Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History
Many companies have gone bankrupt because of the asbestos lawsuits filed by the victims. A mesothelioma attorney can help you get compensation.
Doctors and health experts long warned of asbestos exposure's dangers. Industry leaders have minimized the risks. As time passed, asbestos-related illnesses became more prevalent.
Arlington asbestos lawsuit began to take off in the 1970s, shortly after research studies began to link asbestos to serious diseases like asbestosis and mesothelioma. Thousands of lawsuits were filed as asbestos-related diseases rarely manifest for years after exposure. Many of these claims were filed in Texas, where favorable laws made it an ideal location for this inferno of litigation.
One of the most significant cases that shaped asbestos litigation involved Johns Manville, the leading producer of asbestos products in the 1940s and 1950s. In the 1980s, it was brought to be known that the company's chief executive Lewis Brown prioritized company profits over the health of his employees. In his deposition, Brown admitted that he was heavily influenced by Dr. Russell Budd, the chief medical advisor of his company. Budd was a doctor who was well-known for his sloppy disregard for the health of employees.
The evidence revealed that Johns Manville knew about the asbestos dangers but took no action to protect its workers. The court found that the company is liable for damages if workers later develop mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. The court also found the company liable for damages for the families of employees who passed away.
After the decision in Borel many asbestos victims and families sought compensation from the companies that made use of asbestos as a material. The majority of the claims were denied due to a variety of reasons. Some cases were allowed to continue and the courts drafted guidelines for handling asbestos-related suits.
In the 1990s asbestos defendants were seeking legal rulings to limit their liability. For example, they sought to argue that the asbestos materials were not part of their product and thus shouldn't be held accountable for injuries to people who worked with asbestos. The claims were not successful and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to recognize the "asbestos product" defense.
Federal and state laws protect mesothelioma patients' rights. patient to seek compensation for their illness from the parties accountable in a particular case. However, insurance companies continue to defend these claims tooth and nail.
