Widow of Former Paper Mill Worker Wins Case

December 12, 2006 - The Longview, WA Daily News reports that the widow of a former employee at the Longview Fibre Company received a verdict in her favor during a four-day long civil trial which alleged that the paper company was responsible for the man’s death.

Betty Mae Crawford filed suit in Cowlitz County Superior Court after her husband of more than 50 years, William, died in 2002 at the age of 76.  He had been diagnosed with an undisclosed asbestos-related illness just a short time before his death.

The newspaper account notes that Crawford worked as a millwright at Longview Fibre Company for 42 years, during a time when it was commonplace to use asbestos as pipe insulation at pulp and paper mills across the nation. After the health hazards of asbestos became widely known and government warnings were issued, Fibre removed the asbestos - chosen for its fire-retardant properties - from the plant, and replaced it with non-hazardous materials.

Mrs. Crawford had filed a Labor & Industries claim shortly after her husband’s death but it was denied, prompting her to move ahead with the lawsuit.