b"RobertE.Watson,amemberofacrewremovingfurniturefromthe apartmentnextdoortothewoman'sapartmentpleadedguiltytofirst-degree -murderandrapeandwassentencedtolifeinprison. Thejurydecidedthattheowneroftheapartmentbuildingwherethe slayingoccurredmustpay11milliondollarsinpunitivedamagestothe husband.Thejuryalsoawarded2.3milliondollarsincompensatorydamages tobepaidbyWatson 1 semployer. Thehusband'ssuitaccusedWatson'semployerofnegligencebecauseit failedtoinvestigateWatson'sbackgroundbeforehiringhim.Unknownto thecompany,Watsonhadbeenconvictedofarmedrobberyandwasonparole whenhekilledtheplaintiff'swife. ,ACaliforniajuryawarded5.1milliondollarsindamagestoa 60-yearoldroofer,disabledbyabackinjurysufferedwhenhefelloffa roofin1971.Thejuryawarded$123,600compensationand5milliondollars inpunitivedamagestotherooferinhissuitagainsttheMutualofOmaha InsuranceCompany.Thetermsoftheroofer'sinsurancepolicycalledfor himtoreceive$200amonthforlifeif disabledduetoaccidentand$200 amonthforthreemonthsif disabledbysickness.Mutualtreatedthe roofer'sdisabilityasasickness. Theverdictsawardedbythejuriesinthesetwocasesarefrighteningly high.Perhapstheamountsoftheverdictswillbereducedonappeal.Our knowledgeofthefactsinvolvedinbothcasesisverylimited.Itmaybe thattherewereextraordinaryfactualcircumstanceswhichgaverisetot he extremelyhighpunitivedamageamounts.Wearenotsurethattl1ereisany~ clear-cutlessontobelearnedfromthesecases.Thefirstcasecertainly expandstheresponsibilityandliability ofanemployerfortheactsofits employeesandimposesagreaterburdenonanemployertoinvestigatethe backgroundofpotentialnewemployees. Inthesecondcase,theinsurancecompanyapparentlyfailedtovoluntarily meetitsrightfulobligationstotheinjuredrooferandwasseverely penalizedforsuchfailurebythejury. WHOMAKESTHERULESYOUROOFBY? Duringlastyear'sconventionprogramwiththeabovetitle,Bill KuglerandTomMansonhandedoutalistcontainingnamesandaddresses ofmost,ifnotall,ofthevariouscommitteesandorganizationswhich conductresearch,establishspecificationsanddictatestandardsforthe roofingindustry. Enclosedwiththisissueisacopyofthelisttheyhandedout.We suggestyouretainitforreadyreference."