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.
Vista asbestos lawyer in the field of health have warned for decades about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Industry leaders have downplayed the dangers. As time passed the number of people who fell ill with asbestos-related ailments.
The Third Case
Asbestos lawsuits really took off in 1970s, after studies by scientists began to connect asbestos with serious diseases such as asbestosis or mesothelioma. Because asbestos-related diseases don't typically develop symptoms until decades after exposure, tens of thousands of lawsuits were filed. These lawsuits were filed in Texas because of its favorable laws.
One of the most significant cases that shaped asbestos litigation involved Johns Manville, the leading producer of asbestos-related products during the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1980s it was discovered that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, put profits above the health and safety of his employees. The testimony of a deposition revealed that he was heavily influenced by the company's chief medical advisor Dr. Russell Budd. Budd was a physician who was famous for his indifference for employees' health was a well-known character.
Johns Manville was found to have known about the dangers associated with asbestos however, they failed to take any steps to protect their employees. The court decided that the company was liable for damages to workers who later developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. The court also determined that the company was liable for the families of deceased workers.
After the decision in Borel many asbestos victims and families sought compensation from the companies that made use of the material. Unfortunately, most of these claims were denied due to a variety of reasons. A few cases were allowed to proceed and the courts came up with guidelines that have guided the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.
In the 1990s asbestos defendants were seeking legal rulings to limit their liability. For example, 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. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos products" defense.
State and federal laws protect the rights of a mesothelioma patient to seek compensation for their condition from the parties responsible in a particular case. Insurance companies continue to fight these claims.