Court Grants Motion to Compel Supplier's Sales Documents in Asbestos Case

PROVIDENCE - A judge has ordered the production of documents relating to transactions between a refractories company and chemical firm where an ex-employee claims he was exposed to asbestos. In re Asbestos Litigation James Sherman, et al. v. ACandS, Inc., et al., 01-0696 (R.I. Super. Ct., Providence).

Rhode Island Superior Court Judge Gibney granted plaintiff James Sherman's motion to compel the sales records of Eastern Refractories Corporation, Inc. for the six- or seven-year period he worked at a Ciba-Geigy manufacturing facility in Rhode Island.

'The potential materiality of the items requested is clear,' Judge Gibney said. 'These documents potentially contain …