Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Asbestos lawsuits have resulted in the bankruptcy of several companies. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer will help you obtain compensation.
Experts in the field of health have been warning for years about the dangers of exposure to asbestos. Yet, industry leaders downplayed the risks. Over time the number of people who were diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses.
The Third Case
Asbestos litigation began to take off in the 1970s after research studies began to link asbestos with serious illnesses such as mesothelioma or asbestosis. Because asbestos-related diseases don't typically show symptoms until decades after exposure, hundreds of thousands of lawsuits were filed. A majority of these lawsuits were filed in Texas, where favorable laws made it a preferred venue for this litigation inferno.
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 discovered that Lewis Brown, the CEO of the company, put profits over the safety and health of his employees. In his deposition testimony, Brown admitted to being heavily affected by Dr. Russell Budd, the chief medical advisor of his company. Budd was a doctor who was famous for his indifference for the health of employees, was a well-known figure.
The evidence showed that Johns Manville asbestos lawsuit knew about the dangers of asbestos and did not take any action to protect its employees. The court ruled that the company was liable for the damages suffered by workers who later developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. The court also ruled that the company was responsible for damages for the families of employees who passed away.
Following the decision in Borel many asbestos victims and families sought compensation from the companies that used asbestos as a material. Unfortunately, most of these claims were dismissed for different reasons. Certain cases were allowed continue and the courts drafted guidelines for the handling of asbestos-related suits.
In the 1990s, asbestos defendants were still seeking legal rulings to limit their liability. For instance, they wanted to argue that asbestos materials were not part of their product, and therefore shouldn't be held accountable for injuries to people who worked with asbestos. The claims were rejected and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos products" defense.
Today, a mesothelioma patient's right to seek compensation from the accountable parties in the case is protected by federal and state law. Insurance companies continue to fight against these claims.