. R ight now it's Fort Lee.
17
Q. Okay.
18
W here has it been historically?
19
A. In E n g le w o o d C liffs, N e w Je rse y.
20
Q. H ow fa r aw ay is th a t from w here w e
21
are to d a y in M anhattan?
22
A. A b o u t ten miles.
23
Q. O kay. A nd you'd agree th a t --
24
W ell, strike that.
25
W as that w here Volksw agen of
135
1 A m erica w as based in the nineteen-sixties and
2 nineteen-seventies?
3
A. Yes.
4
Q. Okay.
5
And you'd agree that there
6 certainly would have been a num ber o f Volkswagen
7 em ployees that read the N ew Y o rk T im e s in that
8 tim e fram e, correct?
9
A. I would assume some o f them read
10 it, yes.
11
MR. STUEM KE: Let's m ark this as
12 next.
13
COURT REPORTER: (Complies.)
14
(Whereupon, one-page New York
15
Times article published September 30th, 1972
16
entitled Shipyard W orkers o f 1940s Told o f Cancer
17
Peril, not bearing a Bates stam p, is received and
18
marked as Plaintiffs' Exhibit 5 for
19
Identification.)
20
C O U R T REP O R TE R : N um ber 5.
21
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are we on a
22
break?
23
MR. W INTERM AN: No, we're reviewing
24
an article.
25
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, thank
136
1
you.
2
3
Okay. Sorry.
4
BY MR. STUEMKE:
5
Q. Sir, y o u 'v e b e e n h a n d e d E x h ib it 5.
6
T his is an article from th e N ew Y o rk Tim es
7
published S eptem ber 30th, 1972.
8
MR. W IN T E R M A N : Ju st give him a
9
m om ent, C ounsel, to review th e article, please.
10
M R. S T U E M K E : C o u ld w h o e v e r is
11
typing on the phone please m ute yo u r phone?
12
A. O ka y, I've re a d it.
13
14
BY MR. STUEMKE:
15
Q. Now, have you ever seen this
16
article before?
17
A. I believe I have m any years ago.
18
Q. O kay. In 1972?
19
A. No.
20
Q. Okay.
21
A. It w a s m ore rece n t th a n that.
22
Q. In w h a t c o n te x t d id you se e th is
23
a rtic le ?
24
A. I b e lieve it w a s eith e r p roduced
25
o r sh o w n to m e in a n o th e r case.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
137
1
Q. Okay.
2
And you see that this article was
3 published Septem ber 30th, 1972 in the New Y ork
4 Times?
5
A. T hat's w hat it says, yes.
6
Q. Okay.
7
And I've highlighted a couple of
8 paragraphs in this article.
9
A. (Reviews.)
10
Q. Do you see that?
11
A. There are two yellow areas, yes.
12
Q. Okay.
13
The first states: An expert on
14
environm ental medicine warned here today that the
15
millions o f men and wom en who were directly or
16
indirectly exposed to asbestos while they worked
17
in shipyards in W orld W a r II faced the
18
possibility o f an imminent epidem ic o f a
19
once-rare cancer, correct?
20
A. T hat's w hat it says, yes.
21
Q. And you see in the following
22
paragraph that the ca n ce r they're referring to is
23
called mesothelioma, correct?
24
A. T hat's w hat it says, yes.
25
Q. And later in the article do you
138
1 see that it indicates that Dr. S elikoff also
2
expressed concern about the possible risks faced
3
by people in the g e neral urban population?
4
A. That's w hat it says, yes.
5
Possible risk.
6
Q. Okay.
7
And among the sources o f potential
8 exposure to asbestos th a t are m entioned here is
9 brake linings, correct?
10
A. That's one o f them, yes. He
11
m entions a whole bunch of them: Buildings under
12
construction; papier-m ache; asbestos-lined air
13
conditioning ducts; brake linings; and some
14
ironing board coverings.
15
Q. Sure.
16
Now, are you aware if anybody at
17
V o lksw a g e n read th is article in 1972?
18
A. No, I'm not.
19
Q. Okay.
20
And you don't recall if you
21
yourself did, correct?
22
A. I, I w as not a reader o f The T im es
23
at that time.
24
Q. Okay. Fair enough.
25
A. Nor today.
139
1
Q. Now, Volksw agen o f A m erica did not
2
take any action with respect to potential
3
concerns about exposure to asbestos from brake
4
linings as a result of the publication of this
5
a rticle in 1 9 7 2, co rre ct?
6
A. I don't --
7
MR. W IN TER M AN : Excuse me.
8
A s s u m e s fa c ts n o t in evidence.
9
Lacks foundation.
10
A. I don't know o f anything. I don't
11
know if anybody read the article.
12
Q. Okay.
13
I understand you don't know if
14
anybody read the article, but w h a t you do know is
15
that there w ere no steps taken by Volksw agen of
16
Am erica follow ing the publication of this article
17
to address potential concerns about asbestos
18
health hazards fo r brake linings, correct?
19
A. In refe re n ce to th is p a rticu la r
20
article?
21
Q. Yes.
22
A. No.
23
Q. Okay.
24
MR. STUEM KE: M ark this
25
(indicating).
140
1
COURT REPORTER: (Complies.)
2
(Whereupon, one-page New York
3 Times article published O ctober 5th, 1972
4 entitled W ider L in k to C ancer Found in A sbestos
5 W orkers, not bearing a Bates stamp, is received
6 and marked as Plaintiffs' Exhibit 6 for
7 Identification.)
8
C O U R T REP O R TE R : N um ber 6.
9
MR. STUEMKE: W hile you gentlemen
10
are reviewing that let's take a break to change
11
the tape and, you know, if you guys need a break
12 for any other reasons w e can do that now.
13
THE VIDEO G RAPHER: W e are going off
14 the record.
15
The tim e is approxim ately 12:36
16 p.m.
17
This is the end o f Videotape Number
18
2 in the deposition o f Robert Cam eron.
19
(W hereupon, a short recess is
20 taken.)
21
TH E V ID E O G R A P H E R : Stand by,
22
please.
23
We are now back on the record.
24
The tim e is approxim ately 12:41
25
p.m.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
141
1
T his is the beginning o f V ideotape
2
N u m b e r 3 in th e d e p o sitio n o f R o b e rt C a m ero n .
3
You m ay now proceed.
4
5
BY MR. STUEMKE:
6
Q. Mr. C am ero n , you've had a chance
7
now to review Exhibit 6, correct?
8
A. Yes, I have.
9
Q. You see th a t Exhibit 6 is an
10
article entitled, entitled W id e r Lin k to C ancer
11
F o u n d in A s b e s to s W o rk e rs , co rre ct?
12
A. Yes, appears to be a follow -up
13
article to the one you referenced earlier.
14
Q. Okay.
15
A nd you see th a t th is is an
16
a rticle p u b lis h e d in th e N e w Y o rk T im e s O c to b e r
17
5th, 1972, correct?
18
A. That's w h a t it says, yes.
19
Q. Okay.
20
And you see th a t this article
21
indicates th a t a team of ca n ce r researchers
22
reported yesterday that asbestos already
23
im p lic a te d as a c a u se o f lu n g c a n c e r in w o rk e rs
24
repeatedly exposed to the m aterial m ight also
25
h a ve ca u s e d a th re e -fo ld in cre a se in th e
142
1
incidence of ca n ce r of the stom ach, colon and
2
re ctu m in th e s a m e w o rke rs.
3
A. (R eview s.)
4
Q. Do you see that?
5
A. Yes, that's the first paragraph.
6
Q. Yes.
7
A. Talking about insulation workers.
8
Q. All right.
9
MR. STUEM KE: Let me object to the
10
non-responsive portions.
11
Q. Y ou se e fu rth e r in th e a rticle it
12
s ta te s th a t in u rb a n a re a s it h a s been s h o w n th a t
13
ano th e r significant source of airborne asbestos
14
is th e w e a rin g a w a y o f a s b e s to s b ra ke lin in g s in
15
autom obiles and trucks. The act o f applying the
16
b ra k e s in su ch v e h ic le s ru b s o ff a fin e a s b e s to s
17
d u st th a t is th e n kicked into the air by the
18
drafts of m oving traffic.
19
A. (R eview s.)
20
Q. D id I read th a t correctly, sir?
21
A. That's w hat that paragraph says,
22
yes.
23
Q. Again, you don't know if anybody
24
at Volksw agen read this article at about the tim e
25
it w a s p u b lish e d in 1972, c o rre ct?
143
1
A. No, I don't.
2
Q. You can testify though that
3 Volkswagen took no action to investigate the
4 potential health hazards o f asbestos brake
5 linings following the publication o f this article
6 in 1972, correct?
7
MR. WINTERMAN: Assum es facts not
8 in evidence.
9
Lacks foundation.
10
A. I don't know o f anything.
11
Q. Okay.
12
And you understand you're
13 testifying on that issue as the person most
14 knowledgeable for Volksw agen today, correct?
15
MR. W INTERM AN: That's, that's
16 vague and am biguous. H e's told you already having
17 gone through your list o f the things that he's
18 here to testify to.
19
20
BY MR. STUEMKE:
21
Q. Sir, you understand that one o f
22 the topics you're addressing here today is when
23 Volksw agen knew about potential hazards o f
24 asbestos and any steps they to o k in response to
25 that knowledge, correct?
144
1
MR. W IN T E R M A N : That's not quite
2
w h a t y o u r d o c u m e n t sa ys, b u t in a n y event.
3
A. Basically, yes.
4
Q. Okay.
5
And to your know ledge Volksw agen
6
of A m erica took no action follow ing the
7
p u b lic a tio n o f th e s e tw o a rtic le s in th e N e w Y o rk
8
T im e s in th e fa ll o f 1 9 7 2 to in v e s tig a te th e
9 p o te n tia l h e a lth e ffe c ts o f a s b e s to s in b ra ke
10
linings, correct?
11
A. I've testified th a t I don't know
12
th a t we even knew about this article.
13
Q. Okay.
14
But you do know that there were no
15
s te p s ta ke n in th a t tim e fra m e to in v e s tig a te th e
16
potential health effects of asbestos brake
17
linings, correct?
18
A. I don't kn o w w h e th e r there w ere or
19
there w eren't. I know th a t -- I don't know
20
w hether w e even knew about this particular
21
article. T hat's w h a t your question w as about.
22
Q . A n d yo u 'v e b een in v o lv e d in
23
asbestos litigation fo r V olksw agen fo r how m any
24
years now, sir?
25
A. Since 1983.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
145
1
Q. Okay.
2
And in that tw enty-six year period
3 nobody has ever told you that Volkswagen took any
4 action to investigate the potential health
5 effects o f asbestos brake linings following the
6 publication o f these articles in the New Y ork
7 T im es in the fall o f 1972, correct?
8
MR. W INTERMAN: Assum es facts not
9 in evidence.
10
Lacks foundation.
11
A. That's correct.
12
Q. Now, you would agree that
13 V olksw agen o f A m erica knew by the mid
14
nineteen-seventies that m echanics should exercise
15
caution when working around asbestos, correct?
16
A. No, sir.
17
Q. You don't agree with that?
18
A. That's correct.
19
Q. I will show you your deposition
20
transcript from the second day o f your deposition
21
in the G askill case. T his one is dated March
22
12th, 2009. It's ju st a few m onths ago. Look on
23
Page 400, the question begins on Line 6 and your
24
answ er extends through Line 17, sir.
25
A. W here did it start, sir? 400 you
146
1 said?
2
Q. Yes, sir. It's Page 400 I think
3 in the bottom right beginning at Line 6.
4
A. Yes.
5
Q. Okay. And --
6
MR. WINTERMAN: Just one second,
7 Counsel.
8
MR. STUEMKE: Sure.
9
MR. W INTERM AN: I just want to see
10 w hat you're referring to. Okay.
11
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
12
13 BY MR. STUEM KE:
14
Q. So, sir, fo u r and a half m onths
15 ago you were asked a question beginning on Page
16 400, Line 6: By the mid nineteen-seventies am I 17 correct that Volksw agen knew that m echanics
18 needed to exercise caution when working around 19 asbestos? And then you clarified the question.
20 Y ou asked by the mid nineteen-seventies 21 Volksw agen o f Am erica knew that m echanics should
22 exercise caution w hen working around asbestos.
23
Is that correct?
24
A. Yes, sir, that's what it says.
25
Q. Okay. And w hat was your response,
147
1 sir?
2
A. That w as the general information
3 th a t w a s included in certain pu b lica tio ns back
4 then.
5
Q. Okay. T h a n k you, sir.
6
MR. W INTERM AN: Move to strike the
7 line o f questioning on the grounds that it's not
8 im peachm ent. Im proper use o f deposition.
9
Q. And, sir, you'd agree that
10
Volkswagen of Am erica w as first concerned that
11
breathing a sb e sto s m ay resu lt in se riou s d iseases
12
such as a sb e sto sis o r ca n ce r in the late
13
nineteen-seventies, correct?
14
A. W e are aw are o f it, th a t's w hen we
15
firs t becam e aw are o f it, yes, in the m id to late
16
seventies.
17
Q. Okay.
18
Now, at any point prior to 1990
19
Volkswagen o f Am erica never w ent to any medical
20
library to research w hether there were health
21
hazards associated with brakes, correct?
22
A. None that I know of, that's
23
correct.
24
Q. S im ilarly th e y n e ve r w e n t to a
25
medical library to research w hether there were
148
1 health hazards associated with 2 asbestos-containing clutches or exhaust manifold
3 gaskets or any other asbestos components, 4 correct?
5
A. That's correct.
6
Q. V olksw agen o f A m erica is not aware
7 that V olksw agen o f G erm any ever did that research
8 either, correct?
9
A. I don't know what research
10 V olksw agen o f G erm any has done.
11
Q. Volkswagen o f Am erica never asked
12
a doctor whether people could be at risk from
13 w orking w ith its products, correct?
14
MR. W IN T E R M A N : Y our question is
15
vague and ambiguous.
16
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
17
18
BY MR. STUEMKE:
19
Q. In light o f the objection, sir,
20
did V olksw agen o f A m erica ever ask a doctor
21
whether its custom ers could be at risk from
22
working with the asbestos-containing components
23
of Volkswagen vehicles?
24
A. That question has been asked, yes.
25
Q. Okay.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
149
1
W hen was that question first
2 asked?
3
A. T h a t I w ould know of, pro b a b ly in
4 the late nineties.
5
Q. Okay.
6
A n d w a s th a t qu e stion aske d in the
7 context o f litigation, sir?
8
A. Yes.
9
Q. Prior to Volkswagen getting sued
10
for allegedly exposing an individual to asbestos,
11
it's true that Volksw agen never asked a doctor
12
w hether its custom ers could be harm ed from the
13
a sb e sto s-co n ta in in g co m p o n e n ts in its vehicles,
14
correct?
15
A. T ha t w ould be prior to 1983. I'm
16
not aw are o f th a t happening, yes, sir.
17
Q. And before Volkswagen stopped
18
selling asbestos-containing vehicles and
19
asbestos-containing replacem ent parts for those
20
vehicles, it never asked a doctor w hether its
21
custom ers could be harm ed by working with those
22
asbestos-containing com ponents, correct?
23
A. I don't know of anyone asking a
24
doctor a t that time.
25
Q. Okay.
150
1
And if somebody at Volkswagen had,
2 you would expect that you would know that because
3 you've been involved in this litigation for
4 twenty-six years for Volkswagen, correct?
5
A. Well, not necessarily. Someone
6 could have asked a doctor that without me knowing
7 it back then, yes.
8
Q. Okay, but you're not aware o f it?
9
A. I'm not aware o f anyone doing it.
10
Q. Okay.
11
You're not aware of anybody at
12 V olksw agen o f Am erica ever asking anyone at
13 V olksw agen o f G erm any if there w as a health
14
hazard associated with the repair o f Volkswagen
15 vehicles, correct?
16
A. That's not correct.
17
Q. Okay.
18
W hen was the first time you
19 understand that question w as asked, sir?
20
A. It w ould be som e tim e in the
21 eighties.
22
Q. And w hat was the context in which
23 that question was asked, sir?
24
A. It w ould be in the context o f the
25 first case w hen it cam e in alleging that it was
151
1 asked.
2
Q. And what were you told?
3
A. There was no relationship between
4 the types and application o f asbestos in our
5 vehicles and the diseases that were mentioned.
6
Q. Okay. And who asked that
7 question?
8
A. I did.
9
Q. Okay.
10
You asked the question of somebody
11
at Volkswagen of Germany whether there was any
12
danger or health hazard associated with the
13
repair of Volkswagen vehicles?
14
A. No, there was a discussion between
15
m yself and one of the engineers concerning the
16 a spects o f the case and the claim s being m ade and
17
I asked a question as to what, you know, what was
18 the validity o f any o f these claim s being made.
19
Q. Okay.
20
Now, I'm going to hand you again,
21
sir, the tran scrip t o f your deposition taken a
22
year ago also in the G askill case in this office
23 on Page 87, sir.
24
A. I have it.
25
Q. Now, a year ago you w ere asked if
152
1 you ever asked anybody at Volkswagen of Germany
2 whether there was any danger or health hazard
3 associated with the repair o f Volkswagen
4 vehicles, correct?
5
MR. WINTERMAN: Object to the
6 question.
7
Lacks foundation.
8
Calls for speculation.
9
A. I was asked whether there was a
10
health hazard associated with the removal of
11
insulation o f asbestos contained in brakes.
12
Q. You see the question that begins
13 on Page 87 at Line 5?
14
A. Yes.
15
Q. The question was asked o f you: Am
16 I correct that you never asked anybody at
17 Volksw agen o f G erm any w hether there was any
18 danger or health hazard associated w ith the
19 repair o f Volksw agen vehicles, correct?
20
A. That is correct.
21
Q. Okay. And w hat was your answer
22 then?
23
A. I don't rem em ber asking that
24 specific question, no.
25
Q. Okay.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
153
1
And then you were also asked: Am
2 I correct you never asked anybody at Volkswagen
3 G erm any about w hether there w as a health hazard
4 associated with the removal and installation of
5 asbestos-containing brakes, correct?
6
A. That's correct.
7
Q. Okay.
8
And what was your answer a year
9 ago?
10
A. No, I never asked that question.
11
Q. Okay.
12
You were also asked: Am I correct
13
that you never asked anyone at Volkswagen of
14
G erm any about w hether asbestos w as potentially
15
dangerous to human health?
16
MR. W INTERM AN: Excuse me, that's
17
im proper use of a deposition. This is not
18
im peachm ent.
19
Q. Do you see that question, sir?
20
A. Yes.
21
Q. Okay.
22
And what was your answer a year
23 ago?
24
A. No, I n e ve r asked anyone in
25
G erm any that, sir.
154
1
Q. Okay.
2
And you ju s t told this jury today
3 th a t you did a sk Volksw agen o f G erm any those
4 q u e stio n s in 1983 in the co n te xt o f the firs t
5
lawsuit, correct?
6
A. No, I said I asked, I asked one of
7 the engineers w hether there w as any connection
8
b etw een the cla im s m ade in th a t p a rticu la r case
9 and the diseases that were connected to it and he
10
told me no.
11
Q. Okay.
12
And you th in k som ehow that's
13
different from asking som ebody at Volkswagen of
14
G erm any about w hether asbestos w as potentially
15
dangerous to human health?
16
MR. W IN TERM AN: Don't answ er the
17
question.
18
That's argum entative.
19
(D irection not to answ er the
20
question.)
21
MR. STUEM KE: That's not a proper
22
basis to instruct him not to answer, Counsel --
23
MR. W IN T E R M A N : I'm instructing --
24
MR. S T U E M K E : -- and you kn o w it.
25
MR. W IN T E R M A N : I'm instructing him
155
1
not to answer. That's, that's com pletely im proper
2
questioning, Counsel.
3
M R . S T U E M K E : T h a t is, th a t is not
4
attorney/client. It's not an appropriate basis to
5
in stru ct him n o t to a n sw e r and you kn o w it.
6
MR. W IN TER M AN : M ove on.
7
MR. STU E M K E : W hat's, what, w hat
8
provision do you rely upon for instructing him not
9 to answer?
10
MR. W INTERM AN: Do you know what,
11
I've given you m y g rounds. If you d o n 't like it,
12
take me to court.
13
MR. STUEM KE: W ell, that's w hat
14
w e're going to do.
15
MR. W IN TE R M A N : Fine. Okay.
16
M R. S T U E M K E : P u t it on th e list.
17
MR. W IN T E R M A N : Okay. Put it on
18
th e list.
19
MR. STU EM KE : All right.
20
21
BY MR. STUEMKE:
22
Q. Can I have that back, sir?
23
A. (Com plies.)
24
MR. W IN TER M AN : I w ould invite you
25
to p h ra se th e qu e stion in a w a y th a t's p ro p e r and
156
1 th e n I'll let him a n sw e r it.
2
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
3
4
BY MR. STUEMKE:
5
Q. So it's your testim ony to this
6 ju ry th a t yo u a ske d an e n g in e e r in G e rm a n y
7 w hether there w as any connection between the
8 c la im s m ade in th a t p a rtic u la r ca se a n d the
9 diseases that were connected to it and he told
10
you no?
11
A. That's correct.
12
Q. Okay.
13
But you never asked him w hether
14
asbestos w as potentially dangerous to human
15
health?
16
MR. W IN TERM AN: That's
17
argum entative.
18
A. That's correct.
19
Q. You never asked anybody at
20
Volksw agen G erm any w hether there w as a health
21
hazard associated with the rem oval and
22
installation of asbestos-containing brakes?
23
A. T hat specific question, that's
24
correct.
25
Q. Okay.
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1
And you never asked anybody at
2 Volkswagen of Germany whether there was a danger
3 or health hazard associated with the repair of
4 Volkswagen vehicles, correct?
5
A. That's correct.
6
Q. Okay.
7
So the only question you ever
8 asked was about that one particular lawsuit,
9 correct?
10
A. It was in a discussion concerning
11 that particular lawsuit.
12
Q. Okay.
13
A. You had asked me had I ever asked
14 and I said, yes.
15
Q. Okay.
16
Volkswagen o f Am erica although it
17 had been sued --
18
Well, strike that.
19
W hat w as the allegation in that
20 first lawsuit in 1983, sir? W hat w as the type of
21 exposure to asbestos that w as alleged against
22 Volkswagen?
23
A. I don't recall at this moment.
24
Q. Do you recall if it was a brake
25 case?
158
1
A. I don't recall.
2
Q. Okay.
3
But Volkswagen of Am erica upon
4 being nam ed in a lawsuit fo r --
5
W ell, strike that.
6
Let's back up a second.
7
This first lawsuit in 1983 that
8 you've referred to , it related to asbestos
9 exposure, correct?
10
A. It w a s the first asbestos case,
11 yes.
12
Q. Okay.
13
And it w as a case alleging
14
personal injuries or death resulting from
15
asbestos exposure, correct?
16
A. I believe it w a s fo r personal
17
injury, yes.
18
Q. Okay.
19
And as I understand your
20
testimony, Volkswagen o f Am erica upon being sued
21
for personal injuries arising from asbestos
22
exposure asked Volkswagen of Germany about that
23
particular case only, correct?
24
A. Well, that was the only case we
25
were discussing.
159
1
Q. Right.
2
A. That was the first case that came
3
in a nd an e n g in e e r w a s a ssig n e d to th e ca s e to
4
a ssist us and I asked him the question. It w as
5 the first case w e'd ever had.
6
Q. Okay.
7
So you asked an engineer that
8
question, but you didn't ask a doctor, correct?
9
A. Not a doctor, no. An engineer.
10
Q. Okay.
11
A. I believe I said I asked an
12
engineer.
13
Q. Now, is an e n gineer the type of
14
person you w ould ordinarily turn to fo r a health
15
or disease question?
16
A. I w ould ask him because he w as an
17
e n g in e e r sp e cia liz in g in th a t p a rtic u la r a re a so
18
he should be fully inform ed as to w hat the item
19
w as and how it perform ed.
20
Q. Okay.
21
A nd you didn't ask him w hether
22
o ther custom ers of Volksw agen m ight also be at
23
risk, did you?
24
A. No, I asked him concerning the
25
a s b e s to s a p p lic a tio n s in th e c a r and th e c la im s
160
1 being made in that particular case and how it
2 would apply to the diseases that he was talking
3 about.
4
Q. But your concern --
5
Strike that.
6
Volksw agen didn't change its
7 policy regarding the selling of
8 asbestos-containing vehicles or
9 asbestos-containing replacement parts based on
10
having been sued for asbestos exposure for
11 personal injuries, correct?
12
A. You're talking about after
13
receiving the first case in 1983 with that
14 allegation if we would change our sales policies?
15
Q. Because o f that allegation, yes,
16 sir.
17
A. In that case, no.
18
Q. And -- now, you'd agree that
19 Volksw agen o f Am erica had the m oney and the
20 resources to conduct any safety testing that it
21 felt w as necessary to determ ine w hether people
22 w orking with its asbestos-containing brakes were
23 at risk for disease, correct?
24
A. I don't know about the question of
25
money, but Volkswagen of Am erica was a marketing
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161
1 organization, and for any inform ation concerning
2 the perform ance o f any of the products that we
3 were im porting and distributing, we would go back
4 to the m anufacturer o f the product. W e w ouldn't
5
have any independent knowledge o f system s or
6 anything else as to how to test things o r analyze
7 anything.
8
MR. STUEMKE: I object as
9 non-responsive.
10
Q . Sir, listen clo se ly to the
11
question: I'm ju s t asking w h e th er Volksw agen o f
12
A m e rica had the m on e y and the reso u rce s to
13
conduct any safety testing that it felt was
14
necessary to determ ine w h e th e r people w orking
15
with its asbestos-containing brakes were at risk
16
fo r disease?
17
MR. W INTERM AN: That's asked and
18
answered.
19
Q. Correct?
20
A. I said the question of the --
21
T H E W IT N E S S : I'm sorry, are you
22
finished, C raig?
23
MR. W INTERM AN: Yeah.
24
A. The question o f the money w as not
25
a question, but the resources would include the
162
1 ability to even know what to do to analyze or who 2 to engage or w hat to do about it and that w as out
3 o f our area. W e were a marketing organization 4 importing and selling vehicles and for something
5 concerning the performance of the product, we
6 would go back to the m anufacturer or supplier of
7 that product.
8
MR. STUEMKE: Objection.
9
N o n -re s p o n s iv e .
10
11
BY MR. STUEMKE:
12
Q. The question is the -- you had the
13
resources and the money to do whatever marketing
14
you wanted, correct?
15
MR. W INTERMAN: Asked and answered.
16
A. No.
17
Q. You didn't have enough m oney and
18
resources to do the safety testing that you felt
19 w as appropriate?
20
MR. W INTERM AN: That's a different
21
question. It's argum entative.
22
A. I've already explained m oney I
23
don't think was the question at that time
24
although that w as a dow nturn in the m arket in
25
1972, but the matter had to do with resources and
163
1 we would not know what, if anything, would even
2 have to be done or could be done to investigate 3 something like that, and again, we would go back
4 to the person who supplied us with the product if
5 we had a question concerning any o f their
6 performance attributes of that particular product 7 and that would be Volksw agen in Germany.
8
MR. FINBERG: Excuse me, for
9 clarification, I thought the question related to
10
1983 and the answ er is addressing --
11
MR. STUEM KE: No, it was general.
12
MR. FINBERG: Am I confused?
13
MR. STUEMKE: Yes.
14
15
BY MR. STUEMKE:
16
Q. So as I understand what you're
17 saying now, Volksw agen had enough m oney to do
18 testing if it felt it w as necessary, but you're 19 saying they didn't have the knowledge base to
20 know what testing was necessary, is that right?
21
MR. W INTERM AN: Misstates,
22 m ischaracterizes testim ony.
23
A. No, you asked me did we have the
24
m oney and the resources, and I said I don't
25 question w hether we had the m oney because I don't
164
1 know what money would be necessary, although we
2 were probably a profitable com pany at that
3 particular point in tim e, but that wasn't the
4 question.
5
The question was resources. You
6 have to understand w hat it is you w ant to do, why
7 you want to do it and w here you would even go to
8 get the inform ation to accom plish it, and we
9 didn't have anybody in the com pany that would be
10 com petent enough or involved or inform ed enough
11 to do that particular item.
12
Again, we would go back to the
13
m anufacturer of the product or the supplier of
14 the product if we had a question concerning their
15
perform ance attributes o f anything in any way
16 w hatsoever.
17
Q. VW had enough money to pay an
18
expert to do testing if it felt it w as necessary,
19 correct?
20
MR. W IN TER M AN : The question is
21 vague and am biguous.
22
A. That would depend on the testing.
23 You'd have to determ ine what it is you want to do
24
or is needed to be done in ord e r to put together
25
an appropriate testing program and the analysis
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
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1 o f it and the pu b lica tio n o f it, w h a te v e r w as
2
necessary. T hose are the resources th a t you're
3 talking about and we did not have those.
4
Q. Okay.
5
Volksw agen o f G erm any would have
6 those resources?
7
A. I would think the m anufacturer,
8 the supplier o f the product would have such
9 s u fficie n t inform ation in o rd e r to a d vice us w h a t
10
type o f te stin g w ould be necessary and how it
11
w ould do it.
12
Q. And you never asked Volksw agen of
13
G erm any w hether they had conducted testing to
14
find out w hether w orking with asbestos-containing
15
b ra ke s in V o lksw a g e n ve h ic le s w a s safe, co rre ct?
16
A. I never asked that specific
17
question, that's correct.
18
Q. Okay. You never --
19
Strike that.
20
Volkswagen o f Am erica never
21
conducted any testing to determ ine w hether there
22
w as any release o f asbestos fibers from working
23
with its brake products, correct?
24
A. T hat's correct. W e never did that
25
testing.
166
1
Q. O r w hether its clutches or w hether
2
its gaskets or any of the other asbestos
3 com ponents o f its products, correct?
4
A. All right, w hen you say it, you're
5 talking about the products that Volkswagen of
6 Am erica im ported, sold and distributed, not
7 anybody else's brakes, clutches or anything of
8 that nature?
9
Q. W ell, I w as talking specifically
10
about w hat Volksw agen sold, but they didn't test
11
anybody else's products either, correct?
12
A. No, but you said its products.
13
Q. Okay.
14
A. I assum e you're talking about only
15
the brakes and the clutches that we actually
16
handled and sold through our organization, not
17
the other brakes and clutches that were being
18
sold by other people.
19
Q. That's correct.
20
A. For our cars.
21
Q. Right.
22
A. Okay.
23
Q. B u t the global answ er is that
24
Volksw agen didn't do any testing of their own
25
asbestos com ponents or anybody else's asbestos
167
1 components either, correct?
2
A. W ell, globally Volksw agen which is
3 Volksw agen G roup of Am erica is not a global
4 company. W e're in the U n ited States, C anada and
5 the islands. That's us so we don't globally do
6 anything. W e work within the North Am erican
7 region.
8
Q. Okay.
9
And I used an imprecise word. You
10 to o k me literally w hen I said globally. I didn't
11
mean it that way. I apologize for the question.
12
Just to kind o f sum this up:
13 Volksw agen didn't do any testing o f th e ir own
14 asbestos com ponents or anybody else's asbestos
15 com ponents at any tim e, correct?
16
A. Volkswagen of America, group of
17 Am erica, that's correct.
18
Q. Okay.
19
And likewise Volkswagen G roup of
20 Am erica didn't ask Volksw agen o f G erm any w hether
21 Volksw agen o f G erm any had done that testing
22 either, correct?
23
A. I don't know if they ever asked
24 them that.
25
Q. Okay.
168
1
And that's true even after
2
Volksw agen found out th a t breathing asbestos
3
co u ld c a u s e c a n c e r in th e late
4
nineteen-seventies, correct?
5
MR. W IN T E R M A N : I'm sorry, C ounsel,
6
hang on one second. I've got to catch up with
7 you.
8
A. Volksw agen learned of the possible
9
d a n g e rs o f a s b e s to s in th e m id to late s e v e n tie s .
10
W hat w e did then w as pass that
11
inform ation on to the factory. That w as our
12
function then as the m arket representatives here
13
in the United States.
14
Q. Okay.
15
A. W e did not do any independent
16
te s tin g .
17
Q. A nd w hen you passed th a t
18
inform ation, th a t breathing asbestos could cause
19
cancer on to the factory, you didn't ask the
20
factory Volksw agen of G erm any w hether they
21
already knew that, correct?
22
MR. W IN TE R M A N : M isstates,
23
m ischaracterizes his testim ony.
24
A. W e passed the inform ation on as it
25
w a s b e in g g e n e ra lly d is c u s s e d in th e a u to m o tiv e
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
169
1
in d u stry here in the United States. T h a t w a s the
2
extent o f w hat we did a t th a t tim e.
3
Q. Okay.
4
And you didn't ask Volksw agen o f
5
G erm any w hat they knew about that, correct?
6
A. No.
7
Q. Okay.
8
Volksw agen o f G erm any didn't
9 v o lu n te e r to you th a t it had been know n in
10
G erm any since the nineteen-thirties that asbestos
11
exposure caused cancer, did they?
12
MR. W INTERM AN: Assum es facts not
13
in evidence.
14
Lacks foundation.
15
A. They did not pass any inform ation
16
like that on to me, no.
17
Q. Okay.
18
And after Volkswagen found out
19
th a t b re a th in g a sb e sto s could cause cancer, it
20
didn't check to see if there were any loose
21
a sb e sto s fib e rs in th e b o xe s o f re p la ce m e n t
22
linings th a t it sold, correct?
23
MR. W INTERM AN: M isstates and
24
m ischaracterizes his testimony.
25
He didn't say it could cause
170
1
cancer.
2
MR. STU EM KE : He did actually --
3
MR. W IN T E R M A N : No, he said it may.
4
M R. S T U E M K E : -- e a rlie r in th e
5
deposition.
6
MR. W IN T E R M A N : He said it may,
7
may. There is a difference, Counsel.
8
MR. STU E M K E : T here is not an
9
appre cia b le difference, sir.
10
11
BY MR. STUEMKE:
12
Q. You can a n sw e r the q uestion, sir.
13
A. O h, I'm sorry. I th o u g h t you
14
gentlem en w ere still pondering w h a t you w ere
15
g oing to say.
16
W e did not do any testing. W e
17
already talked about that.
18
Q. Now, you said that once you found
19
out th a t breathing asbestos could be dangerous,
20
you passed that know ledge on to the factory,
21
correct?
22
A. Yes, w e passed the inform ation
23
th a t w a s g e n e ra lly b e in g d iscu sse d in th e pu b lic
24
a n d in th e a u to m o tiv e p e rio d ic a ls in th e late
25
se ve n ties on to the fa cto ry so they'd be
171
1 informed.
2
Q. Okay, but you never passed that
3 information on to the customer who could
4 potentially be exposed to asbestos from your
5 products, did you?
6
A. W e did not pass anything on to the
7 customer. The information that we were passing
8 on to the factory was inform ation that w as out in
9 the public, the articles in the New Y ork Times,
10 the articles that were in the autom otive
11 publications and other publications at the tim e
12 concerning asbestos in schools and public
13
buildings, things of that nature. So the public
14 w as aware o f asbestos being, being in the
15
buildings even where they had their children
16 every day.
17
Q. But the public wasn't necessarily
18 aware that the Volksw agen Rabbit they bought down
19 at the V W dealership had asbestos com ponents in
20 it, were they?
21
A. No, they m ay not know it had
22 asbestos although the fact that asbestos was in
23 brake linings w as som ething that was generally
24
known from way back in the forties.
25
Q. Okay.
172
1
W ell, generally known not because
2
Volksw agen ever made any effort to tell anybody
3
about that, correct?
4
A . Volksw agen never m ade any special
5
efforts, that's correct.
6
Q. V olksw agen never included a
7
s ta te m e n t to th a t e ffe c t in a n y o w n e r's m anual
8 fo r any car it ever sold, did they?
9
A. I don't know of any.
10
Q. Now, in th e m id n in e te e n -e ig h tie s
11
the replacem ent brake linings th a t Volksw agen
12
sold started to have w arnings on them about
13
asbestos, correct?
14
A. S o m e o f th e m did.
15
Q. O kay. Not all o f th em ?
16
A. That's correct.
17
Q. Okay.
18
So -- well, let's b ack up a
19
second.
20
V olksw agen n e ve r asked its
21
suppliers to put a w arning about asbestos on the
22
boxes of replacem ent linings, did they?
23
A. N ot th a t I know of.
24
Q. Okay.
25
A n d so even in th e m id
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
173
1 nineteen-eighties when some suppliers started to
2 put warnings on the boxes of replacem ent linings,
3 Volkswagen continued to sell other boxes of
4 replacem ent brake linings that didn't have
5 warnings on them , correct?
6
A. Yes, we did.
7
Q. Okay.
8
Volksw agen continued to sell
9 replacem ent clutch facings that had asbestos in
10 them w ithout w arnings on th e m , co rre ct?
11
A. Yes, I don't recall any warnings
12
on clutch facing boxes.
13
Q. V olksw agen continued to sell
14
asbestos-containing gaskets as replacement parts
15
without warnings on them , correct?
16
A. Y e s, sir.
17
Q. N ow , it's true that after
18
V olksw agen learned in the late nineteen-seventies
19 that breathing asbestos could potentially cause
20
ca n ce r, it continued to sell ve h icle s with
21
asbestos components for another ten years,
22
correct?
23
A. W hat do you mean by after
24
Volkswagen learned? W hat's the learning context?
25
Q. W ell, you testified earlier, sir,
174
1 th a t by the mid, by the late n ineteen-seventies
2
Volksw agen w as aware th a t asbestos could
3
p o te n tia lly ca u se c a n c e r in h um ans, co rre ct?
4
A. That's w hat w as being talked about
5
in th e public, th a t's co rre ct.
6
Q. Okay.
7
A. It w a s in p u b lica tio n s and
8
national newspapers, things of that nature.
9
Q. Sure. A nd that's w hat Volkswagen
10
understood, correct?
11
A. W ell, that's w hat everybody
12
u n d ersto o d , sir.
13
Q. Okay.
14
W ell, you're not saying th a t the
15
P la in tiff in th is ca se had th a t kn o w ledge, are
16
you?
17
A. I would certainly thin k the
18
P laintiff w ould know th a t asbestos th a t w as being
19
rem oved from public buildings and things of that
20
nature, he w ould be aware of that, and he may
21
h ave been in so m e o f th o se p u b lic b u ild in g s and
22
breathed th a t asbestos, as w e all did b a ck at
23
that time.
24
Q. Okay.
25
So it's V olksw agen's position that
175
1 everybody knew that asbestos was dangerous so you
2 didn't have to tell anybody?
3
A. No, that was not your question.
4
Your question concerned who knew
5 about it back in the late seventies, and all I'm
6 saying is that the general public knew about it
7 back in the late seventies since it was being
8 talked about and it was being removed from public
9 buildings and other areas back at that time as a
10 type of asbestos used to insulate buildings and
11 ceilings and beams and things of that nature.
12
Q. How many members of the general
13 public have you polled in order to come to your
14 determ ination that the general public knew about
15 that at that tim e?
16
A . I haven't polled anybody, sir.
17
Q. Okay.
18
So in your opinion they should
19 have, but you had never asked anybody if they
20 did, is that right?
21
A . No, I, I was there and I was
22
involved in meetings in my town and recall what
23 was going on concerning public buildings.
24
I even rem em ber being in
25 courthouses where sections of the courthouse were
176
1 draped off with plastic sheeting because they
2 w ere doing a sb e sto s a b a te m e n t in those buildings.
3
It w as a general m atter o f knowledge back then
4 th a t there w a s a sb e sto s used in insulation in
5
buildings and that they were going to either
6 en ca psu la te it o r rem ove it.
7
Q. Okay.
8
W ell, there is a part o f your
9 experience o f life that you learned that,
10
correct?
11
A. Yes.
12
Q. Okay.
13
You can't testify as to what
14
anybody else m ay have learned at that time
15
because you've never sought to find that out,
16
have you?
17
MR. W INTERM AN: That's vague and
18
am biguous.
19
A. That's correct.
20
Q. Okay.
21
So when you're saying that the
22
general public knew this, you're assum ing that
23
the general p ublic knew it because you knew it,
24
correct?
25
A. I am assum ing that the general
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
177
1
public knew it because it w as a m atter of public
2
record and w as really being talked about back
3 then and actions were being taken to rem ove
4
asbestos from public buildings and other items
5 w here it w as used as an insulation material.
6
Q. Okay.
7
A. It was not a secret back then.
8
Q. Okay.
9
You say it w asn't a secret back
10
then, Volksw agen never to o k any actions to tell
11
its custom ers that V olksw agens contained
12
asbestos, you know, the sam e asbestos that's
13
being rem oved from buildings and anything else,
14
they never m entioned that, did they?
15
MR. W INTERM AN: Assum es facts not
16
in evid e n ce.
17
Lacks foundation.
18
A. It w as not the sam e asbestos
19
application nor my understanding w as it the sam e
20
asbestos th a t w as being sprayed inside buildings
21
fo r insulation purposes.
22
CO U R T REPO RTER: Inside buildings?
23
(No response.)
24
25
BY MR. STUEMKE:
178
1
Q. Now, you never -- V olksw agen never
2
did any research to find out w h e th er those
3
d iffe re n ce s m eant anything, did they?
4
M R. W IN T E R M A N : T he qu e stion is
5
vague and am biguous.
6
A. I don't know w h a t you m ean by
7
that.
8
Q. Okay.
9
W ell, yo u 're saying, well, it's
10
n o t th e s a m e a s b e s to s th a t w a s s p ra y e d in
11
buildings fo r insulation and fo r other things.
12
V o lksw a g e n in th a t tim e fra m e
13
didn't do any research to find out w h e th er th a t
14
d iffe re n ce m atte re d a t all, did th e y?
15
A. V olksw agen --
16
MR. W IN T E R M A N : It's va g u e and
17
am biguous.
18
T H E W IT N E S S : I'm sorry.
19
A. V olksw agen G rou p o f A m e rica did
20
not do any research at th a t tim e, that's correct.
21
22
BY MR. STUEMKE:
23
Q. Okay.
24
A nd V olksw agen G roup of A m erica
25
didn't ask anybody else if they'd done th a t
179
1 research either, did they?
2
A. I can't say w hether we did or we
3 didn't back then. W e m ay have discussed it with
4 the factory, but I was not party to any of those
5 discussions if they took place.
6
Q. Okay.
7
Volkswagen Group o f Am erica can't
8 tell this jury that they ever asked anybody
9 whether there was a meaningful difference between
10 the asbestos in its cars and the asbestos that
11 w as having to be rem oved from public buildings
12 because it w as hazardous, can they?
13
A. I'm sorry, could you repeat the
14 question back?
15
Q. Yes.
16
Volkswagen Group o f Am erica can't
17 tell this ju ry that they ever asked anybody
18 w hether there w as a m eaningful difference between
19 the asbestos in its cars and the asbestos that
20 w as having to be rem oved from public buildings
21
because it w as hazardous, can they?
22
A. I can't point to any particular
23
item, but generally speaking in the autom otive
24
industry the inform ation w as that the asbestos in
25 the applications that we were doing with the
180
1 asbestos in the brake, clutches and gaskets was
2 not the same asbestos, and obviously not the same
3 application as w as being done in public
4 buildings.
5
Q. Okay.
6
MR. STUEM KE: I'm going to object
7 as non-responsive, to the non-responsive portion.
8
Q. Now, you've indicated that
9 Volkswagen never told its custom ers that there
10 w as a potential risk from any o f the asbestos
11 com ponents in its cars, correct?
12
MR. W INTERM AN: That's asked and
13 answered.
14
A. That we never ever told the public
15 that there w as -- I'm sorry?
16
Q. You've indicated that Volkswagen
17
never told its custom ers that there was a
18
potential risk from any o f the asbestos
19 com ponents in its cars, correct?
20
MR. W INTERMAN: Asked and answered.
21
A. We never went out and specifically
22 addressed our custom ers to that extent.
23
Q. Okay.
24
A. That is correct.
25
Q. That w asn't in sales and m arketing
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181
1
m aterials of V olksw agen, w a s it?
2
A . N o t in sa le s a n d m arke tin g
3
m aterials, no.
4
Q. Okay.
5
It w a s n 't in an o w n e r's m anual or
6
any other docum ent th a t cam e with the car when
7 th e c u s to m e r p u rc h a s e d it, w a s it?
8
A. That's correct.
9
Q. Okay.
10
Now, did Volksw agen at least tell
11
its c u s to m e rs th a t th e re w a s a s b e s to s in th e
12
cars?
13
A. Som e of our service publications
14
had th a t in it.
15
Q. Okay.
16
N ow , in te rm s o f d o cu m e n ts or
17
inform ation that a custom er w ould get when they
18
purchased a car, did V olksw agen ever tell its
19
c u s to m e r th a t th e re w a s even a sb e sto s in th e ca r
20
at all?
21
A. No.
22
Q. So even if the custom er had the
23
general knowledge you referred to that asbestos
24
could be dangerous, V olksw agen didn't even
25
provide them the inform ation to let them know
182
1 that there w as asbestos in th e ir vehicles, is
2 that right?
3
A. We did not give them any direct
4 inform ation about asbestos in the ve h icle s nor
5 the application or the type of asbestos and how
6 it w as used, u tilize d in the ve h icle s them selves.
7 A different type of asbestos from what the
8 general public knew concerning insulation
9 materials and buildings.
10
Q. Okay.
11
Well, you didn't give them any
12
indirect inform ation either, did you?
13
A. No.
14
Q. So it's true that Volkswagen of
15
Am erica continued to sell cars with asbestos
16
com ponents fo r ten years after it learned that
17
breathing asbestos could cause cancer, correct?
18
MR. W INTERMAN: Asked and answered.
19
A. The last vehicles that we sold
20
that had any type o f asbestos that we've talked
21
about here was about 1989.
22
Q. So at least ten years?
23
A. Well, the general public and the
24
autom obile industry learned about it in the mid
25
to late seventies.
183
1
Q. Okay.
2
And in that tim e fram e V olksw agen
3 never warned any of the customers that there was
4 a potential risk from asbestos, correct?
5
A. The asbestos in our ca rs?
6
Q. Y e s, sir.
7
A. N o, we did not.
8
Q. Okay.
9
And in that tim e fram e V olksw agen
10
never told the custom er that they were buying an
11
asbestos-containing product, did they?
12
A. No, did not.
13
Q. Okay.
14
And in that ten years you'd agree
15
that Volkswagen probably sold about a million
16
cars to the Am erican public?
17
A. Could have, yes.
18
Q. Now, you'd agree that if
19 V olksw agen had w anted to include a w arning about
20
the risks o f asbestos exposure, they could have
21
included a printed warning on the brake linings
22
themselves, correct?
23
A. If th e y had, if th e y had felt it
24
was necessary to include a warning, they could
25
have, yes.
184
1
Q. Okay.
2
And if, if they had w anted to
3 include a warning relating to the hazards of
4 asbestos dust from brakes, they could have
5 included that warning on the metal part o f the
6 brake shoe?
7
A. If they felt there was a need to
8 do that or there was a danger, they could have,
9 yes. Certainly would have if they thought there
10 w as a danger.
11
Q. Okay.
12
Now, you mentioned something about
13
service manuals. You're talking about the
14
official repair manuals for VW cars, correct?
15
A. Some o f the manuals, yes.
16
Q. Okay.
17
MR. STUEM KE: Let's m ark this as
18 next.
19
COURT REPORTER: (Complies.)
20
(Whereupon, multi-page document
21
entitled GTI, Golf, and Jetta Official Factory
22
Repair Manual 1985, 1986 Including GLI, Gasoline,
23
Diesel, and Turbo Diesel, not bearing Bates
24
stam ps, is received and m arked as Plaintiffs'
25
Exhibit 7 for Identification.)
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185
1
C O U R T REP O R TE R : N um ber 7.
2
MR. W INTERMAN: Thank you.
3
A. I have it.
4
5 BY MR. STUEMKE:
6
Q. Okay.
7
You've been handed Exhibit 7. Can
8 you identify that for the record, please.
9
A. Appears to be excerpts from a
10
repair manual for the Volkswagen, excuse me, GTI,
11
G olf and Jetta.
12
Q. Okay.
13
And it's called the Official
14
Factory Repair Manual, correct?
15
A. T hat's correct. T hat's w hat it
16 says.
17
Q. And this is a m anual that was
18
provided to dealerships for their service
19
requirements for vehicles, correct?
20
A. This is one o f the items they had,
21 yes.
22
Q. Okay.
23
And this one w a s published in
24
1986, correct?
25
A. This one is from N ovem ber o f '86,
186
1 yes.
2
Q. Okay.
3
And you see th a t at the top of the
4
second to last page it indicates th a t copies of
5 the m anual may be purchased from authorized
6
Volksw agen dealers, selected book sellers and
7
autom otive accessories and parts dealers,
8 correct?
9
A. That's correct or directly from
10
the publisher.
11
Q. Okay.
12
And so this w as inform ation that
13
Volksw agen will m ake available fo r its custom ers
14
if th e y paid fo r it, co rre ct?
15
A. T his is inform ation th a t R obert
16
B entley made available to the public for
17
purchase, but it w as also supplied and purchased
18
by us fo r sale through Volksw agen dealers.
19
Q. Okay.
20
And who obtained the copyright for
21
this publication, the Official Factory R epair
22
M anual fo r these Volkswagen cars?
23
A. W ho obtained the copyright? I
24
don't know.
25
Q. Y es, sir.
187
1
A. I'll lo o k in h e re and see. Is
2
there a co p yrig h t on it som eplace?
3
Q. Look at the second to last page.
4
T h e sa m e p age w e w e re ju s t lo o kin g at, sir.
5
A. Volksw agen U nited States service
6
publications is the copyright.
7
Q. Okay.
8
A n d in th is official fa cto ry
9 repair m anual --
10
W ell, strike that. Let's back up
11
a second.
12
T his is not som ething th a t w as
13
provided to custom ers when they purchased the
14
vehicle, correct?
15
A. That's correct.
16
Q. Okay.
17
In th is if, if th e y h ad paid extra
18
to get this, they w ould learn -- on the last page
19
of this exhibit they w ould learn th a t friction
20
m aterials such as brake and clutch linings or
21
brake pads may contain asbestos fibers, correct?
22
A. That's w hat the last page of this
23
particular exhibit says. I don't know if this
24
is -- you're representing th a t th is is a page
25
from the original m anual?
188
1
Q. Yes, sir.
2
A. I only have p ages -- th e re is
3
p ro b a b ly seve ra l hu n dre d p ages in th e w h o le
4
m anual.
5
Q. Sure.
6
A. T ha t's w h a t it says on there.
7
Q. A nd you don't have any reason to
8
d isp u te th a t th is s a m e la n g u ag e w a s in th e
9
original repair m anual, do you ?
10
A. I d o n 't know. I'm ju s t saying
11
y o u 're re p re se n ting th is is a page from th is
12
particular repair m anual.
13
Q. Yes.
14
A. Do you have the w hole repair
15
manual here?
16
Q. N o t w ith me, no.
17
A. I d o n 't k n o w w h a t it is. T h e p a g e
18
d o e sn 't identify -- th e re is nothing on th is page
19
that you have here that says anything that I can
20
see a bout a Golf, a Jetta or a G TI. It's ju s t a
21
page from a m anual.
22
Q. Okay.
23
A nd this page from the m anual has
24
at the to p right a large box with the w ord
25
w a rn in g a t th e to p o f it, c o rre c t?
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
189
1
A. T hat's correct.
2
Q. Okay.
3
A n d th a t w arning relates to
4
a s b e s to s be in g c o n ta in e d in fric tio n m aterial
5
such as brake and clutch linings or brake pads,
6
c o rre c t?
7
A. Yes, th a t's w h a t it says.
8
Q. Okay.
9
A nd you know th a t inform ation w as
10
in c lu d e d in th e s e o fficial fa c to ry re p a ir m an u a ls
11
by Volksw agen, correct?
12
A. Yes, it w a s no s e cre t that, th a t
13
brake --
14
Q. Okay.
15
A. -- lin in g s a nd c lu tc h e s had it in
16
it, h o w e v e r, a t th e tim e fo r th e '85, '8 6 m a n u a l
17
it w o u ld not be in th e b ra ke linings. It m ig ht
18
be in th e clu tch linings. It w o u ld not be in th e
19
brake linings.
20
Q. Okay.
21
T he w a rning states th a t -- well,
22
it states do not create dust by grinding, sanding
23
o r by cle a n in g w ith c o m p re sse d air, correct?
24
A. T ha t's w h a t it says, yes.
25
Q. Okay.
190
1
It states avoid breathing asbestos
2 fibers and asbestos dust, correct?
3
A. That's w hat it says, yes.
4
Q. It states th a t breathing asbestos
5
m ay re su lt in se rio u s d ise a se s such a s a sb e sto sis
6 or cancer, correct?
7
A. You're reading exactly w hat it
8 says there, sir, yes.
9
Q. And it states th a t it m ay cause
10
severe injury and death, correct?
11
A. It says it may, yes, that's w hat
12
it says.
13
Q. A n d o b vio u sly th is is all
14
info rm a tio n that, th a t V o lksw a g e n kn e w in 1986,
15
correct?
16
A. This particular, the verbiage for
17
this warning?
18
Q. Yes.
19
A. N o, it's n o t o u r w a rning , sir.
20
Q. W ell, you, you hold a copyright on
21
this document, correct?
22
A. That's correct.
23
Q. A n d you sold th is d o cu m e n t in your
24
dealerships, correct?
25
A. It w a s sold in o u r d e a le rsh ip s and
191
1 it w as also sold at bookstores, accessory stores
2 and m an y o th e r p la ce s o r y o u could g e t it
3 directly from the publisher.
4
Q. Sure.
5
So you're n o t telling this jury
6 that Volksw agen didn't know about this warning,
7 are you?
8
A. We knew the w arning w as in the
9 m anual, but we did not put the w arning in the
10
m a n u a l.
11
Q. Right.
12
And at the same tim e that this
13
w arning w a s in V o lksw a g e n 's m anual, it w a s not in
14
Volksw agen's owners manuals, correct?
15
A. That's correct. This is a Bentley
16
m anual and it w a s in the Bentley m anual, but it
17
w a s n o t in the m anual published by V olksw agen.
18
Q. W ell, you say the Bentley m anual.
19
It's copyrighted Volksw agen, correct?
20
A. The technical content is from
21
Volkswagen, that's correct.
22
Q. O kay.
23
Sir, did V o lksw a g e n e ve r convey to
24
the purchasers of Volkswagen cars that they could
25
get fatal diseases from working with asbestos
192
1 brakes, asbestos clutches or asbestos gaskets
2 that w ere included in those vehicles?
3
A. No, sir, we have no evidence to
4 that effect.
5
MR. STU EM KE : I'll object to the
6 non-responsive portion.
7
8 BY MR. STUEMKE:
9
Q. Now, when was the first tim e that
10
anyone asserted a workers' compensation claim for
11
injuries from asbestos exposure against
12 V olksw agen?
13
A. I believe it w a s late eighties,
14
e arly nineties, som ew here in that area.
15
Q. W hat's the basis for that belief,
16 sir?
17
A. Well, there were, there were two
18
workers' com pensation claim s that we received
19 over the years.
20
Q. Okay.
21
Now, you recall, o f course, giving
22
your deposition te stim o n y in the G askill case
23
four months ago, correct?
24
A. I recall giving a deposition in
25
the Gaskill case. I think there were two of
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
193
1 them.
2
MR. W INTERM AN: Counsel, can we
3 just correct the record? I believe you indicated
4 in one of your earlier questions, a num ber of your
5 e arlier q u estions in fact, that the G askill depo
6 was taken approxim ately a year ago and you said a
7 year ago. The date that's on that transcript is
8 incorrect and you ought to know that. That was
9 taken in '09, not '08.
10
MR. STUEMKE: Well, for clarity
11
sake and I tried to be clear when referring to the
12
tim e because there are two different transcripts,
13
I've referred to the first session occurring on
14
July 14th, 2008 and the second session occurring
15
on March 12th, 2009.
16
Are you telling me those dates are
17
incorrect.
18
MR. W INTERM AN: I believe the 2008
19
date is incorrect, but we'll -- I'll double-check
20
that just so you know. I think there was an error
21
in the transcript.
22
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
23
Just can you give me a ballpark of
24
w hen you th in k it was.
25
MR. W INTERMAN: You know, I just
194
1 don't recall o ff the top o f my head, but I will
2
let you know. Okay. And it's ju s t a
3 typographical error on the part o f the reporter
4 and if you read the new spapers you'll see th a t one
5 o f those typographical errors on a date like that
6 c o s t som e la w firm a hu n dre d m illion d o lla rs in a
7 contract ju s t recently, but anyway go ahead.
8
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
9
Q . In any event, M r. C a m ero n , you
10
recall that you were deposed on two separate
11
o cca sio n s in the G a skill case, co rre ct?
12
A. I've already said that, yes.
13
Q. Okay.
14
D o you recall about w h a t m onth it
15
was that the first session occurred?
16
A. No. It w as -- no, I don't. I
17
know one o f them was, one o f them w as here and
18
one o f th e m w a s in N ew Jersey.
19
Q. Do you recall about how m uch tim e
20
lapsed between those two depositions?
21
A. No.
22
Q. D o you recall in w h a t y e a r the
23
first deposition occurred?
24
A. No, I don't. They were recently,
25
but I couldn't give you specific dates.
195
1
Q. Okay.
2
MR. STU EM KE: I appreciate the
3
clarification. O bviously that's news to me.
4
Q. Did you review yo u r tran scrip t
5
from those deposition sessions, sir?
6
A. I w ould have.
7
Q. Okay.
8
A nd other than the date apparently
9
being incorrect fo r the first session, w e re there
10
any other changes that you had to m ake to that
11
d e p o s itio n ?
12
A. I d on't recall. N orm ally you put
13
an e rra ta sh e e t o r w h a te v e r you guys call it --
14
Q. Right.
15
A. -- at the end of it w ith changes.
16
I do n 't recall.
17
Q. Okay. Y ou don't recall --
18
A. It w ould have been given to
19
co u n s e l a n d th e y w o u ld h a ve ta k e n c a re o f it.
20
Q. Y ou do n 't recall having subm itted
21
an errata sheet fo r either session of the G askill
22
deposition, do you?
23
A. I don't know one w a y or the other
24
at th is point.
25
Q. Okay.
196
1
Referring to the deposition
2 session in M arch o f 2 009 assum ing th a t date is 3 correct, it w as the second session, you were
4 asked questions about workers' compensation 5 claim s against Volkswagen.
6
Do you recall that?
7
A. Specifically, no, I don't.
8
Q. W ell --
9
A. I m ay have been. I'm not going to
10
dispute it. Y ou have the transcript.
11
Q. Sure.
12
A. It says w hat it says.
13
Q. T urning yo u r attention to Page
14
377, the highlighted portion, sir.
15
MR. W INTERM AN: Thank you.
16
Thank you, Counsel.
17
MR. STUEMKE: Sure.
18
19
BY MR. STUEMKE:
20
Q. Do you see th a t a t P a g e 3 77 o f the
21
Gaskill deposition transcript you testified that
22
the two w orkers' com pensation claim s relating to
23
asbestos exposure were from the late seventies to
24
m id eighties, som ew here in th a t area?
25
A. Yes, that's w hat I said.
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
197
1
Q. Okay.
2
And is it your testim ony today
3 that that was incorrect?
4
A. The late seventies is I believe
5 incorrect. The eighties should be correct.
6
Q. And there are docum ents relating
7 to those workers' compensation claims, correct?
8
A. Y es, they've been produced in
9 other cases as I recall.
10
Q. Okay.
11
And you testified earlier in this
12 deposition when I w as asking you about area of
13 inquiry Num ber 15, and for the record area o f
14 inquiry Num ber 15 is facts, w itnesses and
15 docum ents regarding workers' com pensation claims,
16 if any, made against Defendant fo r injuries
17 and/or death arising out o f exposure to asbestos
18 at D efendant's m anufacturing and/or authorized
19 dealer repair facilities, I asked you w hether
20 docum ents existed responsive to that area o f
21 inquiry and you said that there were not?
22
A. That's correct.
23
Q. Do you recall that?
24
Now, what documents exist
25
regarding the workers' compensation claims that
198
1 you've ju st testified happened som e tim e in the
2 nineteen-eighties?
3
A. There were copies of the
4 compensation claims, whatever they were. I
5 received them from our risk m anagement people.
6
Q. Okay.
7
And you testified, and we can find
8 this if we need to, but you testified in your
9 Gaskill deposition that Herzfeld & Rubin
10 Volksw agen's law firm w here we are today has
11 those docum ents.
12
Do you recall that?
13
A. I don't recall that being the
14 testim ony, but if that's w hat it says, that's
15 w hat it is, and they are the ones that would have
16 those docum ents. I passed them on to them.
17
Q. Okay.
18
Now, how is it that Volksw agen
19 doesn't have docum ents regarding workers'
20 com pensation claim s responsive to area o f inquiry
21
Number 15 when they do have documents regarding
22 w orkers' com pensation claim s that you've ju st
23 testified about?
24
A. Because they don't apply to that.
25 Y ou asked a different question. You asked for
199
1 workers' com pensation claim s concerning our
2
m anufacturing to and our authorized dealer repair
3 facilities and neither one of the claim s involved
4 the m anufacturing because we don't m anufacture,
5 we assem ble, but it didn't involve our assem bly
6 plant nor did it involve any retail facility. So
7 we don't have docum ents responsive to the
8 question that you asked.
9
Q. W hat w as the context of the
10
a lleged a sb e sto s exposure in those w orkers'
11
compensation cases, sir?
12
A. One of them concerned the
13
warehouse at one of our distributors and the
14
o th er concerned insulation m aterial in the
15
roofing o f a stam ping p lant in V irginia.
16
Q. Okay.
17
H ow w as the person working at the
18
warehouse allegedly exposed to asbestos fibers?
19
A. W ell, my recollection, my
20
recollection is they claim ed he w as working with
21
returned brake parts at the warehouse.
22
Q. And when did that claim come in?
23
A. B o y, one o f them w a s in the -- one
24
of them -- the actual claim itself or a t the time
25
of the exposure? W hat are we talking about here?
200
1
Q. The claim itself.
2
A. O ne of th e claim s I believe cam e
3
in in th e m id to late e ighties. T h e other, th e
4
actu al claim its e lf d id n 't com e in until ninety
5
som ething.
6
Q. A nd for the --
7
A. B ut it concerned e xposure at an
8
earlier tim e.
9
Q. A nd for the person w orking at the
10
w arehouse, w hen did th a t claim com e in?
11
A. I, I'd h a ve to re fe r to th e cla im
12
to be exact. I d o n 't -- I can't, I can't see the
13
docum ents. I do n 't recall exactly w h a t date --
14
you're looking fo r specific dates. I don't have
15
th e d o cu m e n ts in fro n t o f m e here, but it did not
16
con ce rn a retail facility. It did not concern a
17
m anufacturing plant --
18
C O u Rt R EPO R TER : M anufacturing
19
w hat?
20
T H E W IT N E S S : M a n u fa ctu rin g plant.
21
A. W hich is w h a t you w e re talking
22
about here --
23
24
BY MR. STUEMKE:
25
Q. Okay.
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201
1
A. -- in the request.
2
Q. So as I understand it, this claim
3 from the warehouse w orker involved alleged
4 exposure from working with returned brake parts?
5
A. That's my recollection.
6
Q. W hat was his job, sir?
7
A. I don't recall.
8
Q. I assum e it w as a man. W as it a
9 man?
10
A. I believe it was, but I don't
11
recall the specifics o f the claim.
12
Q. Okay.
13
And w hat disease did this
14
individual have?
15
A. I don't recall. Again, I would
16
refer to the files. I did not spend a lot o f
17
tim e reviewing the files. That was a number of
18
years ago those claim s were produced.
19
Q. Okay.
20
Well, they haven't been produced
21
to us, so that's w hy I'm asking about them.
22
A. You didn't ask for them.
23
Q. How m any years did this individual
24
who worked at the warehouse w ork there with these
25
brake parts?
202
1
A. I don't know, sir. Again, I don't
2
recall the sp e cifics o f the claim . I'd have to
3
refer to the file to give you any, any detailed
4
inform ation concerning them.
5
Q. Do you know w hether this
6
individual had any other exposure to asbestos?
7
A. I don't recall any of the
8
specifics of either one of the claim s.
9
Q. Do you recall the disposition of
10
either of the claim s, w hether Volksw agen w as
11
ordered to pay money?
12
A. Again, on the details of the
13
claim s I w ould refer to the files. T hat's w hat I
14
received from our risk m anagem ent people and I
15
passed it on to counsel.
16
Q. Okay.
17
MR. STUEM KE: W ell, given status of
18
docum ent production, specifically non-production
19
in o u r vie w , w e c a n n o t c o n clu d e th is d e p osition
20
today, and we'll have to continue it to another
21
date.
22
T h a t being said, b ased on w h a t is
23
available to P laintiffs' counsel, I do not
24
presently have further questions fo r the witness.
25
I anticipate having a large num ber of further
203
1
questions fo r the w itness upon the production of
2
docum ents.
3
MR. W IN T E R M A N : Let's go o ff the
4
record for a m om ent.
5
TH E V ID E O G R APH ER : G oing off the
6
record.
7
The tim e is a p proxim ately 1:43 p.m.
8
(W h e re u p o n , a sh o rt recess is
9 taken.)
10
T H E V ID E O G R A P H E R : S tand by,
11
please.
12
W e are now back on the record.
13
The tim e is a p proxim ately 1:49.
14
This concludes --
15
MR. W IN TER M AN : (Indicating.)
16
T H E V ID E O G R A P H E R : I'm sorry, you
17
have a com m ent?
18
MR. W INTERM AN: Yeah.
19
So as I u n d e rs ta n d it, C o u n se l,
20
w h a t you're telling us is th a t you're adjourning
21
th e d e p o sitio n , th a t's th e te c h n ic a l w o rd in
22
C alifornia anyway, until you resolve any of the
23
issues regarding w hat you believe are additional
24
docum ents you're entitled to, and if you're
25
entitled to them then you're going to -- you're
204
1 going to reconvene this session and finish up the
2
depo, is th a t correct?
3
MR. S TU EM KE : I'm not sure that
4 a d jo u rn is te ch n ica lly th e co rre c t term . I'll
5 accept your representation, but yes, I anticipate
6
resum ing the deposition when we have gotten
7 docum ents produced we feel we're entitled to.
8
MR. W IN TERM AN: Okay. So we're not
9 concluding it?
10
MR. STUEM KE: That's correct.
11
MR. W INTERM AN: Okay.
12
MR. STUEMKE: Yes.
13
MR. W INTERM AN: I ju s t w ant to make
14
sure it's clear on the record that we're not
15
co n clu d in g it. Okay.
16
So we'll term inate fo r today. And
17
I guess counsel and I will discuss w hatever
18
outstanding issues there are and see w hat we're
19
going to do.
20
MR. STUEM KE: Let me ju s t for the
21
record attach this as an exhibit. I guess we're
22
up to Exhibit 8 that w as produced today.
23
Do you have the other ones?
24
MR. W INTERM AN: There were other
25
ones. You don't have them ?
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ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
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1
MR. STU E M K E : I don't have hard
2
copies.
3
MR. W INTERM AN: I thought I gave
4 them to you.
5
MR. S T U E M K E : No, all th a t I w as
6
given w as this (indicating).
7
MR. W INTERM AN: Hang on ju st one
8
second. I think I have them for you.
9
MR. STU EM KE : Yeah, I don't have
10
hard copies so.
11
M R. W IN T E R M A N : H ere is, h e re is
12
the letter and the docum ent. You can have that
13
all. T ha t's a copy, and then you'll have th a t
14
other one.
15
MR. STUEMKE: Okay.
16
MR. W INTERM AN: Okay.
17
MR. S T U E M K E : Let's attach as
18
Exhibit 8 a cover letter including four enclosures
19
dated July 29th, 2009 from Mr. W interm an to my
20
C alifornia office, and as the next exhibit a 1987
21
authorized Volksw agen dealer directory excerpt.
22
C O U R T REPO R TER : (C om plies.)
23
(W hereupon, m ulti-page docum ent on
24
H erzfeld & Rubin letterhead, dated July 29th,
25
2009, not bearing Bates stam ps, is received and
206
1 marked as Plaintiffs' Exhibit 8 for
2
Identification.)
3
(W hereupon, m ulti-page docum ent
4 entitled Authorized Volkswagen Dealer Directory,
5
North and Central Am erica, Decem ber 1987, not
6 bearing B ates stamps, is received and m arked as
7
Plaintiffs' Exhibit 9 for Identification.)
8
C O U R T R EP O R TE R : N um bers 8 and 9.
9
MR. W INTERM AN: W hich one is 8?
10
The letter?
11
COURT REPORTER: Yes.
12
MR. W INTERM AN: And the attachm ents
13
and then 9 is '87.
14
Okay.
15
THE VIDEOGRAPHER: Are you
16
com pleted now?
17
MR. STUEM KE: Yes, we are done for
18
the day, but we are not done with the deposition.
19
THE VIDEO G RAPHER: This is the end
20
o f V ideotape N um ber 3 in the deposition o f R obert
21
C am eron.
22
This is Volum e 1 of the deposition.
23
T his is the conclusion o f Volum e 1 to be continued
24
a t a later date.
25
The tim e is a p proxim ately 1:51 p.m.
207
1
And we are now going off the
2 record.
3
(Time noted: 1:51 p.m.)
4
5/ 6/ 7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
208
1 STATE OF
)
Pg. of Pgs.
2
) ss.:
3 COUNTY OF
)
4
I wish to make the following changes, for
5 the following reasons:
6 PAGE LINE
7
CHANGE:
8
REASON:
9
CHANGE:
10
REASON:
11
CHANGE:
12
REASON:
13
CHANGE:
14
REASON:
15
CHANGE:
16
REASON:
17
CHANGE:
18
REASON:
19
CHANGE:
20
REASON:
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CHANGE:
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REASON:
23
CHANGE:
24
REASON:
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR
209
1 PAGE LINE
2 ___________CHANGE:
3
R E A S O N :____
4 ___________CHANGE:
5
R E A S O N :____
6 ___________CHANGE:
7
R E A S O N :____
8 ___________CHANGE:
9
R E A S O N :____
10 ___________CHANGE:
11
R E A S O N :____
12 ___________CHANGE:
13
R E A S O N :____
14 ___________CHANGE:
15
R E A S O N :____
16 ___________CHANGE:
17
R E A S O N :____
18 ___________CHANGE:
19
R E A S O N :____
20
21
22
I, ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR., have read
23 the foregoing deposition and hereby affix my 24 signature that same is true and correct, except as 25 noted above.
210
1
2
3
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
4 STATE O F ______________ )
5 COUNTY O F _____________ )
6
7
8
Before m e ,________________________ , on
9 this day personally appearing ROBERT P. CAMERON,
10 JR., known to me to be the person whose name is
11 subscribed to the foregoing instrument and
12 acknowledged to me that they executed the same for
13 the purposes and consideration therein expressed.
14
Given under my hand and seal o f office
15 th is _____ day o f ______________2009.
16
17
18 Subscribed and sworn to before me 19 th is _____ day o f ______________2009. 20
21
22
23
24
25
211
1
C ERT IF ICA T E
2 STATE O F ______________ )
) :ss. 3 COUNTY O F _____________ )
4
I, RICH GERMOSEN, a Certified Court
5 Reporter, (License No. 30XI00184700), Certified
6 Realtime Court Reporter-NJ, (License No.
7 30XR00016800), NCRA Certified Realtime Reporter,
8 Certified LiveNote Reporter, and Notary Public
9 within and for the States of New York and New
10 Jersey, do hereby certify:
11
That ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR., the
12 witness whose deposition is hereinbefore set forth,
13 having been duly sworn by a Notary Public of the
14 States of New York and New Jersey, and that such
15 deposition is a true record of the testimony of said
16 witness.
17
I further certify that I am not related
18 to any of the parties to this action by blood or
19 marriage, and that I am in no way interested in the
20 outcome of this matter.
21
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set
22 my hand this____ day of_______________ 2009.
23
24
RICH GERMOSEN, CCR, CRCR, RPR, CRR, CLR
25
LICENSE NO. 30XI00184700
LICENSE NO. 30XR00016800
212
1
SUPERIOR COURT OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
2
FOR THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES
3
---------------------------------------------------------------------- x
4 LAWRENCE BOMAN and SHIRLEY BOMAN,
5
Plaintiffs,
6
-against-
Case No.
7 ALFA LAVAL, INC. (sued
BC 405823
8 individually and as
9 successor-in-interest to THE
10
DELAVAL SEPARATOR COMPANY and
11
SHARPLES CORPORATION), et al.,
12
Defendants.
13 ----------------------------------------x
14
15
16
17
18
REPORTER'S CERTIFICATION
19
DEPOSITION OF:ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
2 0
Friday, July 31,2009
21
22
23
24
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
213
1
I, RICH GERMOSEN, a Certified Court
2 Reporter, (License No. 30XI00184700), Certified
3 Realtime Court Reporter-NJ, (License No.
4 30XR00016800), NCRA Registered Professional 5 Reporter, NCRA Certified Realtime Reporter, 6 Certified LiveNote Reporter, and Notary Public 7 within and for the States of New York and New
8 Jersey, do hereby certify:
9
That the witness, ROBERT P. CAMERON,
10 JR., was duly sworn by the officer and that the
11 transcript of the oral deposition is a true record
12 of the testimony given by the witness;
13
That the deposition transcript was
14 submitted on
to the witness or
15 to the attorney for the witness for examination,
16 signature and return to me by 17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
214
1
That the amount of time used by each
2 party at the deposition is as follows:
3
Mr. Stuemke - (02:54:05)
4
Mr. Winterman - (00:00:00)
5
Mr. Finberg - (00:00:00)
6
Mr. Haddad - (00:00:00)
7
Ms. Clayton - (00:00:00)
8
Mr. Hwang - (00:00:00)
9
Mr. Remillard - (00:00:00)
10
Mr. Lister - (00:00:00)
11
Ms. Clingo - (00:00:00)
12
Mr. Pieper - (00:00:00)
13
Mr. White - (00:00:00)
14
Ms. Golden - (00:00:00)
15
Mr. Davis - (00:00:00)
16
Ms. Vu - (00:00:00)
17
Mr. Tinkham - (00:00:00)
18
Mr. Ameele - (00:00:00)
19
Ms. Meyers - (00:00:00)
20
Ms. Buty - (00:00:00)
21
Mr. Murray - (00:00:00)
22
Ms. Johnson - (00:00:00)
23
Ms. Shetabi - (00:00:00)
24
Ms. Rothberg - (00:00:00)
25
215
1
That pursuant to information given to
2 the deposition officer at the time said testimony
3 was taken, the following includes counsel for all
4 parties of record:
5
6 A P P E A R A N C E S: 7
8 SIMON, EDDINS & GREENSTONE, L.L.P. 9 BY: JAY E. STUEMKE, ESQ. 10 3232 McKinney Avenue 11 Suite 610 12 Dallas, Texas 75204 13 (214) 276.7680 / (214) 276.7699 (FAX) 14 jstuemke@seglaw.com 15 Attorneys for the Plaintiffs 16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
216
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
4 HERZFELD & RUBIN, L.L.P. 5 BY: CRAIG L. WINTERMAN, ESQ. 6 1925 Century Park East 7 Suite 600 8 Los Angeles, California 90067 9 (310) 553.0451 / (310) 553.0648 (FAX) 10 cwinterman@hrllp-law.com 11 Attorneys for the Defendant, 12 Volkswagen of America, Inc. and 13 Robert P. Cameron, Jr. 14
15 CHARLES FINBERG, ESQ., P.L.L.C.
16 266 East Shore North
17 Grand Isle, Vermont 05458
18 (802) 372.5175
19 cfinberg@gmail.com
20 Attorneys for the Defendant,
21 Volkswagen of America, Inc. and
22
Robert P. Cameron, Jr.
23
24
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
217
1
A P P E A R A N C E S: (C O N T'D .)
2
3
4
A D A M S NYE T R A P A N I BEC H T, L.L.P.
5
BY: G E O R G E A. H AD D AD , ESQ.,
6
(appearing telephonically)
7
222 Kearny Street
8
7th Floor
9
San Francisco, C alifornia 94108
10
(415) 982.8955 / (415) 982.2042 (FAX)
11
ghaddad@ adam snye.com
12
A ttorneys for the D efendants,
13
W hirlpool C orporation and M aytag C orporation
14
15
H O W A R D R O M E M A R TIN & R ID LEY, L.L.P.
16
BY: T R IN A M. C LA Y TO N , ESQ.,
17
(appearing telephonically)
18
1775 W oodside Road
19
S uite 200
20
R e d w o o d City, C a lifo rn ia 94061
21
(650) 356.7715 / (650) 364.5297 (FAX)
22
tclayton@ hrm rlaw .com
23
A ttorneys for the Defendant,
24
IM O Industries, Inc.
25
219
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
4 PALMIERI, TYLER, WIENER, WILHELM & WALDRON, L.L.P. 5 BY: JOHN R. LISTER, ESQ., 6 (appearing telephonically) 7 2603 Main Street 8 Suite 1300 9 Irvine, California 92614 10 (949) 851.7285 / (949) 757.1225 (FAX) 11 jlister@ptwww.com 12 Attorneys for the Defendant, 13 Cla-Val Company 14
15 SELMAN BREITMAN, L.L.P. 16 BY: JENNIFER A. CLINGO, ESQ., 17 (appearing telephonically) 18 11766 Wilshire Boulevard 19 Suite 600 20 Los Angeles, California 90025 21 (310) 689.7042 / (310) 473.2525 (FAX) 22 jclingo@selmanbreitman.com 23 Attorneys for the Defendant, 24 Pep Boys 25
218
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
4 PERKINS COIE, L.L.P. 5 BY: STEVEN K. HWANG , ESQ., 6 (appearing telephonically) 7 1888 Century Park East 8 Suite 1700 9 Los Angeles, California 90067-1721 10 (310) 788.3217 / (310) 843.1275 (FAX) 11 skhwang@perkinscoie.com 12 Attorneys for the Defendant, 13 Honeywell International, Inc. 14
15 LYNBERG & WATKINS
16 BY: THOMAS W. REMILLARD, ESQ.,
17 (appearing telephonically)
18 888 South Figueroa Street
19
16th Floor
20 Los Angeles, California 90017
21 (213) 625.8700 / (213) 892.2763 (FAX)
22 tremillard@lynberg.com
23 Attorneys for the Defendant,
24
Hill Brothers Chemical Company
25
220
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (C O N T'D .) 2
3
4 POND NORTH, L.L.P.
5
BY: TIM O TH Y C. PIEPER, ESQ.,
6 (appearing telephonically)
7 350 South Grand Avenue
8 Suite 2850
9 Los Angeles, California 90017
10
(213) 617.6170 / (213) 623.3594 (FAX)
11 tpieper@ pondnorth.com
12 A ttorneys fo r the Defendants,
13
Sears, Roebuck and Co., Genuine Parts Company,
14
and W estern Auto Supply Company
15
16
DeHAY & ELLISTON, L.L.P.
17
BY: PAUL CH R ISTO PH ER W HITE, ESQ.,
18
(appearing telephonically)
19
800 W est 6th Street
20
Suite 788
21
Los Angeles, California 90017
22
(213) 271.2724 / (213) 271.2730 (FAX)
23
pwhite@ dehay.com
24
Attorneys for the Defendant,
25
Pneumo Abex, L.L.P.
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
221
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
4 JACKSON & WALLACE, L.L.P. 5 BY: CATHERINE E. GOLDEN, ESQ., 6 (appearing telephonically) 7 55 Francisco Street 8 6th Floor 9 San Francisco, California 94133 10 (415) 982.6300 / (415) 982.6700 (FAX) 11 cgolden@jacksonwallace.com 12 Attorneys for the Defendants, 13 Dap, Inc. and Cummins, Inc. 14
15 HASSARD BONNINGTON, L.L.P.
16 BY: MARK C. DAVIS, ESQ.,
17
(appearing telephonically)
18 Two Embarcadero Center
19 Suite 1800
20 San Francisco, California 94111-3993
21 (415) 288.9800 / (415) 288.9802 (FAX)
22
mcd@hassard.com
23 Attorneys for the Defendant,
24 John Crane, Inc.
25
222
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
4 BOOTH, MITCHEL & STRANGE, L.L.P. 5 BY: JACKIE K. VU, ESQ., 6 (appearing telephonically) 7 707 Wilshire Boulevard 8 Suite 4450 9 Los Angeles, California 90017 10 (213) 738.0100 / (213) 380.3308 (FAX) 11 jkvu@boothmitchel.com 12 Attorneys for the Defendant, 13 Borg-Warner Corporation 14
15 POOLE & SHAFFERY, L.L.P. 16 BY: BRIAN R. TINKHAM, ESQ., 17 (appearing telephonically) 18 445 South Figueroa Street, Suite 2520 19 Los Angeles, California 90071 20 (213) 439.5390 / (213) 439.0183 (FAX) 21 btinkham@pooleshaffery.com 22 Attorneys for the Defendant, 23 PTO Sales Corporation 24
25
223
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CO NT'D.) 2
3
4 FOLEY & MANSFIELD, P.L.L.P.
5 BY: KEITH M. AM EELE, ESQ.,
6 (appearing telephonically)
7 150 South Los Robles Avenue
8 Suite 400
9 Pasadena, California 91101
10
(626) 744.9359 / (626) 744.1702 (FAX)
11 kam eele@ foleym ansfield.com
12 Attorneys for the Defendants,
13
Nacco M aterials Handling Group, Inc. and
14 Yale M aterials Handling Corp.
15
16
M cKENNA LONG & ALDRIDGE, L.L.P.
17
BY: LESA M. M EYERS, ESQ.,
18 (appearing telephonically)
19 444 South Flower Street
20
Los Angeles, California 90071
21
(213) 243.6122 / (213) 243.6330 (FAX)
22 lm eyers@ m ckennalong.com
23 Attorneys for the Defendants,
24
Dana Companies, L.L.C.;
25
Union Carbide Corporation; Kelsey-Hayes Company
224
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
4 BUTY & CURLIANO, L.L.P.
5 BY: MADELINE L. BUTY, ESQ.,
6 (appearing telephonically)
7 555 City Center
8 555 12th Street
9 Suite 1280
10 Oakland, California 94607
11 (510) 267.3000 / (510) 267.0117 (FAX)
12
mlb@butycurliano.com
13 Attorneys for the Defendant,
14
PACCAR, Inc.
15
16 PRINDLE, DECKER & AMARO, L.L.P.
17
BY: JAMES G. MURRAY, ESQ.,
18 (appearing telephonically)
19 310 Golden Shore, 4th Floor
20 Long Beach, California 90802
21 (562) 436.3946 / (562) 495.0564 (FAX)
22 jmurray@pdalaw.com
23 Attorneys for the Defendant,
24
Edelbrock Corp.
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
ROBERT P. CAMERON, JR.
225
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2
3
4 BRYDON HUGO & PARKER
5 BY: JOSETTE D. JOHNSON, ESQ.,
6 (appearing telephonically)
7
-and-
8 BY: PEGAH SHETABI, ESQ.
9 135 Main Street, 20th Floor
10 San Francisco, California 94105
11 (415) 808.0300 / (415) 808.0333 (FAX)
12 jjohnson@bhplaw.com / pshetabi@bhplaw.com
13 Attorneys for the Defendants,
14 Luk Clutch Systems, L.L.C. and
15 Schaeffler Group USA, Inc.
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
226
1 A P P E A R A N C E S: (CONT'D.) 2 3
4 WALSWORTH, FRANKLIN, BEVINS & McCALL, L.L.P.
5 BY: STEPHANIE ROTHBERG , ESQ.,
6 (appearing telephonically)
7 One City Boulevard West
8 Fifth Floor
9 Orange, California 92868
i
(714) 634.2522 / (714) 634.0686 (FAX)
11 srothberg@ wfbm.com
12 Attorneys for the Defendants,
13 Bondex International, Inc.; RPM, Inc.;
14 RPM International, Inc.; Hamilton Materials, Inc.;
15
Dowman Products, Inc.; CRA Trailers, Inc.;
16 Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company;
17 Jerguson Gage & Valve Co.; Clark-Reliance
18 Corporation, as the claimed successor-in-interest
19 to Jerguson Gage & Valve Co. 20
21
22
23
24
25
227
1
That $
is the deposition
2 officer's charaes to the
for preparina
3 the original deposition transcript and any copies of
4 exhibits;
5
I further certify that I am neither
6 counsel for, related to, nor employed by any of the
7 parties or attorneys in the action in which this
8 proceeding was taken, and further that I am not
9 financially or otherwise interested in the outcome
10 of the action.
11
Certified to me this
of
12
, 2009.
13
14
15
16
17
RICH GERMOSEN, CCR, CRCR, RPR, CRR, CLR
18
LICENSE NO. 30XI00184700
LICENSE NO. 30XR00016800
19
HG Litigation Services
2501 Oak Lawn Avenue
20
Suite 600
Dallas, Texas 75219
21
(214) 521.1188 / (214) 521.1034 (FAX)
1.888.656.DEPO 22
23
24
25
HG LITIGATION SERVICES HGLITIGATION.COM
EXHIBIT E
VOLKSWAGEN
To
Technical Occupational Safety
From
Safety Chemistry Braunschweig
Your reference
Your message from
Our reference
[redacted]
X
House extension
[redacted]
Internal notice
Notice number
Date
08/17/1987
[illegible]
Page
1
Labeling of asbestos-containing substances
The following asbestos-containing (drum) brake linings are processed for customer service requirements in Braunschweig:
Lining
[Drawing number)
431 609 565 J 431 609 565 F 171 609 565 J 171 609 565 F 531 609 565 171 609 565 A 331 609 565 A 113 609 265 C 477 609 265
(without drawing) (without drawing)
Manufacturer
Pasgids 554 GG Pagid 555 EF Jurid 139 FF ABPA 553 GG Jurid 136 EE Jurid 118 FF Jurid 118 FF Textar TE 18 GG Jurid 334 PGG
ZSB Brake Shoe complete
443 609 537 431 609 537 Q/538 171 609 537 G 171 609 537 F 531 609 537 ZSB 171 609 537 A ZSB 331 609 537 A 113 609 537 S no more drawings available
The pads are assembled in the factory to brake shoes and shipped to the service center warehouse Kassel. These assemblies are currently not labeled as "asbestos-containing products" according to the Hazardous Substances Ordinance, Annex I, 2.5.
No warning and safety instructions are given to the user (after-sales service or private purchaser) who may be exposed to asbestos exposure.
The decision on the marking/non-marking of the brake shoes is to be made by Braunschweig's production.
Form AV 87 7 85 M a te ria l no. 2060
- 2 CONFIDENTIAL
t abbies*
PLA IN TIFFS EXHIBIT 26
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - I 00000964
VOLKSWAGEN
To
From
Your reference
Your message from
Our reference
[redacted]
Internal notice
Notice number
House extension
[redacted]
Date
Page
08/17/1987
2
Asbestos-containing products may also be incorporated into other assemblies.
The delimitation between marking requiring and not marking asbestos-containing products (assemblies) should be carried out according to uniform measures for the area of the VW AG.
We therefore ask you to coordinate with the affected departments on the further procedure for labeling.
[redacted]
Form AV 87 7 85 M a terial no. 2060
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - i 00000965
EXHIBIT F
Page 1
IN T H E C IR C U IT C O U R T O F T H E 11T H JU D IC IA L C IR C U IT IN A N D FO R M IA M I-D A D E C O U N T Y , F L O R ID A A SB E ST O S D IV ISIO N
R O BE R T G. C LA R K and A L A N A C LA R K , h is w ife,
P la in tiffs, C ase N o .: 1 4 -0 2 7 9 8 5 v. B O R G W A R N E R C O R P O R A T IO N , e t a l.,
D efen dan ts.
V id e o T rial P re se rv a tio n D e p o s itio n o f D r. J u erg en A lb ers V o lu m e 1
T u e sd a y , A p r il 9 , 2 0 1 9 , a t 1 0 :4 9 a.m . T a k e n at:
K IN G & SP A L D IN G 1 2 5 O ld B ro a d Street
London EC 2N 1A R U N IT E D K IN G D O M
C ou rt R eporter: D eird ra Jordan
Page 3
1
A P P E A R A N C E S (C ontinued)
2
3
A ppearing for D efendant Federal-M ogul (by
4
teleconference):
5
H A W K IN S PA RN ELL & Y O U N G LLP
6
303 Peachtree Street, N E ,
7
Suite 4000
8
A tlanta, G A 30308-3243
9
Tel: (404) 614-7598
10
Em ail: flopez@ hpylaw .com
11
BY: FRANCES LOPEZ
12
13
A lso in attendance:
14
B R EN D A G O D FR EY , V olksw agen G roup of
15
A m erica
16
K A TH I STO C K , G erm an Language Interpreter
17
W EN D Y V IN ER , V ideographer
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
Page 2
1
A PPEA RA N CE S
2
3
A p pearing for the Plaintiffs:
4
TH E FE R R A R O L A W F IR M
5
600 B rickell A venue,
6
Suite 3800
7
M iam i, FL 33131
8
Tel: (3 0 5 ) 547-9 8 0 0
9
E m ail: daj@ ferraro law .co m
10
BY: D A V ID A . JA G O LIN Z ER
11
12
A ppearing fo r the D efendant V olksw agen A G and
13
V o lk sw ag en G roup o f A m erica, an d th e W itness:
14
TANENBAUM KEALE LLP
15
O ne C onvention Place
16
701 P ike Street,
17
Suite 1575
18
S eattle, W A 98101
19
Tel: (2 0 6 ) 889-5 0 8 0
20
E m ail: cm ark s@ tk trial.co m
21
BY : C H R IS T O P H E R S. M A R K S
22
23
24
25
Page 4
1
IN D EX
2
W ITNESS: DR. JU ERG EN ALBERS (Sworn)
9
3
INTERPRETER: KATHI STOCK (Sworn)
9
4
EXAM INATION BY MR. M ARKS
9
5
EXAM INATION BY MR. JA GOLINZER
75
6
7
EX HIBIT S
8
NUMBER
D E SC R IP T IO N
PAGE
9
Exhibit 1 Handw ritten notes
12
10
Exhibit 2 D ocum ent bearing date stamp
M arch 23, 1981
11
Bates No. 99
C o n fid en tial
21
12
Exhibit 3 C hart depicting dual-circuit
13
brake for a passenger v ehicle 31
14
Exhibit 4 Tw o brake shoes
32
15
Exhibit 5 Brake drum
33
16
Exhibit 6 Brochure
Bates No. 2554-2564
47
17
Exhibit 7 A utoGram m m agazine
18
Bates No. 2408-2419
51
19
Exhibit 8 A rticle by D r Grimm
Bates No. 2310-2313
20
C o n fid en tial
68
21
Exhibit 9 A dvertisem ent
70
22
23
24
25
1 (Pages 1 to 4)
Page 5
1
(O n the record at 10:49 a.m .)
2
M R M A RK S: This is C hristopher M arks for
3
Volksw agen AG. W e are here today for the continued
4
deposition o f V olksw agen A G 's corporate w itness, w ho is
5
responding to questions from the P laintiff in the Clark
6
m atter.
7
W hen we adjourned last January, I did not
8
have an opportunity to follow up with questions. W e
9
ran out o f tim e and there w ere lots o f statem ents on
10
the record to that effect.
11
M y intent this m orning is to ask the witness
12
Juergen A lbers question as follow up to David
13
Jagolinzer's exam ination as a m eans for counter
14
designation to his direct exam ination. I also intend
15
this to be a possible preservation deposition to be
16
used affirm atively, understanding that M r Jagolinzer
17
m a y o b je c t to th a t u se , th e a ffirm ativ e u se o f it.
18
The goal here really is to ensure that I have
19
the opportunity to ask D r A lbers questions because I
20
did not have a chance to do so last time.
21
So w e're going to do, I guess, a separate
22
transcript this m orning. W hen we conclude,
23
M r Jagolinzer is going to resum e on the transcript he
24
w as on last January, at which tim e, w hen he com pletes,
25
I m ay ask -- cross-exam ination o f D r A lbers -- I m ay
Page 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2 0 21 2 2 2 3 2 4 25
Volksw agen Group o f A m erica? E ither w ay, it's m y position th at they w ere
duly noticed; they had the opportunity to be here, if they wanted to be.
So if you're not, it's still m y position that the notice still will apply to them being here as if - w hether or not you're representing them or n o t is a different issue, b ut either way, they w ere noticed o f the deposition, and I believe it can be used against V olksw agen G roup o f A m erica, due to the notice issued.
M R M A RK S: I don't know that I agree about the -- w hether it can be used against G OA, but I am here for V olksw agen G roup o f A m erica.
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O kay. T hat's all. M R M A RKS: As well. MR JAGOLINZER: Thank you. M R M ARKS: Yes. VIDEOG RAPHER: Okay. M y nam e is W endy V iner, representing Veritext. T oday's date is April 9, 2019, and the tim e is 10:51 am. This deposition is being held at K ing & Spalding, located at 125 O ld B road Street, L ondon EC2, UK. The caption o f this case is R obert G Clark
Page 6
1
incorporate the questions I've asked this m orning, and
2
then David Jagolinzer m ay go back on and cross-exam ine
3
on this transcript.
4
So that's m y intent for today.
5
M R JAGOLINZER: Yes. Thank you.
6
David Jagolinzer, on b eh alf o f the Clarks.
7
Yes, I have not finished m y deposition that
8
w e com m enced I believe on January 9 and 10, and w e're
9
accom m odating this procedure to ensure M r M arks has the
10
opportunity to ask certain questions o f D r Juergens
11
[sic].
12
W hether or n o t -- sorry -- M r A lbers is
13
present and is able to testify is a separate issue as
14
to w hether or not he will or will not be unavailable,
15
and whether or not the use o f that can be used, but we
16
do agree to the procedure in term s o f how w e are going
17
to proceed, and w e'll see how that plays out.
18
Thank you.
19
M R MARKS: Sounds good.
20
All right. So if w e could go on the video
21
and do the swear ins and all o f that, please?
22
VIDEOGRAPHER: Okay.
23
M R JA G O LIN ZER: I'm sorry, one quick second.
24
You indicated, M r M arks, that you are here
25
representing V olksw agen AG. Are you also representing
Page 8
1
and A lana C lark versus B org W arner C orporation, et al.
2
The case is being held in the Circuit Court o f the 11th
3
Judicial Circuit, in and for M iami-Dade County,
4
Florida, Case No. 14-027985.
5
The nam e o f the w itness is Juergen Albers.
6
Could attorneys please identify themselves
7
and state w hom they represent.
8
M R JAGOLINZER: David Jagolinzer on behalf o f
9
M r and M rs Clark.
10
M R MARKS: Christopher Marks for Tanenbaum
11
Keale on behalf o f Volkswagen A G and Volkswagen Group
12
o f America, Inc.
13
VIDEOGRAPHER: Could I ask all other parties
14
present to identify themselves for the record.
15
M R M ARKS: Fran.
16
MS LOPEZ: Okay. Thank you.
17
Frances Lopez, Hawkins Parnell & Young, on
18
behalf o f D efendant Federal-M ogul Asbestos Personal
19
Injury Trust, as successor to Fel-Pro Products
20
M anufacturing Company.
21
MS GODFREY: Brenda Godfrey on behalf of
22
Volkswagen Group o f America, not m aking an official
23
appearance, but noted as present.
24
VIDEOGRAPHER: Thank you.
25
O ur Court Reporter today is Deirdra Jordan,
2 (Pages 5 to 8)
Page 9
Page 11
1
representing V eritext.
2
C ould I ask the C ourt R eporter to please
3
sw ear in the Interpreter, follow ed by the w itness, and
4
w e can proceed.
5
D R JU ERG EN ALBERS,
6
having been duly sw orn w ith an Interpreter,
7
testified as follow s:
8
(Evidence given through the Interpreter, unless
9
otherw ise indicated)
10
EXA M IN A TIO N :
11
BY M R MARKS:
12
Q G ood m orning, sir.
13
A G ood m orning.
14
Q C ould you please introduce y o u rself to the
15
ladies and gentlem en o f the jury.
16
A Yes. M y nam e is D r Juergen A lbers. I w ork for
17
V W A G for about 28 years.
18
I
started out in vehicle safety and testing
19
and im plem ented their crash tests, and co-developed
20
vehicles there in regards to their passive safety.
21
A n d in 1998, I changed into the product
22
analy sis d epartm ent, and I've b een w o rk in g th ere as a
23
product expert.
24
Q D o you have a background in engineering?
25
A Yes, I do.
1
about the various engines.
2
BY M R MARKS:
3
Q Okay.
4
In light o f the objection, let me ask it this
5
way.
6
In addition to brakes and braking systems,
7
w hat o ther aspects o f the vehicle are you an expert in,
8
based upon your background and training?
9
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
10
T H E W ITN ESS: D uring the course o f m y study,
11
I obtained basic know ledge over vehicles in general,
12
and then during m y tim e in vehicle safety at VW , for
13
eight, nine, te n y ears, I, o f course, w id en ed m y
14
horizon in regards to other aspects.
15
BY M R MARKS:
16
Q D id that include engines?
17
A T hat included engines, but, o f course, m ain
18
em phasis w as in vehicle safety, as I m entioned earlier.
19
Q Okay.
20
W e w ere here in L ondon in January o f this
21
year. Do you recall that?
22
A Yes, I do recall that.
23
Q M r Jagolinzer asked you a num ber o f questions
24
at that tim e. D o you recall?
25
A Yes, I do.
P age 10
1
I
studied m echanical engineering at the
2
U niversity o f K lausthal and I graduated as a graduate
3
engineer for m echanical engineering in general, and I
4
have been w orking at the university for another four
5
and a h alf years, and I w ork there for the D ean o f
6
M echanical E ngineering as an assistant, and in the
7
course o f that w ork obtained m y PhD.
8
Q So the focus o f your engineering, from w hat you
9
said, I gather, is on car safety?
10
A For m y course o f study, vehicle technology was
11
a com ponent.
12
Q A nd then, for your w ork at V olksw agen, that has
13
included vehicle safety?
14
A Correct. A s I m entioned earlier, I started out
15
for vehicle safety at VW , and as "vehicle safety"
16
im plies, that w as the big com ponent o f m y work.
17
Q D oes vehicle safety include braking and braking
18
system s?
19
A Yes. Certainly, brakes are one o f the m ost
20
essential com ponents in a vehicle.
21
Q Okay, and does your engineering expertise also
22
include aspects o f the engines?
23
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
24
THE W ITN ESS: O f course, during m y courses o f
25
study at the university, I also obtained know ledge
P age 12
1
Q Okay.
2
I'd lik e to a s k so m e fo llo w u p q u e s tio n s fro m
3
that exam ination, if I could.
4
A I understand. Please do.
5
Q W hen M r Jagolinzer w as asking you questions,
6
you had brought w ith you a set o f handw ritten notes
7
b a s e d u p o n V o lk sw a g e n 's in v e s tig a tio n in p re p a ra tio n
8
for the deposition. D o you rem em ber that?
9
A Yes, I do recall.
10
Q These w ere m arked as Exhibit 2 to the previous
11
d e p o sitio n , b u t I'm g o in g to m a rk th e m a s E x h ib it 1
12
today.
13
(Exhibit 1 m arked for identification)
14
A I understand.
15
Q Okay.
16
S o I 'm h a n d in g y o u w h a t I'v e m a rk e d as
17
E x h ib it 1. C o u ld y o u p le a se c o n firm th a t th o se are th e
18
notes -- a copy o f the notes that you prepared?
19
A Yes, those are the notes I had in front o f me
20
at m y first deposition in January.
21
Q Could you please rem ind me w hy did you prepare
22
those notes?
23
A Yes, certainly.
24
W e had a com prehensive catalog o f questions
25
provided by M r Jag --
3 (Pages 9 to 12)
Page 13
1
IN T E R P R E T E R : I'm sorry, sir, if I
2
m ispronounce your name.
3
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : It's okay. It's fine.
4
IN T E R P R E T E R : M r J.
5
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : Just say "Jag" if it m akes it
6
easier.
7
TH E W ITN ESS: (Interpreted answ er continued)
8
I f I recall th at correctly, there w ere, like, 60 topics
9
w ith 250 subtopics.
10
W ithin a team at V W , w e tried to respond to
11
those questions the best w e could, and collected
12
com prehensive m aterial for that.
13
BY M R MARKS:
14
Q W ere you part o f that team that did the
15
in v e s tig a tio n ?
16
A I w as part o f that team , yes.
17
Q A nd there w ere others that assisted as well?
18
A Correct.
19
Q O kay, and the notes you prepared -- E xhibit
20
1 -- help list out the effort th at you and the team did
21
to answ er M r Jagolinzer's questions?
22
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form.
23
T H E W ITN E SS: Y es, and at the sam e tim e, it
24
served to help me w ith m y m em ory, because the topics
25
w ere so com prehensive, in order to respond to all the
Page 15
1
E n g lish .
2
B ut to put it like that, to speak E nglish is
3
a com pletely different story, and in order to respond
4
to the questions correctly, I w ould like to enlist the
5
support o f an interpreter.
6
Q Okay.
7
Y ou indicated that M r Jagolinzer had asked
8
for m any dozens o f topics to the com pany questions to
9
be asked?
10
A Yes, lots o f topics, and also com prising a
11
tim efram e o f several decades, 50 to 60 years.
12
It w as quite a big volum e o f topics.
13
Q Okay.
14
The questions that M r Jagolinzer asked, do
15
they cover -- w ere they directed at vehicles, cars,
16
that are m ade in W olfsburg, G erm any, today?
17
A It w as about -- in part -- about vehicles that
18
w ere m anufactured in W olfsburg, but the vehicles in
19
discussion, or at issue, that M r C lark w orked at have
20
not been in production for a long, long tim e, and also
21
the people w ho built and m anufactured those cars back
22
then are no longer w orking -- are no longer em ployed
23
w ith VW .
24
A nd also, w hen w e talk about docum entation
25
for things that are 50 years back, that can't be
Page 14
1
questions so that I don't forget anything.
2
BY M R MARKS:
3
Q Okay.
4
M R JA G O LIN ZER: [A ddressing Interpreter] Can
5
you, ju st before you start translating, if I'm going to
6
object to form , ju st so that I don't w ant to interrupt
7
anybody -
8
IN T E R P R E T E R : Y es, sir.
9
M R JA G O LIN ZER: -- can you ju st pause ju st
10
one little second?
11
I don't w ant to interrupt you, and I can't
12
tell w hen you're done.
13
INTERPRETER: And I need to be prepared. You
14
do th at a lot.
15
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : I can't tell w hen you're
16
do n e. S o I ju s t ... th a n k y ou.
17
IN TE R PR E T E R : I'm sorry.
18
M R JAGOLINZER: No, no, no, no.
19
BY M R MARKS:
20
Q B y the way, and I think M r Jagolinzer covered
21
this w ith you before, do you have a working know ledge
22
o f English?
23
A O f course, I learned English at school, and
24
also at the university a lot o f literature w as in
25
E nglish, so th at I'm able to understand w ritten
Page 16
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2 0 21 22 23 24 25
com pared w ith docum entation w e have fo r today's vehicles.
There w ere no com puters back then, no databases, no electronic data processing -- there w as only paper -- and those papers are not stored for such a long period o f tim e because it's sim ply not necessary.
A nd that's w hy it w as in part quite difficult to obtain m aterial from this period o f tim e in the past.
Q In order to answ er the questions by M r Jagolinzer, w hat investigation did V olksw agen do?
A W e did com prehensive investigations w ith our team .
(C ourt R eporter requested repetition) For exam ple, in regards to vehicles and brakes, w e analyzed quite an am ount o f test reports. T hose test reports are stored and saved in our archive. T hey describe the technical aspects in regards to the engineering know ledge. In addition, w e did com prehensive investigations in the historic archive, and, as the nam e im plies, the historic archive contains docum ents having historic relevance. In addition, w e also spoke to the em ployees
4 (Pages 13 to 16)
P a g e 17
1
in the brake departm ent. W e also talked about aspects
2
o f health protection, w ork safety, safety chem istry,
3
questions regarding to spare parts and packaging.
4
W e talked to procurem ent, and w ith the legal
5
departm ent, w hich were part o f that team , and we talked
6
to the em ployees o f vehicle technological provisions --
7
regulations.
8
A nd that search w as not only lim ited to
9
W olfsburg. W e also spoke to the plants in Hanover,
10
Braunschw eig and Kassel.
11
W e also w ent to the autom otive or autom obile
12
m useum , since they still have original vehicles on
13
display.
14
A nd w e spoke to som eone w ith the Em ployers'
15
L iability Insurance A ssociation in H anover, and we also
16
spoke w ith the patent departm ent.
17
Q Y ou've m entioned the W orkers' C ouncil. Is that
18
referred to by shorthand, an d I think you referred to
19
this in January, as the "BG"s?
20
A T hat's correct.
21
Q Okay.
22
A BG.
23
Q A nd w hat is the BG?
24
A It's an association or an organization in
25
G erm any w hich is responsible that the w orkplaces o f the
Page 19
1
A T hat is correct. I believe it's around 3,000
2
pages o f docum ents.
3
Q A nd these w ere the docum ents that w ere found
4
both in the product analysis departm ent, the
5
engineering group, as w ell as in the general com pany
6
archives; is th at right?
7
A Yes, from the product analysis departm ent and
8
also from the archive.
9
Q Okay.
10
In the docum ents that V olksw agen found, did
11
this include any docum ents that w ere from the BG
12
related to asbestos and use o f asbestos?
13
A Yes. A lso, exam inations from the V W -- no,
14
from the B G in regards to asbestos w ere part o f that,
15
and that w as also part o f the docum ents produced by us.
16
Q Okay.
17
In those docum ents related to the BGs, you
18
m entioned exam inations. W hat do you m ean by that?
19
A O n workplaces, w here dust is generated, for
20
exam ple, there are rules in place that the em ployer has
21
to m easure the quantity o f dust generated in those
22
w orkplaces, and several docum ents th at we found in the
23
historic archive show ed protocols that reflect the
24
m easurem ent o f dust in those workplaces.
25
Q Okay.
Page 18
1
employees are safe, and, at the same time, it also
2
functions as an insurance for the employees.
3
That means, in case o f w ork accidents or
4
work-related illnesses, occupational illnesses, the
5
Employers' Liability Insurance Association would pay to
6
those employees a com pensation or a pension, or however
7
you w an t to call it.
8
And every big com pany in Germ any is a
9
compulsory m em ber o f this association, and must
10
contribute money, and from those contributed fees,
11
those com pensations for the workers are paid.
12
Q Okay.
13
So, in addition to performing an
14
investigation in W olfsburg, Kassel, Emden,
15
Braunschweig, w hy did the Volkswagen team go to the BGs
16
to look for information?
17
A Because, as m entioned, the Employers' Liability
18
Insurance Association is responsible for the safety o f
19
the workplaces, and/or they are responsible to check up
20
on the em ployer that he in turn provides safe
21
w orkplaces for the employees.
22
And we w anted to inform ourselves how the
23
co-operation betw een VW and B G looks like.
24
Q Volkswagen produced several thousand pages of
25
docum ents to M r Jagolinzer; is th at right?
P ag e 20
1
So the B G s w ere perform ing, or docum enting in
2
the docum ents you found, their efforts to look for
3
potential hazards associated w ith asbestos in the
4
V olksw agen m anufacturing process?
5
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
6
T H E W ITN E SS: A s stated, the B G is
7
responsible to check on those w orkplaces, and those
8
docum ents reflect that.
9
BY M R MARKS:
10
Q Okay.
11
I'd like to m ark -- let m e ask yo u first
12
before I do that.
13
D id y ou find in the docum ents -- did
14
V olksw agen find in the docum ents that it located
15
indication from the B G about hazards associated w ith
16
asbestos, and w hether the asbestos could cause cancer?
17
A I do rem em ber one study that w as perform ed on
18
behalf o f BG that w as in regards to the safety o f brake
19
m echanics, or people having to deal w ith brakes.
20
Q Okay.
21
A A nd it show ed that, from the point o f view of
22
the BG, there is no increased risk em anating from these
23
w orkplaces.
24
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form . M ove to
25
strike. N on-responsive. H earsay.
5 (Pages 17 to 20)
Page 21
1
Go ahead.
2
IN TE R PR E TE R : Sorry, sir, do you w ant m e to
3
interpret?
4
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : N o, you don't need to
5
translate. T hat's ju st us.
6
IN T E R P R E T E R : I'm ju s t w ondering.
7
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : T hat's okay. T hank you.
8
M R M A R K S: I'm m arking for purposes o f
9
identification E xhibit 2 to your deposition, w hich is
10
B ates num bered 99.
11
M R JA G O LIN ZER: 2 to our last one, or a new
12
one?
13
M R M ARKS: N ew one.
14
(Exhibit 2 m arked for identification -- displayed
15
electronically)
16
Q This is a digital -
17
M R JA G O LIN ZER : D id w e m ark that last tim e,
18
do you know?
19
M R M A R K S: I don't rem em ber.
20
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : I'm ju st curious. O kay.
21
BY M R MARKS:
22
Q I'm show ing y o u w h at's b een m ark ed as E xhibit
23
2.
24
D o you rem em ber this docum ent?
25
A Yes, I do recall this docum ent.
Page 23
1
M R JA G O LIN ZER: Can I ask for a
2
clarification? B rake pads or brake linings or facings?
3
T H E W ITN E SS: B rake pads in general.
4
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : M eaning lining?
5
C an you ask him : linings? Facings? Pads, or
6
is it s h o e s ? I'm j u s t tr y in g to ...
7
N o, no. The pad or the shoe? D isc brake, or
8
brakes, or ju st general?
9
T H E W IT N E SS: B oth, in general.
10
M R JA G O LIN ZER : Just, for purposes, ju st
11
so -- for u s, it m akes a d ifferen ce betw een a disc
12
brake, w hich is a b rake pad, and a brak e shoe, w hich
13
w as a brake lining or a facing.
14
T h a t's j u s t w h a t I w a s tr y in g to ...
15
INTERPRETER: Okay.
16
M R JA G O LIN ZER: T hank you.
17
IN TERPRETER: T hank you.
18
BY M R MARKS:
19
Q A n d w h o p rep ared th is docum ent, from w hat's
20
w ritten on it?
21
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : O bjection, form .
22
T H E W ITN E SS: I need to scroll dow n a little
23
b it ...
24
So the association w ho prepared this docum ent
25
is the N orthw est Iron and Steel E m ployers' L iability
P ag e 22
1
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : I apologize, I'm ju s t trying
2
to see, because I think that m ight be E xhibit 18, the
3
second page, and I ju st w ant to see have w e got the
4
sam e thing.
5
I ju st w an t to see w h at it is. L o oks like
6
the second page.
7
M R M A R K S: It is E x hibit 18.
8
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : A ll right. Second page to
9
that?
10
M R M A R K S : E rm ...
11
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : S tarts w ith -- go t it. T h an k
12
you.
13
BY M R MARKS:
14
Q Y eah, in fact, M r Jagolinzer pointed out that
15
he discussed this docum ent w ith you in January; right?
16
A Yes, I think I do recall.
17
Q Okay.
18
T his docum ent, E xhibit 2, w as found in
19
V olksw agen?
20
A It w as found at VW , yes.
21
Q A nd, generally, w hat is the docum ent?
22
A A s the headline im plies, it's about an
23
investigation about health dangers by dust in regards
24
to brake pads containing asbestos in m otor vehicle
25
repair shops.
Page 24
1
In su ra n c e A sso c ia tio n . S o it's B G .
2
BY M R MARKS:
3
Q A nd w hat relationship w as there betw een this BG
4
a n d th e V o lk sw a g e n fa c ilitie s y o u 'v e id e n tifie d ?
5
A A s stated, V W A G is a m em ber o f the BG, and B G
6
has the responsibility to assure w ork safety, not only
7
w ith VW AG, but also w ith other em ployers.
8
A nd I w ould like to correct m y statem ent: V W
9
is not a m em ber o f BG, but, as an em ployer, they are
10
obligated to m ake contributions to BG.
11
Q Okay.
12
W hat is the date o f E xhibit 2?
13
A I see a receiving stam p w hen this docum ent came
14
to VW , w hich is -- w ould you please scroll up?
15
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : T h e re 's tw o . T h e re 's tw o
16
dates, ju st so you can see.
17
B ottom left hand corner and then the top.
18
TH E W ITN ESS: D ate received is M arch 23,
19
1981, and the date that is on the bottom left corner
20
says M ay, 1980.
21
BY M R MARKS:
22
Q Okay, and w hat inform ation about asbestos and
23
potential health hazard w as the B G im parting in M ay,
24
1980, from your review o f this?
25
A C ould I have a second to take a glance at the
6 (Pages 21 to 24)
Page 25
1
docum ent, please?
2
Q Yes.
3
IN TERPRETER: C ould you scroll?
4
Thank you.
5
(Pause).
6
TH E W ITN ESS: It describes that m easurem ents
7
took place on w orkplaces w here a procedure -- a blow
8
procedure w as m ade at brake drum s.
9
A nd dust m easurem ents w ere perform ed, and the
10
proposal w as m ade for technical protection m easures,
11
and also, depending on the exposition tim e, that
12
certain m edical check up procedures are taking place.
13
But, at the sam e tim e, it is also said that,
14
at the point in tim e w hen this docum ent w as prepared,
15
that m edical check up investigations can be w aived.
16
So it w as still subject to further
17
investigation.
18
(C ourt R eporter requested clarification)
19
M R M A RKS: W e can take a break.
20
(O ff the record at 11:30 am )
21
(O n the record at 11:33 am )
22
BY M R MARKS:
23
Q W e're ju st back from a b rief break.
24
A M mm hmm.
25
Q I w ant to return to the investigation that
Page 27
1
A A VIN num ber is a specific, precise num ber.
2
It's a unique num ber issued only once for a specific
3
vehicle, and describes in short form the manufacturer,
4
the year built, and the serial num ber, am ong others.
5
Q The documents that w ere located, though,
6
focusing on those: did these go back to the 1960s,
7
1970s and 1980s?
8
A They also related to those tim efram es, 50 years
9
back, com pany history, and we found docum ents, such as
10
im porter contracts for com panies M r Clark w orked for.
11
Q For the im porters -- im porter contracts for the
12
countries where M r Clark worked?
13
A For the countries in w hich M r Clark worked.
14
Q Okay, and those contracts w ere for the
15
im porting o f vehicles by Canada, the United States, and
16
then the im porter for the C aribbean; is th at right?
17
A For the Am erican countries, VW Canada, VW USA,
18
correct.
19
Q VW Canada, VW USA, and Intercontinental
20
A m erican a?
21
A Yes.
22
Q Those were the importers for each of those
23
regions for Volkswagen vehicles?
24
A Those w ere the im porters for the vehicles in
25
the respective countries. That was m y understanding,
Page 26
1
V olksw agen did.
2
A Yes.
3
Q And focusing on the docum ents that V olksw agen
4
located.
5
A Understood.
6
Q In the search to respond to the questions that
7
M r Jagolinzer provided to V olksw agen, did V olksw agen
8
look for docum ents that m ight relate to the testim ony
9
that M r Clark gave?
10
A Could you specify that a little bit m ore?
11
Q Y ou had the opportunity to look at M r Clark's
12
testim ony about his w ork w ith cars, or around cars?
13
A Yes.
14
Q In the search for docum ents, was V olksw agen
15
able to locate any specific docum ents that specifically
16
related to cars that M r Clark talked about?
17
M R JA GOLINZER: O bjection, form.
18
TH E W ITNESS: W e searched for docum ents
19
specifically for the tim efram e M r Clark w orked on cars,
20
b ut since, unfortunately, we did n o t have any VIN
21
num bers o f the vehicles M r C lark w orked on, w e couldn't
22
specifically locate the vehicles, since we had no
23
inform ation w hat specific vehicles M r C lark w orked on.
24
BY M R MARKS:
25
Q W hat is a V IN num ber?
P a g e 28
1
yes.
2
Q A nd those im porters in those respective
3
countries, w hat relationship do they have with
4
individual dealerships?
5
A A ccording to m y understanding, those im porters
6
give guidelines to the dealerships as to how to
7
m aintain those vehicles, how the dealerships are to be
8
set up, in order to offer those V W vehicles in those
9
respective countries.
10
Q Okay.
11
So did Volksw agen AG, the Germ an company,
12
have a direct contact w ith any o f the dealerships that
13
M r C lark talked about in his testim ony?
14
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
15
TH E W ITN ESS: No, V W A G did not.
16
BY M R MARKS:
17
Q Does Volksw agen have a direct relationship with
18
any dealerships in any o f the countries outside o f
19
G erm any?
20
A No, not according to m y knowledge.
21
Q N evertheless, did V olksw agen look for docum ents
22
that m ight relate specifically to individual
23
dealerships?
24
A V W perform ed a search by nam e o f the dealers
25
M r C lark m entioned, but no docum ents were found.
7 (Pages 25 to 28)
Page 29
1
Q Y ou m entioned earlier this m orning that, for
2
m uch o f the tim e period covered by M r Jagolinzer's
3
questions, there w ere no com puters, no scanned im ages
4
o f docum ents.
5
Do you rem em ber saying that?
6
A T hat is correct. In the '50s, '60s, '70s, th at
7
technology w as not yet available.
8
Q B y the way, in your departm ent at V olksw agen,
9
w hen did you have access to the first com puter for your
10
w ork?
11
A The first personal com puter w as procured back
12
then w hen I started there. That w as 1991, an IBM PC,
13
and a black and w hite laser printer, and that w as
14
available for the entire departm ent com prised o f 20
15
people.
16
A nd the predecessor o f w hat we now know as
17
em ail w as running on the big m ainfram es.
18
Q So the docum ents that you w ere searching for -
19
th at V olksw agen w as searching for -- w ere docum ents
20
that predated the com puter technology?
21
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form.
22
THE W ITN ESS: W here the technology w as not
23
yet available.
24
BY M R MARKS:
25
Q A t V olksw agen?
Page 31
1
(Exhibit 3 m arked for identification -- displayed
2
electronically)
3
Q D o you recognize w hat this is?
4
A It describes a dual-circuit brake for a
5
passenger vehicle.
6
Q Okay.
7
W ould this be sim ilar to the type o f braking
8
system that w ould be on vehicles o f the vintage that
9
M r C lark was talking about?
10
A The m ain principle has stayed the same. Even
11
as o f today, vehicle brakes are perform ing based on
12
this system, b ut -
13
Q I'm sorry, I'm going to -- let m e interrupt.
14
INTERPRETER: Okay.
15
BY M R MARKS:
16
Q I'd like to put this in front o f the cam era,
17
and ask y ou som e questions about it.
18
If you shift a little to the left, and I will
19
hold this.
20
A M mm hmm.
21
M R M ARKS: And does that com e into the camera
22
fram e?
23
VIDEOGRAPHER: Yes.
24
THE W ITNESS: Okay.
25
M R MARKS: Okay.
P ag e 30
1
A A t VW , yes.
2
Q Y ou spoke about safety. H ow is safety
3
im portant to V olksw agen A G ?
4
A Safety has the highest priority at VW.
5
Q H ow do brakes fit into that goal?
6
A B rakes are a very safety-relevant.
7
IN T E R P R E T E R : O r h o ld o n ...
8
TH E W ITN ESS: [A nsw er continued] B rakes are
9
very im portant as to safety -- as to safety, because
10
you have to be able to m ake sure that the vehicle com es
11
to a stop w ithin a short period, or w ithin a -- that
12
the stoppage path is very short.
13
BY M R MARKS:
14
Q Okay.
15
A A nd this has to w ork, regardless o f the
16
environm ental condition, w hether it's hot, cold o r wet;
17
w hether there is road salt applied on the road or not.
18
W hether it's w inter, w hether it's sum m er, brakes have
19
to perform w ithout a question.
20
Q W e've heard som e about brakes, but w e haven't
21
really talked about w hat brakes are and how they work.
22
A T hat's true.
23
Q I'm going to show y o u w h at I've m arked for
24
purposes o f identification as E xhibit 3.
25
A Yes.
P a g e 32
1
Q So w e've heard about brakes, w e've heard about
2
disc brakes, w e've heard about -- w e've heard about
3
brakes w ith brake shoes.
4
A Correct.
5
Q P lease rem ind us w hat's the difference betw een
6
a brake pad and a brake shoe?
7
A A brake pad is a general description. Brake
8
lining is the general description.
9
The disc brake, w hich is on the upper left
10
corner, or we talk in G erm any about "brake blocks", and
11
in the right upper corner o f the picture it show s a
12
brake drum, and here we talk about brake shoes.
13
That means, w ith the drum brake, the outer
14
drum turns w ith the -- together w ith the w heel o f the
15
vehicle, and those brake shoes are having a fixed
16
connection w ith the axis [sic] o f the vehicle.
17
W ith the axis [sic] o f the vehicle.
18
Q L et m e show y o u w h at w e've also bro u g h t -- I'll
19
put this up again in ju st a m om ent -- but this is
20
m arked as identification as E xhibit 4.
21
(Exhibit 4 m arked for identification)
22
M R JA G O LIN ZER: Sorry, 3 is the board?
23
M R M A RKS: 3 is the board, yeah.
24
Q I'm handing you w hat's E xhibit 4. I f you could
25
hold th at up, and tell us w hat w e're looking at?
8 (Pages 29 to 32)
P ag e 33
1
A T hat's a typical description o f tw o brake
2
shoes, as th ey are used in vehicles as o f today, i.e.,
3
in drum brakes.
4
A s I stated before, those parts are fixed to
5
th e axis [sic] and can be m oved b y putting pressure on
6
the brake pedal.
7
Q O kay. So let m e hand you w hat's m arked as
8
E xhibit 5, a little heavier.
9
(E xhibit 5 m arked for identification)
10
A nd if you could show u s both sides?
11
A T his is a typical brake drum , as it's been
12
still in use as o f today, even less so, and this drum
13
is connected to the w heel. T hat m eans it m oves in the
14
sam e direction as the w heel does.
15
Q So, as fast as the w heel turns, Exhibit 5 turns
16
ju st as fast?
17
A Yes. They are connected by m eans o f screw s
18
w ith the w heel.
19
Q W hat is E xhibit 5 m ade of?
20
A N orm ally, it's cast iron.
21
Q A n d it's h eavy, so w e'll put it dow n fo r a
22
m om ent.
23
If w e hold up E xhibit 4 again, there are
24
m etal parts?
25
A Yes.
Page 35
1
go inside?
2
A M ay I?
3
Q Yeah.
4
(The w itness indicated)
5
A The brake shoes w ith the lining are form ing
6
part and parcel w ithin the vehicle.
7
If the brake is n o t triggered, the brake drum
8
can m ove freely from the -- so if th e brake is not
9
triggered, the brake drum can m ove freely w ithout any
10
friction.
11
Q If som eone puts their foot on the pedal, the
12
brake pedal, w hat happens?
13
A Then the brake pads are m oved, and,
14
unfortunately, I cannot show that to you.
15
A n d w ith a large force in part u p to 1,000
16
kilogram s, they are m oved against the drum .
17
Q So th e tw o shoes in th e m iddle th at you've
18
inserted, they m ove outw ards tow ards the drum ?
19
A Yes.
20
Q A n d th at's w h at stops the car?
21
A Precisely.
22
G eom etrically, th ey are designed in such a
23
w ay that the lining is on the surface o f the drum , and
24
in th at w ay can also transfer force on a large scale.
25
Q A n d you said, w hat w as the force th at is
Page 34
1
Q T he spring ju st cam e off.
2
A N ow it's back.
3
Q A nd there are non-m etal parts?
4
A Correct. The brake pads --
5
IN TE R PR E TE R : Oh, no, I'm sorry. T he brake,
6
erm ...
7
M R JAGOLINZER: Shoe.
8
TH E W ITN ESS: [A nsw er continued] -- shoes are
9
m ade by metal, and on the surface o f the brake shoes,
10
there's a lining. T his one is rivetted on.
11
BY M R MARKS:
12
Q Rivetted: it's because there are bolts that go
13
through?
14
A B olts -- rivets.
15
Q Okay.
16
So th e p art th at has th e y ello w on it, th at's
17
the part that w ears down?
18
A T hat is the brake lining.
19
Q Okay.
20
W hat is the yellow part, I'm sorry?
21
T his part here, w ith the yellow on it, w hat
22
is that called?
23
A The brake lining.
24
Q I see.
25
If I hold up E xhibit 5, w here does E xhibit 4
Page 36
1
transferred?
2
A It can be 1,000 kilogram s o f brake force that
3
can be applied, and o f course a large am ount o f heat is
4
generated in the course o f this action, for w hich the
5
brake needs to be designed.
6
Q H ow m uch heat?
7
A U p to 800 degrees centigrade.
8
Q So, in Fahrenheit, that is over 1,000 degrees
9
Fahrenheit?
10
A I w ould believe so, but, unfortunately, I
11
cannot do th e conversion --
12
Q Okay.
13
A -- in m y head right now.
14
Q So m uch hotter than w e w ould use in our ovens
15
at home?
16
A M uch, m uch warmer.
17
Q A nd if there's not the friction m aterial
18
betw een the m etal pieces -- the brake shoe and the
19
drum -- w hat w ould happen at that tem perature?
20
A I f the friction m aterial w ouldn't be there, and
21
if there w ould be contact m etal to m etal, probably the
22
w heel w ould get so hot that it w ould be w elded against
23
each other, and the w heel w ould be blocked, not turning
24
at all anym ore.
25
Q So you w ould press the brake and the car w ould
9 (Pages 33 to 36)
P a g e 37
1
no longer be able to be used, w ithout changing the
2
entire brake again?
3
A O r if it happens during driving, then the
4
vehicle becom es uncontrollable.
5
Q So w hat is th e engineering challenge -- thank
6
you, you can put that dow n -- that m ust be addressed
7
w ith the brake process?
8
A T he brake has to perform safely. T hat m eans,
9
w hen applying a certain brake force, that the vehicle
10
com es to a stop w ithin an acceptable brake distance,
11
given all the environm ental conditions I described
12
earlier, and the h eat th at is generated in the course
13
o f a braking, w hich I described earlier, has to be
14
transferred out through the entire brake system and the
15
vehicle.
16
A nd not only for one brake process, but over
17
and o v er again in th e course o f driving.
18
Q E very tim e you put y our foot on the pedal?
19
A Correct.
20
Q If w e could go back to E xhibit 3, please, and
21
I'll b e hold th is u p, so y o u ju s t sh o w ed u s th e shoes
22
and the drum.
23
W here does one put their foot to start this
24
w hole process?
25
A T hat's the b rak e pedal, and th is is w h ere the
Page 39
1
o f the m ain brake cylinder.
2
As the nam e "dual-circuit brake" implies,
3
this type o f brake is com prised o f tw o independent
4
cylinders.
5
So, if the brake is actuated, then a force or
6
pressure is applied on this m ain brake cylinder, and
7
the brake fluid that goes through those lines or hoses
8
is -- pressure is applied on them , depending on the
9
am ount o f force applied on the brake pedal, and a more
10
or less strong pressure is generated, and the brake
11
pressure is transferred to the w heel brake cylinders,
12
and by the pressure applied, also the wheel brake
13
cylinders are expanded.
14
COURT REPORTER: Expanded?
15
M R M ARKS: Extended?
16
INTERPRETER: Expanded.
17
M R MARKS: Expanded?
18
INTERPRETER: Yes.
19
THE W ITNESS: [Answer continued] W hich m eans
20
th at the lining is pressed against the shoe.
21
BY MR MARKS:
22
Q A nd that stops the car?
23
A And, by that, the vehicle comes to a stop.
24
Q Y ou m entioned the tem peratures from the
25
braking.
Page 38
1
driver w ould press the brake pedal w ith his foot.
2
Q A nd then w hat is this here?
3
A This one?
4
Q Yeah?
5
A T hat's the handbrake.
6
Q L ike an em ergency brake?
7
A A s an em ergency brake, or as a second,
8
independent brake.
9
Q Okay.
10
G oing back to the prim ary brake, then, if one
11
pushes the pedal, w h at happens next?
12
A T he brake pedal is co n n ected to a rod -- it's a
13
steel rod, so to sp eak -- an d as th e n am e im p lies, it's
14
a hydraulic brake.
15
Q W hat do y o u m ean "hydraulic"?
16
A H ydraulic m eans th at force is being transferred
17
by m eans o f a fluid.
18
Q Is that brake fluid?
19
A T hat is a brake fluid.
20
This is the so-called "m ain brake cylinder".
21
O n top o f that is a container th at contains the brake
22
fluid, and this m ain brake cylinder is filled w ith
23
brake fluid. T his also is displayed by this depiction.
24
T hat m eans the brake fluid container has tw o
25
exits, and the brake fluid then runs into the cylinders
P a g e 40
1
A Yes.
2
Q Is there any concern about the high
3
tem peratures in the brake fluid that runs through the
4
brake line?
5
A Y ou have to consider that every fluid has a
6
boiling point. So every fluid will com e to a boil at
7
som e point in tim e, and if the brake fluid w ould com e
8
to a boil, that w ould generate bubbles -- gas
9
bubbles -- and if you w ould have bubbles in th at area,
10
o r in the lines, then you cannot transfer any brake
11
force any longer.
12
T hat's w hy the entire brake system m ust be
13
designed in such a w ay that the fluid in the brake line
14
will never reach boiling point.
15
Q B ecause, if it gets too hot, the brakes could
16
fail?
17
A T hen the brakes w ould fail.
18
Q A nd the car w on't stop?
19
A Correct.
20
Q A nd that w ould be a hazard?
21
A That w ould be an extrem e hazard.
22
Q In order to address this hazard o f the high
23
tem peratures associated w ith the braking process, w hat
24
m echanism w as used to transfer this heat? H ow did the
25
engineers overcom e that challenge?
10 (Pages 37 to 40)
Page 41
1
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection.
2
M R M A RK S: In light o f the objection, let m e
3
rephrase th e question.
4
Q In the period leading up through the m id- 1980s,
5
did V olksw agen brakes use asbestos to help stop the
6
car?
7
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form .
8
Sorry, go ahead.
9
TH E W ITN ESS: A t that tim e, V W , as other car
10
m anufacturers, used brake linings that contained
11
asbestos.
12
BY M R MARKS:
13
Q So it w asn't som ething un iq u e to V olksw agen?
14
A N o . T h e e n tire in d u stry u se d it.
15
Q W hy?
16
A B ecause asbestos has very good physical and
17
chem ical properties.
18
A t this tim efram e, it w as the m aterial o f
19
choice for those friction linings.
20
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form . M ove to
21
strike. Foundation.
22
BY M R MARKS:
23
Q The docum ents that you have review ed from
24
V olksw agen, does it indicate the type o f asbestos fiber
25
used in the brakes?
Page 43
1
the vehicle to a stop. T hat m eans, if you actuate the
2
clutch pedal in a vehicle, then force is being applied
3
to the clutch, and the clutch separates engine and
4
gearbox, and once the clutch pedal is released, the
5
link is being re-established.
6
A n d , d uring th a t process, th ere's a certain
7
am ount o f friction until the engine and the gearbox
8
have the sam e am ount o f rotation -- rotation speed.
9
T hat m eans every tim e the clutch is applied,
10
th is friction process is generated as w ell.
11
Q So sim ilar high tem peratures, like you w ere
12
describing w ith the brakes?
13
A In a sim ilar w ay, yes.
14
Q A nd how did the engineers design the vehicles
15
so th a t th e -- to deal w ith th e high tem p eratu res in
16
th at part o f the car?
17
A It's th e sam e w ith the clu tch as it is w ith th e
18
brake. Y ou have to take a look at the entire system ,
19
and, as w ith the brake, a large am ount o f
20
tem p eratu re -- o f h o t tem p eratu re -- has to be
21
dissipated through the clutch system .
22
A nd also here you have to use linings -
23
friction linings -- w hich are com parable to the linings
24
o f a brake. It's a sim ilar process.
25
Q D o the docum ents indicate that there w as a
Page 42
1
A It w as chrysotile -
2
Q C hrysotile?
3
A C hrysotile asbestos.
4
IN TER PR ETER : Sorry.
5
BY M R MARKS:
6
Q T here's another part o f the car that also uses
7
a friction process; is that right?
8
A T hat is correct. T hat is the clutch.
9
Q A nd that is in the engine. Is that right?
10
A N o t in the engine. It's a connection betw een
11
the gearbox and the engine.
12
Q Okay. I did not bring that into the conference
13
room . T oo big.
14
A Okay.
15
Q B ut could you describe the process on how the
16
clutch uses friction, and why, please?
17
A Yes.
18
W ithin a vehicle, there is a transfer o f
19
force or pow er betw een the engine and the gearbox.
20
That m eans the engine generates the force to m ove
21
ahead, and the gear transfers that force into m ovem ent,
22
and, if the connection betw een engine and gearbox
23
exists, then the vehicle m oves forw ard.
24
B ut there are certainly situations w here you
25
have to disconnect th at link, i.e., if you w ant to get
P a g e 44
1
period o f tim e w hen clutches used in the cars contained
2
asbestos?
3
A Yes. In the stated period o f tim e, it w as a
4
standard in the industry also to use
5
asbestos-containing clutch facings.
6
Q A nd do the docum ents indicate the type o f
7
asbestos used?
8
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
9
TH E W ITN ESS: Yes, also chrysotile asbestos
10
w as being used there as well.
11
BY M R MARKS:
12
Q Is there high tem perature in the engine?
13
A Yes, in the engine and com bustion area, there
14
are high tem peratures being generated.
15
Q W hen you say "com bustion", w hat do you m ean?
16
A If you have a com bustion engine, the energy
17
that is being generated for the m ovem ent is generated
18
by sm all explosion in the com bustion cham bers.
19
T h a t m e a n s in th e c y lin d e rs, th e re 's a ir -
20
in th e c o m p re ss io n c y lin d e rs, th e re 's air, a n d th e n
21
fuel is being injected in addition, and this is a
22
flam m able m ixture, w hich in case o f an ignition, will
23
cause the vehicle to m ove forw ard.
24
A nd, in this process, also high tem peratures
25
are being generated.
11 (Pages 41 to 44)
Page 45
1
Q W hat is a gasket?
2
A A gasket is a technical com ponent that is being
3
used w hen you w ant to seal o ff tw o m etallic surfaces.
4
If you have a cylinder block and a cylinder
5
head, for exam ple, and if w ithin those cylinders the
6
com bustion processes take place, and w hen high pressure
7
and high tem peratures are generated in this course, you
8
have to m ake sure that the cylinder block and the
9
cylinder head are tightly connected w ithout leakage,
10
and for that you need a gasket, and in this case a
11
cylinder head gasket.
12
Q W hat happens if there is a leak w ith the gasket
13
in the engine?
14
A In a com bustion engine, you need high gas
15
pressure within the engine, and in case this connection
16
is not airtight, if gas can leak out, then you have a
17
less effective com bustion process, w hich m eans the
18
vehicle w ould not m ove forw ard as effectively as it
19
w ould be the case if it's airtight.
20
Q Okay.
21
D id som e gaskets, during som e periods in
22
V olksw agen vehicles, have asbestos in them ?
23
A Yes. In the stated tim efram e, there w ere such
24
gaskets.
25
Q W hy was that the case?
Page 47
1
fosterite is an am orphous m aterial. It's n o longer a
2
chrysolite [sic].
3
M R M A RK S: C hrysotile?
4
IN TER PR ETER : C hrysotile, yes.
5
T H E W IT N E S S : It's n o longer fibrogeneous.
6
BY M R MARKS:
7
Q I w an t to show y ou w h at I've m arked as E xhibit
8
6 before w e break. T his is B ates num ber 2554.
9
(E xhibit 6 m arked for identification -- displayed
10
electronically)
11
D r A lbers, do you recognize -
12
M R JA GOLINZER: 25?
13
M R MARKS: 2554.
14
Q D o y o u recognize E xhibit 6?
15
A Y es, it's a broch u re -
16
C O U R T R E P O R T E R : It's a w hat, sorry?
17
IN TERPRETER: A brochure.
18
M R M A RKS: Brochure.
19
CO U RT REPO RTER: Oh, thank you.
20
TH E W ITN ESS: [A nsw er continued] -
21
describing the brakes and the brake linings at V W ,
22
functionality, et cetera.
23
BY M R MARKS:
24
Q A n d th e date o f this docum ent is?
25
A January o f 1988.
Page 46
1
A A s stated before, because asbestos has
2
excellent physical and chem ical properties, and is very
3
resistant, tem perature-w ise, and w as used in areas w ith
4
high tem peratures, such as is the case w ith the
5
cylinder head gasket.
6
A nd that w as the reason w hy it w as used as a
7
sealing m aterial.
8
Q D o the docum ents that V olksw agen located
9
indicate w hat type o f asbestos w as used in the gaskets?
10
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form.
11
TH E W ITN ESS: Yes. A lso, chrysotile asbestos
12
w as being used there as well.
13
BY M R MARKS:
14
Q A nd you review ed those docum ents?
15
A Yes.
16
Q I w ant to take a break in a m om ent, but before
17
w e do, let m e ask you: do the docum ents that w ere
18
located indicate w hat happens to the brake linings that
19
contained asbestos w hen that friction process occurred,
20
the high heat generated w hen the shoe or the pad is
21
applied?
22
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form.
23
TH E W ITN ESS: Yes, the docum ents describe
24
that, in the course o f those brake process, that the
25
chrysotile asbestos is changed into fosterite, and
Page 48
1
Q A nd I don't w ant to go through the whole
2
docum ent. But, generally, w hat is this -- this w as a
3
docum ent that w as m ade to be given to custom ers?
4
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
5
TH E W ITNESS: A ccording to m y understanding,
6
it's a docum ent th at w as given to the dealers for
7
display for the customers.
8
BY M R MARKS:
9
Q Okay.
10
Just generally, w hat does the docum ent
11
describe?
12
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
13
TH E W ITN ESS: It describes the functionality
14
o f the brake; it describes w hat happens in the brake
15
process; w hat requirem ents are there for brakes; and
16
w hat tem peratures and pressures m ight occur.
17
BY M R MARKS:
18
Q A nything else?
19
A A nd it describes the difference o f lining free
20
o f asbestos versus lining containing asbestos, and
21
describes the rough differences betw een the linings
22
free o f asbestos versus containing asbestos.
23
M R MARKS: Okay.
24
Let us take a break, if we could, please, and
25
when we come back, let m e talk about that change.
12 (Pages 45 to 48)
Page 49
1
THE W ITNESS: Okay.
2
M R M ARKS: M ay we go o ff the record?
3
(O ff the record at 12:26 pm)
4
(O n the record at 12:43 pm)
5
BY M R MARKS:
6
Q D r Albers, w e're back from a b rief break, and I
7
w anted to h an d b ack to y o u E x h ib it 6.
8
A Yes.
9
Q If you could turn that around, please, for the
10
cam era view, and if we could zoom in on that
11
photograph, page 8, w hat do w e see depicted in that
12
picture?
13
M R JAGOLINZER: Objection, form.
14
THE W ITNESS: M ay I turn it around?
15
BY M R MARKS:
16
Q Yes, please.
17
IN TERPRETER: I think it disappeared.
18
TH E W ITNESS: W e see a disc brake on a dyno
19
stand, and w e see that, due to the brake process, the
20
disc -- the brake disc is gloom ing red.
21
And we m entioned earlier that tem peratures up
22
to 800 degrees centigrade m ay be generated, which m eans
23
also a brake disc m ight have this gloom ing appearance.
24
BY M R MARKS:
25
Q Okay. Thank you.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2 0 21 2 2 23 2 4 2 5
Page 51
Q A nd they w ere asbestos-free by -- certainly, by 1991, then; is th at right?
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form. TH E W ITN ESS: C ould you repeat your question, sorry? BY M R MARKS: Q W ere they asbestos-free, then, by model year 1991? M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form. TH E W ITN ESS: W e are talking about clutches; right? BY M R MARKS: Q Clutches, yeah. A Yes. Q A nd how about brakes? A The brakes w ere free o f asbestos after 1986. Q I'd like to show you w hat's m arked as E xhibit 7 to your deposition, w hich will be Bates num ber 2417. (E xhibit 7 m arked for identification -- displayed
electronically) A Okay. Q A nd that starts w ith Bates num ber 2408. A M mm hmm. Q W hat is Exhibit 7? A Exhibit 7 is an em ployee m agazine called
P ag e 50
1
So, in other w ords, red hot?
2
A V ery hot.
3
Q Okay.
4
W e've talk ed about the use o f asbestos --
5
chrysotile asbestos -- in brakes, clutches, and som e
6
gaskets.
7
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
8
THE W ITNESS: Yes.
9
BY M R MARKS:
10
Q L et me ask you: do V olksw agen cars sold in the
11
U nited States today still have asbestos in those parts?
12
A N o, those vehicles are free o f asbestos.
13
Q W hen w as asbestos -- w hen w as the last car
14
m anufactured -- V olksw agen car -- that had asbestos in
15
the brakes? W hat year?
16
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
17
THE W ITN ESS: The last com ponents containing
18
asbestos w ere the gaskets, and those ones w ere last
19
used 1992/93, and after that, the vehicles w ere free o f
20
asbestos.
21
BY M R MARKS:
22
Q W hat about w ith respect to clutches? W hen w as
23
asbestos last used in the clutches?
24
A To the best o f m y know ledge, I think the
25
clutches w ere last containing asbestos in 1988.
Page 52
1
A utoG ram m .
2
M R JA G O LIN ZER: I'm sorry, A uto w hat?
3
INTERPRETER: AutoGramm.
4
M R JAGOLINZER: Gramm?
5
INTERPRETER: Yes, with double M.
6
TH E W ITNESS: [Answer continued] From M arch,
7
1983. M arch 2.
8
BY MR MARKS:
9
Q And I wanted to direct your attention to page
10
10, and there's an article there in the left side; do
11
you see that?
12
A Yes. The headline reads, "A N ose Length
13
Ahead".
14
Q And w hat does that article refer to?
15
M R JA GOLINZER: O bjection, form.
16
TH E W ITNESS: The article describes the
17
utilization o f asbestos-free brake linings at VW.
18
BY M R MARKS:
19
Q And w hy is the article entitled "A N ose Length
20
Ahead"?
21
A It shows that V W was leading in the
22
introduction o f asbestos-free linings -- brake linings.
2 3
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection. M ove to strike.
24
Foundation.
25
13 (Pages 49 to 52)
Page 53
1
BY M R MARKS:
2
Q I'd like to -- th an k y ou -- I'd like to go back
3
and talk about the brakes.
4
A M mm hmm.
5
Q From the review o f the docum ents and the
6
inform ation available to V olksw agen, w hen did
7
V olksw agen begin looking for a replacem ent to brakes
8
that w ere using asbestos?
9
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form.
10
TH E W ITN ESS: The docum ents show ed that, in
11
the early '70s -- I believe 1971 -- th at V W started the
12
search for asbestos-free linings.
13
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form . M ove to
14
strike. Foundation and speculation.
15
BY M R MARKS:
16
Q A nd, from the sam e review o f docum ents, w hat -
17
w hy w as there a search for a replacem ent?
18
A It had a technical background. Several large
19
custom ers com plained that the lifespan o f our brake
20
linings w as not long enough.
21
So V W started to investigate to increase the
22
lifespan o f brake linings, and also researched
23
asbestos-free solutions.
24
Q The thought being that asbestos-free brakes
25
m ight last longer?
Page 55
1
corresponding brakes, w hich m eans all o f those brake
2
system s had to be aligned, and that is a trem endous
3
am ount o f testing that is necessary for that.
4
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection. M ove to strike.
5
N o foundation. N o personal know ledge.
6
Thank you.
7
M S G ODFREY: H ang on. I think that Fran has
8
been disconnected. I'm sorry.
9
Fran, are you back on?
10
Right, I guess w e need to -
11
M R M A R K S: G o o ff the record. W e'll go o ff
12
the record.
13
(O ff the record at 12:57 pm )
14
(O n the record at 12:59 pm )
15
M R M A RK S: W e had a telephone connection
16
issue, so w e w ent o ff the record briefly.
17
Q I w anted to hand you back E xhibit 4, please.
18
A Yes.
19
Q So, w hen you w ere referring a m om ent ago to
20
replacing the lining, you w ere referring to w hich
21
portion, again?
22
A The brake lining is the gray lining,
23
approxim ately o f 4 m illim eters w ide, or strong, and
24
it's o n the outer circum ference o f the shoe.
25
Q Okay.
Page 54
1
A Yes, precisely. T hat w as the starting point.
2
Q Okay.
3
Y ou told us a few m om ents ago that 1986 is
4
w hen the last m odel year vehicle had asbestos in the
5
brakes. D id I get th at right?
6
A T hat is correct.
7
Q W hy did it take from 1970 -- the early 1970s -
8
until 1986 for there to be asbestos-free brakes in the
9
cars?
10
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form.
11
TH E W ITN ESS: It is quite a huge effort
12
necessary in order to replace brake linings containing
13
asbestos, w hich w as the standard in the industry, and,
14
as I tried to describe earlier, you have to see the
15
brake as the entire system . It's -- you cannot sim ply
16
look at the lining isolated. Y ou have to align the
17
entire brake system .
18
Y ou also have to do a lot o f effort o f
19
testing on the roads. A hundred thousand o f kilom eters
20
have to be driven, and that, o f course, takes a lot o f
21
tim e.
22
If you take into consideration it w as not
23
only about one vehicle m odel -- there w ere several
24
m odels -- and, depending on the vehicle m odel, the
25
w eight, the vehicle pow er, those vehicles needed the
Page 56
1
A t the tim e in the 1970s -- thank you -- w hen
2
vehicles w ere being sold in the U nited States, w ere
3
there regulations from the U S governm ent that required
4
certain perform ances from vehicles w ith respect to
5
stopping?
6
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
7
TH E W ITN ESS: Yes, there w ere the Federal
8
M otor V ehicle Safety Standards im posing certain
9
regulations on the stoppage o f the vehicle.
10
BY M R MARKS:
11
Q This is shorthand FM V SS?
12
A Exactly.
13
Q A nd, w ithout going into the details o f the
14
specific requirem ents, w hat w ere the requirem ents
15
generally w ith respectto stopping?
16
A To explain it roughly, the FM V SS requires that,
17
w hen applying a certain pressure on the brake pedal,
18
that the vehicle m ust be stopped w hen it is at a
19
certain speed, at a certain brake distance.
2 0
T hat is ju st the rough description. I f you
21
need it elaborated, then w e w ould have to go into the
22
specific details o f that regulation.
23
Q Okay.
24
In order for a car to be sold in the U nited
25
States, then, w ould the vehicle have to com ply at least
14 (Pages 53 to 56)
P a g e 57
1
w ith that m inim um standard?
2
A It m ust com ply w ith those standards, for sure.
3
Q So, w hen V olksw agen w as looking for
4
replacem ents to its brakes for longevity, in response
5
to the custom er requests, w ould changes to the brakes,
6
then, have to com ply w ith the FM V SS standards?
7
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form .
8
TH E W ITN ESS: O f course. W hether they are
9
free o f asbestos or containing asbestos, that is
10
besides the fact, but they have to com ply w ith the
11
standards.
12
BY M R MARKS:
13
Q Okay.
14
D id the Federal M otor V ehicle Safety
15
Standards deal w ith other aspects o f safety, other than
16
brakes?
17
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form .
18
TH E W ITN ESS: Yes, there are m any other
19
standards. Y es, there are also other standards that
20
are referring to passive safety.
21
B ut everything that's safety-related is being
22
issued by the FM V SS.
23
BY M R MARKS:
24
Q T he Federal regulations in the U nited States?
25
A Correct.
P a g e 58
1
Q W ere there other safety regulations that
2
V olksw agen considered, as it looked for replacem ent
3
brakes, to m ake a longer-lasting brake?
4
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form.
5
TH E W ITN ESS: Yes. Basically, in every
6
country, the new m odel is brought to m arket. The local
7
country regulations have to be com plied w ith, and, o f
8
course, V W also has internal regulations.
9
BY M R MARKS:
10
Q D ealing w ith safety issues, like stoppage, as
11
w ell?
12
A The stoppage distance, yes.
13
Q Okay.
14
By the way, did V olksw agen itself m ake the
15
brake shoes, and the brake linings, and the clutches,
16
and the gaskets, that w ere used in the cars?
17
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form.
18
Tim efram e? D o you m ean A G ?
19
M R M A RK S: A G . V olksw agen.
20
THE W ITN ESS: The friction linings, we never
21
m anufactured ourselves, but other com ponents, such as
22
the drum s or steel parts, w ere m anufactured by V W
23
them selves.
24
The rest w as supplied by suppliers.
25
P a g e 59
1
BY M R MARKS:
2
Q H ow did the suppliers -- w hat about w ith
3
respect to gaskets?
4
A I believe the gaskets were not m anufactured by
5
us. They were procured.
6
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form. M ove to
7
strike. Speculation.
8
BY M R MARKS:
9
Q Y ou indicated that, in order to com ply w ith the
10
standards, w hether they're Federal standards in the U S,
11
standards in other countries, or internal standards to
12
V olksw agen, you m entioned testing.
13
W hat type o f testing w as done to m eet the
14
standards?
15
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form.
16
TH E W ITN ESS: O n the one hand, driving tests
17
were perform ed over m any thousands o f kilom eters, and
18
also tests on dyno stands w ere perform ed.
19
BY M R MARKS:
20
Q W hat is a dyno stand?
21
A A dyno-m eter, or dyno stand, is a stand th at is
22
stationary w ithin a production hall, and w here you can
23
sim ulate the effect o f a brake on a w heel, w hich m eans
24
a w heel is driven, and then the brakes are applied, and
25
you see w hat brake forces and w hat tem peratures are
P a g e 60
1
occurring.
2
Q In the m aterials that were requested from
3
Volksw agen, w ere there questions about Volksw agen's use
4
o f asbestos in the m anufacturing facilities, the
5
m anufacturing process?
6
M R JAGOLINZER: Objection, form.
7
TH E W ITN ESS: I believe so.
8
BY MR MARKS:
9
Q Okay.
10
In the U nited States, there is an
11
Occupational Safety and H ealth Act, OSHA.
12
In Germany, was there governm ent regulation
13
with respect to use o f asbestos in the w orkplace?
14
M R JAGOLINZER: Objection, form.
15
THE W ITNESS: Also in Germ any there are
16
regulations in term s o f w orkplace safety.
17
BY MR MARKS:
18
Q And were you asked to look for documents
19
relating to that?
20
A Yes.
21
Q And did Volkswagen find documents about that?
22
A We did find documents about that.
23
Q W hen did the Germ an regulations w ith respect to
24
asbestos and workers in factories in Germ any take
25
effect?
15 (Pages 57 to 60)
Page 61
1
A 1973.
2
Q And what do the documents that Volkswagen found
3 indicate with respect to Volkswagen's effort to comply
4 with those regulations?
5
A The documents showed that, immediately after
6 the regulation was in place and in force, that it was
7 implemented at V W s workplaces.
8
Q And how do you know that from the documents,
9 generally?
10
MR JAGOLINZER: Objection, form.
11
THE WITNESS: There are documents that are
12
related to this regulation from 1973 and demand changes
13
to take place.
14
BY MR MARKS:
15
Q We haven't talked about Wolfsburg, the factory,
16
and for those that haven't been there to see it, how
17
big a place is this?
18
A I don't know the exact square feet area, but
19
it's a huge one. You have to consider that 60,000
20
people are working there every day in Wolfsburg.
21
We produce our own energy. We have our own
22
power plant that in part also delivers energy to the
23
city o f Wolfsburg, and we, o f course, have a large
24
infrastructure that goes along with such a huge plant.
25
We have physicians that are responsible for
Page 63
1
Q And what is a foundry?
2
A It's a production facility -- you could name it
3
like that -- where metal parts are cast.
4
The metal is heated until it's fluid and the
5
fluid metal is then cast in forms in order to
6 manufacture parts, such as the brake drum is.
7
Q So melting metal?
8
A Melting o f metal.
9
Q Very hot?
10
A Melting o f steel. For that, you require quite
11
some hot temperatures.
12
Q In looking for the documents that were
13
requested from Volkswagen, did you find -- did
14
Volkswagen find documents related to use o f asbestos in
15
these other processes, like the foundry, the power
16
plant, making things like blankets, and protective
17
clothing for workers?
18
A As earlier described, in those production
19
areas, work areas where high temperatures were
20
involved, such as in the foundry or in the power plant,
21
for insulation purposes, asbestos was used as well.
22
Q Did you -- did Volkswagen find documents
23
showing any effort by Volkswagen to comply with the
24
regulations for workplace safety, as they related to
25
asbestos and dust in the workplace?
Page 62
1 the work-related safety, and we have other departments
2 located there, such as research and development, where
3 10,000 people alone are dealing with research and
4 development, and we have our own cafeterias, and we
5 make our own curry sausages, which have worldwide fame.
6
Y ou have to imagine the plant to be like an
7 own little city.
8
Q Have you ever walked from the power plant up
9 through the research facility?
10
A In my time at VW, I walked quite some miles.
11 It's -- really, it's huge.
12
Q Were there workshops at the Wolfsburg factory
13 that made things that didn't go into cars?
14
A That manufacture things that don't go into
15
cars? What are you referring to?
16
Q Like blankets, aprons?
17
A There are work materials that we are
18 manufacturing, and there's, o f course, also maintenance
19 in regards to the manufacturing o f the vehicles, that
20 requires a safe functionality o f the vehicles, and that
21 they are ready for operation.
22
And, o f course, there are a lot o f colleagues
23 dealing with that, just to keep the operation going.
24
Q Was there a foundry?
25
A There used to be a foundry.
Page 64
1
M R JA GOLINZER: O bjection, form.
2
THE W ITNESS: Yes, there are several
3
docum ents that describe how dust m easurem ents are to be
4
perform ed at the w orkplace, and when certain thresholds
5
w ere reached or exceeded, that certain m easures are to
6
be im plem ented in order to equip the workplace
7
properly.
8
BY M R MARKS:
9
Q So, as an em ployer o f people w orking with
10
asbestos, Volksw agen had obligations by the Federal
11
governm ent to take certain m easures in the workplace to
12
m easure asbestos dust, and take steps to reduce the
13
dust levels if they exceeded?
14
M R JA GOLINZER: O bjection, form.
15
THE W ITNESS: Yes, there were regulations,
16
and we alw ays strived for and did com ply with such -
17
to fulfill those regulations, and actually fulfilled
18
them .
19
BY M R MARKS:
20
Q In looking for docum ents responsive on this
21
point, did V olksw agen look in departm ents that were
22
assigned responsibility for workers' safety?
23
A W e talked to colleagues from healthcare, from
24
w ork safety, and safety chemistry.
25
Q Okay.
16 (Pages 61 to 64)
P a g e 65
1
A And also outside o f the company w ith the
2
Employers' Liability Insurance Association.
3
Q These were all departments w ithin Volkswagen,
4
and then the BGs outside o f Volkswagen, that had
5 responsibility for w orker safety?
6
M R JAGOLINZER: Objection, form.
7
THE W ITNESS: Yes, precisely.
8 BY M R MARKS:
9
Q Coming back to the BGs, were the BGs permitted
10
to come onto the prem ises to provide inspections o f the
11
workplace?
12
A Yes. W hen we talked to the B G guy, he said, if
13
the com pany is w orking 24 hours a day round the clock,
14
BG can come and check up on those workplaces at any
15
tim e w ithout any notification.
16
Q And did -- in searching for documents at
17
Volkswagen, did Volkswagen find instances o f the BG
18
perform ing inspection and testing for asbestos dust?
19
M R JAGOLINZER: Objection, form.
20
THE WITNESS: We were told by the BG that an
21
unannounced inspection was not perform ed because VW has
22
always well co-operated w ith the BG.
23
BY M R MARKS:
24
Q At some point, did Volkswagen, in Germany, put
25
warnings on anything w ith respect to asbestos materials
P a g e 67
1
parts?
2
A W e didn't find any docum ents regarding to that
3
and, as far as I recall, w e did n ot put any stickers on
4
boxes.
5
Q W hy didn't V olksw agen put a w arning on before
6
the Federal regulations required it?
7
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
8
TH E W ITNESS: Because V W was o f the opinion
9
that the asbestos-containing parts in clutches, brakes
10
and gaskets do not represent a danger.
11
M R JA G O LIN ZER: Objection, form. M ove to
12
strike. Foundation. Speculation.
13
BY M R MARKS:
14
Q And, from the docum ents and m aterials found,
15
w hat was that based upon?
16
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
17
THE W ITN ESS: That was based on docum ents
18
that investigated the dust; that vehicle com ponents
19
containing asbestos, the people working w ith such
20
vehicle com ponents, that no increased exposure was
21
im plied.
22
BY M R MARKS:
23
Q W ho was D r G rim m ?
24
A H e w as a leading m edical guy w ith the V W A G in
25
W olfsburg. H e was an engineer from his education
P age 66
1 that were going to consumers?
2
M R JAGOLINZER: Objection, form.
3
THE W ITNESS: At a certain year, and I don't
4 recall the precise year, there was a regulation to
5
label, or put a sticker on, vehicle com ponents
6 containing asbestos, and, o f course, VW complied with
7 that requirement.
8 BY M R MARKS:
9
Q That was a government requirement within
10
Germany?
11
A That was a statutory requirement.
12
Q And Volkswagen complied with that?
13
A Yes.
14
Q Before that requirem ent came into effect, or at
15
th e tim e th a t it cam e into effect, w as V olksw agen --
16
were new V olksw agen vehicles sold w ith asbestos
17
clutches, brakes, or gaskets?
18
A I believe so, because I believe it w as in '83
19
or later, and the clutches and the gaskets still
20
contained asbestos.
21
M R JAGOLINZER: Objection, form.
22
BY M R MARKS:
23
Q W ith respect to the period before the
24
government in Germany required warnings, did Volkswagen
25
place warnings on, for instance, boxes o f replacem ent
P a g e 68
1
background, but at the sam e tim e, also a physician.
2
Q Okay.
3
I w ant to show you w hat's m arked as E xhibit 8
4
to your deposition, w hich is B ates num ber 2310.
5
(E xhibit 8 m arked for identification -- displayed
6
electronically)
7
A Okay.
8
Q D o you recognize?
9
A Yes, I do. I recognize the article.
10
Q A nd w hat is E xhibit 8?
11
A It's an article.
12
IN TERPRETER: K eep on. U p to the end.
13
T H E W ITN E SS: I don't see the rest o f the
14
article yet.
15
O kay. N o w w e'v e g o t it.
16
It's an article authored b y D r G rim m , and he
17
did a study o f the studies perform ed by other
18
physicians in regards to friction linings, and he com es
19
to the conclusion th at -- and he is stating th at other
20
investigations still have to take place, but at this
21
tim e, there are no findings that show an increased risk
22
in asbestos-containing m aterials -- the usage o f
23
asbestos-containing m aterials.
24
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection. M ove to strike.
25
H earsay. Foundation.
17 (Pages 65 to 68)
Page 69
1
BY M R MARKS:
2
Q A nd w hat w as he review ing, in reaching that
3
conclusion?
4
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
5
THE W ITN ESS: He review ed various studies -
6
international studies -- w hich are also stated as a
7
reference in this article.
8
BY M R MARKS:
9
Q A nd w hat year did he publish this article?
10
A I think th at w as on the last page -- okay -
11
that it w as in a m edical journal, 12th edition, 1998.
12
Q '88 or '98?
13
A 1988.
14
Q Okay.
15
A s o f 1988, w as V olksw agen m aking new cars
16
for sale in the U nited States w ith asbestos in the
17
brakes?
18
A No.
19
Q A sbestos w as already out?
20
A W as gone from the brakes.
21
Q W hy did it take longer to get the asbestos out
22
o f the clutches, and then a few m ore years for the
23
gaskets?
24
A Because the technical fram e conditions for the
25
gaskets have high requirem ents, and the technical fram e
Page 71
1
Q A nd how m any inspectors do they have listed
2
there?
3
A I h ave to enlarge th at a little b it in o rder to
4
b e ab le to re a d it.
5
T H E W ITN E SS: [W itness interjected in
6
E n g lis h ] J u s t a s e c o n d ...
7
N o , I p u t it a w a y ...
8
BY M R MARKS:
9
Q 1,404 inspectors?
10
A 1,104. T hat's w h at it says here.
11
Q Right.
12
D uring all the m any decades leading up to
13
now , does V olksw agen m aintain that safety w as a
14
priority?
15
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form .
16
TH E W ITN ESS: It has alw ays been the highest
17
priority w ith VW .
18
BY M R MARKS:
19
Q W hy?
20
A It is our obligation to put safe vehicles on
21
the road, and, in order to reach that, w e p ut all -- in
22
all efforts to im plem ent that.
23
Q A nd the m ost im portant aspect o f vehicle safety
24
has been w hat part o f the car?
25
A A nd one o f the m ost im portant aspects, if n o t
Page 70
1
conditions first had to be fulfilled, because also the
2
cylinder head gaskets and the clutch facings are
3
safety-relevant com ponents.
4
So m ore technical effort and investigations
5
w as needed in order to find a good solution.
6
Q Thank you.
7
W ith respect to safety, did V olksw agen
8
inspect its vehicles for safety before they sold them ?
9
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form .
10
T H E W IT N E S S : Y es, th at's a reg u lar process
11
that vehicles are tested before they are out for
12
delivery.
13
BY M R MARKS:
14
Q I w a n t to sh o w y ou th is ad v ertisem en t, w h ic h is
15
m ark ed as E x h ib it 9, w hich w e'll display, b u t it show s
16
a car.
17
(E x h ib it 9 m arked for identification -- displayed
18
e le c tro n ic a lly )
19
A re you fam iliar w ith th at ad?
20
A Y es, I saw that ad before.
21
Q A nd w hat does that ad show ?
22
A T hat show s a large num ber o f safety inspectors
23
standing behind a B eetle car, and give the im pression
24
how m uch effort is m ade in o rd er to b rin g a safe
25
vehicle to the streets.
Page 72
1
the m ost im portant aspect, is the perform ance o f the
2
brake.
3
Q W hen M r C lark w as talking about vehicles that
4
he saw in his lifetim e, as a m echanic, did V olksw agen
5
believe th at those vehicles w ere safe to be used on the
6
roads?
7
A Yes, definitely so.
8
Q B ut th o se veh icles w ere fro m the '60s, the
9
'70s, and the '80s; right?
10
A That is correct, but you have to keep in m ind
11
for those tim efram es w hat regulations were in place,
12
and w hat w ere the expectations from the custom er side,
13
but also from the m anufacturer side.
14
That w as a different tim e w ith different
15
expectations.
16
B ut for the tim efram e back then, and for the
17
regulations in place back then, our vehicles w ere safe.
18
M R JA G O LIN ZER : O bjection, form.
19
BY M R MARKS:
20
Q W ith respect to the vehicles back in that tim e
21
period com pared to vehicles today, did the perform ance
22
-- w as the perform ance expectations different? Are
23
they -- are the perform ance expectations today
24
different than the vehicles driven back decades ago?
25
A A lso, the custom ers had requirem ents at the
18 (Pages 69 to 72)
P ag e 73
1
tim e. But, if you look at a Beetle vehicle from the
2
'60s, th ey d id n 't have an airbag, o r safety belts,
3
w hich back then w as not a requirem ent.
4
B ut nowadays, the consum er has different
5
requirem ents and expectations.
6
Y ou alw ays have to put it in relation to the
7
tim e period.
8
Q Do cars -- V olksw agen cars today have com puters
9
in them to help operate the safety features?
10
A Yes, they have a m ultitude o f operating
11
devices.
12
Q A nd w ere those devices even invented back in
13
the tim efram e that w e're talking about in these early
14
years?
15
A It w as not available at that tim e, not invented
16
at that tim e. There w ere no electronic com ponents in
17
the vehicles, m erely basic electric com ponents.
18
Q But, at the tim e, those w ere considered safe
19
vehicles?
20
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
21
TH E W ITN ESS: Those were safe vehicles,
22
conform ing w ith the regulations in force at that tim e.
23
BY M R MARKS:
24
Q So, even though V olksw agen w as selling cars in
25
the '60s and the '70s w ithout airbags, w ithout the
Page 75
1
BY M R MARKS:
2
Q D r A lbers, w e're back from a b rie f break and I
3
w as looking at m y notes.
4
A Okay.
5
Q A nd we were talking about the Federal
6
regulation w ith respect to w arnings and various
7
substances, and I w rote dow n th at you had w ritten --
8
that you had said 1983.
9
M ight that regulation have com e into effect
10
in Novem ber, 1993?
11
A T hat w as m y m istake. It w as '93.
12
M R MARKS: Done.
13
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : Right. W hy don't w e go off,
14
so we can switch?
15
(O ff the record at 2:38 pm)
16
(O n the record at 2:42 pm)
17
EXAM INATION:
18
B Y M R JA GOLINZER:
19
Q G ood afternoon.
20
A G ood afternoon. Same to you.
21
Q Thank you.
22
E arlier today, doctor, M r M arks referred to
23
you as a "doctor". I am referring to you as a "doctor"
24
out o f respect as well.
25
A n d y ou have no -- you're not a m edical
Page 74
1
electronic safety devices you've described, did those
2
com ply with the Federal M otor V ehicle Safety Standards
3
that w ere in play at the tim e?
4
M R JA G O LIN ZER: O bjection, form.
5
TH E W ITNESS: All vehicles on the m arket back
6
at th at tim e w ere in com pliance w ith the V M V SS [sic]
7
standards applicable at that time.
8
BY M R MARKS:
9
Q Is this effort to m aintain a priority in
10
safety -- is that consistent w ith your own experience?
11
A It is in com pliance w ith m y ow n experience.
12
R em em ber, I've been w ith V W for 28 years.
13
I've driven m y self several V W m odels. I'm currently
14
driving a V W car, and safety is still the highest
15
priority w ith VW .
16
M R M A R K S: I'd like to go o ff the record for
17
a break. I m ay have a follow up question. I'll ju st
18
look at m y notes after lunch, but otherw ise, I'll pass
19
the witness.
20
THE W ITNESS: Okay.
21
M R M ARKS: Thank you for answ ering m y
22
questions.
23
T H E W ITN ESS: Y ou're welcom e.
24
(O ff the record at 1:46 pm)
25
(O n the record at 2:37 pm)
Page 76
1
doctor; correct?
2
A T hat's correct. I'm an engineer.
3
Q C orrect, and am I correct as well, sir, that
4
you never studied m edicine and/or asbestos any tim e
5
before your em ploym ent w ith VW ?
6
A T hat is correct, yes.
7
Q A nd you have never published on the topic of
8
asbestos as w ell; correct?
9
A Correct.
10
Q Since the last tim e I had the opportunity to
11
speak to you in January, you have had the opportunity
12
to m eet w ith M r M arks and/or other law yers for
13
V olksw agen; correct?
14
A That opportunity I had, yes.
15
Q A nd could you give m e a reasonable
16
approxim ation o f how m uch tim e you've spent w ith
17
respect to this case w ith any o f the law yers involved?
18
A I w ould estim ate round about three to four w ork
19
days.
20
Q A nd, as part o f the approxim ately three to four
21
w ork days, did you have the opportunity to review your
22
tw o volum es o f deposition from last tim e?
23
A Y es, I did.
24
Q Is there anything -- I know this is a difficult
25
question, and I'm going to try and ask this ju st
19 (Pages 73 to 76)
Page 77
1
generally first -- is there anything in particular
2
about your answ ers to the questions in January that you
3
feel is incorrect or you need to correct now?
4
A No.
5
Q Thank you.
6
The board that M r M arks has designated as
7
E xhibit 3 basically show s different photographs o f
8
braking system s; correct?
9
A Yes, various or different brake com ponents o f a
10
brake system , yes.
11
Q M y o n ly question, doctor, is: did y o u create
12
that?
13
A N o, I did not.
14
Q A nd E xhibit 4 and 5 that are in front o f us
15
now , both the brake shoe and linings and drum, did you
16
procure those yourself?
17
A N o, I did n o t procure them m yself.
18
Q Do you know w here they cam e from ?
19
A They cam e from m y attorney.
20
Q W hen you say "m y attorney", do you m ean
21
M r M arks or a different law yer?
22
A I m ean M r M arks.
23
Q Okay.
24
Do you know w hat type o f vehicle that sized
25
drum and/or shoe is for?
Page 79
1
C O U R T REPO RTER : W heel axis?
2
IN TER PR ETER : Rear. Rear.
3
M R M A RK S: Rear.
4
M R JA G O LIN ZER: R ear axle; correct?
5
INTERPRETER: Yeah.
6
CO U RT REPO RTER: A xle?
7
IN TER PR ETER : A xle.
8
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : A nd, I'm sorry, I didn't hear
9
-- o f a passenger?
10
IN T E R PR E T E R : Y es. A bsolutely, sir.
11
M R JA GOLINZER: Okay.
12
Q I'm correct, doctor, th at y o u first beg an y o u r
13
career at V olksw agen in 1991; correct?
14
A T hat's correct.
15
Q A nd then you stayed in the crash test
16
departm ent until approxim ately 1998; correct?
17
A The nam e o f the departm ent w as "Vehicle
18
Safety", b ut I w as prim arily dealing w ith crash tests.
19
Q Fair enough.
20
Y ou didn't get involved in the product
21
analysis and product liability end o f V olksw agen until
22
1998; correct?
23
A T hat's correct. I changed departm ents in '98
24
into the product analysis.
25
Q A nd y o u r com m encing in the product analysis in
Page 78
1
A It's definitely fo r a V W vehicle. I w ould have
2
to analyze the part num ber in order to give you the
3
m odel year and type o f vehicle.
4
Q Fair.
5
A ctually, the brake shoe itself, or at least
6
one o f the brake shoes, indicates the follow ing
7
letters: V W A G ; correct?
8
A I w o u ld a s su m e so ...
9
Yes, there is a V W part num ber.
10
Q A nd it also indicates V W A G for V olksw agen AG;
11
correct?
12
A It's an original spare part o f VW .
13
Q Okay.
14
Just generally speaking, forgetting about the
15
m odel year, can you tell us are w e talking about a
16
passenger car the size o f a Beetle? A re w e talking
17
about a w agon? W hat general type o f vehicle?
18
A A s stated, I w ould have to analyze the part
19
num ber in order to give you further details.
20
Q Okay.
21
W ould you agree w ith me, or do you have
22
know ledge, that this is for a sm aller type o f vehicle,
23
not a larger type o f vehicle?
24
A I could im agine th at it's for the rear axis
25
[sic] o f a passenger vehicle.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2 0 21 22 23 24 25
P a g e 80
1998 w as your first tim e that w ould involve the defense o f product liability actions; correct?
A The support in product liability cases w as part o f m y resp o n sib ility starting in '98.
Q Right, and how m any years, sir, w as that after V olksw agen had stopped using asbestos in its products?
A W e said 2000 to 1992/1993, so several years, for sure.
TH E W ITN ESS: [W itness interjected in English] 199 -- 2000 is not correct. B Y M R JAGOLINZER:
Q '93? A Yeah. There are several years in between. Q Regardless, by 1998 w hen you first becam e involved in this area, V olksw agen w as not using any asbestos-containing products at that tim e; correct? A That is correct. Q Okay.
A m I correct, sir, that y ou have no personal know ledge o f V olksw agen's use o f asbestos from your tim e at V olksw agen?
M R M A RK S: O bjection, form. THE W ITN ESS: I have obtained the know ledge from the docum ents I review ed.
20 (Pages 77 to 80)
Page 81
1
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
2
Q Fair, but you have no personal know ledge
3
yourself, aside from reading docum ents, as to
4
V olksw agen's use o f asbestos; correct?
5
M R M A RKS: Form.
6
TH E W ITNESS: There was no em phasis on that
7
in m y w ork w hen I started there. That is correct. It
8
was not an em phasis o f m y work.
9
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
10
Q Sure.
11
You gained your know ledge about asbestos, and
12
V olksw agen's use o f asbestos, com m encing in 1998, from
13
review ing docum ents in order to prepare yourself to
14
assist in product liability cases; correct?
15
A W ithin the scope o f m y em ploym ent, I reviewed
16
and analyzed various docum ents; that is correct.
17
Q And that only com m enced in 1998, as it relates
18
to the defense o f cases?
19
A That began or com m enced with m y em ploym ent in
20
that new department.
21
Q Okay.
22
M r M arks previously asked you questions about
23
your role as it related to vehicle safety. Do you
24
recall those questions?
25
A I do recall.
Page 83
1
w ith determ ining w hat the com position o f the m aterial,
2
such as brakes, w ould be; correct?
3
A Y ou m ean the com position o f the friction
4
lining?
5
Q C orrect?
6
A I had nothing to do w ith that. T hat w as in the
7
scope o f the supplier. T hat are their industry
8
secrets.
9
Q W ell, they're not industry secrets as to the
10
com position o f asbestos in the brakes at any given
11
tim e; correct?
12
A N o, that is general know ledge, but the exact
13
com position o f the lining, that is the industry secret
14
o f the supplier.
15
Q Okay.
16
M y questions really pertain to your role as
17
it relates to vehicle safety had nothing to do in
18
testing the com position and its effectiveness of, say,
19
asbestos or any other com position o f the actual lining;
20
correct?
21
A T hat w as not a com ponent o f m y job, correct.
22
Q Correct. Y our role dealt w ith perform ance, and
23
safety perform ance, in term s o f stopping, and things
24
like that?
25
A Yes, about vehicle safety.
Page 82
1
Q A nd your role, as it related to vehicle safety,
2
w as involved w ith respect to an autom obile stopping,
3
the perform ance o f the vehicle, and/or crash testing;
4
correct?
5
A M y p rim ary em phasis in m y w o rk since '91 w as in
6
regards to all aspects relating to active and passive
7
safety o f a vehicle.
8
Q Okay.
9
N one o f your positions and/or jo b
10
responsibilities starting in 1991 dealt w ith safety as
11
it pertains to the use o f chem icals, and any w ork a
12
m echanic m ight have to perform on a brake or an engine
13
or a clutch o f a vehicle?
14
A W ith chem icals, I had nothing to do w ith that.
15
But, o f course, in order to prepare vehicles
16
for tests, there w as a close co-operation necessary
17
w ith the m echanics, where also brakes, et cetera, were
18
checked on.
19
Q Yes, and w hat you w ere referring to, w hen you
20
referred to brakes being checked on, are they
21
perform ing properly in term s o f the stopping distance,
22
and the wear, and the degradation; correct?
23
A It w as about that before actually perform ing a
24
test, th at the vehicle w ould perform properly.
25
Q Correct. N one o f your role had anything to do
Page 84
1
Q Y o u w e re a s k e d -- I d o n 't th in k w e n e e d to
2
rem ark this one -- b ut you w ere asked about your
3
handw ritten notes o f search term s.
4
A Yes.
5
Q A nd, from o u r last m eeting, sir, I m ade notes
6
o f certain term s th at you did n ot search for.
7
A Okay.
8
Q Since our last m eeting inJanuary, have you
9
directed a search in the corporate archives for
10
"gaskets"?
11
A Part o f our team perform ed a search for the
12
term s, but I w as not part o f that -- after my
13
deposition.
14
IN TER PR ETER : Sorry.
15
M R JA GOLINZER: Okay.
16
Q In the deposition, in the first day on
17
January 10, in response to m y questions, y ou indicated
18
that no one did a search for the w ord "gaskets" at that
19
tim e.
2 0
A re you aw are o f anybody doing such a search
21
since January?
22
A A s stated, a search w as perform ed for new and
23
additional term s, but, as I said before, I w as not a
2 4
part o f that.
25
Q Okay.
21 (Pages 81 to 84)
Page 85
1
W ere any m aterials located after the search
2
for "gaskets" since our last deposition?
3
A I did not receive any docum ents.
4
Q Do you know if any docum ents w ere located in
5
the corporate archives after searching for the w ord
6
"gaskets"?
7
A I have no know ledge o f that.
8
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : I'll ju st put on the record
9
that the search term "gaskets" w as part o f the first
10
deposition notice; I th in k it's part o f the second
11
deposition notice.
12
If such a search has been perform ed and any
13
docum ents have been located, I w ould certainly request
14
those, and I im agine w e can take that up at a different
15
tim e.
16
Q A t the last deposition as w ell, on that sam e
17
day, I asked you as to w hether or n o t anybody had done
18
a search for the w ord "clutches".
19
D o you recall that?
20
A I believe "clutches", in regards or in the
21
context w ith asbestos, a search w as perform ed, but a
22
search for "clutches" as a stand alone term w as not
23
perform ed.
24
Q H as it been perform ed since the deposition in
25
January, to your know ledge?
Page 87
1
A The search w as perform ed, as it w as w ith the
2
other docum ents, at the historic archive o f VW .
3
Q A nd does it still hold true, as it did last
4
tim e, that V W A G did nothing to ask its w holly-ow ned
5
subsidiary, V W o f Canada, to search its records about
6
M r C lark's dealers?
7
(C ourt Reporter requested clarification)
8
M R M A RK S: Form.
9
TH E W ITN ESS: I know that legal departm ent
10
w as in touch w ith V W Canada, but I do not know the
11
outcom e.
12
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
13
Q A nd do you know w hether o r not the search term
14
"gaskets; clutches", w as actually searched for since
15
our last deposition? Do you know that for a fact?
16
A A s I stated before, I have no inform ation.
17
Q Okay.
18
So you don't know w hether o r n ot those term s
19
w ere searched for, or not?
20
A Correct.
21
Q Okay.
22
D o you know -- last tim e, there w as no search
23
m ade for "com pressed air" in the corporate archives
24
and/or "grinding" in the corporate archives.
25
D o you know if that still rem ains true today?
Page 86
1
A As I responded to the earlier question, I know
2
that searches have been perform ed, but I have not
3
received new documents.
4
Q Fair enough, but do you know specifically if a
5
search w as perform ed since January that pertains to the
6
w ord "clutches"?
7
A I have no inform ation regarding that.
8
Q Y ou know that a search w as perform ed after the
9
last deposition; correct?
10
A Yes.
11
Q Can you tell m e w hat term s w ere searched for
12
since January?
13
A I know that a search w as perform ed for term s in
14
regards to dealers and w orkshops M r C lark m entioned in
15
his deposition.
16
Q A nd that w as since the January deposition;
17
correct?
18
A T hat w as after m y deposition in January.
19
Q And, as you sit here today, you do not know the
20
results o f any such search; correct?
21
A If it pertains to the workplaces where M r Clark
22
w orked at, there w ere no results.
23
Q Okay.
24
W here was that search perform ed, and how, if
25
you know?
P a g e 88
1
A I know they looked for "grinding", and there
2
were a lot o f search results that were non-related
3
because the G erm an w ord for "grinding" has also a
4
different m eaning, as a ribbon, and therefore it's not
5
relevant.
6
Q A s a ribbon, like a tied ribbon?
7
IN TERPRETER: Yes, like a ribbon w hat you put
8
on a present.
9
M R JAGOLINZER: Okay.
10
T H E W ITN E SS: A nd that's why, or that is also
11
the reason that w e alw ays added "asbestos" to the
12
search term , in order to get relevant hits.
13
B Y M R JAGOLINZER:
14
Q Fair, but you're talking about w hat w as done
15
before January, in preparation for the last part o f the
16
deposition; right?
17
A Correct.
18
Q Okay.
19
L et's ju st say, since the last deposition,
20
w as a search m ade in the corporate archives, to your
21
know ledge, w ith respect to the term "com pressed air"?
22
A I have no inform ation about that.
23
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : I don't w ant to belabor this
24
on the record. I ju st w ant to make a notation o f my
25
objection as to the scope and the breadth o f w hat the
22 (Pages 85 to 88)
Page 89
1
notice requested in the first place, in term s o f the
2
adequacy o f the search terms, so D r A lbers could be
3
able to testify.
4
B ut, okay, w e'll m ove along.
5
M R M A RK S: W ell, I'm no t going to -- I will
6
put it on the record.
7
M R JAGOLINZER: M mm hmm.
8
M R M A R K S: I have a response. I'll p u t it in
9
w riting.
10
M R JAGOLINZER: Okay.
11
M R M ARKS: B ut I do believe that V olksw agen
12
perform ed a thorough search.
13
The term s are all listed in Exhibit 1 to his
14
deposition today, and w e've produced relevant docum ents
15
that w ere located.
16
M R JA G O LIN ZER: I understand your position,
17
and I also don't w ant to w aste tim e here -
18
M R M A RKS: Right.
19
M R JA GOLINZER: -- since we all cam e over
20
h ere, b u t E x h ib it 1, j u s t lik e la st tim e, h a d n o search
21
term s as it related to "gaskets" and/or "clutches", but
22
w e can deal w ith that later.
23
M R M ARKS: Right. W e will deal with that o ff
24
the record.
25
M R JAGOLINZER: Yeah.
Page 91
1 '80s?
2
A I personally did not search for that. I cannot
3 recall at this point in time whether or not other team
4 members performed that search, and/or I don't have any
5 information about it.
6
Q As you sit here today, can you affirmatively
7 state that such a search for employees that may have
8 worked in the 1960s, '70s and '80s are no longer
9 working at Volkswagen?
10
A As stated, I don't have any information about
11 that.
12
Q Do you -- I guess I want to know: do you know
13 whether or not there is any support for your statement
14 to Mr Marks earlier that there is no one left at
15 Volkswagen who would have built and/or manufactured the
16 cars that Mr Clark worked on?
17
A Allowing the fact, if you take into
18 consideration the time period we are talking about
19 here, it's nearly impossible that people working in
20 production back in those days would still be employed
21 with VW.
2 2
Q Okay. That sounds like an assumption, Dr
23 Albers, not a fact. Is that correct?
2 4
MR MARKS: Form.
2 5
THE WITNESS: Let's put it like that:
P a g e 90
1
M R M ARKS: Yeah.
2
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
3
Q Okay. A t the last deposition, doctor, and even
4
in response to, I believe, M r M arks' questions today,
5
you referenced a team o f individuals o f V olksw agen that
6
investigated to search for the docum ents here.
7
A T hat is correct. The search for the docum ents
8
w as a team effort.
9
Q A nd the team effort that you w ere referring to
10
earlier today also includes law yers for Volksw agen;
11
correct?
12
A A lso, law yers are part o f that team, yes.
13
Q A nd also, there are other m em bers o f the
14
product analysis departm ent w ho helped in this search;
15
correct?
16
A A part from m yself, no.
17
Q Okay.
18
Y ou indicated, in an answ er to one o f
19
M r M arks' questions, that the people w ho built and
20
m anufactured the autom obiles that M r C lark w ould have
21
w orked w ith no longer w ork at Volksw agen.
22
Do you recall those questions?
23
A I do recall this, yes.
24
Q D id you undertake a search at V olksw agen to see
25
if anybody there w as w orking in the 1960s, '70s or
P a g e 92
1
considering the duration o f lifelong w ork tim e, it's
2
nearly impossible.
3
I f you are talking about the '60s, th at m eans
4
that 60 years o f working. N obody works that long in
5
G erm any.
6
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
7
Q Dr Albers, m y question w as about the 1960s,
8
1970s and 1980s; do you recall that?
9
A I do n o t recall.
10
Q Okay.
11
In the 1980s, is it your testim ony that it is
12
im possible that som eone could w ork at V olksw agen in the
13
m anufacturing in the 1980s and still be em ployed at
14
Volksw agen in some fashion?
15
A Even that I would consider not possible.
16
Q Okay.
17
W hat, if anything, did you do to check to see
18
if any people w orked at V olksw agen back in the 1980s,
19
for example?
20
A I personally did not perform any activities
21
because I also do not have access to any o f the H R data
22
o f such potential employees.
23
Q Fair enough. But, again, D r Albers, I'm asking
24
you, not as D r Albers, but as V olksw agen AG.
25
Do you understand that?
23 (Pages 89 to 92)
Page 93
1
A I understand that, and I said that I don't have
2
any inform ation as to that.
3
Q Okay. I understand that. So let m e rephrase
4
m y question.
5
Is it V olksw agen A G 's position today, on
6
A pril 8 [sic] o f 2019 -- 2019, sorry.
7
M S G O D FR EY : It's the 9th.
8
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : It's the 9th, is it? Sorry.
9
Q That there are no em ployees left at V olksw agen
10
AG, w ho w orked in any shape, form, or fashion, for
11
V olksw agen in the 1980s?
12
M R M A RK S: Form.
13
TH E W ITNESS: I have no inform ation about
14
that.
15
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
16
Q Okay.
17
So then it is no t V olksw agen's position that
18
there are no individuals w orking at V olksw agen from the
19
1980s still in em ploym ent?
20
A I did n o t quite u n d erstand y o u r question, sir.
21
Q Sure.
22
N othing was done by V olksw agen to check to
23
see if anybody still em ployed b y V olksw agen w as in the
24
em ploym ent o f V olksw agen back in the 1980s?
25
A A s I said that before, I don't have any
Page 95
1
Q A nd, by the way, is it true you still haven't
2
read M r C lark's depositions?
3
A I saw excerpts o f his deposition.
4
Q A gain, is it still true th at you did n ot read
5
M r C lark's depositions?
6
A A s stated, I read excerpts, n ot the full
7
deposition, and in regards to M r C lark's w ork history,
8
I think the sum m ary I read is sufficient.
9
Q O kay. A ll right.
10
D r A lbers, we already established this last
11
tim e: w hat you w ere given w as D r Feingold's expert
12
defense report th at quotes certain parts o f M r C lark's
13
deposition that D r Feingold thought w as relevant;
14
correct?
15
A T hose are references from M r Feingold's report,
16
and I don't have any doubts, or reason for doubts, that
17
the w ork life sum m arized there -- the w ork life o f
18
M r C lark -- is reflected in an incorrect w ay.
19
Q D r A lbers, do you have any inform ation
20
w hatsoever ho w com plete or incom plete D r F eingold's
21
excerpts are?
22
A I f I can recall correctly, M r C lark's w ork
23
history w as listed chronologically in a quite com plete
24
fashion.
25
Q D r A lbers, how can you say it is a com plete
Page 94
1
inform ation.
2
Q So you cannot sit here and say that every
3
single person w ho m ay have been involved in the
4
building or m anufacture o f any o f the cars M r Clark
5
worked on?
6
M R M A RKS: Form.
7
T H E W ITN ESS: And, as I said, I don't have
8
any inform ation about that and, m oreover, I don't know
9
w hat vehicles M r C lark w orked on.
10
W e did no t get any V IN num bers. W e don't
11
know in detail w hat vehicles M r Clark w orked on.
12
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
13
Q O kay. Let's ju m p to this.
14
You understand that M r Clark was a Volksw agen
15
certified m echanic for various dealerships; right?
16
M R M A RKS: Form.
17
THE W ITNESS: I know that M r Clark worked for
18
V W dealers and also obtained various certificates.
19
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
20
Q And you understand that M r Clark w orked for
21
these various V olksw agen dealerships in the 1960s and
22
1970s?
23
A Yes.
24
Q As well as in the beginning o f 1980?
25
A Yes.
Page 96
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2 0 21 2 2 2 3 24 2 5
fashion if you h aven't read M r C lark's deposition? A I'm assum ing that D r Feingold, being an expert
w itness, m ade a correct statem ent about M r C lark's w ork history.
Q Okay. So you're m aking an assum ption about Dr Feingold; correct?
A Y es. I h a v e n o re a so n to d o u b t it. Q Have you ever m et D r Feingold? A Personally, no. Q Okay. Im personally? A ny other way? A I read his report. Q Okay, and you understand that D r Feingold was hired by V olksw agen to defend itself in this case; right? A M r Feingold -- or D r Feingold -- w as hired in this product liability case as an expert. Q As an expert hired by V olksw agen; correct? A H e is an expert o f -- on b eh alf o f V W A G , yes. Q A nd you understand that V W paid D r Feingold to w rite that report; right? A H e w as nam ed as an expert in this case, and o f course he gets a rem uneration for his service. Q H e's n o t a treating doctor, w hich is o f D r Clark; correct?
M R M ARKS: Form, foundation.
24 (Pages 93 to 96)
P a g e 97
1
T H E W ITN E SS: I don't know .
2
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
3
Q Okay.
4
Y ou understand that D r Feingold certainly has
5
an interest th at is n o t aligned w ith M r C lark's in this
6
case; correct?
7
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
8
T H E W ITN E SS: I don't know that.
9
But, once again -- but, again, the w ork
10
history, as sum m arized by D r F eingold -- the w ork
11
history o f M r Clark, I have no reason to doubt that it
12
w as reflected incorrectly [sic].
13
C O U R T REPO RTER : R eflected incorrectly?
14
INTERPRETER: M m m hmm.
15
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
16
Q A n d w hat reason do y ou have to believe th at all
17
o f M r C lark's w ork history is in D r Feingold's report?
18
A I w ould have to review the reports, since it
19
has been a w hile, but, from m em ory, the chronological
20
d ata th at the m ain points o r stations o f M r C lark's
21
w ork life are reflected there.
22
Q Isn't the m ost accurate inform ation about w here
23
M r C lark w orked in M r C lark's actual deposition, rather
24
th an som ebody else's sum m ary o f M r C lark's w ork
25
history?
P a g e 99
1
correctly the statem ents from the depositions.
2
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
3
Q Okay.
4
W ere you aw are that D r Feingold has m ade m ore
5
than $37 m illion since 1992 doing such w ork?
6
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
7
T H E W ITN ESS: I don't know that, no.
8
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
9
Q Is that an im portant consideration for you in
10
determ ining w h eth er or not y ou th in k that he is
11
objective?
12
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
13
THE W ITNESS: Y ou m ean that he earned a lot
14
o f money?
15
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
16
Q No. T hat he earned a lot -- he earned over
17
$37 m illion for testifying exclusively on b eh alf of
18
com panies that m ade asbestos products, not victim s?
19
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
20
T H E W IT N E SS: It's not m y jo b to ju d g e that.
21
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
22
Q Okay, but yet you w ould rather look at the
23
sum m ary that D r Feingold did, rather than go to the
24
actual deposition o f M r Clark?
25
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
Page 98
1
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
2
THE W ITN ESS: I think, for the search o f
3
docum ents we perform ed at VW , the w ork history o f
4
M r C lark is fully sufficient.
5
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
6
Q T hat didn't answ er m y question, D r A lbers.
7
M y question is: isn't the best source o f
8
w here M r C lark w orked to be found in M r C lark's
9
deposition, not in a paid expert's sum m ary o f that?
10
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
11
TH E W ITN E SS: A s stated, I have no doubt that
12
M r F eingold reflected M r C lark's w o rk history
13
correctly, and that these -- this data w as sufficient
14
for the search perform ed by us.
15
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
16
Q W e're going to finish up th is topic.
17
I ju s t w an t to confirm you've nev er m et or
18
spoken w ith D r Feingold; correct?
19
A That is correct.
20
Q A nd w ere you aw are that D r Feingold, since
21
1992, has testified exclusively for com panies defending
22
them selves in asbestos litigation?
23
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
24
T H E W IT N E S S : I'm n o t aw are o f that.
25
H ow ever, I still believe that he reflected
P age 100
1
THE W ITN ESS: A gain, the w ork history of
2
M r C lark that is reflected in that report, I have no
3
reason to put that in doubt.
4
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
5
Q Okay.
6
Y ou m entioned som ething, doctor, w ith
7
M r M arks as it related to w hat we call a "V IN num ber".
8
Do you rem em ber that?
9
A I do recall.
10
Q T hat stands for V ehicle Identification N um ber;
11
correct?
12
A Correct.
13
Q Okay, and does it m atter w hat the V IN num ber
14
w as for, let m e say, for exam ple, a 1972 B eetle, in
15
term s o f w hether or not it had an asbestos-containing
16
com ponent?
17
A T here's no question that the 1970 B eetle did in
18
fact contain asbestos-containing brake linings.
19
But, in order to get targeted vehicle
20
inform ation, w hat m odel year, w hat equipm ent, a VIN
21
num ber proves to be very helpful.
22
Q B ut it's not helpful at all w hether o r not to
23
determ ine if M r C lark w orked w ith asbestos-containing
24
parts from VW ; correct?
25
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
25 (Pages 97 to 100)
Page 101
1
THE WITNESS: A s stated before, the brake
2
linings o f that time contained asbestos.
3
But, in order to obtain more and more
4 detailed information about the vehicle, you would need
5 the VIN.
6
The general information, we provided you with
7 that, and the brakes, and the linings from the parts at
8 that time contained asbestos.
9 BY MR JAGOLINZER:
10
Q And that would be true also for all o f the
11
clutches during the timeframe Mr Clark worked on VWs;
12
correct?
13
A That is also for the timeframe in question in
14
regards to the clutches.
15
Q And that would also be the same issue as it
16
relates to Mr Clark as it relates to gaskets; correct?
17
A It also applies to certain gaskets.
18
Q Sure.
19
By the way, there's more than just head
20
gaskets -- cylinder head gaskets that contained
21
asbestos during that timeframe; correct?
22
A Other gaskets in the high temperature range may
23
also contain asbestos, yes.
24
Q For example, gaskets in the muffler system?
25
A And in the exhaust system. Gaskets in the
Page 103
1
Maybe some o f them were from M exico or other
2 locations.
3
Again, based on the VIN number, we would know
4 more.
5 BY MR JAGOLINZER:
6
Q Okay. Let's break that down.
7
Any o f the automobiles that Mr Clark would
8 have worked with in Canada: who were the manufacturers
9 o f the Volkswagen automobiles?
10
A As stated, without having the precise knowledge
11
about those vehicles, VWAG -- maybe it was for let
12
[sic].
13
THE WITNESS: [Witness interjected in
14
English] Westmoreland.
15
INTERPRETER: Westmoreland, I'm sorry.
16
MR JAGOLINZER: I was talking about Canada.
17
(Court Reporter requested repetition)
18
BY MR JAGOLINZER:
19
Q What years do you believe Mr Clark would have
20
worked in Canada with VW vehicles?
21
MR MARKS: Form, foundation.
22
THE WITNESS: I don't have the years in the
23
top o f m y head.
24
BY MR JAGOLINZER:
25
Q The Westmoreland plant was in Pennsylvania;
Page 102
1 exhaust system.
2
Q I'm not sure whether you mentioned
3 transmissions, or transmission bands today?
4
A What do you mean with that?
5
Q Okay.
6
With respect to the automatic transmissions
7 in an automatic drive vehicle -
8
A Mmm hmm?
9
Q -- are you aware o f whether or not there were
10
any asbestos-containing components in the automatic
11
transmission system?
12
A It would be helpful if you could identify the
13
vehicles in question?
14
Q Are you familiar with any asbestos-containing
15
products in any VW automobile that had an automatic
16
transmission system?
17
A Again, please?
18
Q I'll come back to it. Okay.
19
So we are clear, all o f the vehicles, from
20
your knowledge, that Mr Clark would have worked on, no
21
matter where he worked on them, would have been
22
manufactured by VWAG; correct?
23
MR MARKS: Form, foundation.
24
THE WITNESS: I cannot say that with
25
certainty.
Page 104
1 correct?
2
A Correct.
3
Q It didn't start until 1978; isn't that correct?
4
A 1978.
5
Q So, if Mr Clark worked in Canada prior to 1978,
6 who is the manufacturer o f those vehicles?
7
MR MARKS: Form, foundation.
8
THE WITNESS: Presumably, VWAG.
9 BY MR JAGOLINZER:
10
Q Volkswagen AG, which has been produced in this
11 case, has certain importer agreements with both VW o f
12 Canada, VW o f America, as well as VW Central America -
13 is that?
14
I'll get back to that.
15
A Yes, that's my knowledge as well.
16
Q Okay.
17
And VW, under those importer agreements, is
18 classified as the -- I'm sorry, VWAG, in those importer
19 agreements, is classified as the manufacturer; isn't
20 that correct?
21
A I would have to review the document again, but
22 I'm assuming that is true.
23
Q Does VWAG believe that the Volkswagens that are
24 used in Canada and/or the United States are VWAG's
25 products?
26 (Pages 101 to 104)
Page 105
1
M R M A RK S: Form .
2
TH E W ITN ESS: Yes.
3
B Y M R JA G O LIN ZER:
4
Q A nd you w ould agree that V W A G takes
5
responsibility for the products that it exports to the
6
various countries?
7
M R M A RK S: Form .
8
T H E W ITN E SS: V W takes responsibilities that
9
vehicles are built based on the applicable regulations
10
and statutory requirem ents.
11
B Y M R JA G O LIN ZER:
12
Q A n d w hose p ro d u ct is it, ultim ately?
13
M R M A RK S: Form .
14
TH E W ITN ESS: The vehicles are product o f
15
VWAG.
16
M R JA G O LIN ZER: T hank you.
17
Can w e go o ff the record?
18
(O ff the record at 3:46 pm )
19
(O n the record at 4:05 pm )
20
B Y M R JA G O LIN ZER:
21
Q A ll right, doctor, w e're going to ju m p to a
22
different topic now.
23
A Okay.
24
Q D r A lbers, am I correct that you personally did
25
not search, or request a search to be m ade, to
Page 107
1
w holly-ow ned subsidiaries o f VW A G ; correct?
2
M R M A RK S: Form.
3
THE W ITNESS: In regards to V W Canada, yes,
4
and V W A m ericana -
5
M R JA G O LIN ZER: Interam ericana.
6
TH E W ITN ESS: -- Interam ericana, those w ere
7
im porters o f V W A G products.
8
B ut w hether their legal status w as a
9
subsidiary, I'm unable to confirm .
10
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
11
Q A nd you're referring to the interam ericana;
12
correct?
13
A Yes, Interam ericana.
14
Q Okay.
15
Certainly, w ith respect to V W o f Canada, V W A G
16
has the right to request docum ents directly from V W o f
17
Canada; correct?
18
A V W A G m ay certainly request V W Canada for
19
docum ents.
20
Q And, w ith respect to the prior deposition, I
21
know you had not taken any steps to speak to A ribert
22
K olm s -- K -O -L-M -S -- correct?
23
A A ribert K olm s. I'm n o t even sure i f he is
24
still alive. I d o n 't know w here he is at, if he is
25
still alive.
Page 106
1
V olksw agen A G 's subsidiaries, V W C anada or V W
2
Interam ericana?
3
A W e perform ed a search in the historical archive
4
and found docum ents and produced these docum ents.
5
Q Y es, sir, I understand that.
6
I'm referring w ith respect to asking the US
7
-- I'm sorry, asking the V W A G subsidiary itself, V W
8
C anada and V W Interam ericana, for docum ents.
9
M R M A RK S: Form.
10
TH E W ITN ESS: Legal departm ent w as in touch
11
w ith V W Canada; and V W Interam ericana, I'm not quite
12
sure if they are still in existence in this form, as o f
13
today.
14
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
15
Q Regardless, you have not been provided w ith
16
docum ents, or seen docum ents, that cam e from V W o f
17
C anada or V W Interam ericana as it relates to the
18
dealers that M r C lark w orked at; correct?
19
M R M A RK S: Form.
20
THE W ITN ESS: A part from the docum ents that I
21
found in the historic archives, I have not found any
22
other docum ents.
23
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
24
Q A nd I am correct, sir, th at V W o f C anada and V W
25
Interam ericana, w hen it did exist, w ere 100 per cent
Page 108
1
Q Okay.
2
First off, I think we established last tim e
3
M r K olm s, if he is still alive, w ould be getting a
4
pension from VW AG; correct?
5
A V W A G m ay certainly have the necessary data, but
6
I do not have this data.
7
Q Understood, but you understand, doctor, you are
8
here speaking on behalf o f the entire com pany, not ju st
9
yourself; correct?
10
A T hat is correct. T hat is correct, but I do not
11
have any further inform ation about M r A ribert Kolms.
12
Q A nd then I'd also be correct, then, you haven't
13
spoken to M r K olm s, if is he alive, since our last
14
deposition; correct?
15
A That is correct.
16
Q Okay.
17
And, in response to M r -- som e o f M r M arks'
18
questions, you w ere talking about w hat w e will call the
19
"BGs"; correct?
20
A A bout the Em ployers' Liability Insurance
21
C om pany [sic].
22
IN TERPRETER: Association, sorry.
23
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
24
Q Is that a governm ental agency?
25
A It's no t a governm ent agency, b u t it's a
27 (Pages 105 to 108)
Page 109
1
carrier o f public law.
2
The Em ployers' L iability Insurance
3
A ssociation cannot enact any laws, but they can m ake
4
proposals, w hich then will be im plem ented
5
correspondingly by governm ent agencies.
6
Q B ut it is a public carrier, or a public entity;
7
correct?
8
A From m y point o f know ledge, it's a public law
9
entity.
10
Q Okay.
11
A nd last tim e we met, you indicated you spoke
12
to an individual at the BG; correct?
13
A Yes, w ith one o f the m anagem ent people o f the
14
B G in H anover.
15
Q A s y ou sit here today, sir, do y ou still refuse
16
to tell m e the nam e o f the individual for the
17
m anagem ent o f this public entity in H anover?
18
M R M A RK S: L et m e interject.
19
I've been advised by G erm an counsel th at
20
privacy law s in G erm any and the EU prohibit disclosure
21
o f personal inform ation, and do not w ish to subject D r
22
A lbers or m yself to a violation o f that.
23
I'm happy to m eet and co n fer o n th at further,
24
but, on that basis, I'm going to instruct him not to
25
disclose the identity o f any individuals by name.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 2 0 21 22 23 24 25
Page 111
M R M A RK S: W ell, he's going to follow my instruction.
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : D o y o u understand w h at I'm getting at?
M R M A RK S: I'm his attorney here today. M R JAGOLINZER: Yeah. M R M A RK S: B ut it's based upon the advice o f G erm an counsel, and so w hether he can, he w ill not. I understand your position - M R JA GOLINZER: Yes. M R M A RK S: -- and w e can take that up separately. M R JA G O LIN ZER : Right. W e'll get to that later, an d I'll ju st clear it on th e record: th e reason w hy I'm follow ing up is, now w e've m ade it clear that it is a public entity, and I don't think there could possibly be an y privacy law s, but you're right; w e'll deal w ith it later. M R M A RK S: I understand your position. M R JAGOLINZER: Yeah. Q D r A lbers, you indicated, in response to M r M arks' questions, that the B G w as responsible for the safety o f the w orkplace. Do you recall that? A I believe I specified a little bit m ore
P age 110
1
B ut he m ay respond by telling a title, but
2
anything that w ould be personally identifying,
3
I understand to be not perm itted.
4
THE W ITN ESS: U nderstood.
5
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
6
Q So m y question still stands: do y ou still
7
refuse to tell us the nam e of the m anagem ent person in
8
the H anover office o f the BG , w hich you've now told us
9
is a public entity?
10
M R M A RK S: U pon the advice o f counsel, I
11
w ould ask him not to reveal the name.
12
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
13
Q So I ju st need an answ er. Y ou're not going to
14
tell us the name; correct?
15
A A ccording to m y know ledge, I w ould violate
16
G erm an law, and therefore I cannot reveal the nam e.
17
Q Right, and is your know ledge based on anything
18
other than w hat M r M arks has ju st said?
19
M R M A RK S: L et m e ju st -- please, counsel, if
20
I might: it's based upon the advice o f G erm an counsel,
21
a n d h e 's ta k in g th e d ire c tio n o f th a t c o u n sel. S o ...
22
M R JA G O LIN ZER: Right. I w as trying to
23
figure out if he w as going to follow your instruction,
24
but his answ er back w as it w as som e other thing.
25
T hat's w hat I w as trying to get at.
P ag e 112
1
afterw ards.
2
It's the BG 's obligation to check w hether the
3
workplaces are safe. The safety o f the w orkplace is in
4
the responsibility o f the
em ployer.
5
Q Great. Thank you. I ju st needed to clarify
6
that. Thank you.
7
D r Albers, I'll tell you w e're going to get a
8
little bit m ore into the BG and the relationship with
9
V olksw agen, I think, tom orrow when we get back to some
10
docum ents. So I'm going to m ove o ff o f that; okay?
11
A Okay.
12
Q So I w ant to hand you w hat M r M arks was
13
review ing with you earlier that w e said was Bates
14
stam ped 99, and this one doesn't have the Bates stamp
15
99 on the bottom , b u t I'll represent it is 99.
16
A There is nothing on this page indicating a
17
Bates stamp.
18
M R M A RKS: It's E xhibit 2.
19
(Exhibit 2, previously m arked, show n to w itness)
20
(B rief discussion betw een counsel about the exhibit)
21
M R JA GOLINZER: Let m e do this, and m aybe
22
I'll m ake it easier.
23
Q This particular docum ent, D r Albers, was m arked
24
in first deposition as m y P laintiffs 18.
25
The first page, you'll see the Bates stamp
28 (Pages 109 to 112)
Page 113
1
num ber is 99 on the bottom ; correct?
2
A Correct.
3
Q The follow ing page, that M r M arks showed you on
4
his com puter, is the next page in your pile, and that
5
is Bates 99, and is that the docum ent that M r M arks was
6
show ing you earlier and asking you questions on his
7
com puter?
8
A It seems to be the docum ent.
9
Q Right. This is w here w e had the conversation
10
that it w as received by V olksw agen in M arch 23 o f 1981;
11
correct?
12
A Correct.
13
Q A nd that the docum ent m ay h ave been created in
14
M ay o f 1980 at the bottom ; correct?
15
A Yes, correct.
16
Q Okay.
17
I
ju st w ant to follow up on a couple o f
18
questions, follow ing on M r M arks' questions.
19
A Okay.
20
Q In the second colum n, under w hat is paragraph
21
n u m b er 8; do y o u see that?
22
A Yes.
23
Q Does it say that, when blow ing out brake drums,
24
linings -- well, I'm sorry, lim its for asbestos
25
containing dust are exceeded for a short tim e in the
Page 115
1
clearly has a fibro-genic and a carcinogenic effect?
2
Fibro-genic and carcinogenic?
3
A It is stated here w ithout really specifying
4
w h a t ty p e o f lin in g , b u t it's sta te d h ere.
5
Q Correct.
6
A W ithout elaboration.
7
Q Okay.
8
T hat is som ething V olksw agen certainly
9
received in 1981; correct?
10
A T h a t's w h a t th e re c e iv in g s ta m p im p lie s , so I 'm
11
assum ing so.
12
Q R ig h t, a n d a ls o I 'm a s s u m in g so, sin c e it w a s
13
produced to m e from V olksw agen from th eir files.
14
Is th at fair?
15
A I w ould assum e so, too.
16
Q Okay.
17
A nd carcinogenic, you understand that to mean
18
it can cause cancer; correct?
19
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
20
T H E W IT N E S S : I'm n o t a m e d ic a l g u y , b u t
21
"carcinogenic", yes, that w ould im ply causing cancer.
22
B Y M R JA G O LIN ZER:
23
Q A nd "fibro-genic" w ould im ply causes fibrosis,
24
you w ould agree; correct?
25
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
Page 114
1
w orkplace?
2
A C o rre c t, b u t it's p u t in to re la tio n th a t a t th e
3
4
However, at the w ork environm ent, it is
5
c e rta in ly -- it's le ft b e lo w th e th re sh o ld .
6
Q Right.
7
I t d o e s n o t -- th is d o c u m e n t d o e s n 't say
8
w hich particular w ork spaces it is referring to in
9
either part o f that; correct?
10
A There are no geom etrical data provided, or
11
anything.
12
Q R ig h t. I t d o e s n 't sh o w , fo r e x am p le, w h e th e r
13
there is air reduction suction devices there, for
14
exam ple?
15
A T hat is not reflected here, correct.
16
Q Right.
17
B ut w hat it does show, that the lim its for
18
asbestos-containing dust are exceeded w hen blow ing out
19
brake drums; correct?
20
A For a short period o f tim e w ithin the w ork
21
space.
22
Q Right.
23
T hen if you ju m p to paragraph 10, does this
24
docum ent, that V olksw agen received in M arch o f 1981,
25
indicate that the dust from w orking on brake facings
Page 116
1
THE W ITN ESS: "Fibro-genic" to me has
2
so m e th in g to d o w ith fib er. S o I d o n 't k n o w w h e th e r
3
th a t's th e c ase o r n ot.
4
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
5
Q Fair enough.
6
So you notice that, w hen V olksw agen produced
7
this docum ent to me, they m arked it "Confidential".
8
Do you see that on the very bottom ?
9
A W here do you see that?
10
Q A t the very bottom o f the page? M aybe yours
11
d o e s n 't. I d o n 't kn o w .
12
M ay I see?
13
(D ocum ent handed to Counsel)
14
O kay. Y o u rs d o e s n 't sa y it. T he firs t pag e
15
sa y s it, b u t ...
16
Fair enough. Let m e ju st ask you this, then:
17
there is nothing confidential in this docum ent, you
18
w ould agree w ith me; right?
19
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
20
TH E W ITN ESS: A ccording to w hat m y belief, it
21
w as provided by the BG, and, yes, it is from the BG,
22
a n d th e re 's n o th in g c o n fid e n tia l in it.
23
M R M A R K S : A n d I 'll ju s t sta te f o r th e re c o rd
24
that the designation o f confidentiality has to do w ith
25
the G D PR and, upon advice o f G erm an counsel, the
29 (Pages 113 to 116)
Page 117
1
repercussions for potentially, or even inadvertently,
2
disclosing protected data under the G D P R is
3
significant.
4
So the docum ents, because they w ere produced
5
in A m erican litigation in the form that they w ere found
6
in Germ an, we w ere uncertain as to w hich term s, i f any,
7
w ould be subject to that.
8
So, ou t o f an abundance o f caution, all
9
docum ents were labeled "Confidential", and w e have a
10
stipulation in place to deal w ith any docum ent that
11
is -- anyone feels should n o t be subject to that, and a
12
procedure to handle it.
13
M R JA G O LIN ZER: I understand that, and we
14
have been discussing that, M r M arks, and thank you, and
15
it's the Plaintiffs' position th at V W A G certainly
16
w aived any o f the confidentiality o f these docum ents by
17
n o t follow ing the protective order th at w as in place in
18
the first place.
19
But, regardless, I was ju st trying to
20
establish th at this particular docum ent -- this is
21
sim ply ju st an article from the BG; right?
22
TH E W ITN ESS: I did not quite understand the
23
first part o f your statement.
24
But, from m y understanding, nam es were
25
redacted based on the GDPR.
Page 119
1 their employees.
2 BY MR JAGOLINZER:
3
Q Well, doctor, you'd agree with me that any of
4 the dealers in Canada or the United States would not be
5 members of the BG; correct?
6
MR MARKS: Form, foundation.
7
THE WITNESS: Not of the BG, but I heard of
8 OSHA, that they would have to be members of OSHA, which
9 in turn would make them obligated to provide safe
10 workplaces.
11 BY MR JAGOLINZER:
12
Q Sir, are you familiar, and do you hold yourself
13 out to be an expert in what OSHA requires and does not
14 require?
15
MR MARKS: Form, foundation.
16
THE WITNESS: As I said, I'm not an expert,
17 but, according to my knowledge, OSHA is an organization
18 similar to BG.
19 BY MR JAGOLINZER:
20
Q Have you seen anything with respect to OSHA
21 where they were put on notice that the blowing out of
22 brake drums with asbestos exceeds acceptable limits?
23
A I don't know such documents from OSHA. They
24 certainly would not show up at VWAG.
25
Q Right.
Page 118
1
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
2
Q Right, and, as it stands now, you w ould agree
3
w ith m e there's nothing confidential if nam es have been
4
redacted, even if under the G D PR?
5
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
6
T H E W ITN E SS: It's an article o f the BG.
7
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
8
Q Yeah.
9
A A nd I don't even see a stam p "C onfidential" on
10
it.
11
Q I understand that.
12
A ll the docum ents, I'll rep resen t to y o u th at
13
w ere produced to m e, m ine says "C onfidential", but it's
14
fine. It doesn't m atter.
15
D r A lbers, w ould you agree w ith me that
16
V olksw agen A G at no point in tim e advised any o f its
17
dealers, or any V W certified m echanics, or ow ners o f
18
vehicles, that lim its o f asbestos-containing dust can
19
be exceeded w hen blow ing out brake drum s?
20
M R M A RK S: Form .
21
TH E W ITN ESS: A t least, I did not find any
22
docum ents o f such nature.
23
But, again, dealers are independent
24
operations that norm ally w ould also be a m em ber o f the
25
BG, and hence obligated to provide safe w orkplaces to
P age 120
1
So we do know that Volkswagen AG did get
2 notice from the BG in 1981 that the blow out o f drums
3 exceeded acceptable levels; right?
4
A For a short period o f time.
5
Q Okay.
6
The question then becomes is that: it is also
7 correct that Volkswagen AG did not take that
8 information and provide it to any o f the individuals
9 who were expected to work with the Volkswagen products;
10 correct?
11
A Again, please?
12
Q Yes. We'll start over.
1 3
Volkswagen, in 1981, knew that, when blowing
14 out brake drums, limits o f asbestos-containing dust are
15 exceeded for a short time, and, with this information,
16 they did not pass that along to VW o f America, for
17 example, as well as VW o f Canada, or any VW certified
18 mechanic; correct?
19
MR MARKS: Form.
20
Objection, form.
21
THE WITNESS: The forwarding o f the article,
22 I don't know whether that happened.
23
But VWAG, as an employer, it's their
2 4 responsibility to meet statutory requirements as to the
2 5 dust measuring, et cetera, and to fulfill those
30 (Pages 117 to 120)
Page 121
1
statutory standards.
2
I don't know if it makes any sense to forward
3
that article.
4
BY MR JAGOLINZER:
5
Q Okay.
6
Was information about blowing out o f brake
7
drums, and that it would -- and that it could exceed
8
limits o f exposure to asbestos, ever put in any VW
9
manuals?
10
MR MARKS: Form.
11
THE WITNESS: As stated, it doesn't say here
12
where and in what way those works were performed, and
13
whether that was applicable at all for VW repair shops.
14
BY MR JAGOLINZER:
15
Q Did VW AG at any point in time advise in its
16
manuals that compressed air should not be used when
17
blowing out brake drums?
18
A I'm not aware o f any such warnings in the
19
workshop manuals.
20
Q And is it similarly true, sir, that you're not
21
aware o f any such warnings in any Volkswagen
22
promotional or other material that would have been
23
handed out?
24
MR MARKS: Form.
25
THE WITNESS: At least, w e did not find any
Page 123
1
Q Okay, and would you agree that Volkswagen AG
2
certainly had highly qualified technical engineers
3
going back into the 1940s as well?
4
M R M ARKS: Form.
5
THE W ITNESS: I w ould assume so, that VW also
6
hired and em ployed good technicians as well.
7
INTERPRETER: Engineers as well, sorry.
8
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
9
Q And V olksw agen was certainly perform ing
10
perform ance, w ear and degradation tests on, for
11
exam ple, its brakes going back into the1940s and '50s;
12
correct?
13
A I w ould assum e so, although I'm not sure
14
w hether w e have docum entations from th e '40s.
15
But, from the beginning, VW strived to
16
perform comprehensive testing in regardsto brakes.
17
Q And you would agree that, since the beginning,
18
that VW could certainly have been perform ing tests if
19
it w anted to, sim ilar to the blow out tests that were
2 0
described in Exhibit 99, if they wanted to?
21
M R M ARKS: Form, foundation.
22
THE W ITNESS: If it were considered to be
23
necessary, then such tests could have been performed.
24
But, since workplace safety had a high
25
emphasis at VW, even back then, I w ould assum e the same
P age 122
1
such documents in the course o f our search.
2
BY MR JAGOLINZER:
3
Q And, similarly, sir, there was no such
4
precautions or warnings put on any o f the Volkswagen
5
genuine parts that would advise not to use compressed
6
air; correct?
7
MR MARKS: Form.
8
THE WITNESS: As far as I know, such warnings
9
were not available -- did not exist.
10
BY MR JAGOLINZER:
11
Q And you've not seen any documentation that
12
information o f this type was passed on to Volkswagen o f
13
Canada or Volkswagen o f America; correct?
14
A I do not have any information and/or documents,
15
correct.
16
Q Dr Albers, I think in the last deposition you
17
said that Volkswagen AG had medical doctors in its
18
employ going back to 1949; correct?
19
MR MARKS: Form.
20
THE WITNESS: Those are information provided
21
to you in the interview o f the medical personnel.
22
BY MR JAGOLINZER:
23
Q Right, but Volkswagen AG did have medical
24
doctors in its employment going back to 1949; right?
25
A Yes.
P ag e 124
1
to apply also later.
2
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
3
Q A nd you didn't find any docum ents in, or you
4
were not provided with any docum ents, that would show
5
that any tests with respect to the servicing o f brakes
6
was perform ed and m easured at V W at any tim e prior to
7
even 1981?
8
M R M ARKS: Form.
9
THE W ITNESS: W e found m any docum ents that
10
showed that dust m easurem ents were perform ed at various
11
workplaces w ithin VW.
12
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
13
Q T hat w as in the m anufacturing setting; correct?
14
A That was in the VW plants, correct.
15
Q N ot in the servicing of, let's say, for
16
example, the autom otive brakes in a brake repair
17
setting; correct?
18
M R M ARKS: Form.
19
THE W ITNESS: Y ou mean with a repair shop?
2 0 BY M R JAGOLINZER:
21
Q Yes, or in a repair setting, w here som ebody
2 2
would be doing a repair?
2 3
A As stated, the ow ner o f such repair shops w ould
2 4
be responsible for providing their em ployees and staff
2 5
with a safe w ork environm ent -- workplace.
31 (Pages 121 to 124)
P age 125
1
Q N ow , didn't V W A G know that asbestos w as in the
2
brakes that it w as selling, going back into the 1950s?
3
A W e m entioned that several tim es, that V W knew
4
that asbestos was used in brakes and friction parts,
5
and that was not only applicable to VW , but it was an
6
industry standard.
7
Q L et m e ask you this: did V olksw agen A G ever put
8
on its packaging or the actual brake shoe the w ord
9
"asbestos"?
10
A A t a certain point in tim e, and we spoke about
11
that before, and I believe it w as 1993, there w as the
12
obligation to indicate asbestos contained in certain
13
parts by using a tem plate, and V W certainly m et that
14
requirem ent.
15
Q Fair enough.
16
W ith respect to brakes, w hich stopped being
17
m anufactured w ith asbestos in 1986, the w ord "asbestos"
18
never show ed up on the packaging or the actual product,
19
as placed by V olksw agen; correct?
20
A A t least, I don't know any o f such docum ents
21
that w ould contain such a warning.
22
Q And you also read the depositions o f M r Kolm s
23
and M r Cam eron in the past; right?
24
COU RT REPORTER: W as that Cameron?
25
M R JA GOLINZER: Cameron, C-A-M -E-R-O-N.
Page 126
1
COURT REPORTER: Thank you.
2
M R M A RK S: Form.
3
TH E W ITN ESS: I read the one o f M r Kolms,
4
yes.
5
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
6
Q Okay, and from his testim ony -- well, strike
7
that.
8
You were aw are that M r Kolm s, on behalf o f
9
V olksw agen, testified that there never were such
10
warnings or inform ation on the actual products o f
11
brakes; correct?
12
A T hat is w hat M r K olm s stated in his deposition
13
at that tim e, yes.
14
Q And, in 1993, w hen you said that V olksw agen was
15
putting som e w arnings about asbestos on products, did
16
that apply only to gaskets?
17
A As far as I know , all parts containing asbestos
18
had to be indicated or labeled like that.
19
Q I apologize. I m ean, V olksw agen --
20
V olksw agen -- in 1993, V olksw agen, the only
21
asbestos-containing part that you've testified that was
22
still in use w as a gasket; correct?
23
M R M A RK S: Form.
24
T H E W ITN E SS: '92/'93 in the tim efram e.
25
Page 127
1
B Y M R JA G O LIN ZER:
2
Q Right.
3
So, in 1992293, there w as no m ore
4
asbestos-containing brakes or clutches put out by
5
V olksw agen; correct?
6
M R M A RK S: Form .
7
T H E W ITN E SS: C ontaining asbestos?
8
B Y M R JA G O LIN ZER:
9
Q Yes?
10
A T hey w ere no longer existing.
11
Q Right.
12
So, first off, the 1993 regulation, that is a
13
G erm an regulation; right?
14
A That w as a G erm an regulation.
15
Q A nd that only applies to V olksw agen m aking a
16
product -- gaskets -- th at had asbestos for sale in
17
G erm any; correct?
18
M R M A RK S: Form .
19
T H E W ITN E SS: T he regulation w as only
20
applicable to G erm any.
21
W hether the packaging going into other
22
countries contained that label, I have no inform ation
23
about that.
24
B Y M R JA G O LIN ZER:
25
Q A n d i f I 'm c o n c e r n e d a b o u t M r C la r k a n d w h a t
P ag e 128
1
inform ation w as on the packaging as it related to his
2
tim e in C anada, o r the U nited States, that 1993
3
regulation doesn't apply; correct?
4
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
5
TH E W ITN ESS: This regulation is o f 1993, and
6
M r C lark w as significantly earlier w orking in Canada
7
and the U nited States.
8
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
9
Q Right. So you agree w ith m e that that
10
regulation d oesn't apply to M r C lark's exposure;
11
correct?
12
M R M A RK S: Form , foundation.
13
T H E W ITN ESS: I don't know w hat th at has to
14
do w ith M r C lark's exposition, but the regulation w as
15
n ot applicable yet.
16
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
17
Q Okay.
18
V olksw agen o f G erm any only placed a warning
19
or a hazard about asbestos on any o f its products in
20
response to the G erm an governm ent's actions; correct?
21
A It w as a reg u latio n , a n d V W co m p lied w ith it.
22
Q Yes, and V W didn't voluntarily decide to put a
23
caution on its products until the G erm an regulation w as
24
issued; correct?
25
A T hat is correct, because V W also didn't see the
32 (Pages 125 to 128)
Page 129
1
necessity to do so.
2
Q A nd y ou agree, V W also didn't do the testing
3
necessary to determ ine the levels o f exposure to
4
asbestos that a m echanic w ould actually experience
5
w hile changing brakes and/or clutches?
6
M R M A RK S: Form.
7
T H E W ITN ESS: A s stated, V W alw ays strived to
8
provide safe w orkplaces, and dust m easurem ent were
9
perform ed in order to make sure o f that, and VW , thus,
10
lived up to their responsibility to provide safe
11
w ork p laces.
12
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
13
Q D r A lbers, you're talking about safe
14
w orkplaces; correct?
15
A Yes.
16
Q I'm talking about safely w orking w ith
17
V olksw agen's ow n products.
18
Do you understand the difference?
19
A M aybe you can elaborate a little bit on that?
20
Q Sure.
21
V olksw agen A G has its ow n w orkplace in its
22
facility, and you're using that, for exam ple, as the
23
W olfburg [sic] plant -- the W olfsburg plant; correct?
24
A A s an exam ple, yes.
25
Q R ight, and, for the exam ple, you're talking
Page 131
1
wasn't any increased risk.
2
BY MR JAGOLINZER:
3
Q Okay. Let's break that down into two sections.
4
MR MARKS: We're at 5 o'clock.
5
MR JAGOLINZER: Yeah, I'm going to finish
6
this now and then w e can go off; all right?
7
Q What steps did Volkswagen itself take to ensure
8
that asbestos fibers were not being released into the
9
air when workers were working with brakes and/or
10
clutches in its normal repair?
11
MR MARKS: Form.
12
THE WITNESS: You mean workers outside o f
13
Volkswagen?
14
BY MR JAGOLINZER:
15
Q Yes, sir.
16
What steps did Volkswagen take to ensure that
17
the products it sold out into the public wouldn't cause
18
injury to those who they expect to work with it?
19
MR MARKS: Form.
2 0
THE WITNESS: A s stated, the products are and
2 1 were safe, and there were instructions to workshops how
2 2 to remove and install such parts, and the workplaces
2 3
where such work was performed, and for the safety o f
2 4 those work areas, that wasin the responsibility o f the
2 5 corresponding owner o f the workshops or repair shops.
P age 130
1
about V olksw agen A G 's actual em ployees to protect;
2
correct?
3
A Correct.
4
Q Okay.
5
Sir, does V olksw agen A G believe it has a duty
6
to sell products that are safe for users to use?
7
M R M ARKS: Form.
8
THE W ITNESS: According to m y knowledge and
9
conviction, V W only sold safe products.
10
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
11
Q W hat steps did V olksw agen AG take, during the
12
tim e it sold asbestos-containing brakes or clutches, to
13
determ ine whether or not the norm al use o f those
14
products would present a health hazard?
15
A There are num erous studies out there, am ong
16
them by the BG, which show that w orkers dealing with
17
brake jo b s are not exposed to a higher risk.
18
Q Okay.
19
Sir, I asked a question o f w hat steps did
20
V olksw agen A G take to determ ine w hether the products it
21
was selling w ere safe for use b y the public?
22
M R M ARKS: Form.
23
TH E W ITN ESS: A s stated, V W only brought safe
24
products on the market, and, if those products were
25
installed properly, then that also m eant that there
Page 132
1
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
2
Q So V olksw agen A G sold a product under a
3
V olksw agen genuine product nam e, correct, for exam ple,
4
a V olksw agen genuine replacem ent brake and/or clutch,
5
th at contained asbestos prior to 1986, let's say, and
6
did no tests to ensure that the regular w ork w ith those
7
products w ould be safe; correct?
8
M R M ARKS: Form.
9
TH E W ITN ESS: Yes. A s I stated before, V W
10
m easured at the w orkplaces and took sam ples at the
11
w orkplaces.
12
BY M R JAGOLINZER:
13
Q A re you referring to sam ples o f the asbestos
14
fiber that w ould be released w hen one changes a brake?
15
A I believe I didn't get that.
16
Q N o problem .
17
V olksw agen w ould expect th at brakes on its
18
cars would have to be changed; correct?
19
A From tim e to tim e, yes.
20
Q Okay, and, in order to m eet the need to replace
21
those brakes, V olksw agen w ouldsell a V olksw agen
22
genuine replacem ent brake; correct?
23
A An original, genuine part, correct.
24
Q Sold under the V olksw agen tradem ark logo name;
25
correct?
33 (Pages 129 to 132)
P age 133
1
A Yes.
2
Q A nd V olksw agen A G certainly knew that those
3
brakes w ould have to be replaced; right?
4
A A fter a certain wear.
5
Q A nd have you seen any docum ents, prior to 1986,
6
in V olksw agen's files, w here V olksw agen w as studying
7
the potential release o f asbestos fiber from changing
8
o f those brakes?
9
A I don't know any V W ow n studies, only the ones
10
from the B G and other scientific institutions.
11
Q Okay.
12
W hat is the earliest docum ent th at you've
13
seen from the B G o r any scientific institution that
14
tested the level o f exposure to asbestos w hen changing
15
a brake?
16
A I don't have a certain y ear and num ber in the
17
top o f my head.
18
Q Okay.
19
W ell, w e're going to be --
20
M R M A R K S: W e're --
21
M R JA G O LIN ZER: I got to finish this area,
22
C hris, I'm sorry.
23
M R M A R K S: Y eah, w e're going an hour, so
24
w e've got to take a break.
25
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : I g o t it. I n eed to finish
P age 135
1
evening.
2
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : G o off. I f you're done,
3
you're done. I f you're saying w e're done now , w e're
4
done.
5
M R M A R K S: Y eah, th at's w h at I'm saying.
6
So, if you have one or tw o questions on this
7
line o f questioning --
8
M R JA GOLINZER: I w ould love to say I have
9
one or tw o questions, b u t I don 't think I'm getting a
10
straight answ er to any o f m y questions --
11
M R M A RK S: W ell --
12
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : -- so I'll continue tom orrow .
13
M R M A RKS: -- I disagree. I disagree.
14
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : Fair. T hat's fine.
15
M R M A RK S: W e'll resum e in the m orning.
16
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : T hat's fine.
17
M R M A R K S : W e ta lk e d a b o u t sto p p in g a t 5.
18
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : L et's do it. L et's do it.
19
M R M A RKS: A ctually, we talked about stopping
20
at 4, and it's now 5:08.
21
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : T hat's fair.
22
M R M A R K S : S o ...
23
M R JA G O LIN ZER: W e're going to break for the
24
evening.
25
M R MARKS: Good.
Page 134
1
this area before w e take a break. I'll go quick and
2
then we can move on, but I need to get this part done.
3
M R M A R K S: W ell, I m ean --
4
M R JA GOLINZER: I'm in the m iddle o f a
5
question, Chris, in this area. Let m e finish.
6
Or, if you w ant to go out to take a break,
7
feel free, but I don't w ant you talking to the witness
8
on this part.
9
M R M ARKS: I'm not talking to the witness.
10
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : G o fo r it.
11
M R M A RK S: I'm telling you th at --
12
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : G o fo r it.
13
M R M A R K S : -- w e're sto p p in g a t 5 --
14
M R JAGOLINZER: M mm hmm.
15
M R M A RKS: -- and it's now 5:05 and we've
16
been going an hour. So you can resume tom orrow m orning
17
w ith this line o f questioning.
18
M R JA G O L IN Z E R : Y eah, w ell ...
19
M R M ARKS: I mean, if you literally have one
20
o r tw o questions to fin ish th is line o f q u estioning --
21
M R JAGOLINZER: You know what? You know
22
w hat? Fair enough. W e'll take a break, and w e'll get
23
into it.
24
G o fo r it. W e can go.
25
M R M ARKS: No, we're not going into the
P age 136
1
D id you get an answ er to the last question?
2
M R JA G O LIN Z ER : I have no idea, but it
3
doesn't m atter. W e'll go back.
4
T hank you. W e're going to go off.
5
(W hereupon the deposition w as adjourned at 5:08 p.m.
6
until the follow ing day)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
34 (Pages 133 to 136)
P age 137
1
CERTIFICATE OF COURT REPORTER
2
3
I, D EIR D RA JORDAN, a British C ourt Reporter,
4
hereby certify that the testim ony o f the witness DR.
5
JUERGEN ALBERS, in the foregoing transcript, numbered
6 pages 1 through 136, taken on this 9th day o f April,
7
2019, was recorded by me in machine shorthand and was
8 thereafter transcribed by me; and that the foregoing
9 transcript is a true and accurate verbatim record o f
10
the said testimony.
11
12
I further certify that I am not a relative,
13
employee, counsel or financially involved w ith any o f
14
the parties to the w ithin cause, nor am I an employee
15
or relative o f any counsel for the parties, nor am I
16
in any w ay interested in the outcome o f the within
17
cause.
18
19
20
Signed: <% 10474,Signature% >
21
Name: DEIRDRA JORDAN
22
Date: M onday, April 22, 2019
23
24
25
Page 139
1
ERRATA SHEET
2 Dep: DR. JUERGEN ALBERS - Taken Tuesday, April 9, 2019
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DR. JUERGEN ALBERS
25 Date
Page 138
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CERTIFICATE OF W ITNESS
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I, D R . JU E R G E N A L B E R S , d eclare th a t I have read th e
4
entire transcript o f m y deposition testim ony contained
5
in pages 1 through 136 inclusive, or the same has been
6
read to me, and certify that it is a true, correct and
7
com plete transcript o f m y testim ony given on A pril 9,
8
2019, save and except for changes and/or corrections,
9
if any, as indicated by me on the attached Errata
10
Sheets, w ith the understanding that I offer these
11
changes and/or corrections as if still under oath.
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Signed
16
DR. JUERGEN ALBERS
17
D ated this
day of
2019
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VERITEXT LEGAL SOLUTIONS
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3
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Dr. Juergen Albers
5
c/o CHRISTOPHER S. MARKS
TANENBAUM KEALE LLP
6
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Seattle, W A 98101
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cm arks@ tktrial.com
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RE: Clark, Robert G -vs- Borg Warner Corporation, Et Al
9
Dear Mr. Marks:
10
taken on 4/9/19 in connection with the above-captioned
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35 (Pages 137 to 140)
EXHIBIT G
To
Mailing list
From
Health Protection Wolfsburg
Your reference
Your message from
Our house extension
[redacted]
0 1 /1 9 /1 9 8 1
X
Internal notice
Notice number
Our reference
Date
Page
1594/0 Dr. [redacted]
01/09/1981
1
Subject: Use of asbestos or asbestos-containing materials
The harmful effect of asbestos is today a general state of knowledge.
Deposits of asbestos fine dust or asbestos-containing fine dust in the lungs lead to asbestosis and/or cancer.
The Occupational Health and Safety Committee and its task force for Occupational Medicine and Safety Chemistry, therefore, dealt with the use of asbestos or asbestos-containing material at VW-Wolfsburg and listed occupational safety in which departments asbestos materials are processed. Thereafter, asbestos-containing material is processed or used in your area.
The following actions must be taken immediately:
1. Exchange these asbestos-containing materials with asbestos-free materials as far as possible,
2. or restrict their use, 3. Review of the processing methods, 4. When processing asbestos or asbestos-containing materials, ensure appropriate
protective measures of the workers concerned if fine dust is to be expected during processing. These protective measures include appropriate personal respiratory protection and possibly suction devices. 5. In the case of exposure to asbestos in accordance with the TRK values, the affected plant members must be listed (updated regularly) and subjected to health protection for suitability and surveillance examinations and must be brought to follow-up care after he ended the job containing asbestos.
Reference is made to the accident prevention regulation "Protection against harmful mineral dust".
Thresholds:
New installations Incidentally Beginning 07/01/1982
TRK values Asbestos fine dust
0.05 mg/m3or 1 fiber /cm3 0.10 mg/m3or 2 fibers /cm3 0.05 mg/m3or 1 fiber /cm3
Asbestos containing fine dust 2.0 mg/m3 4.0 mg/m3 2.0 mg/m3
Form AV 87 - 10 76
CONFIDENTIAL
PENGAD 800-631-6989
EXHIBIT EW 19
01/11/2019
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000100
EXHIBIT H
Telephone conversation w ith M r. [re d a cte d ]: S afety re g u la tio n s till valid
Safety regulation
fit number 10
Occupational safety
As of: Replaced:
08/01/1983 05/10/1982
Page 1 of 2
- Asbestos dust - Silicogenic dust -
If materials containing asbestos or more than 2% free crystalline silica are used, this must be reported to the trade association and the Trade Supervisory Board by the Occupational Safety Department. Asbestos lightweight panels with a density < 1.0 g/cm3 must not be used. This prohibition also applies to materials containing asbestos and are used
- for spray on or spraying - as insulating materials or insulation for fire, sound, heat, cold or moisture protection - as paints, putties, adhesives, filters, mortar and filler compounds, floor and road
coverings, if asbestos fine dust occurs. If silicone-based or asbestos-based dust can be generated during work, then air-analytical monitoring must be carried out. The determination and assessment of the dust conditions are made at the request of the safety chemistry. Regardless of dust measurements or structural measures taken, the following points should be noted when asbestos or silicogenic dust occurs: 1. The existing suctions must be switched on before commencing work. 2. If despite technical and organizational measures, it cannot be achieved that the respiratory
air can be sufficiently freed of silicogenic or asbestos dusts, respiratory protective equipment must be used. The requirement of the respiratory protection equipment must be made via form Pr 52. 3. Workrooms, machinery and equipment are to be cleaned so that no dust is whirled up if possible. For cleaning, only vacuum cleaners or sweepers approved for this purpose may be used. 4. All technical equipment used to remove dust in the respiratory air must be maintained so that its full effectiveness is maintained at all times. This also applies to respiratory protection equipment. The maintenance and care of these devices are carried out by the respiratory protection unit of the Fire Protection Department.
Form Pr 968 - 00292 - u - 5 83
:abbies
PLA IN TIFFS EXHIBIT
24
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000080
Occupational safety
Safety regulation
number 10
00000080
As of: Replaced:
08/01/1983 05/10/1982
Page 2 of 2
5. If silicogenic or asbestos dust may be whirled up during work, it must be instructed by the company supervisor before commencing work that the affected group of persons be sent to a suitability test by the Health Protection Department.
For repeat examinations, the interval specified by the authorized physician must be observed. According to the work order, the company supervisor is responsible for compliance.
6. If symptoms (shortness of breath, coughing, weight loss, bad general condition) occur between the examinations, the company doctor must be consulted immediately.
Form Pr 968 - 00292 - u - 5 83
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000081
EXHIBIT I
M r ./M rs ./M s
D e p a rtm e n t / S ite
TO :
fre d a c te d l
S e rv ic e S ta tio n
Statement
information and return information and filing
______ _______
W ith th e
I
re q u e s t fo r
Translation /Edit
______
Consultation
as discussed
verbal
by phone
q
Execution ____
Best regards
D r. m e d . [re d a c te d ]
i llegible]
International Congress Center, Berlin
FROM :
Name
[re d a c te d ]
House phone [r e d a c te d ]
FormAV32- 177
P la n t P h y s ic ia n V o lk s w a g e n A G
3 1 6 0 W o lfs b u rg
1 2 /1 5 /1 9 8 2
polluted areas [illegible] areas heat supply waste management
The future will also be affected by damaging environmental effects by means of a stronger focus of spatial planning on the objectives of the project to achieve emission protection. For the first tim e in the series of public events, the VDI Commission fo r Clean Air w ill be organizing a Spatial Planning Conference as a thematic focal point.
domestic fuel, vehicle traffic) Urban climate, measurement data and models Problems of urban development from an interdisciplinary point of view (Urban development, ecology, economy) Institutional Instruments (Municipal Environmental Planning, Political Science, Legislators, Trade Control).
The colloquium is aimed at science, administration and industry professionals involved in emission reduction and pollution control legislation, regional planning, municipal development planning and land use planning, environmental sanitation and urban climatology.
Information issued: VDI-Commission Clean Air, PO Box 1139, D-4000 Dusseldorf 1, Phone: (0211) 62 14-4 51, 532
From the w ork of the Germ an Institute for O ccupational Safety - BIA
Asbestos emissions from brake lining processing machines
B ra k e s e rv ic e w o rk s h o p s f o r tru c k s a n d b u s e s
u s e in c re a s in g ly b ra k e p a d s p ro c e s s in g
m a c h in e s f o r o v e r -re v v in g o f u s e d a n d n e w
b ra k e p a d s , w h ic h a re p la c e d d ir e c tly o n th e
a x le w it h o u t d is a s s e m b ly o f th e b ra k e s h o e
c a rrie r. T h e re s u ltin g d u s t c o n ta in s a s b e s to s
fib e rs , w h ic h g e t in to th e re s p ira to ry a ir o f th e
e m p lo y e e s
and,
d e p e n d in g
on
th e
c o n c e n tr a tio n a n d e x p o s u re tim e , c a n le a d to
d a m a g in g h e a lth e ffe c ts .
E x te n s iv e
m e a s u re m e n ts
of
dust
c o n c e n tra tio n s
a t w o rk p la c e s
in
b ra ke
w o rk s h o p s sh o w e d th a t
1. th e d u s t c o n c e n tra tio n s v a ry g re a tly
d e p e n d in g o n th e w o r k in te n s ity , s p a tia l
a n d v e n tila tio n c o n d itio n s as w e ll as
th e ty p e o f b ra k e p a d s a n d th e p ro c e s s in g
m a c h in e .
2. th e a s b e s to s fin e d u s t c o n c e n tra tio n
e x c e e d s th e TR K v a lu e o f 0 .0 5 m g /m 3
o n a v e ra g e if n o d u s t re d u c tio n
m e a s u re s h a ve b e e n ta k e n ,
3.
a d u s t s u c tio n a t th e p o in t o f o rig in o f
th e d u s t (o n th e tu r n in g s te e l) le a d s
o n a v e ra g e to a s a fe d e v ia tio n b e lo w
th e TR K v a lu e (n o m e a s u re d v a lu e w a s
a b o v e th e T R K v a lu e ).
It c a n b e d e riv e d fr o m th is t h a t b y u s in g
s u ita b le d u s t re d u c tio n m e a s u re s (e .g .
e ffe c tiv e d u s t s u c tio n o n th e ro ta tin g
s te e l) , c o n c e n tr a tio n s in th e r e s p ir a to r y a ir
o f th e e m p lo y e e s c a n b e a c h ie v e d fa r
b e lo w th e T R K v a lu e s .
T h e G e rm a n In s titu te fo r O c c u p a tio n a l
S a f e ty - B IA is c u r r e n t ly c a r r y in g o u t
fu n d a m e n ta l
in v e s tig a tio n s ,
fin a n c ia lly
s u p p o rte d
by
th e
p ro je c t
sponsor
H u m a n iz a t io n o f W o r k in g L ife (P T H d A ), in
o rd e r to d e te rm in e th e "s u ita b ility " o f th e
d u s t m itig a tio n m e a s u re s a n d to d e v e lo p
s a fe ty r e q u ir e m e n ts t h a t f o r m th e b a s is o f
a p a rtia l te s t w ith in th e m e a n in g o f th e
E q u ip m e n t S a fe ty A c t. T h e te s ts c a rrie d o u t
so fa r o n th e te s t s ta n d c o n firm th e tre n d s
o b s e rv e d in b ra k e s e rv ic e p ra c tic e a n d t h a t
it
is a n t ic ip a te d
th a t te s t-te c h n ic a l
re q u ire m e n ts ca n b e d ra w n u p s h o rtly , as
h a v e a lre a d y b e e n p u b lis h e d f o r h a n d -
g u id e d d e v ic e s f o r a s b e s to s c e m e n t
p ro c e s s in g (Z H 1 /6 1 6 , B IA -In fo rm a tio n
2 /8 2 ) G . K u h n e n
[S T 1 7 1 6 1 ]
428
Dust - Clean air 42 (1982) No. 11 November
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000098
Attachment to the investigation report no. 2992
Pollutant measurement in the power plant, Wolfsburg
a) Temperature
No, Date
Time
b) Rel. humidity Place
c) Air pressure
1 03/03/19 09:00 AM - 01:00 PM a) 31C
Power plant north
b) 33%
Height 8 m
c) 1007 mbar Turbine (A)
No. M 7370
2 03/04/19 08:03 AM - 12:03 PM a) 44C
Power plant north
b) 29%
Height 8 m
c) 1009 mbar Turbine (D)
No.M 00707
3 03/05/19 01:40 PM - 03:22 PM a) 19C
Power plant north
b) 46%
Height 8 m
c) 1006 mbar Turbine (A)
No. M 7370
4 03/06/19 08:02 AM - 09:18 AM a) 27C
Power plant north
b) 42%
Height 8 m
c) 991 mbar Turbine (A)
No. M 7370
5 03/06/19 12:30 PM - 01:36 PM a) 28C
Power plant north
b) 40%
Height 8 m
c) 988 mbar Turbine (A)
No. M 7370
6 03/07/19 08:00 AM - 09:56 AM a) 22C b) 50% c) 977 mbar
7 03/07/19 !1:05 AM - 02:02 PM a) 18C b) 5 % c) 978 mbar
Power plant north Tube sheet 4 m below the turbine M 7370 Power plant north Cinder cellar 0 m below the turbine M 7370
Machine output or
function 37 rpm Idle speed
% asbestos content in fine dust 19.2
3000 rpm Full load
< 100
Removal of the
9.2
outer asbestos
insulation
Removal of the
10.8
inner asbestos
insulation
Cleaning of the high-pre: 20.4
part from the remains of
asbestos insulation using
wire brush and industria
vacuum cleaner
Bagging of the
10.8
asbestos insulation
by hand
Bagging of the
3.12
asbestos insulation
by shove
Process department/Process Planning and Coordination - Security chemistry -
Fine dust 0.048 mg/m3
Assess. Index concentration TRK 0.09
TRK value 0.519 mg/m3
0.598 mg/m3 < 0.60
0.1000 mg/m3
0.756 mg/m3 0.70
1.087 mg/m3
1.53 mg/m3 1.65
0.926 mg/m3
2.124 mg/m3 4.33
0.49 mg/m3
0.861 mg/m3 0.93 0.669 mg/m3 0.21
0.926 mg/m3 3.21 mg/m3
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000097
[logo - illegible]
03/20/1981
80Beg05343
Dipl. Ing. [redacted] Hanover
03/23/1981
Occupational safety D/ Mr. [redacted], KD workshop
Health hazards due to dusts of asbestos-containing brake pads in motor vehicle workshops
The development and implementation of the accident prevention directive "Protection against harmful mineral dust" showed that there are particular difficulties in assessing the health risk of occupational groups exposed to low concentrations or exposed for short periods of tim e. At that time, the knowledge was not sufficient to be able to decide to what extent there was a health risk due to the dust of asbestos-containing brake linings in motor vehicle workshops. From this decision, it depended, whether technical protective measures are required when processing brake linings and when cleaning brakes with compressed air (brake drums, brake shoe carriers, brake linings); employees who work on brake pads or clean brakes must undergo preventive occupational medical examinations. A Research was started therefore in 1972, which should provide information on the following questions. 1. What dust concentrations do occur at workplaces where asbestos-containing brake pads are processed or at which abrasion of brake linings reaches the respiratory air, and what is the asbestos content in this dust? 2. How is the biological effect of these dusts to be assessed, in particular with regard to fibrogen and carcinogenicity? 3. For persons who have been subjected to the dusting of asbestos-containing brake linings for a prolonged period (at least 10 years) - are there any health impairments or damage to health (diseases) that can be attributed to this exposure? The processing of brake pads as part of their production was also included in the investigations. The investigation program included 1. dust measurements for the determination of mass concentration and asbestos content of the airborne dust at a representative number of working places; 2. laboratory and test stand tests to determine possible mineralogical chemical changes of the asbestos by the mechanical and thermal stresses of the brake pads during braking; 3. animal and cell experiments to determine the fibrogenic and carcinogenic effect of dusts occurring (no inhalation tests);
[logo] May 1980
4. Medical examinations of a sufficient number of persons who were exposed to the occurring dusts as often as possible at the same workplace for many years. The results can be summarized as follows: 1. Brake pads of m otor vehicles contain 10 to 70 percent by weight of asbestos, essentially 20 and 30 percent by weight. In all cases examined, it was chrysotile asbestos. Other types of asbestos are obviously not used. 2. The main sources of dust are the brake services with the processing of the brake pads and the blowing out of the abrasion from the brake drums. 3. The duration of exposure of workers is difficult to pinpoint, as the processes associated with the formation of dust are generally short-term. Guide values are 1 hour/shift, better 3 hours/week for processing, 1-3 hours/shift fo r blowing out. 4. The dust generated by the processing of brake pads contains slightly less asbestos than what is present in the brake pad itself. 5. A chrysotile asbestos accumulation could be detected only in extremely small proportions in the dust produced when blowing out the brake drums of German motor vehicles. The dust contained virtually no fibers. 6. Up to 30 % by weight of chrysotile asbestos was found in the abrasive dust of American brake pads. 7. The threshold for chrysotile asbestos at the workplace is exceeded when working on the brake pads, while in the workplace it is certainly below the limit. 8. When blowing out brake drums, the threshold fo r asbestos-containing and inert dust at the workplace are exceeded fo r a short period of time, while in the workplace it is certainly below the limit. 9. Fibers, located in the friction surface are destroyed during the braking process and the crystal lattice of the chrysotile is transformed, probably to an amorphous state. 10. The dust from the processing of the brake pads clearly has fibrogenic and carcinogenic effects. 11. The brake drum dust has rare and then only slight fibrogenic effect: a carcinogenic effect cannot be excluded. 12. Long-term brake pad dust exposure is likely to lead to f ibrogenic asbestos inhalation effects.
The risk of disease is lowest in people who mostly blow out brake drums. The results justify 3 obligations: When working on brake linings, technical protective measures (e.g. encapsulation of the dust sources, dust suction on processing equipment) are required as well as occupational health precautionary examinations taking into account the exposure time. When blowing out brake drums, the short term particulate m atter concentration must be reduced by technical measures (e.g. blowing out in vacuum hoods, sucking out, washing out), and the occupational medical examinations can initially be dispensed in the case of German brake linings. Further research is needed to improve technical protection measures and to clarify the cancer risk of brake drum dusts. The results of the investigation are put into practice by integration into the further training of the supervisory bodies as well as by the distribution of information material and intensive consultation in the companies concerned. At the same time, the companies will receive technical support. Further research, e.g. on suction options with mounted rotary lathes on the stub axle brake lining are already prompted. Finally, I make an appeal to those responsible for occupational safety in companies, and in particular to the supervisory bodies. The basis for this is the successes achieved by the Northwestern Iron- and steel-trade association in the replacement of asbestos-containing partitions in ship interiors. Use the results of the research paper "Investigations on the dangers of dusts from asbestos-containing brake pads" in the consultation and monitoring of vehicle repair shops consistently and uncompromisingly. You will make a major contribution to speeding up the development, which has already been suggested by the presentation of the first asbestos-free brake linings at the IAA in Frankfurt.
Address of the author: Northwestern Iron- and Steel-Trade Association Hans-Bockler-Allee 26 3000 Hanover 1
343
C
EXHIBIT J
SOUTH GERMAN IRON AND STEEL PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION
(Statutory accident insurance) DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION M AINZ
Health Care Protection
Received: 04/24/1980
South German Iron and Steel-Professional Cooperation District A dm inistration Mainz 6500 Mainz P.O. Box 37 60
Company Volkswagenwerk AG Plant Kassel
35 K a s e l For the attention of Mr. Safety Ing. [redacted]
MAINZ, 0 6 /1 9 /1 9 7 3 Diether-von-Isenburg-Strae 9-11 Phone (0 61 31) 2 35 49
Bank account Landesbank Rheinland-Pfalz, Clearing House Mainz no. 53 502
Reference: H-TA/623/0210/0/[redacted1
Please a lw a ys in d ic a te
Subject: Check for possible asbestos-related hazards in the processing of asbestos dust containing materials
Dear Sirs,
Please find attached the measurement report from the Dust Research Institute of the main association of the industrial professional associations about the sampling on 04/17 and 04/18/1973. It is therefore apparent that the technical thresholds for chrysotile-containing fine dust (4 mg/m3) are likely to be reached or exceeded over time as a result of the work on riveting the clutch linings and cutting the Fiberfrax slabs for cooker upgrading. In both cases, therefore, a suction of the resulting dust should be made.
We kindly ask for notification about the measures put in place by you by
08/30/1973.
Attachment -ee-
Yours sincerely, Technical Supervisory Service [redacted]
:abbies
PLA IN TIFFS EXHIBIT
22
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - i 00000872
Dust Research Institute of the main association of the industrial professional associations e. V.
53 Bonn, 06/12/1973 [redacted] Langwartweg 103 Phone: (0 22 21) 10 92 90
R EPO RT
on the measurement of air pollutants at the workplace
Report number: 73 00 201 0 8
Company: Volkswagenwerk AG, plant Kassel
Address: 3501 Kassel-Baunatal
Street: same
Phone [redacted]
Place of operation: same
Sampling date: 04/17 - 04/18/1973
Prior measurements by the Dust Research Institute: no
At the sampling constantly or temporarily present gentlemen: [redacted] Safety Ing. of the company VW [redacted] Dust Research Institute, Bonn
Medical monitoring:
yes
Dust monitoring:
no
Number of reported occupational disease cases in the last three calendar years:
none
Number of recognized occupational disease cases in the last three calendar years:
none
Type of operation:
Automobile manufacturing
Measuring task: Check for possible asbestos-related hazards in the processing of asbestos dust containing materials
Brief description of the measuring method:
Sampling:
Filter sampling device "VC 20"
Evaluation:
Determination of the fine dust concentration in mg/m3 as well as the amount of asbestos in % by means of IR analysis
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000873
Dust Research Institute of the main association of the industrial professional associations e. V. Bonn
Page 2 to the measurement report number 73 00 201 08 a-j from 06/12/1973
Measurement results
Consec. number
Name of the place of sampling, date and time of sampling. Designation of the working method, special observations
Pollutant
Type
Weight.%
1
Removal of the brake shoes: 04/17/1973 08:10 AM - 10:52 AM
Asbestos
2
The old brake shoes are freed from the old lining by pressing down the old rivets
with a compressing die. The work is carried out on an approximately 2x1 m2
work table at 4 compression dies at the same time. The brake shoes are washed
before and therefore still wet.
2
Rivetting of brake shoes: 04/18/1973 08:24 AM 11:04 AM
Asbestos too little
New brake pads are riveted on the brake shoe carrier on three riveting machines
in a narrow area. During the measurement were Energit-pads type 334 HG used.
A suction does not exist.
3
Removal of clutch linings: 04/17/1973 08:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Asbestos
4
The riveting of the clutch linings takes place using a single exhaust system from
Meissner and Wurst, type Staubmeister with 0.5 m suction speed in the intake
level. The purified air is returned to the hall.
( 4 ) Rivetting of clutch linings: 04/17/1973 08:25 AM - 12:25 PM
Asbestos
36
The riveted clutch disc carriers are again provided with discs on both sides, with
a softer pad on one side and a harder pad on the other.
Measured concentration[mg/m3]
Total dust CG
Fine dust DF
1.9
Pollutant CS
0.13
0.48
0.02
0.41
0.15
Assessment index *)
Concentrt. Threshold
0.48
0.13
1.0
*) Basis of assessment: Currently valid xxxxxx The results refer to the conditions during sampling.
technical thresholds (VBG 119) (Clerk) [redacted]
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000874
Dust Research Institute of the main association of the industrial professional associations e. V. Bonn
Page 2a to the measurement report number 73 00 201 08 a-j from 06/12/1973
Measurement results
Consec. number
5 6
7 8
0
Name of the place of sampling, date and time of sampling. Designation of the working method, special observations
Heat exchanger dismantling, dust level in the hall: 04/17/1973 01:45 PM - 05:45 PM Heat exchanger dismantling - trimming tables: 04/17/1973 01:45 PM - 05:45 PM There are exhaust pipes or mufflers (heat exchanger) freed from the old asbestos insulation casing. The heat exchangers are knocked out of the jacket on a pull-down table with additional side and rear cladding. Electrical department Insulation work on casting pipes Dust level in the hall: 04/18/1973 08:08 AM - 11:50 AM
+ 02:00 PM - 03:22 PM The filling pipes for aluminum casting are wrapped with asbestos tapes or unpacked after wear. The unwinding of the casting tubes results in visually recognizable slight dust turbulence. A suction is not available. Electrical department Wrapping and unwinding of the filling pipes 04/18/1973 08:08 AM - 11:50 AM + 02:00 Pm - 03:22 PM Cooker extension cutting of Fiberfrax panels 04/18/1973 08:15 AM - 08:30 AM Material is sawed and processed. The cutting is done with a jigsaw about 2 hours a day, suction is not available despite heavy dust accumulation.
Pollutant
Type
Weight.%
Asbestos Asbestos
too little substance too little substance
Asbestos
6
Asbestos
6
Asbestos
6
Measured concentration[mg/m3]
Total dust CG
-
Fine dust DF
0.14
Pollutant CS
-
0.2
0.37
0.02
0.64
0.04
6.4
0.38
Assessment index *)
Concentrt. Threshold
-
0.13 0.27
2.5
*) Basis of assessment: Currently valid xxxxxx The results refer to the conditions during sampling.
technical thresholds (VBG 119) (Clerk) [redacted]
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000875
EXHIBIT K
VOLKSWAGEN
To
M A I LI N G LI ST
From
Aggregate Preparation
Your reference
Your message from
Our reference
[redacted]
Internal notice
M eeting
X
Notice number
House extension
[redacted]
Date
Page
10/31/1988
1
Exceeding the tripping threshold (asbestos dust) during brake shoe preparation (riveting). Meeting in the Aggregate Preparation on 10/28/1988
PROCESS DEPARTMENT 11/02/19 [redacted]
1,7 4 5
KASSEL PLANT
The following asbestos-containing (drum) brake linings are processed for customer service requirements in Braunschweig:
Participants:
[redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted] [redacted]
- Health Protection - Health Protection - Process Department - Process Department - Occupational Safety - Workers Council - Workers Council - Aggregate Preparation - Aggregate Preparation
1. Brake shoes - riveting
In the last asbestos dust measurement and safety-chemical evaluation, was for the first time in years during brake shoe riveting an evaluation index of I = 0.264 determined, thus the threshold trigger was exceeded.
The meeting served to discuss dust-reducing and control measures.
Previous history:
Beginning August 1980, the old brake shoes are washed before riveting and then riveted. Thus, at the previous location in Hall 4, valuation indices of 0.09 to 0.10 were achieved with still a double TRK value and without a triggering threshold.
With the relocation to Hall 3, a container for rewetting the brake shoes before riveting was additionally installed because of the longer transport routes and times after washing from Hall 4 to Hall 3. In addition, the general dust load is higher in hall 3 than in hall 4.
Still, approximately 50% of the old brake shoes delivered from the organization for processing have asbestos-containing linings, But the ratio is declining due to the gradual conversion to asbestos-free brake pads in the series between 03/1985 and 07/1987. A recognition of asbestoscontaining/asbestos-free linings on old brake shoes is not possible.
Form AV 87 7 85 M a terial no. 2060
:abbies:
PLA IN TIFFS EXHIBIT
27
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000650
VOLKSWAGEN
To
M A I LI N G LI ST
From
Aggregate Preparation
Your reference
Your message from
Our reference
[redacted]
X
House extension
[redacted]
Internal notice
M eeting
Notice number
Date
10/31/1988
[illegible]
Page
2
The following measures were adopted to reduce the I of 0.264 at riveting:
1. From 10/26/1988 on will the water, which is used to wet the brake shoes before riveting, be mixed with 5% glycerol.
2. The work table, on which the riveting machine will be operated, is equipped with a perforated plate as a worktop including a water tank below.
3. To clean the work area a suitable vacuum cleaner class C will be bought, offers from Ruwac and from the company Nilfisk are on the way.
A new measurement will be performed after the implementation of all changes.
2. Brake shoes - rivetting (asbestos-containing)
In May 88, most of the AT brake shoes were converted from manufacturing to asbestos-free pads. Only 6 types (of which 2 types have not been required for months) have not yet been converted from production to asbestos-free. The share is also falling. The September production of 22,810 sets (each 4 pieces) had a share of 1,675, which corresponds to 7.3%.
As of December 1988, 3 other types will be converted to asbestos-free.
113 698 237 H/HX will be 237 Q/QX 131 698 237 C/CX will be 237 Q/QX 113 698 237 C/CX will be 537 Q/QX
As of today, there is no release for asbestos-free linings for the following types:
171 698 527 D/DX September program 900 sets, trend declining 331 698 527 / X last requirement in April 1988
527 A/AX lest requirement before inventory 1987.
[redacted] calls for the discontinuation of these brake shoes or the short-term conversion to asbestos-free. The current demands of the program period Nov. 1988 are still fulfilled. The spare parts program, spare parts scheduling, and logistics/production control will be informed about the discontinuation.
[redacted]
Mailing list: Participants
Form AV 87 7 85 M a terial no. 2060
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - i 00000651
EXHIBIT L
To
Mailing list
From
Health Protection
Your reference
Your message from
Our reference
Dr. [redacted]
X
Internal notice
Notice number
House extension
[redacted]
Date
Page
10/14/1987
1
Packaging of asbestos-containing parts
As part of inspections on 10/06/1987 in the spare parts warehouse and on 10/13/1987 in the CKD were measures between operators, process technology, occupational safety, health protection and works council coordinated, to further minimize the exposure to asbestos.
The workplaces must be kept free of dust with the aid of special vacuum cleaners; the employee wears a 3M mask (P 2-filter) and dust measurements are taken again. The process engineering will also investigate how high the asbestos content of each part is and whether asbestos-free substitutes are available. The implementation of occupational health check ups with notification of the exposed persons to the Northwest Iron and Steel Trade Association is made dependent on the result of the dust measurements.
However, the above rules can only be considered as provisional measures. Until the general conversion to asbestos-free materials, all necessary packaging work on a workplace optimized by extraction should be carried out by a small defined group of people.
The present solution, which distributes these activities across multiple departments, different employees and in large rooms, leads to uncontrolled asbestos dust contamination and exposure. Remedial measures appear urgent and should be initiated before the results of the dust measurements are presented. Due to the carcinogenic effect of asbestos fibers, also low asbestos dust values require a corresponding procedure.
[redacted] Dr. [redacted]
Mailing list: Mr.[plural]
[redacted], Production Planning [redacted], Plant Technology [redacted], 2-VT-2 Dispatch [redacted], Vehicle Assembly II [redacted], VF-33 Spare parts external warehouse Dr. [redacted], Production Planning Surfaces and process technique [redacted], Occupational Safety [redacted], Workers Council
Form AV 87 7 85 M a terial no. 2060
tabbies
PLA IN TIFFS EXHIBIT
25
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) 00001573
EXHIBIT M
To
Mr. [redacted], Prototyping Department
From
Process Department/Process planning and coordination
X
Internal notice
Notice number
Your reference
Your message from
Our house extension
[redacted]
Our reference
1493-[redacted] [redacted] [redacted]
Date
Page
03/18/1980
1
Asbestos dust concentration measurement in workshop 73
Based on your internal communication, we performed an asbestos dust concentration measurement on the brake pad grinding machine on 01/24/1980 in workshop 73, field C 36. The sampling took place in the breathing area of the grinder. The evaluation of the filter showed a fine dust content of 0.19 mg/m3.
Asbestos dust has a technical standard concentration (TSC) value of 2 fibers/cm3 air. The determined result of the evaluated filter resulted in less than 0.02 fibers/cm3 of air. This is less than 1% of the technical standard concentration (TSC) value.
[redacted] [redacted]
[redacted] [redacted]
EXHIBIT E W 14
01/11/2019
Form AV 87 - 10 76
See also consecutive num ber: 1 9 6 /8 2 Consecutive num ber: 3 4 /7 9
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000283
V O LKSW A G E N W E R K
Analysis task
Sender
Dust samples on filter Material samples
Date: 01/24/1980
Plant WOB
Reference: M O Sampling on
Cost center 1 4 9 3 Phone
0 1 /2 4 /1 9 8 0 Assigned cost center
Mailing of new filter cartridges
Number:
I
II
Label of the Material:
sample /
Filter:
filte r no
Series E IV 6202
Disc pa d disk: 78 pieces Series 431 609 565 B
iii
Sample designation Place of sampling
Workshop 73, fie ld C 36
IV
a)
0.5 h
m3
Register number of the company
Sheet 2 Sample number: 0 3 4 /7 9
?
Dear Gentlemen, Please find attached the analysis report of the samples you sent to us.
Best regards by order
Contaminant
Filter samples
1 % Contam. % Contam.
in tot. dust in fine dust
Determin. MAK
Concentration mg/m3 Total dust fine dust contaminant
2
Material samples
% Contam. % Contam. Fine dust
in original in fine dust factor %
Asbestos:
< 1 % of TSC value
1.028 mg/Ring
0.1867 m g/cm 3
*)Material
Membrane- Microsorban- Fiber optic filter
b)
59 % rel. humidity 21 C; 995 mbar
*)Material
Membrane- Microsorban- Fiber optic filter
a)
m3 min b)
*)Material *)Material
A t 9 0 m 3 = 3 3 0 fib e rs = TSC value A t 11.25 m 3 = 41 fibers R esult: < 1% o f TSC value
Membrane- Microsorban- Fiber optic filter
a)
m3 min b)
Membrane- Microsorban- Fiber optic filter CONFIDENTIAL
a)
m3 min b)
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000284
1.028993908 MG/FINE DUST - RING
.1866974188 MG/M3 FINE DUST
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000284
EXHIBIT N
11/07/2001
09:59 AM
VW AG WOB +49 [redacted]
To
Mr. Dr. [redacted], Health Protection
From
Process Department/Process planning and coordination
Your reference
Your message from
Our house extension
[redacted]
Our reference
1493-[redacted] [redacted]
[redacted]
Pollutant levels in the service station and in hall 52
BJT8
+49 5361 [redacted]
Page 01
[redacted]
[redacted]
Health Care VW AG
Head
[redacted] [redacted]
11/06/2001
[redacted] [redacted]
Dr. [redacted] [redacted]
1. We performed in the service station fine dust measurements in the breathing area of the plant worker responsible for cleaning brake drums.
These operations are usually only at longer intervals and are of short duration.
In the present case, these are short-term exposures. The assessment of these measured values is carried out in accordance with ZH 1/561, 4.3 - "Rules for the measurement and evaluation of dangerous mineral dusts" -.
Breaches of the TSC (technical standard concentration) values for asbestos-containing particulate matter and the MWC-values (maximum workplace concentration) for copper (dust) and lead occurred during the blowing out of the brake drums. Meanwhile, the cleaning of the brake drums is performed according to another method in which pollutants are not released.
For this reason, it should be indicated to all service stations of the group that, according to the old cleaning procedure, MWC values or TRX exceedances may occur with asbestos-containing materials. This information should also be included in the service station manual - by Mr. [redacted], Coating/Environmental protection procedure.
2. For the plant workers employed in Hall 52 at the car wash, were the values for gasoline hydrocarbons, n-octane (C8H18) between 165.6 ppm and 182.3 ppm.
The individual results can be found in the attached table.
[redacted] [redacted]
Attachment
To D/ Gentlemen
[redacted]
-
[redacted]
-
[redacted]
-
[redacted]
-
VK-41, Service station Wolfsburg VK-31, Technical procedures Occupational safety Committee for occupational safety
200 ppm
200 ppm
VW internal threshold
1.3
32.4
0.45
Assessment index according
ZH 1/561 4.3 Concentration
TSC
EXHIBIT E W 17
01/11/2019
CONFIDENTIAL
Total pages 01
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000407
LAPQ14A CAS number [illegible]
[illegible]
W O R KP LA C E - M EA S U REM E N T S
10/23/1991
08:13 AM
CAS - numbers - statistics for all measurement days
Page 2
1332 - 21 - 4 ASBESTOS (CHRYSOTILE)
Measuring point
B8TZ
05
FEH20GE10401
FEH20GE10501
MATERIAL 01
010 HG 80601
040 WAREH. 01
054 EGFB 7001
071 SIGNED 01
Active / passive
Passive Active Active Passive Passive Passive Passive Passive
Cost center
1942 1762 1763 1396 1319 1643 1335 1412
Substance index
Min
Max
0.01
0.01
< 0.01 < 0.01
< 0.01 < 0.01
0.08
0.08
< 0.01 < 0.01
0.08
0.08
[illegible] [illegible]
- no measurement protocc l - no measurement protoco l
il legible] il legible]
GSA Society for Occupational Safety [illegible] [redacted] Dr. [redacted] REM
CONFIDENTIAL
[illegible] Threshold
[illeg ble] ^ 1
Time of the measurement
TRGS 519
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00002408
EXHIBIT O
To
Mr. Dr. [redacted] - Central Health Care
From
Security chemistry BS
Your reference
Your message from
Our reference
Dr. [redacted]
X
Internal notice
Notice number
House extension
[redacted]
Date
Page
09/02/1987
Asbestos determination in Braunschweig
Attached you will find the requested compilation of asbestos determination in fine dust.
The measurements were taken at workplaces where asbestos-containing materials were processed during the measurement.
The sampling was performed with the particulate matter measuring device VC 25-F. The detection of asbestos in fine dust was carried out by optical microscopy. For positive detection, asbestos was quantified by the IR method.
[redacted] Dr. [redacted]
Attachment
EXHIBIT E W 16
01/11/2019
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000299
- v Security chemistry Braunschweig
Asbestos determination in fine dust at asbestos workplaces in Braunschweig
Day of measurement Measurement order Device Inventory number Site: Workspace/field Process
06/16/1982 0001/1982 Brake shoe riveter 33 207 3 / J4 Inserting the brake shoes
06/23/1982 0001/1982 Brake shoe grinding machine 3-30 C 31 550-1 3 / J5 Outlet of the grinding machine
06/23/1982 0001/1982 Rotary table riveter 17 174 3 / G8 Inserting the brake shoes
Processed material
Processing volume during the measurement Fine dust (mg/m3) Asbestos (mg/m3) (Chrysotile) Asbestos in fine dust Comments
Brake shoes Company Jurid 171 609 565 J
2,170
Brake shoes Company ABPA 443 609 537/538
1,500
0.100 0.009
0.150 0.045
9%
The devices were moved at the extraction system with dust
30%
end of the year 1982 and separation.
Brake shoes Company ABPA 171 609 525/526 A 3,070
0.130 0.009
7% equipped with a central
Date: 09/02/1987
Sheet: 1
of 3
Signed: Dr. [redacted]
11/19/1983 0001/1983
5 / N10 Removal of brake pads from the container Unknown company (asbestos-containing brake pads)
0.180 Unverifiable (optical microscope)
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000300
- v Security chemistry Braunschweig
Day of measurement Measurement order Device Inventory number Site: Workspace/field Process Processed material
Processing volume during the measurement Fine dust (mg/m3) Asbestos (mg/m3) (Chrysotile) Asbestos in fine dust Comments
11/20/1983 0001/1983 Brake shoe riveter 33 207 5 / N 13 Inserting the brake shoes Asbestos containing brake shoes (Company unknown)
0.110 0.002
Concentration below the detection limit
Asbestos determination in fine dust at asbestos workplaces in Braunschweig
11/13/1983 0001/1983 Brake shoe grinding machine 3-30 C 31 550-1 5 / N 14 Outlet of the grinding machine Asbestos containing brake shoes (Company unknown)
11/20/1983 0001/1983 Brake shoe grinding machine 3-30 C 31 550-1 5 / N 14 Inserting the brake shoes Asbestos containing brake shoes (Company unknown)
0.220
Unverifiable by optical microscope
0.130 0.002
Concentration below the detection limit
Date: 09/02/1987
Sheet: 2
of 3
Signed: [redacted]
11/19/1983 0001/1983 Rotary table riveter 10 174 5 / O 22 Inserting the brake shoes Asbestos containing brake shoes (Company unknown)
0.240
Unverifiable by optical microscope
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 0000030 1
- v Security chemistry Braunschweig
Asbestos determination in fine dust at asbestos workplaces in Braunschweig
Day of measurement Measurement order Device
Inventory number Site: Workspace/field Process Processed material
11/30/1983
0002/1983
Suspension arm assembly LT 40
02/10/1984
0002/1983
Brake shoe grinding machine Automotive workshop
5 / L 22
Assembly of suspension arms
Assembly work with complete components
1 / without Regrinding of brake pads Asbestos-containing pads
Processing volume during the measurement
Fine dust (mg/m3)
Asbestos (mg/m3) (Chrysotile)
Asbestos in fine dust
Comments
0.081 0.018
22%
16
0.164 0.003
30% Concentration below the detection limit
06/05/1986 0018/1986 Brake shoe grinding plant
3-30 C 31 550-2 5 / N 14 Inserting the brake pads Asbestos-containing brake pads (Company unknown)
0.836 Unverifiable by optical microscope 7%
Date: 09/02/1987
Sheet: 3
of 3
Signed: [redacted]
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000302
EXHIBIT P
South German Iron and Steel Professional Association
(Statutory accident insurance) H e a d q u a rte r
6500 MAINZ-WEISENAU WILHELM-THEODOR-RMHELD-STRASSE 15 PHONE: (0 61 31) 802-1
Technical Supervisory Service
REPORT o n th e m e a s u re m e n t o f a ir p o llu ta n ts a t th e w o r k p la c e
1.1 Report number: 91 2231
1.2 Company:
VW AG Kassel P.O. box 10 38 60
3500 Kassel-Baunatal
Place of operation:
Date:
07/03/1991
Company number: 624/0133/8
D3 same address
1.3 Type of operation:
1.4 Participants at the meeting:
at the measurement:
1.5 Measurement performed by: on:
1.6 Measurement task:
Phone number: 05 61/4 90 [red: Automobile industry
Mr. [redacted], SI, Mr. [redacted], SI Chemist, Mr. [redacted], SFK
temporarily Mr. [redacted] [redacted], Mr. [redacted]
Mr. [redacted], TAD, HV March 25, 26, 26 and 28, 1991
Determination of asbestos dust concentration in the Aggregate preparation and in halls 3 and 4. Measurement order from 03/28/1991.
1.7 Responsible TAB:
Mr. Dipl. Ing. [redacted]
[redacted] 03/1987
tabbies*
PLA IN TIFFS EXHIBIT
29
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - ( 00000:526
2. Work areas and measurement results
Work areas/measurement points/sample
BA --
Hazardous material
WA MP S
Designation
3 1 1 Riveting brake linings
Fibers in general:
d < 3pm l > 5pm
(here Chrysotile
asbestos)
40 1 4 Brushing off engine block
40 2 5 Clutch disassembly
40 3 6 Sanding of the sealing surface of
the intake manifold
40 4 7 Sanding of the sealing surface of
the water pump
40 5 8 Scraping off the seal residues from
the cylinder head
40 9 9 Scraping off the seal residues of the
water pump
146 1 2 Oil fired power plant
2 2 0 1 3 Repacking of clutch discs
T (F/m3) 250 000
250 000 250 000 250 000
250 000
250 000
250 000
250 000 250 000
Page 2 to report no: 91 2231
STV
Date
SD
p/s
MMDD
(h)
03/25
2
P
-
03/26
2
P
-
03/26
2
P
-
03/27
2
P
-
03/27
2
P
-
03/27
2
P
-
03/27
2
P
-
03/26
2 .0
s
03/26
2 .0
P
AI
se
Conc. S/ STV Conc
(F/m3)
T x se
80 000 S
0.32
-
130 000 S
-
40 000 S
-
540 000 S
-
40 000 S
-
1 1 0 000
S
-
< 40 000 S
-
< 40 000 S
< 40 000 S
0.52 0.16 2.16
0.16
0.44
< 0.16
< 0.16 < 0.16
WA Number of the work place
SD
MP
Number of the measurement point
P
S
Number of the sample in the analysis report
s
T
Threshold (for example MAK, TRK)
STV Short term value category
02/1991
CONFIDENTIAL
SamPling duration on the Person stationary
se Conc S / STV AI
factor for shortened exposition Pollutant concentration Shift mean average / Short term value Assessment index
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000327
Page 3
to report number 91 2231
3. Findings/Comments
The work performed during the measurement can, according to the attendant, be regarded as representative. The assessment of the measurement result was uncorrected on the basis of the shift mean value in comparison to the threshold. The overview tables on page 2 are used for quick information. The attachments contain the BIA analysis report with environmental conditions.
Since dealing with asbestos-containing materials, it has been assumed that the general fiber count measured in the respiratory air consists mainly of asbestos fibers. The assessment was therefore based on the asbestos fiber limit of chrysotile (most common asbestos type).
Critical concentration values are to be determined at the following work processes: - .Trigg.er.t.h.r.e.s.h.o.ld.ex.ce.e.d.a.n.c.es.(AJ-S. >.Q.-.1).at.o.n.e-.tj.me..m.ea.s.u.r.e.m.e.nt) Riveting brake linings (IBA 31) asbestos Brushing off engine block (IBA 4Q1) asbestos Clutch disassembly (IBA 4Q2) asbestos Sanding of the sealing surface of the water pump (IBA 4Q4) asbestos Scraping off the seal residues from the cylinder head (IBA 4Q5) asbestos
- Exce.e.dance of threshold .(AI.-.S.>.1) Sanding of the sealing surface of the intake manifold (IBA 4Q3) asbestos
Processed by: [redacted]
Technical Supervisory Service on behalf of [redacted]
Attachments BIA analysis report Pictures of the measurement points Assessment criteria
[h a n d -w ritte n te xt illegible on this page]
CONFIDENTIAL
Clark vs. VWAG (Ferraro) - 00000328