Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Many companies have declared bankruptcy because of the asbestos lawsuits filed by victims. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you secure compensation.
Doctors and health experts long warned of asbestos exposure's dangers. But, some industry leaders minimized the dangers. In time the number of people who were diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses.
The Third Case
Asbestos-related lawsuits started to gain momentum in the 1970s, when studies by scientists began to link asbestos to serious illnesses like asbestosis or mesothelioma. Tens of thousands of lawsuits were filed as 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 during the 1940s and 1950s of asbestos products. This case had a major impact on asbestos litigation. In the 1980s it was revealed that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, placed profits over the safety and health of his employees. The testimony of a deposition revealed that Brown was heavily influenced by the chief medical advisor of the company, Dr. Russell Budd. Budd was a doctor who was who was known for his smug disregard for employees' health was a well-known persona.
The evidence showed that Johns Manville knew about the dangers of asbestos and took no action to protect its employees. The court ruled that the company was responsible how long does a asbestos lawsuit take for damages to workers who later developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. The court also ruled that the company was liable for the families of deceased workers.
Following the decision in Borel many asbestos victims and families sought compensation from the companies that made use of asbestos as a material. Unfortunately, most of these claims were dismissed for different reasons. Some cases were allowed to continue and the courts came up with a set of guidelines for the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.
In the 1990s, asbestos defendants were still seeking legal rulings to reduce their liability. They wanted to be able to argue that asbestos was not a component of their product and therefore they should not be held liable for injuries caused by people who employed with asbestos. These claims were unsuccessful, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to recognize the "asbestos product" defense.
Today, a mesothelioma patient's right to seek compensation from responsible parties in the case is protected by federal and state law. However, insurance companies continue to combat these claims tooth and nail.