On August 26th, 2020, a historic settlement was reached in one of the largest mass tort cases in history, the asbestos litigation. The settlement was reached between Johns Manville, the largest manufacturer of asbestos-containing products, and thousands of plaintiffs who were affected by exposure to asbestos.
The lawsuit was first filed in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania in 1982 and the litigation had been ongoing for almost 40 years, with more than 45,000 plaintiffs filing claims over that time period. The agreement will provide compensation to more than 4,000 plaintiffs who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a deadly form of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, and millions of dollars to asbestos victims’ families.
In addition to the financial compensation, the settlement also includes a settlement trust, which will provide long-term medical monitoring and other benefits for those affected by asbestos exposure. The trust will also fund medical research into asbestos-related diseases.
The settlement is a major victory for those affected by asbestos exposure, as it ensures that they will receive compensation for their suffering and that their families will receive some degree of financial security. It is also a major victory for public health, as the settlement will ensure that victims of asbestos exposure will receive the medical care that they need and that research into asbestos-related diseases will be funded.
Overall, the settlement is a major milestone in the fight for justice for those affected by asbestos exposure. It will provide much-needed financial security to those affected by the disease and will also ensure that medical research into asbestos-related diseases will be funded. It is a major victory for the victims of asbestos exposure and for public health.