Big companies and industries live off of profits. Unfortunately, for many of these companies, profit has been the only consideration. These same companies have sacrificed environment and health to maximize their profits. Money is the only priority for them that is more important than the life of the company and humans alike. The creation of class action lawsuits has helped combat the greedy ways of these businesses. Asbestos litigation is a perfect example of a way to fight and rectify the acts of the greedy tycoons.
The history of asbestos litigation goes back further into history than some manufactures of the material want the public to know. You see these companies have gone out of their way to not only hide the effects of the deadly fiber but to also hide the victims. Widespread public knowledge of the acknowledgment of responsibility in the form of a settled lawsuit would cause exactly what happened anyway. What has happened is that the majority of the businesses have gone bankrupt from either paying settlements or in the attempt to dodge being financially responsible for the victims.
Ironically, the delay in admitting the dangers of the product has created many more victims and many more lawsuits costing even more money and tragically lives as well. Many companies could have mitigated the financial burden if they had simply chosen to be honest about the risks and inform the public how to handle the fibers safely. Instead, they have created an epidemic with the secrets that has ensured that asbestos litigation history is far from history.
Asbestos litigation is occurring at higher rates than ever and shows no sign of slowing down. The first case was filed in 1966 and proliferate use of the material unfortunately ensures that we have no idea when the last case will be filed. One thing is certain; we will see the effects of this scourge for many years to come.