Buffington v. Potlatch Corp.

I

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR PROCEEDINGS

Chauncey Buffington began to work at Potlatch Corporation’s Rutledge plant in June of 1959. The noise levels at the plant to which he was initially exposed were minimal. In 1970 or 1971, Buffington switched jobs and started to grade and sort lumber, which required him to stand within thirty feet of five machines called “planers.” Because these planers emitted a high level of noise, Buffington wore ear plugs.

One day in 1972, Buffington noticed hearing loss, tinnitus, and pain in his ears. He allegedly continued to experience the tinnitus and hearing loss…