Asbestos Lawsuit History

Many asbestos victims have received assistance from lawyers such as Stanley Levy. Patients suffering from asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma can sue companies that mined asbestos, made or used asbestos.

The first asbestos lawsuit was filed by Nellie Kershaw. She developed health issues while working in an asbestos fiber plant in England. She died at the age of 33 due to fibrosis of her lungs. It was caused by exposure to asbestos.

The First Cases

Asbestos, a dangerous mineral, has sickened and killed thousands over the years. Asbestos claims can be filed for many reasons, but they usually involve people who were exposed to the substance at work. This could include workers in factories that made asbestos-related products or those working in the construction of buildings containing asbestos and even those who were exposed to secondhand asbestos from contaminated household products like talcum powder.

Those who were exposed to asbestos can be afflicted with a variety of diseases including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other respiratory conditions. Many people have been compensated for their injuries even though some of these diseases are fatal. This is due to the fact that most countries have laws that require companies that create dangerous substances to inform people who might be hurt by them.

The first asbestos lawsuit that was filed in 1929 was filed by a woman with the name of Anna Pirskowski. She suffered from shortness of breath and a thickening of the tissue around the fingertip (known as clubbing). She received a settlement amounting to $75,000 in what is believed to be the first-ever class action lawsuit involving asbestos.

In the years that followed there were a lot of asbestos lawsuits were filed. Asbestos litigation became a broad area of law and many attorneys started to specialize in asbestos litigation. This meant that they only took on the most serious cases. One firm that did this was Kazan Law, which in the latter half of the 1980s began to focus on bringing cases on behalf of people who had mesothelioma.

Other lawsuits were won by individuals who had suffered from other asbestos-related illnesses like asbestosis or pleural plaques. This is because the condition that caused them was similar to mesothelioma and therefore easier for lawyers to prove. These claims also led to the disclosure of secret documents that revealed how manufacturers of asbestos products tried to conceal the risks. In 1989, the Asbestos Ban & Phase Out Rule was issued.

The Second Cases

As the number of people diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses grew, the victims and their families began bringing lawsuits against companies that mined, produced or sold asbestos-containing products. Additionally, mesothelioma patients filed lawsuits against the companies who designed and constructed the buildings they worked in, such as shipyards, power plants, refineries and factories. The connection between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma's development is strong.

In the early 1980s, legal fights over asbestos lawsuits got more intense and the courts began to rule on a variety of aspects of the case process. For example a federal court ruled that only individuals suffering from a malignant asbestos-caused disease such as mesothelioma or lung cancer are eligible to bring lawsuits against the producers of asbestos-related products they employed. This ruling, referred to as Borel V. Fibreboard Paper Products Corp. was a major setback in asbestos litigation.

At around the same time, Nellie Kershaw, a factory worker from Rochdale, England, filed what is considered the first well-known legal claim against asbestos attorney companies. Kershaw, factory worker from Rochdale, England was diagnosed with lung issues due to her exposure to asbestos fibers. Kershaw tried to convince her employer to pay for the treatment. The company, however, refused. Kershaw passed away in her 30s from fibrosis.

The second wave of asbestos lawsuits centered on workers exposed to different types of asbestos-containing building products such as fireproofing sprays, and drywall products. Asbestos lawyers also brought successful cases against companies who made equipment that utilized asbestos-containing material, such as boilers and pumps.

During this period, a variety of incriminating documents were discovered that demonstrated asbestos companies were involved in a scheme of fraud and. This included the personal records of Johns-Manville president Sumner Simpson, as well as correspondence from the general counsel of another asbestos manufacturer, Raybestos Manhattan. These documents revealed a conspiracy between these two companies to hide asbestos' dangers and to thwart efforts to warn the public.

In the mid-1980s to early-1990s When these and other forms of corporate fraud and conspiracy were discovered in the 1980s, a wave of class action settlement was initiated, as well as other attempts were made to limit asbestos liability were made by asbestos companies. These attempts were met with a fierce opposition from plaintiffs' lawyers and their clients, as well as the public in general.

The Third Cases

In the 1970s, asbestos companies were no longer able cover up the dangers of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma from the general public. This was largely due to the fact that the link between asbestos and illnesses like asbestosis, mesothelioma and other respiratory problems started receiving attention from major national publications instead of just small medical journals or industry newsletters. When the link between asbestos and serious illnesses was well established, victims began filing lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers.

One of the major factors that pushed an increase in asbestos lawsuits in the 1970s was a court ruling which allowed plaintiffs to apply the legal theory of strict liability. Previously, plaintiffs in asbestos cases 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 accountable for any injuries they caused in the event that the company knew their product was hazardous and failed to warn its employees or the general public about its dangers.

Following this ruling, many asbestos-related companies have filed for bankruptcy, a process which allows a company to be reorganized in bankruptcy court, and put money in trusts to pay asbestos claims, and continue to be in operation. Johns-Manville is an example. It was the victim of many lawsuits filed by former factory employees who were suffering from asbestosis, mesothelioma, or lung cancer. Kazan Law brought several cases against the manufacturer, and was able to get punitive damages against it.

Asbestos litigation has increased in the past few years due to the rising number of asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos cases are often complex, as the illnesses that they cause can take a long time to manifest and are not always evident to those who have been diagnosed.

In addition, some victims have been forced to wait for years to receive compensation from insurance companies after their employers were found to be liable. The US Supreme Court has addressed several cases in which asbestos companies sought to limit their liability by offering class action settlements. It also has discussed whether individual defendants could be held accountable for injuries caused by asbestos.

The Fourth Case

Asbestos, a mineral which is extremely hazardous has killed and sickened hundreds of thousands of people over the years. Asbestos was also used extensively by companies who were aware of its dangers, but continued to use it.

As the legal system deals these Asbestos Attorney lawsuits and asbestos lawsuits, there are always new developments. One of the most important legal developments is a ruling called Lubbe v. Cape Plc, which set a precedent that allows victims to sue multinational companies in their home jurisdictions for compensation.

Often, these cases involve exposure to asbestos in the second degree. This happens when workers who work with asbestos while on the job transfer it to their spouses or children living at home. The family members suffer from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

This type of situation is the basis for a variety of lawsuits filed by relatives of victims of asbestos today. Asbestos attorneys can help families bring a case against the responsible parties for the asbestos-related injuries suffered by their loved family members.

Another big change in asbestos litigation is the emergence of class action lawsuits. These asbestos lawsuits allow victims to pursue justice with the assistance of a lawyer well-versed in the legal issues that these cases present.

While many asbestos attorneys have pushed for this type of litigation, 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 major development in asbestos litigation was the filing of a suit by Massachusetts residents against four companies regarding how they handled asbestos abatement and disposal. The lawsuit claimed that the companies violated state law by not disposing of asbestos properly and failing to protect residents from harmful dust.

Asbestos litigation has been a long-running problem that will likely persist for many decades to come. The asbestos industry has tried to avoid responsibility by using legal arguments based on technicalities and attempting to pass legislative remedies that would prevent the victims from seeking justice. However, it appears that many victims and lawyers are determined to see justice served.