Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Many companies have gone bankrupt due to asbestos lawsuits filed by the victims. An asbestos lawyer can assist you in getting compensation.
Experts in the health field have been warning for years about the dangers of exposure to asbestos. Industry leaders have minimized the risks. In time 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 link asbestos to serious illnesses such as asbestosis or mesothelioma. Tens of thousands of suits were filed because asbestos lawsuit-related diseases do not usually exhibit symptoms until decades after exposure. These lawsuits were filed in Texas due to its favorable laws.
Johns Manville was the leading producer in the 1940s & 1950s of asbestos products. This case had a major impact on asbestos lawsuits litigation. In the 1980s, it came to be known that the company's chief executive Lewis Brown prioritized company profits over the health of his employees. Deposition testimony revealed that he was heavily influenced by his company's chief medical advisor, Dr. Russell Budd. Budd was a doctor well-known for his sloppy disregard for the health of employees.
Johns Manville was found to have known about asbestos' dangers however, they did not take any steps to protect their employees. The court ruled that the company was liable for the injuries suffered by workers who later developed mesothelioma or other asbestos lawsuit-related diseases. The court also found the company liable for damages for the families of deceased employees.
Following the decision in Borel many asbestos victims and their families sought compensation from the companies that used this material. Most of these claims were denied for a variety reasons. A few cases were allowed to proceed, and the courts drew guidelines that guide the handling of asbestos lawsuit-related lawsuits.
In the 1990s, asbestos defendants were still seeking legal rulings to limit their liability. For example, they sought to argue that the asbestos materials were not part of their product, and therefore shouldn't be held accountable for injuries suffered by those who worked with them. These arguments were not successful and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos products" defense.
Today, mesothelioma victims' right to pursue compensation from responsible parties in a case is protected under state and federal law. Insurance companies continue to fight against these claims.