Opinion ID: 548350
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Products of Vermont Talc, Inc.

Text: 66 H. M. Royal, a distributor for Vermont Talc, showed sales of talc to Firestone between 1963 and 1980. 67 The plaintiffs' expert mineralogist, Arthur Rohl, supplied a report and affidavit that Vermont Talc's talc product contained 0.2 to 0.5 per cent asbestiform minerals, which would have become airborne and respirable when the talc was used. 68 Ralph Minotto, Frank Elliott and William Pfingsten testified to the extensive use of talc and soapstone in the tube mill rooms. 7 69 Vermont Talc's Response--Duncan Ogden, Vermont Talc's expert witness, testified that in 1972 Vermont Talc instituted a program to test for the presence of asbestos in its talc products. From 1972 forward, no asbestos was found. Geologic deposits mined prior to 1972 were identical to those mined after 1972 and were, therefore, presumed not to contain asbestos. 70 Vermont Talc draws a distinction between talc and soapstone, stating that they are, in reality, different products. Plaintiffs Reimert, Yourkavitch, Sgro, Stopfel and Davis testified regarding exposure to soapstone rather than talc. Plaintiff Moyer claimed exposure to talc or soapstone and Plaintiff Beidler claimed exposure to both. Plaintiff Klein did not allege exposure to either product. No plaintiff was able to identify Vermont Talc products. 71