Missouri Bill May Limit Legal Rights of Mesothelioma Patients

A new bill could make it harder for people with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases to file lawsuits against companies in Missouri that exposed them to the carcinogen. If the bill becomes law, its requirements will restrict the number of asbestos lawsuits and limit the financial compensation a plaintiff can win from defendants. Supporters of big businesses praise the legislation as a measure to increase transparency in the legal process. But advocates of people diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases criticize the legislation because it complicates the process of seeking compensation from companies responsible for the asbestos exposure that causes serious and deadly health issues. The state House of Representatives approved the bill with a vote of 96-48. The proposal has moved to the Senate. Bill Seeks Greater Asbestos Tort Reform The bill, also known as HB 1645, is part of a larger, tort reform movement recently generating traction in the Missouri legislature and creating a more difficult climate for people suing businesses, hospitals and health care providers. “Right now, we are known as the ‘Sue-Me state,’ not the ‘Show-Me state,’” said Rep. Bruce DeGroot, the Republican who sponsored the bill. “Nobody wants to do business in the state of Missouri because every time our businesses get sued, they get creamed.” Asbestos litigation is the longest-running mass tort in U.S. history. Courts have been hearing asbestos lawsuits for more than 40 years...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news