Manufacturer of asbestos-containing products battles lawsuit

Manufacturers of asbestos products and asbestos-containing products are continually at risk for lawsuits due to illnesses that result from people in Rowan being exposed to it. This includes mesothelioma and other illnesses. Asbestos product exposure often occurs due to the companies providing the products failing to inform consumers of its dangers or because they were unaware of it themselves. That doesn’t diminish the potential for an affected person to file a product liability lawsuit.

Garlock Sealing Technologies LLC manufactures gaskets and seals. Because they made asbestos-containing products, the company has been confronted with a vast number of product liability lawsuits due to people becoming ill with mesothelioma and having been exposed to asbestos. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to protect itself from the large number of claims against it. A ruling recently stated that the company won’t have to pay the estimated $1 billion that plaintiffs were seeking as compensation. Instead, they will probably have to pay approximately $125 million to settle present claims as well as claims that are made in the future.

Asbestos was a common substance used for car brakes, materials for construction and household products. Prior to it becoming known to be dangerous, asbestos-containing products received widespread use. However, once its dangers were discovered, companies were obligated to remove it from their products. Those that didn’t placed consumers at risk of mesothelioma and other illnesses. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the lining of the lungs and is fatal. Workers, schoolchildren and people simply placing these products in their homes were subject to illness due to the negligence of manufacturers of asbestos products. Increasingly, they are seeking to be compensated via a product liability lawsuit.

In the case of Garlock Sealing, the plaintiffs are still fighting to receive payments for their exposure to asbestos-containing products. Individuals who have been exposed to asbestos and are now concerned about the accompanying health risks or are already ill should consider speaking to an attorney about their situation.

Source: democratandchronicle.com, “Judge sides with Garlock in asbestos claims fight,” Matthew Daneman, Jan. 13, 2013