In a recent hearing at the state affairs committee the question arose of what role the legislature should take, if any, in regards to silica and asbestos lawsuits. The answer to the asbestos problem may lay in the hands of a freshman house member, and medical doctor, who has authored a new senate bill that will hopefully be able to take care of the many difficulties business face when it comes to fraudulent claims.
Corporate associations complain that tort attorneys routinely take advantage of potential plaintiffs, in conjunction with medical professionals willing to lend support to their questionable claims. Companies often find themselves spending their hard-earned money defending against baseless claims brought by such shady lawyers and supportive doctors.
There have been some recent changes in tort law that require any new asbestos claims to be heard by a specific judge in each state, and so many personal injury lawyers have used this to show that there is no further need for action by state legislatures. However, some trial attorneys have been able to find a forum for a new class of cases which focus on injury claims related to silica.
