20 Resources That ll Make You Better At Asbestos Lawsuit History
Asbestos Lawsuit History
Many asbestos victims have received assistance from lawyers like Stanley Levy. Patients suffering from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases can sue companies who mined, manufactured or used asbestos and asbestos-containing products.
Nellie Kershaw was the first to file an asbestos lawsuit. She suffered health issues while working in an asbestos fiber plant in England. She died at the age of 33 of fibrosis in the lungs caused by asbestos exposure.
The First Cases
Asbestos, a dangerous mineral, has infected and killed thousands over the years. Asbestos claims can be filed for many reasons, but they typically involve people who were exposed to asbestos at work. This includes those who worked in factories that made asbestos-related products, or on the construction sites of buildings that contain asbestos. It can also include people who were exposed asbestos through household products such as talcum powder.
Exposure to asbestos can lead to a variety of illnesses, including mesothelioma, lung cancer and other respiratory issues. Although some of these diseases are extremely serious and could be fatal, many have been able to obtain compensation for their injuries. This is largely because most countries have laws that require companies who create dangerous substances to warn those who may be hurt by them.
The first asbestos lawsuit, filed in 1929, was filed by a woman with the name of Anna Pirskowski. She suffered from shortness of breath and thickening of the fingertip tissue (known as clubbing). She received a settlement amounting to $75,000 in what is believed to be a first-ever class action lawsuit involving asbestos.
In the years that followed there were a lot of asbestos lawsuits were filed. Some of the cases became very large, and many attorneys began to specialize in asbestos litigation. This meant that they only dealt with the most serious cases. Kazan Law was one firm that focused on this in the latter part of the 80s.
Other lawsuits were won by individuals who had suffered from other asbestos-related illnesses like asbestosis or pleural plaques. The condition that caused them was similar to mesothelioma making it easier to prove for lawyers. These claims also led to the disclosure of secret documents that showed how manufacturers of asbestos products attempted to conceal the dangers. This led to the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule being enacted in 1989.
The Second Cases
As the number of people suffering from asbestos-related illnesses grew, the victims and their families began filing lawsuits against companies that mined, produced or sold asbestos-containing products. Mesothelioma victims also filed claims against the companies that created and built the buildings that they worked in, including power plants, shipyards and refineries. The connection between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma development is very strong.
In the early 1980s, legal fights over asbestos lawsuits got more ferocious, and courts began to rule on various aspects of case processes. A federal court, for example, ruled that only those suffering from asbestos attorneys-related malignancies such as mesothelioma and lung cancer were able to sue the manufacturers of asbestos products. This ruling, dubbed Borel v. Fibreboard Paper Products Corp. is a major setback to asbestos lawsuit defendants.
Around the same time, Nellie Kershaw from Rochdale in England was the first to file what is now seen as the first well-known lawsuit against asbestos companies. Kershaw was diagnosed with lung ailments due to her frequent contact with raw asbestos fibers, tried to get the firm she worked for to pay for her treatments. The company refused. Kershaw died at 33 years old of fibrosis of her lungs.
The second wave of asbestos-related cases focused on workers who worked in construction sites and were exposed to various kinds of asbestos-containing building materials including fireproofing sprays drywall products and textures. Asbestos lawyers also prevailed in cases against companies that made the equipment that made use of asbestos-containing materials, such as pumps and boilers.
During this time, a number of incriminating documents were discovered that demonstrated asbestos companies' involvement in a scheme of fraud and. This included the personal records of Johns-Manville president Sumner Simpson, as well as correspondence from the general counsel of another asbestos manufacturer, Raybestos Manhattan. These documents revealed the scheme of these companies to cover up the fact that asbestos was dangerous and to thwart efforts to inform the public about the dangers.
The discovery of these and other types of corporate fraud and collusion in the early and mid-1980s led to a flurry of class action settlements and other efforts to limit asbestos liability for asbestos companies. These efforts were met with a fierce opposition from plaintiffs' lawyers and their clients, as as the public at large.
The Third Cases
In the 1970s, asbestos firms had lost the ability to conceal information on the fatal effects of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases from the general public. This was due in large part to the fact major national publications began to pay attention to the connection between asbestos, mesothelioma and other respiratory illnesses, as opposed to small industry newsletters and medical journals. Once asbestos-related serious illnesses were established and the victims began making lawsuits against asbestos producers.
One of the primary driving factors that led to an increase in asbestos lawsuits in the 1970s was a court ruling that allowed plaintiffs to use the legal theory of strict liability. In the past asbestos lawsuits, plaintiffs required proof that asbestos manufacturers were negligent in the way they caused their asbestos exposures. However in the 1973 case of Borel v. Fibreboard, a judge declared that asbestos producers were accountable for any injuries caused by their products when the company knew their product was unsafe and failed to warn its employees or the public about the dangers.
After this ruling, many asbestos producers filed for bankruptcy. This procedure allows a company, even if still in operation, to reorganize itself in bankruptcy court and put money in trusts to pay asbestos claimants. Johns-Manville is a notable example. It was a victim of many lawsuits filed by former factory workers who were diagnosed with asbestosis, mesothelioma, or lung cancer. Kazan Law brought several cases against the manufacturer and was able to obtain punitive damages against it.
Asbestos litigation has increased in the past few years because of the increasing number of asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos litigation can be complicated because the diseases caused by asbestos can take a long time to manifest and are not always obvious to those who have been diagnosed.
Some victims have had to wait years for reimbursement from insurance companies even after their employers were found liable. The US Supreme Court has addressed several cases in which asbestos companies sought to limit their liability by offering class action settlements. It also has discussed whether individual defendants could be held liable for asbestos related injury.
The Fourth Case
Asbestos, a mineral which is extremely hazardous has killed and sickened hundreds of thousands over the years. Asbestos was also extensively used by companies who knew it was a risk however they continued to make use of it.
As the legal system deals with these asbestos lawsuits, new developments are taking place constantly. One of the most significant legal developments is the ruling Lubbe v Cape Plc. This set the precedent for victims to sue multinational corporations in their home countries for compensation.
Most of the time, these cases involve exposure to asbestos in the second degree. This happens when workers who work with asbestos while on the job transfer it to their spouses or children living at home. The family members suffer from mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases.
There are many lawsuits filed today by the families of victims of this type of case. Asbestos lawyers can aid families file a claim against the company that is responsible for their loved ones' asbestos-related injuries.
Another big advancement in asbestos litigation has been the rise of class action lawsuits. These asbestos lawsuits provide victims the opportunity to seek justice through the help of an attorney who is well-versed in the complicated legal issues these cases bring up.
While a lot of asbestos lawyers have pushed for this kind of litigation, there are certain people who do not support it. There have been numerous attempts at passing legislation to limit the use class actions in asbestos lawsuits.
The most recent major change in asbestos litigation is the filing a lawsuit by Massachusetts residents against 4 companies for how they handled asbestos attorneys removal and disposal. The lawsuit claimed that the firms in violation of state law in not properly disposing asbestos and failing to protect residents from toxic dust.
Asbestos litigation has been ongoing for decades and it will continue to be well into the future. The asbestos industry has tried to avoid responsibility through legal arguments that are technical and also by attempting to pass legislative solutions that would prevent victims from seeking justice. However, it appears that many victims and lawyers are determined to see justice served.