Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Many companies have gone bankrupt due to asbestos lawsuits filed by victims. An asbestos lawyer can assist you in getting compensation.
Experts in the field of health have been warning for years about the dangers of exposure to asbestos. Yet, industry leaders downplayed the dangers. As time went on, asbestos-related diseases became more common.
The Third Case
Asbestos lawsuits began to take off in 1970s, after scientific studies started to link asbestos to serious illnesses such as asbestosis or mesothelioma. Tens of thousands of suits were filed due to the fact that asbestos attorneys-related diseases rarely exhibit symptoms until decades after exposure. Many of these claims were brought in Texas where favorable laws made it a preferred location for this inferno of litigation.
Johns Manville was the leading producer during the 1940s and 1950s of asbestos products. This case had a significant impact on asbestos litigation. In the 1980s it was revealed that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, put company profits before the safety and health of his employees. The testimony of a deposition revealed that Brown was heavily influenced his company's chief medical advisor Dr. Russell Budd. Budd was a doctor well-known for his sloppy disregard for the health of employees.
The evidence showed that Johns Manville knew about the asbestos dangers but did nothing to safeguard its workers. The court found that the company is responsible for any damages that occur if employees later develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. The court also held the company liable for damages for families of employees who passed away.
After the ruling in Borel, many asbestos victims and their families sought compensation from companies that used asbestos as a material. Unfortunately, most of these claims were rejected for a variety of reasons. Certain cases were allowed to continue and the courts came up with guidelines for the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.
In the 1990s asbestos lawyer defendants were seeking legal rulings that would restrict their liability. For instance, they wanted to argue that asbestos materials were not part of their product, and therefore should not be held liable 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, a mesothelioma victim's right to seek compensation from accountable parties in a case is protected by state and federal law. Insurance companies continue to fight against these claims.