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LAW OFFICES JACOB & MEDINGER 1270 AVENUE OF "I-HE AMERICAS ROCKEFELLER CENTER NEW YORK, N. Y. 10020 IEDWIN J. JACOB FRANK H. MIEOINGER TIMOTHY M. FINNEGAN February 17, 1978 William W. Shlnn, Esq. Shook, Hardy & Bacon 20th Floor Mercantile Bank Tower ll01 Walnut Kansas City, Missouri 64106 Re: Dr. Mariano La Via Dear Bill: Dr. Mariano La Via is an immunopathologist who teaches at Emory University. We met Dr. La Via in con- nection with a research project that is currently being funded by the Smokeless Tobacco Council, Inc. Dr. Charles A. Waldron, Chairman of the Department of Oral Pathology, is the chief researcher on the project and Dr. La Via is assisting him in studying the immunological backgrounds (i.e., T and B cell levels) of patients with various oral lesions. Enclosed is Dr. La Via's Curriculum Vitae and list of publications. Dr. La Via has recently contacted me ~bout the possibility of obtaining fellowship funds to support a graduate student to assist him in his basic research in the field of immunopathology. He is currently interested in a particular student who would be Jcining his staff this coming July. I understand that this fellowship would be fcr two years at a cost of approximately $12,000 per annum. Ed Jacob and I have both met Dr. La Via and, although we have been with him on only a few occasions, we both think well of him. He makes a good appearance and is forthright in stating his views. Furthermore, at least one researcher that we know -- Dr. Charles Platz,

William W. Shinn, Esq. -2- February 17, 1978 who testified in the Hayes case -- knows Dr. La Via and is of the view that he is quite competent in the field of immunopathology. Accordingly, Ed Jacob and I recommend that $12,000 per annum for two years be made available to Dr. La Via in order to fund this fellowship. Sincerely, Timothy M. Finnegan