Defenders of the asbestos industry have been pushing Congress to enact legislation that would make pursuing class actions and recovering damages from asbestos trust funds more difficult. The ultimate future of these measures is murky at best, but the House…
In recent posts, this blog has called attention to the continuing vitality of litigation seeking damages for exposure to airborne asbestos fibers in North Carolina and elsewhere. This same theme was repeated by attorneys on both sides of a case…
In the early 1970, the United States Environmental Protection Agency began banning the use of asbestos-containing products in products used in the construction industry. The ban has widened, but according to contemporary experts, the white mineral continues to cause serious…
Virtually every state in the Union, including North Carolina, has passed what is called a “statute of repose.” Among other things, statutes of repose apply to lawsuits for injuries alleged to have arisen out of a defective condition in a…
This blog has repeatedly discussed the hazards posed by asbestos-containing products in older buildings. An especially dangerous hazard is posed by asbestos products in schools. Congress passed two measures intended to ascertain the scope of and abate this hazard, the…
When the health hazards of exposure to asbestos fibers first intruded into the public consciousness in the 1960s, the victims were asbestos miners, millers and persons who worked for industries that manufactured asbestos products. The second wave of victims involved…
Every job has its fair share of potential dangers that can lead to a worker’s inability to be able to function at his or her job, or in more extreme and tragic situations, lead to death. Industrial plants are one…
Over the course of six decades of litigation in North Carolina and elsewhere involving the health hazards of asbestos, many companies have elected to seek protection from such claims under the federal Bankruptcy Act. A bankruptcy proceeding proved to be…
Because of the pain and suffering associated with mesothelioma, it is not uncommon for those who are diagnosed with the disease to file a lawsuit against the party responsible for exposure to asbestos—the substance that causes the condition. In many…
This blog has included many posts about the various kinds of occupations that entail a high risk of asbestos exposure, including construction, ship building, roofing and installation and removal of thermal insulation. As states such as North Carolina begin the…