US EPA

6891363 

Journal Article 

Asbestos Injury Suits Mount with Severe Business Impact 

Feder, BJ 

1981 

0 

New York Times
ISSN: 0362-4331
EISSN: 1553-8095 

English 

Recent studies linking asbestos exposure to the delayed emergence of cancer, asbestosis, and other diseases have stimulated a surge of litigation suits filed by workers against asbestos manufacturers. The absence of stringent federal standards protecting employees from asbestos exposure, insurance companies' defined responsibilities towards their clients-the asbestos manufacturers, and of the immediate appearance of asbestos-related diseases within affected workers have made it difficult for the court to assess whether or not, and to what extent, the manufacturers are to blame. As a result, judicial inconsistency threatens asbestos companies with bankruptcy, and stricken workers with improper protection. In 1980, Johns-Manville paid $5087 in asbestos litigation suits; keene corp paid $5990; and pacor industries paid $1150. Workers received compensation ranging from several thousand to 23 thousand dollars. 

Environment Abstracts; CONTRACTS; PROFITS; HEALTH SAFETY, OCCUPATIONAL; ECONOMICS; CARCINOGENIC AGENTS; ASBESTOSIS; ENA 07:General