15 Lessons Your Boss Wished You Knew About Asbestos Lawsuit History

Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History

Asbestos lawsuits have led to the bankruptcies of a number of companies. A mesothelioma attorney can assist you in getting compensation.

Experts in the field of health have warned for years about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Industry leaders have downplayed the risks. As time passed increasing numbers of people fell ill with asbestos-related ailments.

The Third Case

Asbestos-related lawsuits started to gain momentum in 1970s, after studies by scientists began to connect asbestos with serious diseases like asbestosis or mesothelioma. Tens of thousands of lawsuits were filed due to the fact that these diseases don't usually show symptoms for decades after exposure. A majority of these lawsuits were filed in Texas where favorable laws made it a preferred venue for this litigation inferno.

Johns Manville was the leading producer in the 1940s & 1950s of asbestos products. This case had a significant impact on asbestos litigation. In the 1980s, it was revealed that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, put profits over the safety and health of his employees. The testimony of a deposition revealed that Brown was heavily influenced by his company's chief medical advisor, Dr. Russell Budd. Budd was a doctor who was well-known for his callous disregard of the health of employees.

Johns Manville was found to have been aware of the dangers associated with asbestos however, they did not take any steps to protect their workers. The court ruled that the company is accountable for any damages suffered by workers who later develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. The court also decided that the company was liable for the family members of deceased workers.

After the decision in Borel many asbestos victims and their families sought compensation from the companies that made use of this material. Unfortunately, most of these claims were rejected for various reasons. Some cases were allowed to be heard and the courts drafted guidelines for the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.

In the 1990s asbestos defendants were seeking legal rulings to limit their liability. For example, they sought to argue that the asbestos materials were not part of their product and thus could not be held responsible for injuries to people who worked with asbestos. These claims were unsuccessful and the U.S.  Baton Rouge asbestos lawyer  rejected the "asbestos products" defense.

Today, a mesothelioma patient's right to pursue compensation from accountable parties in the case is protected by federal and state law. However, insurance companies continue to defend these claims with a hammer and a sledgehammer.