Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Many companies have been bankrupt due to asbestos lawsuits filed by the victims. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer will assist you in obtaining compensation.
Health experts and doctors have long warned about the dangers of asbestos exposure. Industry leaders have minimized the risks. As time passed increasing numbers of people were diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses.
The Third Case
Asbestos litigation really took off in the 1970s after scientific studies began to link asbestos with serious illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis. Thousands of lawsuits were filed because these diseases don't usually exhibit symptoms until decades after exposure. Boise City asbestos lawsuit of these lawsuits were brought in Texas, where favorable laws made it an ideal location for this litigation saga.
One of the most important cases that shaped asbestos litigation was Johns Manville, the leading producer of asbestos products in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1980s it was discovered that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, placed profits above the safety and health of his employees. In his deposition testimony, Brown admitted to being heavily influenced by Dr. Russell Budd, the chief medical advisor of his company. Budd was a doctor well-known for his sloppy disregard for the health of workers.
The evidence revealed that Johns Manville knew about the dangers of asbestos and did nothing to protect its employees. The court ruled that the company was liable for the injuries suffered by workers who later developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. The court also determined that the company was liable for damages to the families of deceased workers.
After the decision 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. A few cases were allowed to proceed and the courts set up a set of guidelines that have governed the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.
In the 1990s asbestos defendants continued to seek legal rulings to limit their liability. They wanted to to argue that asbestos was not a part of their product and therefore, they shouldn't be held responsible for the injuries suffered by people who worked with asbestos. These arguments were not successful and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos products" defense.
Today, a mesothelioma patient's right to seek compensation from the responsible parties in a case is protected by federal and state law. Insurance companies continue to fight against these claims.