The history of asbestos use has left a legacy of illness in hundreds of thousands of American families. It has been called one of the largest man-made epidemics in U.S. history. Sadly, it was preventable.
They Knew
The connection between serious respiratory diseases and asbestos exposure became known in the 1930s, when doctors began warning factory owners, mine owners and asbestos manufacturers of its dangers. Despite warnings from medical professionals, business owners continued to expose workers to asbestos without providing them adequate protective gear designed to prevent inhalation of the toxin’s fibers. Learn more about asbestos exposure.
The Asbestos Cover Up
As years went on, executives at asbestos manufacturing companies continued to cover up asbestos-related illnesses among their employees. They were able to conceal evidence such as doctor’s notes, reports and memos detailing the dangers of asbestos. Instead of preventing asbestos exposure or providing protective gear to employees, executives quietly offered compensation to those dealing with health problems from asbestos exposure that occurred on the job. This payment forced employees to keep quiet about the underlying cause of their illnesses.
Eventually, the asbestos corporate cover-ups became apparent. The cover-ups primarily came to light through the efforts of labor and trade unions striving for safer working conditions. The discovery of 6,000 pages of documents called the Sumner Simpson papers revealed a cover up of the dangers of asbestos exposure planned by asbestos industry executives. The conspiracy dated back for nearly half a century when the secret documents were found by a plaintiff’s attorney in 1977. Since then thousands of victims of asbestos-related diseases and their families have used the court system to secure justice and hold asbestos companies accountable.
Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits
Corporate cover-ups coming to light led to an increase in mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuits. Asbestos lawsuits provide justice to the innocent sufferers of deadly diseases, such as mesothelioma, whose diagnoses were caused by companies who continued to manufacture, sell and design asbestos products despite being made aware of dangers. Although asbestos is not entirely banned in the United States, litigation filed by union workers, veterans and other workers has helped to raise awareness of asbestos health hazards and the dangers of asbestos exposure.
The tragedy surrounding the asbestos industry in the United States is that a vast majority of the harm it caused was entirely preventable. As early as the first century, asbestos exposure was suspected to cause health problems. Throughout the twentieth century, doctors connected a number of diseases to the negative effects of asbestos contamination. Yet, despite knowing the dangers, a number of companies continued to manufacture, sell and design asbestos products.
Companies Known for Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits
From the Industrial Revolution through the 1980s, many companies used asbestos in manufacturing without significant regulation. As a result, many people encountered the substance at their workplace.
Visit Simmons Hanly Conroy’s website to view a list of asbestos companies that sold asbestos, manufactured products containing asbestos, or designed products that required the use of asbestos.
If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos through your work, browse our partial list below of companies known to be linked to asbestos exposure. If you have worked at one of these asbestos companies in the past, you should tell your doctor you may have been exposed to asbestos.
If you have suffered from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease due to the negligence of an employer or manufacturer, you may be entitled to compensation through an asbestos exposure lawsuit.
