Document X7Gg1qwMjKvZgzZL3wGdrpyjg
FILE NAME: Early Asbestos Damage Suits (EADS) DATE: 1932
DOC#: EADS017
DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: Documents from Case of Magdalena Stepka for Paul Stepka
iTETVf JERSEY SUPREME COURT
3 r.d c''::3 i-' t'- clr.-vn. pr-vrimity i f th8(l[ERSETiC0UNTYir&pn
MAGDALENA'STEPKA^ gen eral a d -4~hr.) hC. crime into .contact with,
n i n i s t r a t r i x o f PAUL STEPKA, ' l / 1*
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ACTION AT LAW
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COMPLAINT `
JO H liS-M A W ILLE:-CORPORATION,1-at:;9 )of thfi n atu re j e f . ths. Raid
corporation of the State of New * ' '
; *.
York,;-i a -,?* flbealso fiV e rc and $ ?):.'tic.IsSv Vilt-h wUioh he to*
*
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b -o u cb t ,' rii o i\: yr. D e fe n d a n t* by )thtf defend ant* e. a lo an ee,
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-j.r * def endant e x p la in e d o f in
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FIRST COUNT.
T h e .p ld n tiff, Magdalena Stepka, general ad m in istratrix
of Paul Stepka,' deceased p re sid in g - at. lia n v ille , ]New Je r s e y ,
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i;-` ik roc vOrio.lly *afr plcc-o o f way!:.
says th a t:t
S' }vir
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* T. i ' The' -intestate ^was `'in ';th e vemployCof.:tha; d efen d an taiu i >..1 \
corp oration, at it s p lant in H a n v ille , Hew Je r s e y , in the
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month o f November,' 1930,'-and fo r several years p rio r thereto*
2*' The d e fe n d a n t'co rp o ra tio n 'a t .thet..time h e r e in js e t.r A * *v . ' ?'''; *i. ~ nv : '>1; t '*`
fo rth was engaged in the m anufacturelof.: asbestos;products
';
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fo r commercial purposes*
3 * The said defendant employed .th e r in te a ta te :a t? th e --
time and place above ` aet fo rth v in 'ita tm a n u fa ctu reH o ffsa id
asbestos products, and theo Bald defendant nottOnlyiknew,' but
Bhould 'have known, -th a t' the >sa id ,:asbestos-.productslcontained
ce rtain dangerous,' in sid io u s'a n d harmful agencies composed
of -aoboBtos `fib ers'a n d ' Other' particles'ithat^.vrere .^destructive
t o ''life and health* in ' the, human::bodyi Lwhenrbrought j in toa a
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and in h a le d the s a id dangerous f ib e r s and p a r t i c l e o t o t h e ,f> ..
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5 . I n t e s t a t e was n ot inform ed or warned by the .
dangerous
a s"b es to s
f i b 'eur sf r arnyd
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brought into close p ro xim ity by the defendant' s negligen ce* l Jk d . ' - o <.*
6* The n e g lig e n c e o f the d efen dan t com plained o f is
as follow si-
y.uO'crui j7 ; r .
(a) In f a ilin g to use reasonable pare to provide, the
in te B ta ta '*w ith a- r e a s o n a b ly !'s a fe p la c e fo f J wdrk#'i'r - /'; *
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c*f- {*. r-? 5u it'.g in ^1-trriV.* ,
v:`"' ' (b)' -' In fa ilin g * to use reaso n ab le care to provide the
in te s ta te w ith proper masks or other a p p lia n ce s .or safeguard
in said work."-2]M& ^
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' (o) In fa ilin g to use reasonable care to provide a proper v e n tila tin g system a t it s p lan t*. \
(d) In f a i l i n g to use reasonable care to giv e proper^., w arn in g,' in fo rm a tio n and knowledge about th e 4;dangerous ' i' * 0*
c h a r a c te r o f i t s work w ith the sa id a s b e s to s f i b e r s and
p a r t ic le s to the s a id In te B ta te at the time and p la ce r
.a^b1o-vre m eIn:tion' e' d.J
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7 The s a id a s b e s to s f ib e r s and p a r t i c l e s were^ in t r o
duced in to the ifc t d s ta t e ' s body a t the time and p la c e
a f o r e s a id , so th a t th e in t e s t a t e was p erm an en tly in ju r e d
e x t e r n a lly and i n t e r n a l l y , in and about h lB h e a d , body and
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lim bs,
causing *him
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and he became a v ic t im olpulm onary d is e a s e s , and d ied as a
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expenses and dam ages, to the e x te n t o f $50,000*00
8T;,, O;n.Decembe..rj..2,,6, 10931, the p.. l a i nj.;t- i af nf , ftM; vaglrd-aaleiun,a Sttwe p kwai*.J was: >diuvly oaXp<p-:o,vin ted .g eftcnr.-ewr al1.a d rTai,in.i'3a t rVa'tt-rviCxu.ocf-ythe eVsJitraif'tWe ob*f P1.a.:u/l >S!Vte!pi.'i,cVat , ifdi.eSoweiadaiedi..;,7>hy a^t-h.ieO surrogate o f - W1.t. h. .. ..*; .
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, . ' . THE PLAINT I F F , Jla g d a le n a S te p k a , g e n e r a l a d m in is t r a t r ix
o f the e s t:a*t*e ftor fv.iP a u l S tC.e-4p k a ,
o f $ 5 0 ,0 0 0 ,0 0 .as dam ages.from
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cl ujo
f i r s t ;count.
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d e ct ieta-s{ e-?du, pd.-ei-minaAnodrs*.*thi.ev-Srs-urmtiV'
th e.d efen d an t,, under th is
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ir; Ujo
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r-rc o -*; :'**- ' f r r * *r.-S-E--CrONlifDe?lCinOUNt-nTC.i O. UTt.
.
The p l a i n t i f f , Magdalena S te p k a , a d m ln is t r a t r ix .a d prosequendum o f P aul Step k a, deceased,'^ re s id ih g ^ in 'M a n v ille i New .J e r s e y ,s a y s t h a t -
1 . She .re p e a ts the a lle g a t io n s o f p aragrap h s o n e , two
th r e e , fo u r , f iv e and s ix o f the f i r s t c o u n t...
2 . The s a id a sb e sto s fib e r s 'a n d p a r t ic le s 'w e r e ^ in tr o
duced in to the in t e s t a t e 's body a t the tim e and p lace a fo re s a id , so th a t the in te sta te 'b e b a m .e p erm anently in ju r e d ,
e x t e r n a lly end i n t e r n a l l y , in and abou t h i s h e a d , body and lim b s , c a u s in g him g r e a t p a in ana s u f f e r i n g , b o th m ental and p h y s ic a l, g r e a t ly lowered h i s ` r e s is ta n c e to d is e a s e , and he became a v ic t im o f pulm onary d is e a s e s , and d ie d a s a r e s u lt th e r e o f on December 17, 1931. . -
3 . On Decem ber 2 6, 1931, the p l a i n t i f f , M agdalena Stepka was d u ly appointed by the s u rro g a te o f. Som erset
County, a d m in is tr a tr ix ad prosequendum.of. P au l S te p k a , rierpnaed. and h ere and now p r o f f e r s h e r s a id l e t t e r s o f
in testate fo r support.
5 The p l a i n t i f f ) aa a d m in is t r a t r ix as aforesaid)
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fo r the' "benefit o f the said n ext o f k i n , is Tested b y i- . ,.'s
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`a, c a u s e o f a c t i o n .a g a i n s t th e ,d e fe n d a n t f o r n e g l i g e n t ly / ? ^
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causing the death o f h e r in testate, and brings thiB" action"*
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*w ith in
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a ft e r the death o f the said in te s ta te .
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6 . The sa id n e x t '.o f k in .s u ffe r e d p e c u n ia ry , lo s s e s
by reason o f the death o f the said Paul Stepka, in th e .
sum o f ^ 5 0 ,0 0 0 .0 0 .
THE P IA IN T IFP , Magdalena S te p k a , a d m in is t r a t r ix ad
prosequendum o f P a u l S te p k a , d e ce a se d , demands the sum
o f 050,000.00 as damages from the defendant under t h i s
second count. ,
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.
(1Ji'DORF?F?' iL*HTS )
SAMUEL GREENSTONE Attorney fo r P la in t iff .
I hereby d e p u tiz e Chae. H. Murray to serv e the
rrilu in v :r it . V/itness my h and pad F eal t n is 26 day
o i Jen I S 32.
7/r*. R . S u tp h in
Sh eriff
Je n . 2G. 1932. I served tne w ith in sturaone and comn le u it m o n The Jo h n s -H a n v iile C o r p o r a tio n , c c r o o rp tio n o f tne S t t e o f her; York, by s e rv in g A . R. F is h e r ,' P lan t Manager, p e rso n a lly at ila n v ille , N. J . Fees G3.7B
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UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT . DISTRICT OP liEW JERSEY
11AGDALEITA 3TEPKA, g e n e r a l
:
a d m in is t r a t r ix o f PAUL STEPKA,
d e c e a s e d , and MAGDALENA STEPKA, *
a d m in is tr a tr ix ad.prosequendum
o f PAUL STEPKA, d e c e a s e d ,
* *
:
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A c tio n t Law
P la in tiffs, A N S W E R
. -* . *
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JOHNS-ANVILL3 CORPORATION, a corporation o f the State o f New Y o rk ,
D e fen d a n t.
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D e fe n d a n t, JOHNS-MANVILLE CORPORATION, a
j c o rp o ra tio n o f the S t a t e o f New Y o rk , h a v in g i t s p r in c ip a l
o f f i c e in New J e r s e y , a t M a n v ille , Somerset C ou n ty, s a y s th?
FIRST DEFENSE TO FIRST COUNT '
1. I t denies paragraph 1, except th at i t says
*
t
th a t the p l a i n t i f f ' s in t e s t a t e was in i t s employ a t i t s
p la n t in M a n v ille , New J e r s e y , from December 2 8 , 1926, to
i l November 12, 1930, (
2 . I t denies paragraph 2, except th a t i t says l j th a t i t was and has been engaged in the m anufacture o f I ja sb e sto s products fo r commercial purposes from December 28,
| 1926 to the p re se n t tim e .
|
3 . I t denies paragraph 3, except that i t says
!
~
j th a t i t employed the p l a i n t i f f ' s in t e s t a t e from December I
j 28,1926, to November 12, 1930.
4 . I t denies paragraphs 4 , 5 , 6 and 7 ,
5 . I t has no knowledge or in fo rm a tio n s u f f i c i e
SECOND DEFENSE TO FIRST COUNT
The in ju r y and the d ise a se a lle g e d in th e c o m p la in t
were due to one o f the r is k s ' o f h i s employment assumed hy
the p l a i n t i f f ' s in te s ta te as p art of t h e ,terms o f..h is
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c o n tra c t o f employment. .
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41. `
. THIRD DEFENSE TO FIRST COUNT
;ifi'i $ i '* ` f ''
The in ju r y and the d is e a s e a lle g e d in the com p laint ;
were due to one o f the r is k s o f h i s employment assumed hy
the p l a i n t i f f ' s in te s ta te as p art of the terms of h is
c o n tra c t of employment in th a t the p l a i n t i f f ' s in te s t a t e
knew, or hy the e x e r c is e o f re a so n a b le care on h i s p a r t
should have known, the a lle g e d dangers o f h is employment.
!
FOURTH DEFENSE TO FIRST COUNT
I
|
The in ju r y and the d is e a s e a lle g e d i n %the com p laint
were caused hy c o n tr ib u to r y n e g lig e n c e on the p a r t o f th e
p la in tiff' s in testate.
I-
FIFTH DEFENSE TO FIRST COUNT r -
j
The in ju r y and th e d is e a s e a lle g e d in the com p lain t
were caused hy c o n tr ib u to r y n e g lig e n c e on th e p a r t o f th e i I p l a i n t i f f ' s in te sta te in that the p la in t i f f ' s in te sta te
|fa ile d to exercise reasonable care to p rotect h im self agai
i the a lle g e d dangers o f h i s employment by u s in g th e mask an I ! other ap p lian ces provided by the defendant fo r th a t purposI
I
SIXTH DEFENSE TO FIRST COUNT
i
-------------------- ....... -- * ---- -
J
The in ju r y and th e d is e a s e a lle g e d in the com plainl
jv/ere due to n e g lig e n c e on the p a rt o f a fe llo w -s e r v a n t o f
th e p l a i n t i f f ' s i n t e s t a t e , in f a i l i n g . t o warn and i n s t r u c
I the p l a i n t i f f ' s in t e s t a t e to use th e mask and o th er ap-
-Li:
seventh defeuse to f ir s t count
1 . The a lle g e d in ju r y , i f an y , t o t h e .p l a i n t i f f *a in t e s
t a t e was. a tr e s p a s s done to the person o f s a id i n t e s t a t e .
2 . Said a lle g e d in ju r y , i f an y , was caused b y 'th e
alleged wrongful a c t , n eglect or d e fa u lt -of- the defendant.
3* No a c t io n was commended'and i n s t i t u t e d ' b y ' s a id , in te s
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t a t e , w h ile he was l i v i n g , to recover fo r s a id a lle g e d in ju r
w ith in tv/o year9 n e x t a f t e r the a lle g e d cau se o f a c t io n a c c i
to said in te s ta te .
. ` ' - v
EIGHTH DEFENSE TO FIRST OOUNT 1' '
1. It repeats the a lle g a tio n s of paragraph 1 of the Se'
Defense to the F ir s t Count.
2 . I t r e p e a ts the a lle g a t io n s o f p aragrap h 2 o f the 3e
Defense to the F ir s t Count.
3 . llo a c t io n was commenced.and i n s t i t u t e d hy th e p la in
to reco v e r f o r s a id a lle g e d in ju r y , w ith in two y e a rs n ext r
the alleged cause of action accrued to said in te s ta te . FIRST DEFENSE TO SECOND COUNT
1. I t repeats the a lle g a tio n s o f paragraphs 1 , 2,
3 and 4 o f the F i r s t C o u n t. 2. I t denies the a lle g a tio n s o f paragraph 2 , except
th a t i t has no knowledge or in fo rm a tio n s u f f i c i e n t to form a b e l i e f as to the date of the a lle g e d death o f the p la in tiff' s in testate.
3 . I t has no knowledge or in fo r m a tio n s u f f i c i e n t tc form a b e lie f as to the a lle g a tio n s o f paragraph 3 .
4 . I t has no knowledge or in fo r m a tio n s u f f i c i e n t t(
form a b e lie f as to the a lle g a tio n s o f paragraph 4 .
r4- n n knowledge or information sufficient t