Texas today became the fourth state to pass asbestos and silica litigation reform legislation (S.B. 15). The Senate concurred with a House amendment to the bill, which now goes to Gov. Rick Perry.
Key components of TEXAS S.B. 15:
· Establish medical criteria requiring that all pending and future asbestos claims show illness or impairment from asbestos exposure;
· Put an end to the practice of “bundling” thousands of claims together. Asbestos and silica claims would have to be tried separately and on their own merits;
· Ensure that that the most seriously ill will receive expedited trials and adequate compensation for their injuries;
· Extend the two-year statute of limitations on filing asbestos lawsuits to protect the rights of those who may develop asbestos and silica related illness in the future;
· Shut down the “mass screening” of potential asbestos and silica claimants that has resulted in tens of thousands of unimpaired asbestos claims in the courts.
Ohio, Georgia and Florida have passed similar legislation.
TEXAS UPDATE IS BROUGHT TO YOU AS A SERVICE OF CHAMBERLAIN¨McHANEY