How Lawsuits Brought Down the Great Asbestos Empire

In 1969, the Johns-Manville Corporation paid 285 of its former employees in a historic asbestos settlement. The workers argued that Johns-Manville had known the extreme health risks of asbestos since before the 1920s, but failed — decade after decade — to warn their employees. As a result, these employees developed asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.

The 1970s then saw a surge in similar asbestos claims, ultimately culminating in Johns-Manville and dozens of other companies filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

Many of these now-defunct companies had subscribed to the reckless business philosophy of “profits over people.” Driven by corporate greed, they believed the short-term financial gain from making and selling asbestos-containing products outweighed the lives of their workers.

They were wrong — and they are still paying for their costly mistake. Since 1969, more than 1 million people have filed asbestos claims against more than 8,000 different companies. Over $70 Billion has been spent on court costs and settlements paid out to victims of asbestos-related disease.

Watch our video below to learn more about the history of corporate wrongdoings and asbestos litigation and settlements.

Thank you for watching. We encourage you to like, repost, and share on social media to help spread awareness during Global Asbestos Awareness Week (GAAW), which ends on April 7, 2020.

Today, and for all 7 days of GAAW, Sokolove Law is releasing educational videos to support awareness efforts concerning the public-health dangers associated with asbestos.

Our GAAW videos are available online through our social media channels and our blog, so be sure to follow our Facebook and Twitter pages, and please like, share, and retweet to help spread awareness.

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