P.A. Court Blocking Asbestos Victims from Fair Compensation
Monday, February 16th, 2009
A high Pennsylvania court ruled last week that asbestos injury plaintiffs had no constitutional ground to challenge a statute which would impose statutory limits on liabilities assessed toward asbestos corporations in litigation. This move has severely handcuffed the asbestos injury victims who are rightfully entitled to greater compensation.
Unfortunately, this appears to be just another example of the courts erring on the side of corporate interests as opposed to those who were wrongfully exposed to asbestos and are now paying the consequences. Many of those who were exposed to asbestos leaned on the compensation they would receive for their injuries to supplement doctor’s bills and support their families. Those diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare cancer known only to be caused by asbestos exposure, needed this support for their families as most diagnosed with the disease die within 18 months.
It is important that these victims continue to have access to this compensation and that the politicians are not motivated by the special interests, as Sen. Arlen Specter (R-PA) was when he attempted to establish an underfunded trust that would pay out all future asbestos injury claims. The power needs to be given back to the people. These victims have a right to fair compensation for their injuries and we must not allow outside forces to block what they are entitled to.
