New Legislation Looks to Ban Asbestos Use Nationwide
Asbestos is a mixture of minerals often used in electrical and building insulation that has been known to cause Mesothelioma, asbestosis, pleural effusion, pleural plaque, and pneumothorax. Each one of these brings serious medical issues including breathing problems, collapsed lungs, chest pain, and aggressive cancer. Not only does asbestos affect the person directly in contact with the substance, but it can also indirectly hurt family members and friends through secondary exposure to the fibers through the clothes, hair, and skin of the primary person in contact.
Despite asbestos being banned in more than 60 developed countries, the toxic substance is still legal in the U.S. However, there is a new piece of legislation that was introduced to Congress in early March of this year, called the Alan Reinstein Ban Asbestos Now Act of 2019 (or ARBAN), that would ban asbestos entirely throughout the U.S.
While the Environmental Protection Agency had already began banning asbestos before ARBAN, there had not been a strong law in place to combat the dangers of this substance.
The Legal Ramifications for Asbestos Cases
The passing of this legislation would have legal ramifications and implications regarding asbestos-related cases. There have already been thousands of successful asbestos cases brought forward, meaning the legal backing of an asbestos ban might help to bolster the legal grounds for any new claims that arise.
For example, there are roughly 13,000 talcum powder lawsuits against Johnson and Johnson due to the asbestos found in their talcum powder—more commonly known as baby powder—which shows the wide reach that this issue has. In 2018, Franklin Finch’s estate was awarded $32.7 million because of his wrongful death from mesothelioma caused by many years of working with tire replacement parts and tire molds that contained asbestos. These cases, in conjunction with the new ARBAN law that is in the process of being enacted, have the potential to help other similar cases of asbestos-related sickness and death.
How Can the Whitley Law Firm Help?
If you believe that your loved one was a victim of asbestos at the fault of a corporation’s negligence, do not hesitate to reach out to the compassionate and skilled lawyers of Whitley Law Firm. We believe in holding corporations accountable for wrongful deaths and achieving justice. Give our trusted and experienced lawyers a call today to schedule a consultation.