Think You're Ready To Start Doing Asbestos Lawsuit History? Check This Quiz
Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Asbestos lawsuits have resulted in the bankruptcies of a number of companies. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist you in getting compensation.
Health professionals and doctors for years warned about asbestos exposure's dangers. Industry leaders have minimized the risks. In time, more and more people fell ill with asbestos-related ailments.
The Third Case
Asbestos litigation began to take off in the 1970s after research studies began to link asbestos to serious illnesses such as mesothelioma or asbestosis. Because asbestos-related diseases don't typically show symptoms until decades after exposure, thousands of lawsuits were filed. A majority of these lawsuits were filed in Texas which had favorable laws made it an ideal location for this inferno of litigation.
Johns Manville was the leading producer in the 1940s & 1950s of asbestos-related products. This case had a significant impact on asbestos litigation. In the 1980s, it came to the light that the company's CEO Lewis Brown prioritized company profits over the health of his employees. Deposition testimony revealed that Brown was heavily influenced the chief medical advisor of the company Dr. Russell Budd. Budd, a doctor famous for his indifference for employees' health was a well-known persona.
The evidence revealed that Johns Manville knew about the asbestos hazards but took no action to protect its workers. The court ruled that the company was liable for damages to workers who later developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. The court also found that the company was responsible for damages to the families of employees who died.
After the decision in Borel many asbestos victims and families sought compensation from the companies that made use of this material. Unfortunately, most of these claims were denied due to various reasons. Some cases were allowed to be heard, and the courts developed guidelines for the handling of asbestos-related suits.
In the 1990s, asbestos defendants were still seeking legal rulings to limit their liability. For instance they wanted to be able to argue that the asbestos materials were not part of their product, and therefore should not be held liable for injuries suffered by those who worked with them. These claims were unsuccessful, and the U.S. asbestos poisoning lawsuit refused to accept the "asbestos product" defense.
Today, a mesothelioma patient's right to seek compensation from parties responsible in a case is protected under federal and state law. Insurance companies continue to fight against these claims.