20 Tools That Will Make You More Efficient At Asbestos Lawsuit History
Asbestos Lawsuit History Many asbestos victims have received help from lawyers like Stanley Levy. Patients suffering from asbestos-related diseases, such as mesothelioma, can sue companies who mined, manufactured or used asbestos. The first asbestos lawsuit was filed by Nellie Kershaw. She developed health issues while working in an asbestos fiber manufacturing plant in England. She died at the age of 33 of fibrosis in the lung due to asbestos exposure. The First Cases Asbestos, a hazardous mineral, has infected and killed thousands over the years. Asbestos claims can be filed for a variety of reasons, but they generally involve those who were exposed to the substance at work. This could include workers in factories that made asbestos-related products or those working on the construction of buildings with asbestos, or who were exposed to asbestos from contaminated household products like talcum powder. Exposure to asbestos can trigger a variety of illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma and other respiratory issues. Although some of these diseases are very serious and can be fatal, many people have been able to receive compensation for their injuries. The majority of countries have laws that require companies that produce dangerous substances to warn anyone who may be injured. The first asbestos lawsuit was filed in 1929. It was filed by a woman whose name was Anna Pirskowski. She was suffering from a variety of ailments, including shortness of breath and thickening of the fingertip tissue, also known as clubbing. She received a settlement worth $75,000 in what is believed to be a first class action lawsuit that involved asbestos. In the years following there were a lot of asbestos lawsuits were filed. Asbestos litigation became a very vast area of law and many lawyers began to specialize in asbestos litigation. They only would take on cases that were very serious. One firm that was involved in this was Kazan Law, which in the latter half of the 1980s began to focus on the bringing of cases on behalf of mesothelioma patients. Other lawsuits have been won by individuals who suffered from asbestos-related diseases such as asbestosis or plaques in the pleural cavity. This is because the condition that caused them was similar to mesothelioma, making it simpler for lawyers to prove. These claims led to the release of secret documents that revealed how asbestos manufacturers tried to conceal their risks. This led to the Asbestos Ban and Phase Out Rule being issued in 1989. The Second Case As the number of people suffering from asbestos-related diseases increased, victims and their families began bringing lawsuits against companies that mined, produced or sold asbestos-containing products. Mesothelioma sufferers also filed claims against companies who designed and constructed the buildings that they worked in such as power plants, shipyards and refineries. The link between asbestos exposure and the development of mesothelioma is strong. In the early 1980s the legal litigation over asbestos lawsuits started to get more intense and the courts made decisions on various aspects of the case procedure. A federal court, for example, ruled that only those suffering from asbestos-related malignancies like mesothelioma and lung cancer were able to sue the manufacturers of asbestos products. This ruling, also referred to as Borel V. Fibreboard Paper Products Corp. was a major setback in asbestos litigation. The same time, Nellie Kershaw from Rochdale in England filed what is now regarded as the first known lawsuit against asbestos companies. Kershaw, a factory worker from Rochdale, England, was diagnosed with lung problems caused by her close exposure to raw asbestos fibers. Kershaw tried to convince her employer to pay for the treatment. However, the company refused. Kershaw passed away at the age of 33 from lung fibrosis. The second wave of asbestos lawsuits focused on workers exposed to different kinds of asbestos-containing building materials, such as fireproofing sprays and drywall products. Arvada asbestos attorney prevailed in cases against companies that manufactured the equipment that utilized asbestos-containing materials, like pumps and boilers. During this time, many documents incriminating asbestos companies were discovered. These documents showed their involvement in fraud and conspiracies. The documents included the personal files of Johns-Manville president Sumner Simpson, as well as correspondence from the general counsel for another asbestos manufacturer, Raybestos Manhattan. These documents revealed a plot between these companies to hide asbestos' dangers and to thwart efforts to warn the public. The discovery of these and other forms of corporate fraud and conspiracy in the early and mid-1980s caused a surge of class action settlements and other efforts to limit asbestos liability for asbestos companies. These attempts were met with strong opposition from plaintiffs' attorneys and their clients as well as the public. The Third Case In the 1970s, asbestos companies were no longer able hide the deadly effects of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma from the general public. This was due to the fact that the link between asbestos and ailments such as mesothelioma, asbestosis and other respiratory ailments began receiving attention from major national publications instead of small industry newsletters or medical journals. After asbestos-related serious illnesses were established and the victims began making lawsuits against asbestos producers. One of the major driving factors that led to an increase in asbestos lawsuits in the 1970s was a court decision that allowed plaintiffs to utilize the legal theory of strict liability. In the past asbestos lawsuits, plaintiffs required proof that asbestos manufacturers were negligent in creating their asbestos exposures. In the 1973 case Borel v. Fibreboard a judge ruled asbestos manufacturers liable for any injuries resulting from their products if they knew that their product was dangerous but did not inform their employees or the general public about its dangers. In the wake of this ruling, a number of asbestos-related companies filed for bankruptcy, a process that allows businesses to be reorganized in bankruptcy court, put funds aside in trusts to pay for asbestos claims, and then continue to operate. Johns-Manville is a notable example. It was the victim of numerous lawsuits filed by former factory workers who suffered from asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer. Kazan Law set several cases against the manufacturer and was able to win punitive damage verdicts against the company. Since the time, asbestos litigation has continued increase due to the rising number of victims suffering from asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos litigation is often complex because the diseases caused by asbestos can take years to manifest and aren't always apparent to those who are diagnosed. Some victims have also had to wait years for compensation 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 tried to limit their liability by offering class action settlements. It has also discussed whether individual defendants could be held liable for injuries resulting from asbestos. The Fourth Cases Asbestos is an incredibly dangerous mineral that has killed or sickened hundreds of thousands of people over the years. Asbestos was also extensively used by manufacturers who knew it was dangerous, but continued to employ it. As the legal system deals with asbestos lawsuits and asbestos lawsuits, new developments take place all the time. One of the most important legal developments is a case known as Lubbe v. Cape Plc, which set a precedent that allows victims to sue multinational corporations in their home jurisdictions for compensation. These cases typically involve secondary exposure to asbestos. This happens when workers who handle asbestos on the job transfer it to their spouses or children at home. The family members are affected by mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Many lawsuits are filed today by the families of victims based on this type of case. Asbestos lawyers can assist families file a claim against the company responsible for their loved ones' asbestos injuries. The emergence of class-action lawsuits is another major development in asbestos litigation. These asbestos lawsuits offer victims the chance to pursue justice with the help of an attorney who is familiarized with the complex legal issues these cases present. While asbestos lawyers have pushed for this kind of litigation, there are also those who are against it. In fact, there have been several attempts to pass legislation restricting the use of asbestos class actions. The most recent major development in asbestos litigation is the filing an action by Massachusetts residents against four companies for handling asbestos removal and disposal. The lawsuit claimed that the companies violated the law of the state by not properly disposing of asbestos and failing to safeguard residents from the harmful dust. Asbestos litigation is a long-running issue that is likely to continue for many decades to come. The asbestos industry has tried to shield itself from responsibility using legal arguments based on technicalities, and by trying to pass legislative remedies that would stop victims from seeking justice. However, it seems that a lot of victims and their attorneys are determined to see justice served.