Asbestos exposure liable parties include any individual, corporation, or legal entity whose negligence caused the victim to be exposed to asbestos, resulting in a life-threatening medical condition.
In legal terms, “liability” refers to an individual’s responsibility for the consequences of their actions.
Asbestos Products Liable Parties
Manufacturers of asbestos products are frequently held liable for the decision to use asbestos as a raw material when creating products for mass distribution.
Since no company would, for instance, release a soft drink beverage that contained high amounts of the poison cyanide knowing that it would likely cause death, the decision to create and distribute asbestos products would present a similar liability risk.
Manufacturers who have become bankrupt since the incident of asbestos exposure can still often be held liable under their new company owners or through asbestos trust funds they left behind.
Known manufacturers of asbestos products include:
- Owens Corning – Asbestos “rock wool” insulation and insulation board
- Zonolite – Loose fill attic insulation made from vermiculite and asbestos
- National Gypsum Company – Rigid framing boards and insulation with asbestos containing materials
- Combustion Engineering – Boilers and industrial equipment often made with asbestos lining
Employers Liable For Asbestos Exposure
Employers who knowingly subjected employees to asbestos exposure without warning them of the dangers of an asbestos containing product or for not providing the needed protective equipment can face liability for their actions. High-risk occupations with a bigger probability of causing asbestos exposure include:
- Mining
- Maritime and Naval Work
- Shipbuilding
- Construction
- Demolition
- Pipe fitting
- Plumbing
- Industrial manufacturing
Insurance Companies
Insurers will often become defendants in an asbestos lawsuit as they attempt to dispute claims or negotiate in bad faith an asbestos related illness or mesothelioma settlement amounts on behalf of the liable parties they insure and represent.
Owners of Premises with Asbestos
Building owners and proprietors often have a duty of care to discover and avert dangers that could pose health risks to building occupants, visitors, and tenants.
The Dangers of Mesothelioma from Asbestos Exposure
Mesothelioma, one of the rarest and most aggressive forms of cancer is linked to asbestos exposure. The inhalation of asbestos fibers, which often comes from asbestos containing products or secondary asbestos exposure in high-risk occupations, can cause this life-threatening disease. Many mesothelioma lawsuits have held asbestos manufacturers and employers accountable for exposing workers to asbestos without adequate protection. Victims of asbestos related diseases, including mesothelioma, are often entitled to seek compensation through asbestos claims, litigation, or trust funds.
Bankruptcy Trusts for Asbestos Exposure Liable Parties
Since many asbestos exposure incidents happened from the 1950s to the early 1980s, many of the asbestos exposure liable parties have since been acquired by other companies or become bankrupt as a result of asbestos settlements.
However, many companies still face liability in the face of personal injury claims.
To shield themselves and their assets from direct access to their holdings, they established bankruptcy trusts under the 524(g) procedure.
Through these bankruptcies, billions of dollars in asbestos trust funds have been made available for victims of asbestos exposure.
Our goal is to hold each and every possible defendant liable for your asbestos exposure and recover full and complete compensation through the lawsuit process and recovery of asbestos bankruptcy trust funds for your asbestos case.
If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with asbestos-related cancer, contact Mesowatch today.
You will receive immediate assistance and a free, confidential case evaluation. You will also connect with our nationwide team of asbestos lawyers, who can identify all liable parties to quickly pursue the maximum possible compensation for your losses.
