Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History

Asbestos lawsuits have resulted in the bankruptcy of many businesses. An asbestos lawyer can assist you in getting compensation.

Experts in the health field have been warning for years about the dangers asbestos exposure. Industry leaders have downplayed these risks. In time, more and more people were diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses.

The Third Case

asbestos related lawsuits lawsuits really began to gain momentum in the 1970s after studies by scientists began to link asbestos to severe illnesses such as mesothelioma or asbestosis. Because asbestos class action-related diseases don't typically manifest until years after exposure, Asbestos lawsuit history thousands of lawsuits were filed. A majority of these lawsuits were brought in Texas where favorable laws made it a popular location for this litigation saga.

One of the most important cases that shaped asbestos litigation involved Johns Manville, the leading producer of asbestos-related products during the 1940s and 1950s. 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, Brown admitted to being heavily affected by Dr. Russell Budd, the chief medical advisor of his company. Budd, a doctor known for his callous disregard for the health of employees was a well-known persona.

Johns Manville was found to have been aware of the dangers associated with asbestos however, they did not take any steps to safeguard their workers. The court decided that the company was liable for damages to workers who later developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. The court also held that the company was responsible for damages for the families of employees who died.

After the decision in Borel many asbestos victims and their families sought compensation from the companies that made use of the material. The majority of these claims were rejected due to a variety of reasons. Some 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 were seeking legal rulings to restrict their liability. They wanted to to argue that asbestos was not part of their product, and therefore, they shouldn't be held accountable for the injuries suffered by people who worked with asbestos exposure lawsuit. These arguments were not successful and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos products" defense.

Today, mesothelioma victims' right to seek compensation from accountable parties in a case is protected by federal and state law. However insurance companies continue fight these claims tooth and nail.