The 15 Things Your Boss Wishes You'd Known About Asbestos Lawsuit History

Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History

Asbestos lawsuits have led to the bankruptcy of several businesses. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can assist you in obtaining compensation.

Doctors and health experts long warned about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Industry leaders have downplayed these risks. As time went on, asbestos-related diseases became more common.

The Third Case

Asbestos-related lawsuits started to gain momentum in the 1970s, when studies in science began to link asbestos to serious illnesses like mesothelioma or asbestosis. Tens of thousands of suits were filed due to the fact that asbestos-related diseases rarely show symptoms for decades after exposure. These lawsuits were filed in Texas because of its favorable laws.

Johns Manville was the leading producer in the 1940s & 1950s of asbestos products. This case had a major impact on asbestos litigation. In the 1980s, it was brought to the light that the company's CEO Lewis Brown prioritized company profits over the health of his employees. In his deposition testimony, Brown admitted that he was heavily influenced by Dr. Russell Budd, the chief medical advisor to his company. Budd was a doctor who was well-known for his indifference to the health of workers.

The evidence revealed that Johns Manville knew about the asbestos dangers but did not take any action to protect its workers. The court determined that the company was responsible for the injuries suffered by workers who later developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. The court also decided that the company was responsible for the family members of deceased workers.

Following the decision in Borel many asbestos-related victims and their families demanded compensation from the companies that made use of asbestos as a material. The majority of these claims were denied due to a variety of reasons. Certain cases were allowed to be heard and the courts drafted guidelines for the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.

In the 1990s, asbestos defendants continued to seek legal rulings to limit their liability.  Athens asbestos attorney  wanted to be able argue that asbestos materials were not part of their product, and therefore, they shouldn't be held liable for injuries caused by people who worked with it. 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 responsible parties in a case is protected under state and federal law. Insurance companies continue to fight these claims.