Threadgill v. Armstrong World Industries, In

928 F.2d 1366 (3d Cir. 1991)

Facts

The Threadgills (P) sued various asbestos manufacturers (D). P claimed that the decedent died due to exposure to asbestos. P attempted to introduce several letters at trial. These letters were written in the 1930s by an asbestos manufacturer president and served to prove knowledge of the dangers of asbestos. These letters were kept in a corporate safe until 1969, then kept by the letter writer's son until 1974, then turned over to lawyers. The district court ruled that the letters were inadmissible on authentication grounds. The court held for D. P appealed.