estos disease liability
In Richmond, Virginia, the state’s House of Delegates has voted to pass a bill that will shield one company from asbestos-related health claims.
The bill, HB 629, does not mention any particular company by name, but it has been reported that due the wording of the bill, it is meant to protect a Philadelphia-based company known as Crown Cork & Seal, which has plants in Suffolk and Winchester. Crown Cork & Seal has never manufactured any products containing asbestos, but it is liable for asbestos-related health claims because back in 1963 it purchased the stock of Mundet Cork Co., which had an asbestos insulation division.
Asbestos exposure has often been linked to the development of mesothelioma, a rare but aggressive form of cancer. Mesothelioma affects less than 3,000 Americans each year, and while there are palliative treatment methods available, including chemotherapy, there is no known cure. Mesothelioma may affect the lining of the lungs, as well as the membrane that encases the heart, or the tissues of the chest or abdominal cavity. The majority of patients lose their battle with this cancer in less than two years following diagnosis.
Opponents argued that the bill gives special treatment to the company.
"They’ve come to us and asked us to undo the effects of a bad deal they made," said Delegate Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County. "It sets a horrible precedent."
