The Ohio Supreme Court recently upheld a 2004 asbestos litigation reform law designed to enable people who have been seriously harmed by asbestos to receive fair compensation for their injuries in a timely manner.
The reform law defines the process by which asbestos claims will be prioritized in the court system. Previously, many asbestos and mesothelioma claims were filed by people who had only minimal exposure to the substance and had not suffered any serious illness or injuries at the time of their lawsuit. This new legislation requires individuals filing asbestos and mesothelioma claims to demonstrate a minimum level of medical symptoms and provide medical documentation in order to proceed with their lawsuit.
The purpose of this reform law is to enable those who are truly sick and have suffered as a result of their exposure to asbestos to have their claims heard before those who are simply clogging up the courts with bogus lawsuits. This law doesn’t place a statute of limitations on mesothelioma lawsuits, so if you get sick down the road, you will still have an opportunity to have your case heard in court.
Approximately 90% of all asbestos claims over the last 20 years have been filed by people who did not suffer any injuries from exposure to asbestos. This large quantity of needless litigation has backlogged the court systems, preventing more legitimate claims from being heard. Over 80 companies across the country have gone bankrupt in the last 20 years fighting asbestos and mesothelioma litigation.
If you have been exposed to asbestos in the workplace, you should get examined by a doctor immediately to make sure that you have not contracted mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related illness. If you have become sick from your exposure to asbestos, you need to consult an experienced mesothelioma attorney who can help you receive proper compensation for your injuries.
If you have an asbestos or mesothelioma claim in the Pennsylvania area, please contact the law offices of Peter G. Angelos today to schedule an initial consultation.
