Asbestos Tort Reform is a Bad Idea

In recent months there has been much talk about limiting the damages that asbestos victims may recover. This only serves to further insulate culpable wrongdoers from the huge financial exposure they rightfully face. This ultimately results in diminished relief for asbestos victims.

The following was provided by the April 2006 edition of the American Trial Lawyers Association (ATLA) publication “Trial”:

“Asbestos bailout legislation has been on Congress’s front burner in recent months-the Senate bill was blocked in February but is likely to reemerge–and state legislatures are following suit. Bills in statehouses nationwide would create unnecessary and unfair hurdles for people claiming injury from asbestosis or asbestos-related cancer. The state proposals are modeled after legislation drafted by the American Legislative Exchange Council. These bills generally include provisions that would cap noneconomic damages, eliminate joint and several liability, bar the consolidation of cases, limit expert testimony, and impose medical criteria standards that have been proposed by the American Bar Association (ABA) for people filing claims involving nonmalignant asbestos-related disease.”

Nearly twenty years ago when I opened my practice I decided to dedicate my career to advancing the rights of injury victims against powerful insurance companies. Personally, I find great satisfaction in helping good and honest people who have been wronged due to no fault of their own. I am really proud to have earned our clients’ hard-earned trust by running a law firm our clients can always count on to do the right thing.