C. H. Grote to R. M. King and Others on a Rise in Occupational Disease Claims at Manville (1964)

A confidential one-page memo of May 6, 1964, from C. H. Grote at J-M's Manville Building Products Plant to R. M. King, Dr. Kenneth W. Smith, J. J. Fritz and one other, reporting that the plant had received 13 formal claim petitions in late April, nine of them for occupational disease and eight of those from Textiles. "There are some indications that an organized procedure has been developed to identify individuals suspected of having an occupational disease and filing formal claim petitions for them," he wrote. Citing 19 occupational disease claims received since March 20, 1964, Grote called a meeting at the plant to discuss pulmonary function studies, consent settlements and job reassignment after awards.

What it shows

Grote's memo set off the response laid out a week later in Sheckler's memo proposing full trials of most claims.

In Johns-Manville's chronology

Johns-Manville's own chronology of what the company knew describes this document as follows:

C.H. Grote (Manville) writes to R.M. King on 5/6/64 that he recently received nine formal claim petitions for occupational disease, eight of which involved workers from Textiles. "There are some indications that an organized procedure has been developed to identify individuals suspected of having an occupational disease and filing formal claim petitions for them."

In light of the 19 occupational disease claims filed since 3/20/64 and the probable filing of additional claims, Grote asks the addressees to attend a meeting at the Manville plan to discuss this matter. Some items to be discussed will be the advisability of pulmonary function Studies, Consent Settlements, and job reassignment after awards.

Editor's note: J-M's description says Grote received nine formal claim petitions for occupational disease. The memo says the plant received 13 formal claim petitions, nine of them for occupational disease and eight of those from Textiles.