Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Many companies have been bankrupt because of the asbestos lawsuits filed by the victims. An Asbestos Lawyer (Hardworking-Cat-Mmck7Q.Mystrikingly.Com) can help you get compensation.
Experts in the health field have warned for decades about the dangers asbestos exposure. Yet, industry leaders downplayed the risks. Over time, asbestos-related diseases were becoming more prevalent.
The Third Case
Asbestos lawsuits began to take off in 1970s, after studies by scientists began to link asbestos to serious illnesses such as asbestosis or mesothelioma. Since these diseases typically don't show symptoms until decades after exposure, hundreds of thousands of lawsuits were filed. These lawsuits were filed in Texas due to its favorable laws.
Johns Manville was the leading producer in the 1940s & 1950s of asbestos attorney products. This case had a significant impact on asbestos litigation. In the 1980s it was revealed that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, placed company profits before the health and safety of his employees. Deposition testimony revealed that Brown was heavily influenced the chief medical advisor of the company, Dr. Russell Budd. Budd was a doctor who was well-known for his indifference to the health of employees.
The evidence revealed that Johns Manville knew about the asbestos dangers but did nothing to protect its workers. The court ruled that the company is responsible for any damages that occur if employees later develop mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related illnesses. The court also ruled that the company was responsible for the families of deceased workers.
After the ruling in Borel, many asbestos victims and their families sought compensation from companies who used asbestos as a material. Unfortunately, most of these claims were rejected for a variety of reasons. Some cases were allowed to proceed and the courts set up a set of guidelines that guide the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.
In the 1990s, asbestos defendants were still seeking legal rulings to limit their liability. They wanted to be able to argue that asbestos materials were not a part of their product and therefore they shouldn't be held liable for injuries incurred by those who worked with it. These arguments were not successful and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos products" defense.
Today, mesothelioma victims' right to seek compensation from parties responsible in a case is protected by federal and state law. Insurance companies continue to fight against these claims.