Document RJVLw7krMqLX6m5pyqZjEwpek
Ba u m & At t o r n e y s a t La w
Ric h a r d W. Ba u m Sa mu e l J. Ru f e o l o
November 4 th, 1983
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Su it e 2225 On e No r t h La Sa l l e St r e e t
Ch ic a g o , Il l in o is 0602 (312) 726 - 1995
Mr. Steve Borgstrom Raymond Sheakley & Associates 18 W 100 22nd Street Suite #124 Oak Brook Terrace, Illinois 60181
r edac t ed
RE:
-vsSherwin Williams Co. I.C . #: 82 0D 34 File#: 8209-00177IL D/E: 1-30-81
Dear Steve:
Please be advised that the deposition both oral and
record, of Mr. Ken Ermer was taken by Attorney Ed McCambridge
of the Offices of Epton, Mullin, Druth & Segal at 140 South
Dearborn, Chicago, Illinois on November 1st, 1983. This was
a continuation of the first deposition of Mr. Paul Leczynski,
Area Supervisor of the paint department at buildings 197 and
200 at our company. This deposition was not as well attended
as the first one. Present was certified court reporter, Jean
Terry of Cochran, Pudlow, et.al at phone 236-8461.
Also
present was Attorney Ed McCambridge representing H. K. Porter
Company and the deposer. Also present was Patrick Lamb of
Katten, Muchin, Zavis, Pearl and Galler, 55 E. Monroe Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60603 at phone 346-7400, representing GAF.
Also present was Robert Riley of Schiff, Hardin and Waite,
7200 Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois
60606, representing
Owens, Illinois. Also present was Kathleen O'Dekirk of Burke
& Burke, 200 W. Madison, Suite #3880, Chicaao. Tiling'-,
60606, representing the plaintiff, the widow of
The questions of Mr. Ken Ermer were confined to infor
mation concerning the filler and set up sections of the con
tainer and packaging department of Sherwin Williams Company
in buildings #197 and #200 an area in which
worked
for a good part of his work life. Mr. Ermer testified that
he presently lives at 1952 Grass Fork Court in Valparaiso,
Indiana and has lived there for 6 months.
N40113
0007-S WP-005802630 CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Steve Borgstrom November 4th, 1983 Page 2.
RE:
Sherwin Williams Co.
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He indicated that his job title is material control manager and that he has been with Sherwin Williams for one year and four months. He also indicated that he has a Bache lor of Science Degree as an Economics major and that his responsibility is to buy all raw materials to fulfill production requirements. He further testified that he didn't know who sent specifications for insullation.
that he did not know who the material control manager was
the 1960's.
further indicated that his basic job function
was to get requisitions from various heads of departments or
other supervisors and then place the orders.
Group exhibit #1 for identification which was introduced into evidence, was purchase orders for maintenance supplies from 1982 to the present. Mr. Ermer indicated this is all the records he had in his possession and that he had searched for additional information but apparently no records were kept and the the comptroller has now said to keep purchase orders for seven years. He indicated that he knew of no existance of any earlier purchase orders, nor did he know of any microfilming system for recording old purchase orders.
lings, and-'that^ he had
s>Plaht man-
983. Prior to Victor Barrr* he indicated Russ
Group Exhibit #2 for evidence was photocopies of the specs and contracts for buildings #197 and #200 for the years 1963 and 1964 when those buildings were apparently construc ted .
0007-SWP-005802631 CONFIDENTIAL
Mr. Steve Borgst- m November 4th, 1983 Page 3.
REDACTED
RE:
> - Sherwin Williams Co.
Group exhibit #3 was a bid document for consolidation of paint processing department and for insullation and piping in buildings 197 and 200 for construction in 1964.
Mr. Ermer indicated that was the entire amount of documents he had concerning the two buildings in questin. Attached to group exhibit 3 were blue prints both for storage tanks in 1978 and the blue prints in my possession for con struction of buildings 197 and 200.
The blue prints for the storage tanks in 1978 were dated March 3, 1978 and March 10thr 1978 and concerned 4000 gallon fitting or filling tanks.
There was then a lengthly search for other people who
may have knowledge about the information needed by the var
ious defendants in this case and again, Don Watson's name as
plant engineer was prominent. Also mentioned was Joe Pino
and Jack Clifford who orperate in a corporate purchasing
function for Sherwin Williams.
Also mentioned was Pat
Jazman, Assistant to Joe Pino and Jack Clifford.
Probably the most critical document produced at the discovery deposition on November 1st, were the bid documents for paint consolidation, insullation of process equipment and piping for buildings 197 and 200, dated June, 1964. In that particular bid, it recites the names of various companies which will supply insullation, namely Custin-Bacon, Carey, Owens-Corning and Johns-Manville.
Mr. Steve Borgstrom November 4th, 1983 Page 4.
RE:
- Sherwin Williams Co.
This was critical information and it could well be that following the deposition, a number of summary judgments will be filed by the various defendants who apparently were not requried by the construction documents to supply asbestos insullation to Sherwin Williams.
In an off the record conversation with Attorney Ed McCambridge, after the deposition, he indicated that he may also be going in for a summary judgment since H. K. Porter company, his client, does not appear to have supplied any asbestos for the new construction.
It should be pointed out that this deposition did not concern any asbestos contained in any of our old products. In fact, in my conversations with Mr. Ermer before the depo sition, he did not know of any documents so indicating the use of asbestos in either roof coating or gutter insullating paint which I seem to have in my file.
I would like to know the whereabouts of those records which seem to be chemical formulas, possibley kept in our chemistry or technical department in Cleveland Ohio.
I am sure that somewhere in the search for this information this may come out and although I. do not want to voluntarily disclose it at this point, it may become necessary in the future that I know where those documents are kept.
Since Ed McCambridge has been spear-heading all of this discovery to date, should he file for Summary Judgment and be dismissed from the .case, it could be that the discovery process will slow down considerably.
Since this concludes my services to date, I enclose my itemized bill.
Very truly yours,
BAUM & RUFFOLO
RWB/ppm
Richard W. Baum
0007-SWP-005802633 CONFIDENTIAL
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01 Openirig- file.-,;
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02 Continuance '.,
03 conf. p. atty.- T.C~ 04 conf. pC.--at.iy. , t. office 05 conf. V^'at.iy. - phone
06 Arrange mddv; exam -
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07 Eval of:mid,8;or/trans to Co. 08 Eval ard/oV.request for invest.
09 Eval of hbsp. records 09aOrder of hosEJi . records
10 Attend, at deposition-'
11 Trial of case-...." 12 Prep, of petition .for review
13 Attend. at- rey.' hearing
14 Oral argument
15 Prep. ofWr-itYof-Certiorari
N40113.01
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16 Abstracting record 17 Prep of breifs or reply briefs 18 Appearance - Cir. Gourt 19 Oral Arg. in Cir. Court 20 Filing appeal to Supreme Ct. 21 Oral Arg in Supreme Ct. 22 Prep. of'L.S.S.C. 23-App. at I.C. on L.S.S.C. 24 App`. at I.C. on misc. petitions 25 Phone Ccmm. with Co. .26 Arrange for Pro Se settlement 27 Long distance phone 28 Filing fee 29 Printing charges "30 Misc. corres. to pet. atty 31 Misc. corres. to co. 32 Status report to Co. 33 Status report co Co. 34 M1'sc. corres. 35 . .rch I.C. records
0007-SWP-005802634 CONFIDENTIAL