Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Many companies have been bankrupt because of the asbestos lawsuits filed by victims. A 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 minimized the dangers. In time increasing numbers of people were diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses.
The Third Case
Asbestos lawsuits really began to gain momentum in the 1970s, just after studies by scientists began to link asbestos to severe illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis. Thousands of lawsuits were filed due to the fact that asbestos-related diseases do not usually show symptoms for decades after exposure. A majority of these lawsuits were filed in Texas, where favorable laws made it a preferred location for this litigation saga.
Johns Manville was the leading producer in the 1940s & 1950s of asbestos-related products. This case had a significant impact on asbestos litigation. In the 1980s, it came to 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 affected by asbestos lawsuit lawyers Dr. Russell Budd, the chief medical advisor to his company. Budd was a doctor who was well-known for his callous disregard of the health of workers.
Johns Manville was found to have been aware of asbestos's dangers however, they did not take any action to protect their workers. The court decided that the company was responsible for damages to workers who later developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. The court also ruled the company liable for damages for the families of employees who passed away.
Following the decision in Borel many asbestos victims and their families sought compensation from the companies that used this material. Unfortunately, most of these claims were rejected for a variety of reasons. Some cases were permitted to proceed and the courts set guidelines that have governed the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.
In the 1990s asbestos defendants were seeking legal rulings that would reduce their liability. They wanted to argue that asbestos materials were not component of their product and therefore, they shouldn't be held liable for injuries caused by people who employed with it. 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 responsible parties in a case is protected by state and federal law. However insurance companies continue to defend these claims tooth and nail.