Monroe Jury Says Paper Mill Failed to Provide Its Employees With a Safe
                                  Workplace

    MONROE, La., Aug. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Baton Rouge-based law firm of
LeBlanc & Waddell, LLP, has announced a $4.5 million jury award delivered on
behalf of the family of a West Monroe man who died from an asbestos-related
cancer in 2000.
    The jury of three men and nine women delivered the unanimous verdict late
last week in the courtroom of James H. Boddie Jr.  Jurors deliberated for two
hours before finding that Walter Graves Jr.'s employer had failed to provide
Mr. Graves with a workplace free of the dangers of asbestos exposure.
    "The Graves family could have been saved from this loss had the defendant
done the right thing by protecting its employees, including Mr. Graves, from
the dangers of asbestos," says Cameron Waddell, lead counsel for the family.
"We are grateful to the jury for holding the defendant accountable for this
failure."
    Mr. Graves worked for a Monroe-area paper mill from 1943 until his
retirement in 1985.  His employer, the Brown Paper Mill, was purchased in 1955
by the Olin Corporation, which was later known as Riverwood International
Corporation.  It is currently known as Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    The jury's verdict totaled $4,539,925.02 in actual damages.  Mr. Waddell
represented Mr. Graves' widow, Gertrude Graves, and daughters, LaDonna Graves
Hixon and Karen Graves Barron.  Other attorneys representing the Graves family
at trial were Jody Anderman and Jeff Nicholson.
    Jurors in the case were told how Mr. Graves was exposed to asbestos for
decades while working at the paper mill.  At no time during his employment did
Mr. Graves receive warnings or any information on what precautions to take
while working with and around asbestos.  The effects of exposure, including
the onset of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, can take decades
to surface.  Mr. Graves was diagnosed with asbestos-related mesothelioma in
April of 2000 and passed away two and a half months later.
    The defense was represented at trial by Tom Bergstedt of Bergstedt & Mount
of Lake Charles, La.
    If you would like more information on this verdict, please contact Rhonda
Reddick at 214.559.4630 or pager 888.357.1134.

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