1966, Bendix to Johns-Manville: Die Baby, Die.
Most of my lawyer friends know this story, but I am not sure about others. So, lets begin with the participants. On September 12, 1966, E. A. Martin, was a Director of Purchases for the Bendix Friction Material Division stationed in Troy, New York. Noel Hendry, at the same time, was employed at “Canadian Johns Manville Co, Ltd” located in Asbestos, Canada. That Johns-Manville facility was a long term supplier of asbestos to the Bendix Troy facility starting in 1939.
On September 12, 1966, Martin, sent one of the most infamous letters in the annals of asbestos history to Noel Hendry in response to a then recent article appearing in Chemical Week magazine, with Martin stating:
“My answer to the problem is: if you have enjoyed a good life while working with asbestos products why not die from it. There’s got to be some cause.”
I suspect the Martin did not run this letter past legal for a review prior to sending it.
The background of the letter can be found at numerous internet sources such as the following:
Given the wide breadth of the professional fields associated with asbestos, letters like the above are a good reminder that real live seriously injured people who suffer horrific pain are the real victims, and the involved professionals should never make lite of that suffering.
Let me know what you think either by leaving a comment or by sending me an email at TheAsbestosBlog@gmail.com. Thank you. Marty