Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History

Many companies have declared bankruptcy due to asbestos lawsuits filed by victims. An asbestos lawyer can assist you in obtaining compensation.

Health professionals and doctors for years warned of asbestos exposure's dangers. But, some industry leaders minimized the dangers. In time increasing numbers of people became ill with asbestos lawsuit settlement amounts-related diseases.

The Third Case

Asbestos litigation began to take off in the 1970s, just after research studies began to link asbestos class action lawsuit settlement to severe diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma. Tens of thousands of suits were filed due to the fact that asbestos-related diseases rarely exhibit symptoms until 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 came to the light that the company's CEO Lewis Brown prioritized company profits over the health of his employees. The testimony of a deposition revealed that Brown was heavily influenced by his company's chief medical advisor, Dr. Russell Budd. Budd was a doctor who was well-known for his sloppy disregard for the health of workers.

The evidence revealed that Johns Manville knew about the asbestos hazards but did not take any action to safeguard its workers. The court decided that the company was liable for the damages suffered by workers who later developed mesothelioma or Asbestos Lawsuit History other asbestos-related illnesses. The court also ruled that the company was liable for the family members of deceased workers.

After the decision in Borel many asbestos mesothelioma lawsuit-related victims and their families demanded compensation from the companies that used asbestos as a material. The majority of these claims were rejected due to a variety of reasons. Some cases were permitted to proceed and Asbestos Lawsuit History the courts set guidelines that have governed the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.

In the 1990s, asbestos defendants still sought legal rulings to limit their liability. For example, they wanted to argue that the asbestos materials were not part of their product, and therefore could not be held responsible for injuries to people who worked with asbestos. These claims were unsuccessful and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to uphold the "asbestos product" defense.

Today, a mesothelioma patient's right to pursue compensation from accountable parties in a case is protected by federal and state law. Insurance companies continue to fight these claims.