"Asbestos debate continues decades later"

July 29, 2003
Decades after workers were exposed to asbestos, Congress is still unsure of what to do about the asbestos crisis. Workers had been unknowingly exposed to a very dangerous material that has been linked to deadly illnesses and serious diseases, including mesothelioma and other cancer forms. There have been debates regarding a trust fund to settle all asbestos related lawsuits.

There have been hundreds of thousands of asbestos victims that have over the years come forward hoping to get compensation for the losses and illnesses suffered because of asbestos exposure. Initially, Senate Judiciary committee Chairman Orrin Hatch wanted insurers to pay up $45 billion and for 8,500 manufacturers and suppliers to come up with another $45 billion over a 27-year period for asbestos claims. Any extra needed funds were to come from company trust funds and other sources.

The asbestos claims proposal was criticized for being too little to cover the countless deaths and illnesses caused because companies were not upfront with workers years back. Although the committee changed the initial proposal by adding $52 billion in long-term contingency financing from insurers and businesses if the fund was in fact too little, the committee vote caused major insurance companies that had previously supported the fund to back out.

The American Trial Lawyers Association believes a trust fund is an easy way out for companies that spent years covering up the dangers of asbestos while its workers were suffering irreparable health effects. People suffering the most severe illnesses, such as mesothelioma because of asbestos exposure just want to receive a fair compensation for the deterioration of their health. Contact us for more asbestos and mesothelioma information.

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