Document mpVLzr8M75Jxjed3YLmZk9rmb

1 worked with plaster that contained asbestos. Page 267 Page 269 1 and told you a few things and showed you a few 2 He worked around people that sprayed it on 2 documents. 3 buildings day in and day out, but he didn't tell you 3 I can't help to think that it is done for a 4 that in his opening. Please keep your eyes open. 4 reason. It is done so you want to get up and punch me 5 Now, maybe somebody is going to make a 5 right in the mouth, we are bad, we are monsters and 6 comment and Ms. Tostanoski and all, we sued somebody 6 put us in the worst possible light. 7 and we want them to share the responsibility. 7 Throughout the trial he is going to put up 8 We didn't sue anybody. We are just 8 documents, the same documents I have, the same 9 maintaining what is called a cross-claim against the 9 documents we gave them that go back years and years 10 people that they originally sued. 10 ago. 11 They have had doctors look at these things 11 What you have got to keep in mind about my 12 and say yes, the stuff that he was exposed to as a 12 client is when we were formed, we were formed in 1938 13 plasterer caused his disease. 13 and we were a fiberglass company. That is why our 14 The question is was our product a 14 name is Owens-Coming Fiberglas. 15 substantial contributing factor to this man's 15 Early on there was some reference by Mr. 16 mesothelioma? That is why I am here. There is a 16 Shellenberger about all of these documents we had 17 dispute. 17 about asbestos, and I guess the impression is that we 18 All I want you to do is do what is fair. 18 had some mad scientist back in a room that knew about 19 That is the only thing I can ask you for and I am 19 asbestos and no one else did. 20 going to talk about the people that they sued, and not 20 Ladies and gentlemen, that is the furthest 21 that I sued or not that my co-counsel sued. 21 thing from the truth. Let me tell you about asbestos, Page 268 Page 270 1 The plaintiffs right there. You will see 1 and I am telling you right now, before we got in 2 more about that later on in this trial. 2 business in 1938, it was known that asbestos could 3 Mr. Shellenberger talked about the 3 cause problems. TTiere is no doubt about it. 4 pipecovering over here, and I am telling you right 4 It was known back in the late 1920s, back in 5 now, yes, there was a time when we manufactured 5 Britain in the 1930s, and basically people knew that 6 pipecovering that contained asbestos, and I think 6 if you worked with asbestos over a long period of time 7 there is going to be some testimony that occasionally 7 in high doses, you can get this lung disease called 8 some of these people worked around some of this 8 asbestosis. 9 pipecovering or someone else's pipecovering, but what 9 It is a benign disease. It is scarring, and 10 you are also going to hear is that they worked with 10 I think we had someone in the jury pool yesterday, I 11 plaster that contained asbestos. 11 don't think she was on the panel, but she mentioned my 12 They sprayed buildings. They had to fire 12 husband has black lung disease. That is from working 13 code buildings because in most states prior to 1980, 13 in the coal mines. You get so much dust in there, you 14 most buildings, like schools and stuff like that, had 14 develop something called black lung. It is scarring. 15 to have fireproofing material and the best 15 With asbestosis it is actually called white 16 fireproofing material there was, and even to this day, 16 lung disease because asbestos is generally white, and 17 was asbestos and that is why it was used. 17 people like asbestos miners who work with this stuff, 18 Let me talk about my client because there 18 some of them develop white lung or asbestosis. 19 have been a lot of things said about my client earlier 19 It was also known in this country back in 20 today. 20 the '30s that these asbestos textile workers, usually 21 Mr. Shellenberger had a lot of buzz words 21 it was in the South, they had a lot of people working 30 (Pages 267 to 270)