Document r62o78zGMzymknOXVKqO1drne
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Gen. No. 46266 XIN TOE LAKR CUPERICR COURT
OF HAMMOND COUNTY
LAWRENCE NELSON, Plaintiff,
vs, TOE INTERNATIONAL SMELTING AND REFINING COMPANY, a corp.,
Defendant,
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES
Todd & Slaughter 804 Lloyd Bldg,
Hammond, Ind. Tel. 629.
V/
PNYC 00013191
STATE OF INDIANA )
) S3
COtJNTY OF LATE
)
TM rptr? LAKE SUPERIOR COURT, JANUARY TERM,
1936
LAWRENCE NELSON,
No. 46266 )
PLAINTIFF,
-VS-
COMPLAINT FOR DAMAGES
THE INTERNATIONAL SMELTING AND REFINING COMPANY, a corporation,
DEPENDANT,
Plaintiff in the above entitled cause complains of the above named defendant, and for cause of action, alleges and says;
That for a long period of time prior to the 4th day of May, 1935, said defendant company was engaged, and is now engaged in the manufacture of white lead and other lead compositions and lead products, in the City of East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana and in the fpeshtittl its business and nlants has maintained and operated 4ewr6eend# id workshops for the manufacture of said product#, A said rooms, departments and workshops were of en closures of permanent structure, wherein defendant employed and required to work a large number of employees, approximately 400 men, including plaintiff, in the manufacture of said lead products.
That plaintiff, as an employee of said defendant company, in said rooms, shops and enclosures, in performance of -his duties, was directed, ordered and required by defendant, by and through its agents and employees, to manufacture white lead, lead compo sition and lead products, and that said products were heated with intense heat, and that plaintiff, while so engaged in his work in defendant's said plant, was required to handle with his hands and
PNYC 00013192
-2to breathe and come in contact with poisonous and deleterious sub stances of lead, tin, zinc and compounds and mixtures thereof, and to be constantly eroosed to said poisonous and deleterious compounds and mixtures thereof, the exact chemical contents of which plaintiff is not informed, but all of which are within the knowledge of the defendant, and that the handling of said substances and liquids by said workman, including plaintiff, was dangerous and detrimental to the lives and health of said workmen, all of which defendant, by
the exercise of due care, should have known and did know. That in the performance of plaintiff*s duties so requir|d
by defendant company as aforesaid, there were produoed and set f|ee numerous, dangerous, poisonous, noxious, deleterious and deadly vapors, gases and fumes, including fumes of the lead, tin, zinc and other vapors, fumes and gases, the exact name and composition of which plaintiff is not informed, but which are known by the defendant company, which permeated the air of said enclosed rooms, departments and enclosures, and were constantly breathed by this plaintiff from day to day during the period of his work. That the products of said
vapors,
mp in said enclosures wherein plaintiff worked
as aforesegK^ ifrs-*jlKjfcglous to his health and dangerous to his life,
all of
defedit, by the exercise of due care, should have
known and did know.
That in said rooms and shops in which plaihtiff, in the
performance of his duties of his employment as aforesaid, was so required to work as aforesaid, defendant by and through its agents and employees, did not have and provide adequate and suitable
hygenic equipment and conditions to prevent contact with said dangerous substances, vapors, gases and fumes to enable plaintiff to adequately cleanse himself. That defendant, as aforesaid, re quired and permitted plaintiff to keep food and to eat his lunches therein, without any adequate provisions to keep such food from becoming contaminated with said gases, vapors, fumes and said
substances, and that defendant, as aforesaid, required and permitted
PNYC 00013193
-3plaintiff to wear his clothing worn by plaintiff for ordinary street
use into and from said rooms and snons, without complete change, in
so doing all of which was dangerous to plaintiff's health and im perilled Plaintiff's life, and which defendant company, by the exer cise of due care, should have known and did know.
That plaintiff was employed by defendant company as afore said from on or about Kerch 12, 1928, until or about iiay 4, 1935. That defendant, as aforesaid, while plaintiff was so employed by it, unlawfully and negligently failed to use every device, care and pre
caution that was practicible and possible to use for the protection and safety of plaintiff, without impairing the reasonable efficiency of said departments, workshops and enclosures, structures, ways,|
work, building, factory, machinery and appliances and other devices
and materials and any devices and materials, and any devices and
materials therein used without regard to additional cost of suitable materials and safety, appliances, safe conditions and operations, with first concern for the safety of plaintiffs life and health.
That by reason of the premises, plaintiff became ill from
inhaling and coming in contact with said poisonous and deleterious
subs tana
zinc and other compounds and mixtures,
and legs, arms, tissues, ligaments, muscles,
*1 -.'V
nerves, ani body ln all of their parts have become saturated with
lead and leed poisoning. That by reason of said lead poisoning,
plaintiff suffered cerebral-hemmorhage and become paralized on the
left side, and has been permanently injured, and will never be able
to work again at a gainful occupation, and all on account of de
fendant company's carelessness and negligence as aforesaid, and was
not caused by any negligence or negligent acts of plaintiff. That
then and there and thereby plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of
Fifty Biousand Dollars. That plaintiff has alleged the matters and facts herein as
particularly as they are within his knowledge, that defendant has
PNYC 00013194
-4> full knowledge of said facts, and plaintiff asks the Court to be released from attempting to allege them more specifically.
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays judgment against the defendant company for the sum of Fifty Hiousand Dollars ($50,000.00), for his costs herein, and for all further and proper relief.
Attorneys for plaintiff. 3 S C 0 !T D PARAGRAPH
For a second and further paragraph of complaint, plaintiff
complains of the defendant, and alleges and says:
.
That for a long period of time prior to the 4th day of 4 May, 1.935, said defendant company was engaged, and is now engaged
in the manufacture of white lead and other lead compositions and
lead products, in the City of Fast Chicago, Lake County, Indiana,
and in the operation of its business and plants has maintained and
operated departments and workshops for the manufacture of said
products, and said rooms, departments and workshops were of en
closures of permanent structure, wherein defendant employed and
required
number of employees, approximately 400
men,
, in the manufacture of said lead products.
as an employee of said defendant company
in said rooms, shops and enclosures, in performance of his duties,
was directed, ordered and required by defendant, by and through
its agents and employees, to manufacture white lead, lead compo
sition and lead products, and that said products were heated with
intense heat, and that plaintiff, while so engaged in his work in defendants said plant, was required to handle with his hands and to breathe and come in contact with poisonous and deleterious sub
stances of lead, tin, zinc and compounds and mixtures thereof, and to be constantly exposed to said poisonous and deleterious compounds
PNYC 00013195
-o-
and mixtures thereof, the exact chemical consents of which plaintiff is not informed, but all of which are within the knowledge of the defendant, and that the handling of said substances and liquids by said workmen, including plaintiff, was dangerous and detrimental to the lives and health of said workmen, all of which defendant,by the exercise of due care, should have known and did know.
That in the performance of plaintiff's duties so required by defendant company as aforesaid, there were produced and set free numerous, dangerous, poisonous, noxious, deleterious and deadly vanors, gases and fumes, including fumes of the lead, tin, zine euid other vapors, fumes and gases, the exact name and composition of | which nlaintiff is not informed, but which are known by the defendant company, which permeated the air of said enclosed rooms, departments and enclosures, and were constantly breathed by this plaintiff from day to day during the period of his work. That the products of said vapors, gases and fumes in said enclosures wherein plaintiff worked as aforesaid, was injurious to his health and dangerous to his life, all of which defendant, by the exercise of due care, should have
rooms and shops in which plaintiff in the
performs
Miles of his employment as aforesaid, was so
required to work as aforesaid, defendant by and through its agents
and employees, did not have and provide adequate and suitable
hygenic equipment and conditions to prevent contact with said
dangerous substances, vapors, gases and fumes to enable plaintiff
to adequately cleanse himself. That defendant, as aforesaid, re
quired and permitted plaintiff to keep food and to eat his lunches
therein, without any adequate provisions to keep such food from
becoming contaminated with said gases, vapors, fumes and said
substances, and that defendant, as aforesaid, required and permitted plaintiff to wear his clothing worn by plaintiff for ordinary street
use into and from said rooms and shops, without complete change, in
so doing all of which was dangerous to plaintiff's health and im-
PNYC 00013196
6-
perilled plaintiff's life, and which defendant company, by the
exercise of due care, should have known and did know*
That defendant company, as aforesaid, while plaintiff
was so employed by it, unlawfully and negligently failed to provide
in less than two-hundred fifty (250) feet of airspace for each
person, including olaintiff, so employed in said departments, work
shops and rooms thereof, between six o*clock in the morning and six
ofclock in the evening*
That by reason of the premises, plaintiff became ill from
inhaling and coming in contact with said poisonous and deleterious
fsubstances of lead, tin, zinc and other compounds and mixtures,
and that plaintifffs head, legs, arms, tissues, ligaments,
,
nerves and body in all of their parts have become saturated with
lead and lead poisoning* That by reason of said lead poisoning,
plaintiff suffered cerebral-hemmorhage and become paralized on the
left side, and has been permanently injured, and will never be able
to work again at a gainful occupation, and all on account of de
fendant company*s carelessness and negligence as aforesaid, and was
not caused by any negligence or negligent acts of plaintiff* That
then a
by plaintiff has been damaged in the sum of
Fifty
00) Dollars*
pia&rt'lff has alleged the matters and facts herein as
particularly as they are within his knowledge, that defendant has
full knowledge of said facts, and plaintiff asks the Court to be
released from attempting to allege them more specifically*
WHEREFORE, Plaintiff prays judgment against the defendant
company for the sum of Fifty Thousand Dollars ($50,000.00), for
his costs herein, and for all further and proper relief.
Todd & Slaughter Attorneys for Plaintiff
THIRD PARAGRAPH
For a third and further paragraph of complaint, plaintiff
PNYC 00013197
-7complains of the defendant, and alleges and says:
Ikat for a long period of time prior to the 4th day of
May, 1935, said defendant company was engaged, and is now engaged
in the manufacture of white lead and other lead compositions and
lead products, in the City of East Chicago, Lake County, Indiana,
and in the operation of its business and plants has maintained and
operated departments and workshops for the manufacture of said
products, and said rooms, departments and workshops were of en~
closures of permanent structure, wherein defendant employed and
required to work a large number of employees, approximately 400 .
men, including plaintiff, in the manufacture of said lead product!*
That plaintiff, as an employee of said defendant company*
in said rooms, shops and enclosures, in performance of his duties,
was directed, ordered and required by defendant, by and through
its agents and employees, to manufacture white lead, lead compo
sition and lead produets, and that said products were heated with
intense heat, and that plaintiff, while so engaged in his work in
defendant's said plant, was required to handle with his hands and
to breathe and come in contact with poisonous and deleterious sub
stance* of
and comoounds and mixtures thereof, and
to be conetf^M^ eaqjWet to said poisonous and deleterious compounds
and mixtures thereof, Ike exact chemical contents of which plaintiff
is not informed, but all of which are within the knowledge of the
defendant, and that the handling of said substances and liquids by
said workmen, including plaintiff, was dangerous and detrimental to
the lives and health of said workmen, all of which defendant, by
the exercise of due care, should have known and did know.
That in the performance of plaintiff's duties so required
by defendant company as aforesaid, there were produced and set free
numerous, dangerous, poisonous, noxious, deleterious and deadly
vapors, fumes and gases, including fumes of the lead, tin, zinc and
PNYC 00013198
-8' other vapors, fumes and gases, the exact name and composition of which plaintiff is not informed, but which are known by the defendant company, which permeated the air of said enclosed rooms, depart ments and enclosures, Wnd were constantly breathed by this plaintiff from day to day during the neriod of hiswork. That the products of said vanors, gases and fumes in said enclosures wherein plaintiff worked as aforesaid, was injurious to his health and dangerous to his life, all of which defendant, by the exercise of due care, should have known and did know.
That in said rooms and shops in which plaintiff in the performance of his duties of his employment as aforesaid, was so ( required to work as aforesaid, defendant by and through its agentfe and employees, did not have and provide adequate and suitable hygenic equipment and conditions to prevent contact with said dangerous substances, vapors, gases and fumes to enable plaintiff to adequately cleanse himself. That defendant, as aforesaid, re quired and permitted plaintiff to keep food and to eat his lunches therein, without any adequate provisions to keep such food from becoming oontaalngtej with said gases, vapors, fumes and said
" Si.' >f rr-
substansss^fai tha^tefendant, as aforesaid, required and permitted plaintiff tii^sar him' slothing worn by plaintiff for ordinary street
- * - *.
use into and from said rooms and shops, without complete change, in so doing all of which was dangerous to plaintiff's health and im perilled plaintiff's life, and which defendant company, by the exercise of due care, should have known and did know.
That defendant company, as aforesaid*. while plaintiff was so employed by it, not wholly in the open air but enclosures as aforesaid, wherein said dangerous, noxious and deleterious gases, fumes and vapors, as aforesaid accumulated, unlawfully and negligently failed and neglected to supply plaintiff with a serviceable or any gas masks.
That by reason of the premises, plaintiff became ill from
PNYC 00013199
inhaling and coming in contact with said poisonous and deleterious
substances of lead, tin, zinc and other compounds and mixtures,
and that plaintiff*s head, legs, arms, tissues, ligaments, muscles,
nerves and body in all of their parts have become saturated with
lead and lead poisoning* That by reason of said lead poisoning,
plaintiff suffered cerebral-hemmorhage and become paralized on the
left side, and has been permanently injured, and will never be able
to work again at a gainful occupation, and all on account of da-
fendant company*s carelessness and negligence
not caused by any negligence or negligent acts
then and there and thereby plaintiff has been damaged in the sum
of Fifty Thousand (#50,000*00) Dollars*
That plaintiff has alleged the matters and facts herein as
particularly as they are within his knowledge, that defendant has
full knowledge of said facts, and plaintiff asks the Court to be
released from attempting to allege them more specifically*
WH13U570RS, Plaintiff prays judgment against the defendant
company
^Plfty Thousand (#50,000*00) Dollars, for his
costs &
111 further and proper relief*
Todd k Slaughter Attorneys ror plaintiff
PNYC 00013200