Ohio Asbestos Bill Could Hurt Mesothelioma Victims

A new bill introduced to the Ohio state legislature could potentially limit the rights of asbestos exposure victims in pursuing compensation for their illness.

The Associated Press reports that Republican lawmakers in Ohio are advocating a bill that would require asbestos victims filing lawsuits, to disclose details about claims made towards trusts set up for bankrupt companies that manufactured the toxic material.

Politicians sponsoring the bill include House and Senate Representative Lou Blessing and Senator Bill Seitz, who argue the bill, would not tarnish those filing claims, but would protect against those who file multiple ones.

Asbestos litigation in Ohio once produced one of the largest repertoires of cases in the United States. In recent times, legislative actions such as the current bill have reduced the number of asbestos lawsuits filed by individuals.

Asbestos was predominantly used in industrial products, including brake linings, cement, roof shingles, flooring products and insulation. Construction workers are still being exposed to asbestos during remodeling and demolition.

Exposure to asbestos is linked to a variety of health ailments and fatal conditions, such as mesothelioma. Symptoms of mesothelioma may not appear until 20 to 50 years after exposure. Mesothelioma prognosis is poor as a result of limited treatment and difficulty diagnosing the disease. In addition to mesothelioma, asbestos significantly increases the risk of developing lung, kidney and larynx cancer.

A law was passed in 2004 which requires plaintiffs to obtain written testimony from a medical professional who has treated and discovered their health has been severely weakened as a result of asbestos.

A recent ruling made by the Ohio Supreme Court allowed the 2004 bill to be applied to cases before the law was enacted. Since that time, over 30,000 Asbestos lawsuits were completely dismissed.

Democratic Governor Ted Strickland has given indications that he would veto any potential bill by Ohio Republicans which could further people’s right to seek justice under the United States law.

“I will look at it very, very carefully and will try to make the best judgment regarding my response, if in fact it does pass. I will likely oppose an effort to limit an individual’s right to seek justice under the law,” Governor Strickland said.

For more information on asbestos litigation, please visit the Mesothelioma Cancer Center.

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pm and is filed under Asbestos Legislation, Asbestos Litigation, Mesothelioma. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS feed. Responses are currently closed, but you trackback from your own site.