Kali Hartigan asked 11 months ago
Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
asbestos cancer lawsuit mesothelioma settlement lawsuits have led to the bankruptcy of many businesses. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you obtain compensation.
Experts in the field of health have warned for decades about the dangers asbestos exposure. Industry leaders have minimized the risks. Over time, asbestos cancer lawsuit lawyer mesothelioma-related diseases were becoming more prevalent.
The Third Case
Asbestos-related lawsuits started to gain momentum in the 1970s, when studies by scientists began to connect asbestos with serious diseases such as asbestosis or mesothelioma. Tens of thousands of suits were filed due to the fact that asbestos-related diseases do not usually manifest for years after exposure. A majority of these lawsuits were brought in Texas, where favorable laws made it a popular location for this litigation saga.
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 was discovered that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, placed profits over the safety and health of his employees. In his deposition, Brown admitted that he was heavily dependent on Dr. Russell Budd, lawsuits the chief medical advisor to his company. Budd was a doctor well-known for his indifference to the health of employees.
Johns Manville was found to have been aware of the dangers associated with asbestos however, they did not take any class action asbestos to safeguard their workers. The court decided that the company was responsible for damages to workers who later developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. The court also decided that the company was liable for damages to the families of deceased workers.
After the ruling in Borel, many asbestos victims and their families sought compensation from companies who used asbestos. Unfortunately, the majority of these claims were dismissed for various reasons. Some cases were permitted to proceed, and the courts drew guidelines that guide the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.
In the 1990s, asbestos defendants were still seeking legal rulings that would restrict their liability. They wanted to argue that asbestos materials were not component of their product and therefore, they shouldn’t be held liable for injuries caused by people who worked with asbestos. These claims were unsuccessful and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to recognize the “asbestos product” defense.
Today, mesothelioma victims’ right to seek compensation from accountable parties in a case is protected by federal and state law. Insurance companies continue to fight these claims.