Five People You Must Know In The Asbestos Lawsuit History Industry

Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History

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

Experts in the health field have been warning for years about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Yet, industry leaders downplayed the dangers. In time the number of people who were diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses.

The Third Case

Asbestos lawsuits really began to gain momentum in the 1970s, just after research studies began to link asbestos lawyers to severe diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma. Because asbestos-related diseases don't typically develop symptoms until decades after exposure, 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 in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1980s it was discovered that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, placed profits above the safety and health of his employees. The testimony of a deposition revealed that Brown was heavily influenced by the company's chief medical advisor Dr. Russell Budd. Budd was a doctor who was well-known for his indifference to the health of employees.

The evidence showed that Johns Manville knew about the asbestos hazards but took no action to protect its employees. The court declared that the company was liable for damages if workers later develop mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases. The court also ruled that the company was liable for the family members of deceased workers.

Following the decision in Borel many asbestos victims and families sought compensation from the companies that used the material. Unfortunately, most of these claims were denied due to different reasons. Some cases were allowed to continue and the courts came up with a set of guidelines for the handling of asbestos attorneys-related lawsuits.

In the 1990s, asbestos lawyers defendants continued to seek legal rulings to limit their liability. They wanted to to argue that asbestos materials were not part of their product, and therefore they shouldn't be held liable for injuries caused by people who employed with it. These arguments were not successful and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos products" defense.

Federal and state laws protect the rights of a mesothelioma patient to seek compensation for their condition from the responsible parties in a specific case. Insurance companies continue to fight these claims.