Document kDVLxd3VzXO11qpeKDJaYvdJO

FILE NAME: WR Grace (WRG) DATE: September 11, 1967 DOC#: WRG035 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: 1967 Zonolite Division memo regarding former employee with asbestos in lungs :O M O L I7 i D1VI33C TO R. W. S t e r r e t t DATE September 11, I 967 i \ r --. 04209300 FROM E. 0. Lovick SUBJECT ' CC: 0. F. Stewart, R. A. B lei ch About two weeks ago, a former employee of our s, Herman Hermsen, cal l ed me and said he had been referred to a Spokane doctor by his l ocal doctor. This doctor in Spokane told him that he had asbestos In hi s lungs. Mr. Hermsen worked for us from 1950 to I960, when he was r e t i r ed for what was diagnosed as a r t e r i a l d i se as e. At that time he was 60 years old. At that time our insurance c a r r i e r was Royal Indemnity Company. I f there is any cl ai m, they would of course be responsibl e. I c al l e d the attorney who handled t he i r matters in Montana and he told me that i t was doubtful that the man had any claim under Montana law as i t was at that time, even i f i t is determined that t hi s di agnosis is c o r r e c t , but i t would have to be checked out. He would n ot if y the company that there would be a p o s si b i l i t y of t hi s coming up. . I went to see Mr. Hermsen and he told me again what he had said on the phone. He told me he intended to get an attorney to check t h i s out for him. The Royal attorney had told me that t h i s is what the man should do. I told Herman that t hi s was the wise thing for him to do, and advised him to get a reputable lawyer. On F r i d a y , an attorney came in and t ol d me that he was representing Mr. Hermsen. I v e r i f i e d hi s employment dates with us. The attorney is from K a l i s p e l l , and from what I know of him, w i l l be honest and f a i r . In other words, he is not one of these i n d u s t r i a l di sease s hys te r s p e c i a l i s t s . I f there are. f urther developments, we wi l l keep you informed. EDCovick/jbg LIB3Y 2 r~\ SP 13 1S57 R. ' ZO- NOLIT E j j i V ! W. R. Gro-^- O-