Daily Doc: PM: Osdene (of PM): 'I will act on them and destroy'
Daily Doc: Osdene (of PM): "I will act on them and destroy"
Title: [No title]
PM
Bates #: 1000130803
October 3, 2000
This undated, unsigned note is understood to be in the handwriting of Thomas Osdene, Philip Morris' (PM) director of Science and Technology. Osdene is preparing to go to INBIFO, Philip Morris' "offshore" biological laboratory Cologne, Germany. Philip Morris conducted biological research on the health effects of tobacco and cigarettes at INBIFO, research that was performed offshore to keep the information it revealed out of PM's files in the U.S, since if it were in files in this country it would then be subject to discovery in a lawsuit. If these documents were subject to discovery, then people could find out what the company knew, when they knew it, and what they were doing in Cologne, Germany.
In the note, Osdene says what he intends to do with sensitive company documents:
"OK to phone and telex (these will be destroyed).... ... If important letters or documents have to be sent please send to home -- I will act on them and destroy."Osdene's note is now somewhat of a "classic," having been used as a trial exhibit in several lawsuits against the tobacco industry.
CITATION
Title: No title
Type of Document: Handwritten note, list
Author Thomas Osdene of Philip Morris (deduced) Recipient: N/A
Date: No date
Site: Philip Morris document site http://www.pmdocs.com/
Page Count 1
Bates No. 1000130803
URL: http://my.tobaccodocuments.org/tdo/view.cfm?CitID=2201376&GetListArrayIdx=1&ShowImages=yes
Litigation Usage: This document was used as a trial Exhibit in suits against the industry in Florida, Missouri, Minnesota and Texas
Found Using Search Criteria: 1000130803
Thanks to: John Curran Ladd, an attorney in San Francisco, for reminding us of the importance of this document.
QUOTES
1. Ship all documents to Cologne by Tom.
2. Keep in Cologne
3. OK to phone and telex (these will be destroyed).
4...[poorly legible]
5...[poorly legible]
6. If important letters or documents have to be sent please send to home -- I will act on them and destroy
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