Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Many companies have gone bankrupt due to asbestos lawsuits filed by victims. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can assist you in obtaining compensation.
Experts in the health field have been warning for years about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Industry leaders have downplayed the risks. As time went on, asbestos-related diseases became more common.
The Third Case
Asbestos lawsuits really began to gain momentum in the 1970s, shortly after scientific studies began to link asbestos to serious diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma. Because asbestos-related diseases don't typically show symptoms until decades after exposure, hundreds of thousands of lawsuits were filed. These lawsuits were filed in Texas due to its favorable laws.
One of the most significant cases that shaped asbestos litigation involved Johns Manville, the leading producer of asbestos-related products during the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1980s it was revealed that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, placed profits above the safety and health of his employees. The testimony of a deposition revealed that Brown was heavily influenced the company's chief medical advisor Dr. Russell Budd. Budd was an expert in his field who was known for his sloppy disregard for the health of employees.
The evidence revealed that Johns Manville knew about the asbestos dangers but did not take any action to protect its workers. The court ruled that the company is accountable for any damages suffered by workers who later develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. The court also decided that the company was liable for the family members of deceased workers.
After Muncie asbestos lawsuit in Borel, many asbestos victims and their families sought compensation from companies who used asbestos as a material. Most of these claims were rejected due to a variety of reasons. Some cases were allowed to be heard and the courts came up with guidelines for the handling of asbestos-related suits.
In the 1990s asbestos defendants were seeking legal rulings to restrict their liability. For instance they sought to argue that asbestos materials were not part of their product and therefore could not be held responsible for injuries to people who worked with them. These arguments were not successful and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos products" defense.
Federal and state laws protect mesothelioma patients' rights. patient to seek compensation for their condition from the responsible parties in a specific case. Insurance companies continue to fight against these claims.