Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History

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

Health experts and doctors have long warned about the dangers of asbestos exposure. But, are asbestos lawsuit settlements taxable some industry leaders minimized the dangers. In time, more and more people became ill with asbestos-related diseases.

The Third Case

Asbestos litigation really took off in the 1970s after studies by scientists began to link asbestos with serious illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis. Because asbestos-related diseases don't typically develop symptoms until decades after exposure, tens of thousands of lawsuits were filed. These lawsuits were filed in Texas because of its favorable laws.

Johns Manville was the leading producer in the 1940s and 1950s of asbestos-related products. This case had a significant 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. In his deposition testimony, he admitted to being heavily influenced by Dr. Russell Budd, the chief medical advisor to his company. Budd was an expert in his field who was known for his callous disregard of the health of employees.

Johns Manville was found to have been aware of asbestos's dangers however, they failed to take any action to protect their workers. The court declared that the company was responsible for any damages that occur if employees later develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. The court also found the company liable for damages to the families of employees who died.

After the decision in Borel many are asbestos lawsuit settlements taxable victims and families sought compensation from the companies that made use of this material. The majority of these claims were rejected due to a variety of reasons. A few cases were allowed to proceed and the courts set guidelines that guide the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.

In the 1990s, Are Asbestos Lawsuit Settlements Taxable asbestos defendants were still seeking legal rulings that would limit 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 asbestos. These arguments were rejected, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to uphold the "asbestos product" defense.

State and federal laws protect the rights of a mesothelioma patient to seek compensation for their condition from the parties accountable in a specific case. However insurance companies continue to defend these claims tooth and nail.