Asbestos Lawsuit History

Many asbestos victims have received assistance from lawyers like Stanley Levy. People suffering from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma can sue companies that mined, manufactured or used asbestos.

The first asbestos lawsuit was filed by Nellie Kershaw. She worked in a factory that spun asbestos fibers in England and developed health problems. She passed away at the age of 33 from fibrosis of the lungs caused by asbestos exposure.

The First Cases

Asbestos, a dangerous mineral, has afflicted and killed thousands over the years. Asbestos claims are filed for a variety of reasons, but the majority involve those who were exposed to asbestos in their work. This includes workers who worked in factories that manufactured asbestos-related products, or on the construction sites of buildings containing asbestos. It could also include those who were exposed to asbestos through household products like talcum powder.

Exposure to asbestos can cause many different illnesses, including lung cancer, mesothelioma and other respiratory issues. Many people have received compensation for their injuries even though some these diseases are fatal. The majority of countries have laws that require companies that create dangerous substances warn anyone who may be injured.

The first asbestos lawsuit that was filed in 1929 was filed by a woman with the name of Anna Pirskowski. She was suffering from shortness of breathe and thickening in the tissue around the fingertip (known as clubbing). She was awarded a settlement of $75,000 that is believed to be the first class action lawsuit in connection with asbestos.

Asbest lawsuits continued to be filed in the years that followed. Some of these cases were quite large, and a lot of attorneys started to specialize in asbestos litigation. This meant that they only took on the most serious cases. Kazan Law was one firm that was focusing on this in the late 80s.

Other lawsuits have been won by individuals who suffered from asbestos-related ailments, such as asbestosis and plaques in the pleural cavity. This is due to the fact that the disease that caused these was very similar to mesothelioma and therefore simpler for lawyers to prove. These claims also led to the disclosure of secret documents that revealed the way asbestos producers attempted to conceal the dangers. In 1989 the Asbestos Ban & Phase Out Rule was enacted.

The Second Cases

As the number diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases grew the number of victims and their families began bringing lawsuits. These lawsuits were brought against companies that mined asbestos, manufactured asbestos-containing products or sold products containing asbestos. Additionally, mesothelioma patients made claims against companies that designed and constructed the buildings they worked in like shipyards, power plants, refineries and factories. The connection between mesothelioma and asbestos exposure is strong.

In the early 1980s the legal litigation over asbestos lawsuits grew more intense and the courts began to rule on various aspects of the litigation process. For instance a federal court decided that only individuals suffering from malignant asbestos-related illness such as mesothelioma, or lung cancer are eligible to bring a lawsuit against the manufacturers of asbestos-related products they used. This ruling, referred to as Borel V. Fibreboard Paper Products Corp. was a major setback in asbestos cancer lawsuit lawyer mesothelioma litigation.

The same time, Nellie Kershaw from Rochdale in England filed what is regarded as the first known lawsuit against asbestos-related companies. Kershaw, who had been diagnosed with lung problems caused by her close contact with raw asbestos fibers, tried to convince the company she worked for asbestos cancer lawsuit lawyer mesothelioma to pay for her treatments. But, the company was unable to agree. Kershaw passed away at the age of 33 from fibrosis of her lungs.

The second round of asbestos lawsuits centered on workers exposed to different types of asbestos-containing building products like fireproofing sprays and drywall products. Asbestos lawyers also prevailed in lawsuits against companies who manufactured the equipment that used asbestos-containing materials, such as pumps and boilers.

During this period, a variety of incriminating documents were discovered that proved asbestos cancer lawsuit mesothelioma settlement companies' involvement in a scheme of fraud and. The documents included personal files of Johns-Manville President Sumner Simpson and correspondence from the general attorney for another asbestos producer, Raybestos Manhattan. These documents revealed the plot of these companies to cover up the fact that asbestos was hazardous and to thwart efforts to inform the public of the dangers.

In the early and mid-1980s When these and other forms of corporate fraud and conspiracy were discovered In the early to mid-1980s, a wave of class action lawsuit asbestos exposure actions settlements was launched, along with other efforts were made to limit asbestos liability by asbestos companies. These attempts were met with strong opposition from plaintiffs' lawyers and their clients, as well as the public in general.

The Third Case

In the 1970s, asbestos companies were no longer able to hide the deadly effects of asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma from the general public. This was due to the fact that the connection between asbestos and illnesses like mesothelioma, asbestosis, and respiratory diseases like asthma began receiving attention from major national publications instead of small industry newsletters or medical journals. Once asbestos-related serious illnesses were well-established, victims began making lawsuits against asbestos producers.

In the 1970s, a court decision that allowed plaintiffs the recourse to strict liability as a legal concept was one of the primary reasons for an increase in asbestos lawsuits. Previously, plaintiffs in asbestos cases had to prove that asbestos manufacturers were negligent in creating their exposure to asbestos. In the 1973 case Borel v. Fibreboard a judge ruled asbestos manufacturers accountable for any injuries resulting from their products if they knew that their product was unsafe but did not inform their employees or the general public about the dangers.

Following this ruling, a lot of asbestos producers were forced to file for bankruptcy. This procedure allows a company, even if still operating, to reorganize its affairs in bankruptcy court and put money in trusts to pay asbestos claimants. Johns-Manville was an especially notable example, as it was the subject of numerous lawsuits filed by former workers who suffered from asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma. Kazan Law brought several cases against the manufacturer, and was able to win the company punitive damages in a number of cases.

Asbestos litigation has increased in the past few years due to the growing number of asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos litigation can be complicated because the illnesses caused by asbestos can take a long time to manifest and are not always obvious to those who have been diagnosed.

A few victims have had to wait years for reimbursement from insurance companies even after their employers were found responsible. The US Supreme Court has dealt with numerous cases involving class action settlements that asbestos companies offered in an attempt to limit their liability and it has also considered the question of whether or not it is possible to hold individuals responsible for asbestos-related injury.

The Fourth Cases

Asbestos is a very hazardous mineral that has sickened or killed hundreds of thousands of people over the decades. Asbestos was also extensively used by companies who knew it was dangerous yet continued to make use of it.

As the legal system tackles these asbestos lawsuits and Asbestos cancer lawsuit lawyer mesothelioma asbestos lawsuits, new developments take place constantly. One of the most significant legal developments is the ruling Lubbe v Cape Plc. This set a precedent allowing victims to sue multi-national companies in their home countries for compensation.

In most cases, these situations involve secondary exposure to asbestos. Workers who work with asbestos work can transfer it to their family members or spouses. The family members are affected by mesothelioma as well as other asbestos class action lawsuit-related diseases.

This type of case is the basis of many lawsuits filed by families of victims in the present. Asbestos lawyers can assist families bring a case against the responsible parties for the asbestos-related injuries suffered by their loved relatives.

Another significant advancement in asbestos litigation has been the increase in class action lawsuits. These asbestos lawsuits offer victims the chance to pursue justice with the help of an attorney who is well-versed in the complicated legal issues that these cases raise.

While many asbestos attorneys have pushed for this type of lawsuit, there are those who are against it. In actual fact there have been a number of attempts to pass legislation to limit the use of asbestos-related class actions.

The most recent major change in asbestos litigation was the filing of a suit by Massachusetts residents against four companies regarding how they dealt with asbestos abatement and disposal. The lawsuit alleged the companies in violation of state law in not properly disposing asbestos cancer lawsuit lawyer mesothelioma and exposing residents to toxic dust.

Asbestos litigation has been ongoing for a long time and it will continue to be throughout the years to come. The asbestos industry has attempted to avoid responsibility through legal arguments based on technicalities and by trying to pass legislative solutions that would prevent victims from seeking justice. However, it appears that many victims and attorneys are determined to see justice done.