5 Killer Quora Answers On Asbestos Lawsuit History
Asbestos Lawsuit History
Lawyers such as Stanley Levy have helped many asbestos victims. Patients suffering from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses can sue companies that produced, mined or used asbestos and asbestos-containing products.
The first asbestos lawsuit (killer deal) was filed by Nellie Kershaw. She developed health issues while working in an asbestos fiber factory in England. She passed away at 33 due to fibrosis of her lungs, caused by asbestos exposure.
The First Cases
Asbestos, a hazardous mineral, has sickened and killed thousands throughout the years. Asbestos claims can be filed for many reasons, but they usually involve people who were exposed to the substance at work. This includes workers who worked in factories that made asbestos-related products or on the construction sites of buildings containing asbestos. It can also include those who were exposed to asbestos by using household products, such as talcum powder.
Exposure to asbestos can lead to a variety of illnesses which include mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other respiratory issues. Many people have been compensated for their injuries even though some these diseases can be fatal. This is because many countries have laws that require companies who create dangerous substances to inform those who may be hurt by them.
The first asbestos lawsuit was filed in 1929 and involved a woman named Anna Pirskowski. She suffered from breath shortness and thickening of the tissue around the fingertip (known as clubbing). She was awarded a settlement of $75,000 in what is believed to be a first-ever class action lawsuit involving asbestos.
In the years following in the years that followed, more and more asbestos lawsuits were filed. Some of these cases were very large, and many attorneys began to specialize in asbestos litigation. They only accepted cases that were extremely serious. One firm that was involved in this was Kazan Law, which in the late 1980s started to concentrate on bringing cases on behalf of mesothelioma patients.
Other lawsuits have been won by those who suffered from asbestos-related ailments such as asbestosis or plaques in the pleural cavity. This is because the disease that caused these was very similar to mesothelioma, making it easier for lawyers to prove. These claims led to the disclosure of secret documents that revealed how asbestos product manufacturers tried to hide their risks. In 1989 the Asbestos Ban & Phase Out Rule was issued.
The Second Cases
As the number of people diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases grew, victims and families began bringing lawsuits. These lawsuits were filed against companies that mined asbestos, produced asbestos-containing products or sold products containing asbestos. Mesothelioma patients also filed lawsuits against the companies that designed and constructed the buildings where they worked such as shipyards, power plants and refineries. The connection between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure is very strong.
In the early 1980s the legal battle over asbestos attorneys lawsuits began to intensify and courts made rulings on a variety of aspects of the case procedure. For example a federal court ruled that only individuals suffering from malignant asbestos-related disease such as mesothelioma or lung cancer are able to bring lawsuits against the producers of asbestos-related products they used. This ruling, known as Borel v. Fibreboard Paper Products Corp. is an important setback for asbestos lawsuit defendants.
At the same time, Nellie Kershaw from Rochdale in England was the first to file what is now seen as the first well-known lawsuit against asbestos companies. Kershaw was diagnosed with lung issues due to her frequent contact with asbestos fibers, attempted to get the firm she worked for to pay for her medical treatments. But, the company was unable to agree. Kershaw died at the age of 33 from lung fibrosis.
The second phase of asbestos lawsuits centered on those who were exposed to various types asbestos-containing building products, such as fireproofing sprays, and drywall products. Asbestos lawyers also filed successful cases against companies that manufactured equipment that used asbestos-containing materials, such as pumps and boilers.
During this period, a variety of documents that were incriminating were found that revealed asbestos companies have been involved in conspiracy and fraud. The documents included the personal files of Johns-Manville President Sumner Simpson and correspondence from the general attorney of another asbestos producer, Raybestos Manhattan. These documents revealed a conspiracy between these companies to hide asbestos' dangers and deflect efforts to educate the public.
In the mid-1980s to early-1990s in the 1980s, when these and other forms corporate fraud and conspiracy were uncovered, a wave class action settlement was initiated, as well as other attempts were made to limit asbestos liability by asbestos companies. These attempts were met with strong resistance from plaintiffs' attorneys and their clients, as as from the public in general.
The Third Case
By the 1970s, asbestos firms had lost the ability to hide information about the devastating effects of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases from the public. This was largely due to the fact that the link between asbestos and ailments like mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other respiratory problems started receiving attention from major national publications instead of just small medical journals or industry newsletters. Once the links between asbestos and serious illness were well established, victims began filing lawsuits against asbestos-related companies.
One of the main driving factors that led to increased asbestos lawsuits in the 1970s was a court decision that allowed plaintiffs to use the legal theory of strict liability. In the past asbestos lawsuits, plaintiffs had to show that asbestos manufacturers were negligent in creating their exposure to asbestos. However, in the 1973 case of Borel v. Fibreboard, a judge declared that asbestos producers were liable for any injuries caused by their products in the event that the company knew their product was dangerous and failed to warn its employees or the public about the dangers.
In the wake of this ruling, a number of asbestos-related companies filed for bankruptcy, a procedure which allows a company to be reorganized in bankruptcy court, and put funds aside in trusts to pay for asbestos claims, and then continue to operate. Johns-Manville is a notable example, as it was slammed with a variety of lawsuits brought by former factory workers suffering from asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. Kazan Law set several cases against the manufacturer, and was able to get punitive damage verdicts against the company.
Since then asbestos litigation has continued to grow due to the rising number of victims suffering from asbestos-related ailments. Asbestos cases are often complex, as the illnesses that they cause can take a long time to manifest themselves and aren't always obvious to those diagnosed.
Some victims have been waiting for years to receive settlements from insurance companies even after their employers were found to be responsible. The US Supreme Court has addressed a number of cases where asbestos companies attempted to limit their liability by offering class action settlements. It also has addressed the question of whether individual defendants can be held liable for asbestos related injury.
The Fourth Cases
Asbestos is a highly dangerous mineral that has caused the death or sickness of hundreds of thousands of people over the decades. Asbestos was also widely used by manufacturers who knew it was dangerous however they continued to employ it.
As the legal system handles asbestos lawsuits and asbestos lawsuits, new developments take place every day. One of the most significant legal developments is the decision Lubbe v Cape Plc. This set the precedent for victims to sue multinational companies in their home countries for compensation.
These cases often involve secondary asbestos exposure. Workers who work with asbestos work can transfer it to their family members or spouses. The family members then suffer from mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases.
Many lawsuits are filed today by the families of victims based on this kind of situation. Asbestos attorneys can help families bring a claim against the responsible parties for the asbestos-related injuries suffered by their loved relatives.
The emergence of class-action lawsuits is a major change in asbestos litigation. These asbestos lawsuits permit victims to seek justice with the assistance of a lawyer familiar with the complex legal issues that these cases bring.
While a lot of asbestos lawyers have advocated for this type of lawsuit, there are certain people who do not support it. There have been several attempts at passing legislation to limit the use of class actions in asbestos lawsuits.
The most recent significant advancement in asbestos litigation was the filing of a lawsuit by Massachusetts residents against four companies concerning how they handled asbestos removal and disposal. The lawsuit alleged that the companies had violated state law by not disposing of asbestos properly and failing to protect residents from toxic dust.
Asbestos litigation has been going on for decades and it's likely that it will continue to be well into the future. The asbestos industry has tried to avoid accountability by making legal arguments that are technical and by attempting to pass legislative solutions which would stop victims from seeking justice. It appears that many victims, and their lawyers, are determined to see justice done.