Mesothelioma Lawyers Blog
Our Boston mesothelioma lawyers understand that companies across the world are still selling asbestos-filled products despite known safety risks.
According to a recent article from WRAL, asbestos is being presented in Asia as an affordable solution for poor residents. Our Boston mesothelioma lawyers know exposure to asbestos can cause a deadly form of lung cancer.
Apparently, asbestos industry executives met at a luxury hotel for an asbestos conference, where they pushed the benefits of asbestos products for poor families. They discussed using asbestos roofs, pipes, and walls for the many people currently living in thatched huts.
Asbestos is banned in the majority of developed nations, but it has been used all across the developing world. While the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 100,000 people die each year from mesothelioma, the asbestos executives are claiming that asbestos is not that dangerous and argue they are doing what is essentially charitable work by helping the poor.
At the conference, asbestos industry representatives gave a highly polished presentation on how the use of chrysotile (the most common form of asbestos) is not that hazardous to humans. The presenter showed an animation of white blood cells breaking down chrysotile fibers and removing them from lungs.
The video was said to be based on scientific research that dates back decades and is no longer thought to be accurate, as scientists now know that these fibers become embedded in the lung tissue, develop into a rare form of mesothelioma, and lead to what is described by doctors and an excruciating death.
Recently, an asbestos factory was being constructed in an Indian village when residents started to protest. This led to the temporary loss of a construction permit, but the permits were later reissued. The residents became outraged by this and destroyed the factory.
While it may seem incredible that companies will still use a product they know is killing people, it is not really all that different from what happened in cities like Boston fifty years ago. Asbestos companies were pushing the use of their products in shipyards, construction projects, home improvement supplies, and a number of other industries.
The fact that companies knew they were exposing people to dangerous asbestos fibers that caused mesothelioma and still kept selling the poison is the basis for high jury awards and settlements in some of the civil cases. This complete disregard for the safety of workers and customers is the reason punitive damages have been awarded in cases, as well.
In a normal negligence action, damages are limited to compensatory damages, meaning that they are used to compensate the plaintiff for his or her injuries. Punitive damages, which require a finding of willful or wanton disregard for the safety of others, are designed to punish the defendant and send a message to others in their position that this conduct won’t be tolerated.
If you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma in Boston, call for a free and confidential appointment at (617) 777-7777.
Additional Resources:
Asbestos pushed in Asia as product for the poor, August 12, 2014, WRAL.com
More Blog Entries:
Mesothelioma Effects on Small England Town, July 26, 2014, Boston Mesothelioma Lawyers Blog