Asbestos Lawsuit History: What s The Only Thing Nobody Is Talking About

Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History

Asbestos-related lawsuits have led to the bankruptcy of several companies. An asbestos lawyer can help you get compensation.

Health experts and doctors have long warned about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Industry leaders have minimized the risks. As time went on, asbestos-related diseases became more prevalent.

The Third Case

Asbestos-related lawsuits started to gain momentum in the 1970s, when scientific studies started to connect asbestos with serious diseases like mesothelioma or asbestosis. Because asbestos-related diseases don't typically manifest until years after exposure, tens of thousands of lawsuits were filed. Many of these claims were filed in Texas where favorable laws made it a popular location for this litigation saga.

Johns Manville was the leading producer during the 1940s and 1950s of asbestos-related products. This case had a major impact on asbestos lawyers litigation. In the 1980s, it was discovered that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, put profits above the safety and health of his employees. In his deposition testimony, Brown admitted to being heavily influenced by Dr. Russell Budd, the chief medical advisor to his company. Budd was an expert in his field who was known for his indifference to the health of workers.

Johns Manville was found to be aware of asbestos lawsuits' dangers however, they did not take any steps to protect their employees. The court determined that the company was responsible for the injuries suffered by workers who later developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. The court also determined that the company was liable for the families of deceased workers.

After the decision in Borel many asbestos-related victims and their families demanded compensation from the companies that used this material. The majority of the claims were denied for a variety reasons. Some cases were permitted to proceed and the courts set up a series of guidelines that guide the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.

In the 1990s asbestos defendants continued to seek legal rulings to limit their liability. For example they wanted to argue that the asbestos materials were not part of their product and therefore could not be held responsible for injuries sustained by people who worked with asbestos attorney. These claims were unsuccessful and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos products" defense.

Today, mesothelioma victims' right to seek compensation from the responsible parties in the case is protected by federal and state law. Insurance companies continue to fight these claims.