The death of a loved one can be an understandably difficult and confusing time, especially when negligent safety standards might have contributed to their cause of death. Descendants and family members of victims of asbestos exposure retain the right to seek justice and compensation on behalf of their loved one. In Ohio, over 1,000 claims from victims’ heirs have been filed for asbestos exposure against area rubber and autoworkers.
In 2004, Travelers Cos. — the company that once insured the prominent Johns Manville Corp. — reached a settlement for asbestos related claims that required it to establish a fund for victims. The intention was to compensate several different U.S. labor groups whose workers were once employed by Johns Manville. For well over 50 years, the company was well known for its wide array of products that contained asbestos.
According to the terms of the settlement, the fund totals $80 million. Cited damages in the claims filed by heirs of the Ohio group range from $2,100 up to $23,000. The variation in each damage claim is a result of each victim’s diagnosis, its severity and related medical expenses.
Asbestos is a damaging and dangerous material that, despite the well-understood risk, continues to put many innocent people in harm’s way. As a result, victims of asbestos exposure can develop truly painful cancers and diseases, including mesothelioma and lung disease, despite having lived otherwise healthy or responsible lives. When a company or employer acts negligently and ignores safety concerns in favor of productivity or profit, victims have the right to take civil action in order to seek just legal recourse for their damages.
Source: dispatch.com, “Heirs of workers exposed to asbestos file claims”, June 28, 2015
