KCIC Report: Mesothelioma Lawsuits on the Rise in US

While the incidence of malignant mesothelioma in the United States continued its gradual decline, the tendency to sue for damages drastically increased in recent years, according to a KCIC study. Lawsuits filed by those stricken with the deadly asbestos-related cancer increased 65.7% from 2007 to 2017. Meanwhile, the overall incidence rate of mesothelioma dropped 16.2% during the same period. KCIC, a well-regarded consulting firm in Washington, D.C., that manages asbestos product liabilities, published the study of mesothelioma and asbestos litigation last week. Study author Megan Shockley, senior manager at KCIC, was unavailable for comment on her findings. Although most authorities believe both trends continue today, incidence data beyond 2017 was not yet available from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Result database, the source known as SEER. The U.S. National Institutes of Health compiles SEER statistics. “Nothing was really surprising in the report. It’s what you would have anticipated,” said Joseph Lahav, attorney and on-site legal advisor for The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com for more than a decade. “Those trends will probably hold steady. People are safer today. There is more awareness of the dangers of asbestos, and it’s just not out there as much. At the same time, people are much more aware of their legal options today.” 2017 Marked All-Time High in Mesothelioma Filings According to KCIC, there was an all-time high of 2,124 legal filings fo...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news