Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Many companies have been bankrupt due to asbestos lawsuits filed by the victims. A mesothelioma attorney can assist you in getting compensation.
Experts in the health field have been warning for years about the dangers of exposure to asbestos. Yet, industry leaders downplayed the dangers. As time passed, asbestos-related illnesses became more common.
The Third Case
Asbestos lawsuits really began to gain momentum in the 1970s after research studies began to link asbestos with serious illnesses like mesothelioma and asbestosis. Tens of thousands of lawsuits were filed because asbestos-related diseases do not usually exhibit symptoms until decades after exposure. A majority of these lawsuits were filed in Texas where favorable laws made it a preferred venue for this litigation inferno.
Johns Manville was the leading producer in the 1940s & 1950s of asbestos products. This case had a major 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. Deposition testimony revealed that he was heavily influenced by the chief medical advisor of the company, 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 dangers of asbestos and took no action to safeguard its workers. 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 found the company liable for damages for families of employees who passed away.
Following the decision in Borel, many asbestos victims and their families sought compensation from the companies who used asbestos as a material. The majority of the claims were denied for a variety reasons. Some cases were permitted to proceed and the courts came up with guidelines that asbestos lawsuit settlements taxable have guided the handling of asbestos-related lawsuits.
In the 1990s, asbestos defendants continued to seek legal rulings to limit their liability. For example they wanted to argue that asbestos materials were not part of their product, and therefore should not be held liable for injuries sustained by people who worked with asbestos. The claims were rejected and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos products" defense.
Federal and state laws protect the rights of a mesothelioma patient to seek compensation for their illness from the parties accountable in a specific case. However, insurance companies continue to defend these claims with a hammer and a sledgehammer.