Texas Asbestos Lawsuit History

Many companies have declared bankruptcy because of the asbestos lawsuits filed by the victims. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help you secure compensation.

Experts in the health field have been warning for years about the dangers of asbestos lawyers exposure. Industry leaders have minimized the dangers. Over time, more and more people became ill with asbestos-related diseases.

The Third Case

Asbestos litigation really took off in the 1970s, just after research studies began to link asbestos with serious illnesses such as mesothelioma or asbestosis. Thousands of lawsuits were filed because these diseases don't usually manifest for years after exposure. These lawsuits were filed in Texas because of its favorable laws.

One of the most important cases that shaped asbestos litigation was 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, placed profits over the safety and health of his employees. In his deposition testimony Brown admitted that he was heavily influenced by Dr. Russell Budd, the chief medical advisor to his company. Budd was a doctor who was who was known for his smug disregard for employees' health 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 protect their employees. The court declared that the company was liable for damages if workers later develop mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related illness. The court also determined that the company was responsible for the families of deceased workers.

After the ruling in Borel, many asbestos victims and their families sought compensation from the companies that used asbestos as a material. Unfortunately, most of these claims were denied due to various reasons. A few cases were allowed to proceed, and the courts drew guidelines that guide the handling of asbestos attorney-related lawsuits.

In the 1990s asbestos attorneys defendants were seeking legal rulings to reduce 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 them. The claims were rejected and the U.S. Supreme Court rejected the "asbestos lawyer products" defense.

Today, a mesothelioma victim's right to seek compensation from the responsible parties in a case is protected under state and federal law. However insurance companies continue to fight these claims with a hammer and a sledgehammer.