Asbestos Litigation Should Concern Coal Mine Operators

摘要

The wide use of asbestos in the first 70 years or so of the 20th century, and the subsequent damages suffered by people from their exposure to it, brought a wave of litigation during the last 15 to 20 years. Many people know that products used in high-temperature operations contained asbestos, due to its resistance to extreme heat. There was a time when asbestos-containing products (ACPs) were common in almost everyday life. When it was learned that asbestos can play a role in causing various diseases and ailments, the use of it began to disappear. The diseases and ailments which are attributable to asbestos can be divided into two types, malignant and non-malignant. Malignancies are various cancers that may result in death. They also tend to have long latency periods before appearing. Non-malignancies are, broadly speaking, various respiratory problems which, while generally non-fatal, can cause discomfort, quality of life problems, and pain and suffering. Asbestos litigation is couched primarily in two legal theories and, to a lesser degree, a third. The primary theories are product liability and premises liability, with the third being intentional torts.