Evidence
11 evidence entries recorded; each entry has a stable permalink (#ev-1 … #ev-11).
-
[1]research packet ho-packet.md (6 sources cited) [nhhc_danfs]
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- Identity packet verdict: VERIFIED — real identity: USS Lawrence; hull: DDG-4 (ex-DD-954); type: **Charles F. Adams-class
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Evidence ID
- uss-lawrence-ddg4-pkt-ho-packet-md
-
[2]DANFS, Lawrence V (DDG-4) - verbatim transcription via hazegray.org (accessed through Wayback capture 2024-05-25; live NHHC DANFS page returns 404) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- DANFS 'Lawrence V' entry, specifications block + service narrative
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- DANFS record for this hull: Charles F. Adams-class guided-missile destroyer, 3,370 tons, 437 ft x 47 ft, 20 ft draft, 35 kt, complement 354, Tartar guided missiles / two 5-inch / ASW rocket launcher / six torpedo launchers; laid down 27 October 1958 by New York Shipbuilding Corp., Camden, N.J.; launched 27 February 1960, sponsored by Mrs. Fernie C. Hubbard, great-great-granddaughter of Capt. James Lawrence; commissioned 6 January 1962, Comdr. Thomas W. Walsh in command. Great Lakes shakedown; Cuban Missile Quarantine station 22 October-6 December 1962 (investigated four foreign merchant tankers); Sixth Fleet deployments 1963, 1964 (April-August), 1965-66; Norfolk Naval Shipyard overhaul 20 November 1964-27 April 1965; NATO North Atlantic cruise August-September 1966; aided sinking merchantman New Meadow off Crete 22 November 1966; Mediterranean deployment January-May 1968 (relieved Tattnall DDG-19; relieved by MacDonough DLG-8); Norfolk Navy Yard overhaul 1 July 1968-10 January 1969.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1958-1969
- Population
- New York Shipbuilding construction trades 1958-62; crew (design complement 354)
- Limitations
- DANFS documents service history and specifications, not materials or asbestos content. Entry text ends in early 1969 (DANFS Volume IV coverage); post-1969 history comes from the NHHC Online Library page (ev-02). Internal date error: the 1965-66 deployment return is printed as '17 December 1966' though the narrative resumes in Norfolk in early 1966 - carried in gaps.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lawrence-ddg4-01
-
[3]NHHC Online Library of Selected Images, 'USN Ships - USS Lawrence (DDG-4), 1962-2003' (service summary + disposal narrative + captioned official photographs NH 98400/98401/NH 51264/NH 98402) [nhhc_danfs]
- Locator
- Online Library page narrative + photo captions NH 98400, NH 98401, NH 51264, NH 98402
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NHHC post-1969 record for this hull: further Sixth Fleet tours 1969-70 and 1971; one Vietnam War tour to the Western Pacific 1972-73 providing naval gunfire support under enemy return fire and plane-guard duty during carrier operations; Indian Ocean and Persian Gulf deployments 1974-75, 1980, 1983; Mediterranean tours 1977-78 and 1979 including a brief Black Sea visit June 1979; western Atlantic/Caribbean service with Northern Europe visits; 1986 circumnavigation of South America for Operation Unitas XVII. Decommissioned late March 1990 and stricken from the Naval Vessel Register months later; sold April 1994, repossessed October 1996 after failure of the ship-breaking firm; abortive scrapping attempt 1999-2000; hulk broken up by a Philadelphia, Pennsylvania contractor beginning November 2003. Photo captions document builder's trials off Camden 6 October 1961 and a Philadelphia Naval Shipyard photograph dated 26 December 1961.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1962-2004
- Population
- Crew (deployments 1962-1990); shipbreaking workers, Philadelphia 2003-04
- Limitations
- NHHC summary documents service and disposal, not materials or asbestos content. 'A few months later' striking is reconciled to 16 May 1990 by NavSource/NVR-derived data (ev-03). The Philadelphia contractor is identified as Metro Machine Corp. by NavSource (ev-03); NHHC does not name it.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lawrence-ddg4-02
-
[4]NavSource Naval History, Destroyer Photo Index DD-954 / DDG-4 USS Lawrence - operational and building data (NVR-derived), commanding-officer roster, photo captions (accessed via Wayback capture 2024-05-25; navsource.org unreachable at access time) [other_primary]
- Locator
- Operational and Building Data block; CO roster; captioned photographs (1972 Hampton Roads 'Project Lawrence'; Philadelphia 1991-07-16)
- Finding type
- vessel_history
- Finding
- NavSource building/disposal data for this hull: originally classified DD-954, classification changed to DDG-4 on 23 April 1957; laid down by New York Shipbuilding 27 October 1958; launched 27 February 1960; commissioned 6 January 1962; decommissioned 30 March 1990; stricken 16 May 1990; sold to Metro Machine Corp. 28 October 2004 for $184,550.88 for scrapping. Full commanding-officer roster (CDR Thomas W. Walsh, 1962, through CDR Alan Y. Etter, to 30 March 1990). A captioned photo records the 'Project Lawrence' yard period spanning late 1971-early 1972 (Chaparral launcher and flame thrower installed on the fantail to evaluate anti-ship missile defenses; after 5-inch mount removed 1973 and not replaced) and a 16 July 1991 Philadelphia photograph showing the laid-up Lawrence with sisters Charles F. Adams (DDG-2) and John King (DDG-3).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1957-2004
- Population
- Ship's force 1962-1990; NISMF Philadelphia layup and scrapping workforce
- Limitations
- NavSource is a secondary compilation consistent with NVR data; dates cross-check against DANFS and NHHC. The 'Project Lawrence' caption is contributor-supplied (identifies the yard period but not the yard). Day-level dates for the 1994 sale and 1999 resale appear only in secondary compilations - carried as month-level facts.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lawrence-ddg4-03
-
[5]Redman et al. v. A.W. Chesterton Company et al., No. 3:08-cv-03013-JSW (N.D. Cal., removed 2008-06-18); decedent's jobsite/exposure schedule filed with the complaint papers in the removal record (attachment stamped 'Document 14-2,' ~pp. 13-15 of 55); Order Denying Motion to Remand (ECF No. 49, 2008-09-30) = 2008 WL 4447729; Order Denying Leave for Reconsideration (ECF No. 61, 2008-11-25) = 2008 WL 5048205; MDL-875 transferee docket REDMAN v. A.W. Chesterton Co., No. 2:09-cv-64298 (E.D. Pa., filed 2009-02-17) [court_record]
- Locator
- Decedent's 'Jobsite / Employer / BD / ED' exposure schedule, 'USS LAWRENCE / Norfolk Naval Shipyard' row, in the scanned removal package filed 2008-07-03 (attachment stamped 'Document 14-2,' ~pp. 13-15 of 55); removal/remand orders ECF Nos. 49, 61
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Asbestos personal-injury complaint names this hull among the decedent's alleged exposure jobsites: the jobsite schedule filed with the complaint states that decedent Ronald Redman 'was exposed to asbestos and asbestos-containing thermal insulation materials while present at Decedent's jobsites,' working as a pipefitter and steamfitter, at sites including 'USS LAWRENCE / Norfolk Naval Shipyard / 1-1-1974 to 12-31-1984.' During 1974-1984 the only extant USS Lawrence was DDG-4, a Norfolk-homeported Atlantic Fleet unit. The case (death of Redman from mesothelioma 21 October 2007, per the schedule) was removed to federal court on a federal-officer/government-contractor theory by Viad Corp. (marine distilling plants manufactured for the Navy); the district court DENIED remand on 30 September 2008 and denied reconsideration 25 November 2008, after which the action transferred into MDL-875 (E.D. Pa. 2:09-cv-64298, 2009).
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1974-1984 (alleged exposure); 2007-2009 (litigation)
- Population
- Ronald Redman, pipefitter/steamfitter (Norfolk Naval Shipyard jobsites 1974-1984); mesothelioma decedent
- Limitations
- Pleading-stage allegation - the least-final litigation stage. The ship appears as one row in a ~50-vessel jobsite schedule; the alleged exposure is unadjudicated, no opinion evaluates it, and the removal orders address jurisdiction only (they do not mention the vessel). Does not establish materials aboard, individual exposure, or causation. Merits history inside MDL-875 not traced.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lawrence-ddg4-04
-
[6]Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co. v. USS Lawrence (DDG-4), No. 1:89-cv-01734 (E.D.N.Y., filed 1989-05-26, terminated 1990-06-18) [court_record]
- Locator
- CourtListener RECAP docket index, 1:89-cv-01734 (E.D.N.Y.)
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- In rem admiralty action naming this hull as defendant while in commission: nature of suit 890 'other statutory actions,' government defendant; terminated June 1990. The only other docketed case located naming this vessel; it is not asbestos litigation.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1989-1990
- Limitations
- Docket-index-level record: pleadings not retrieved, so the precise in rem theory (collision/exoneration-type claim typical of the posture) is unconfirmed. No asbestos or exposure content. Included to complete the litigation surface for this hull.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lawrence-ddg4-05
-
[7]NavSource as-built machinery line (geared turbines, 2 screws, 70,000 shp) + DANFS specifications block (ev-01) + Atlas shipyard dataset records: new-york-shipbuilding (tier 1, litigation-documented asbestos products), norfolk-naval-shipyard (tier 2, asbestos-documented incl. a 1979 government inspection finding) [other_primary]
- Locator
- NavSource as-built machinery line; shipyards.json records 'new-york-shipbuilding' and 'norfolk-naval-shipyard'
- Finding type
- asbestos_application
- Finding
- Era/yard inference: a geared-steam-turbine destroyer built 1958-1962 (two screws, 70,000 shp per NavSource as-built data) was completed in the era when Navy steam plants carried era-standard asbestos insulation - boiler casing and fireroom insulation, steam-line lagging, turbine lagging, valve and flange gaskets and packing, deck coverings, bulkhead fireproofing, cable insulation; Navy substitution of alternative insulation did not begin until the early 1970s (GAO HRD-80-2 context, ev-08). Builder New York Shipbuilding, Camden, is a tier-1 Atlas yard with litigation-documented asbestos products (Pabco Caltemp block, Ehret 85% magnesia, Johns-Manville Transite, Bakelite panels, gaskets, packing, asbestos-coated welding rods, wire insulation). Both documented overhauls (1964-65, 1968-69) were at Norfolk Naval Shipyard, itself asbestos-documented at yard level; the Redman allegation (ev-04) places the claimed thermal-insulation exposure at that same yard's jobsites aboard this hull.
- Verification
- inferred
- Role
- supporting
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1958-1990
- Population
- NYSB construction trades 1958-62; crew 1962-90; NNSY overhaul workers 1964-65, 1968-69
- Limitations
- Class/era and builder-yard inference only - the ship-specific finding for this hull is ev-04 (pleading-stage allegation); this row adds context, not an independent ship-specific finding. Machinery-maker detail (Foster Wheeler boilers, Westinghouse turbines) appears only in secondary/competitor compilations and is not asserted. No hull-level material specification (NARA RG 19 Booklet of General Plans / General Information Book) retrieved.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lawrence-ddg4-06
-
[8]Maritime Reporter & Engineering News, June 1988, p. 28 - 'Current Navy, Coast Guard & MARAD Overhaul, Repair & Conversion Contracts at U.S. Shipyards (as of April 1988)' [reputable_press]
- Locator
- Maritime Reporter June 1988 p. 28, 'Norfolk Shipbuilding' contract line
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- Contemporaneous trade-press tabulation of active Navy repair contracts lists 'USS Lawrence (DDG-4) REP 4,966,666' under Norfolk Shipbuilding - a documented $4.97 million repair availability for this hull in 1988, i.e., the late-service yard work at which insulation disturbance would be likeliest.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- context_only
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1988
- Population
- Norshipco repair workers, 1988
- Limitations
- Documents a repair contract only - no asbestos scope, abatement content, or materials information is stated. Norfolk Shipbuilding & Drydock (Norshipco) is not an Atlas shipyards.json entry; carried in gaps. Trade press is secondary, though contemporaneous.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lawrence-ddg4-07
-
[9]GAO, Navy Efforts To Protect Workers From Asbestos Exposure, HRD-80-2 (Oct 18, 1979) [gao]
- Locator
- GAO product page HRD-80-2
- Finding type
- gov_survey
- Finding
- GAO documented the Navy's asbestos-protection program: standing policy (1975) removed asbestos insulation only when damaged or when required for repairs, modified 1979 to selective replacement in high-maintenance areas - meaning original-era insulation typically remained in place for decades unless a yard period disturbed it. GAO's fieldwork yards included Norfolk Naval Shipyard - the yard at which this hull overhauled twice and where the Redman complaint situates the alleged exposure aboard this ship.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- class_or_era
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 1979
- Population
- Navy shipyard workers; asbestos program review
- Limitations
- Program-level documentation, not hull evidence; establishes era policy context only. Full text not retrieved (gao.gov blocks automated fetch, HTTP 403) - description via product page, consistent with prior batches.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lawrence-ddg4-08
-
[10]Batch-3931 litigation sweep for this hull (see search_ledger sl-04 through sl-07): exact-name and hull-number queries across opinion and RECAP docket indexes [court_record]
- Locator
- search_ledger sl-uss-lawrence-ddg4-04 to -07
- Finding type
- litigation_documented
- Finding
- Litigation sweep outcome: 'USS Lawrence' opinion-text search returned zero hits; docket search returned exactly two hull-naming cases - Redman (qualifying asbestos pleading, ev-04) and Great Lakes Dredge (non-asbestos in rem, ev-05). Hull-number sweep ('DDG-4' OR 'DD-954') returned 22 docket hits dominated by name-collision noise (bankruptcy, patent, unrelated 'DDG'/'DD-' tokens); its only asbestos hits were Redman (already classified) and Terry Lee Siegfried v. 3M Co. (C.D. Cal. 2:18-cv-01575), which was reviewed and is NON-QUALIFYING for this hull - Siegfried's verified removal-notice exposure list (RECAP gov.uscourts.cacd.702384.50.0) names 40+ vessels (incl. DDG-7, DDG-9, DDG-12, DDG-13, DDG-24) but does not name USS Lawrence; the match was a 'DDG-' token artifact.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- context
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 2026-09-28
- Limitations
- Sweep covers CourtListener's indexed opinion and RECAP text; unindexed or undigitized filings, and state-court-only records, are not covered. A law-firm publication (Weitz & Luxenberg, 2023) describes a settled Philadelphia Naval Shipyard boiler-tender case listing USS Lawrence (DDG-4) among ships the plaintiff worked on - non-citable lead only; the underlying docket was not located in public indexes.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lawrence-ddg4-09
-
[11]Batch-3931 search ledger (this record): NHHC/NARA, ship-disposal records (NHHC Online Library, NavSource), trade-press contract listings, shipyard dataset cross-check [other_primary]
- Locator
- search_ledger rows sl-uss-lawrence-ddg4-01 through -10
- Finding type
- historical_record
- Finding
- No hull-specific asbestos documentation located beyond the litigation allegation: no asbestos survey, abatement contract, donation-condition hazmat disclosure, or environmental record for this hull was found in the public sources searched; the disposal chain (1994 sale, 1996 repossession, 1999 resale, 2003-04 Philadelphia demolition) is documented without any public ACM manifest or survey.
- Verification
- verified
- Role
- negative_finding
- Documentation level
- ship_specific
- Accessed
- 2026-09-28
- Study period
- 2026-09-28
- Limitations
- Absence of a located public record does not prove absence of asbestos aboard - a 1962 steam destroyer scrapped in 2003-04 would have been handled under OSHA-era asbestos rules, but no ship-specific abatement record is public. Does not establish that asbestos is or is not present; does not establish or defeat any claim of exposure or legal eligibility.
- Atlas source
- true
- Evidence ID
- ev-uss-lawrence-ddg4-10