Legislation on asbestos lawsuits expected to be debated in Congress. (Washington Alert).Under increasing economic and political pressure to resolve the nation's asbestos litigation An action brought in court to enforce a particular right. The act or process of bringing a lawsuit in and of itself; a judicial contest; any dispute. When a person begins a civil lawsuit, the person enters into a process called litigation. crisis, insurance companies, businesses, unions and key members of Congress are working on a plan for a $100 billion nationwide trust fund to pay damage claims of workers who have become ill after being exposed to this cancer-causing material. Currently under discussion is a trust fund that would distribute billions over the next 30 years to the hundreds of thousands of workers and their families who have been injured in·jure tr.v. in·jured, in·jur·ing, in·jures 1. To cause physical harm to; hurt. 2. To cause damage to; impair. 3. by asbestos. The settlement, which Congress would have to approve, would cover all asbestos claims and not permit claimants to opt out and sue on their own. For many years, asbestos was widely used in military and industrial applications. It was used in fireproofing fireproofing, method of making normally combustible materials as nearly noncombustible as possible. Fireproofing generally applies to textiles and construction materials that are treated with a solution or coating of some substance that will tend to retard their ships, fabrics and clothing, and in construction materials and automotive parts such as brakes. When the seriousness of this health hazard health hazard Occupational safety Any agent or activity posing a potential hazard to health. Cf Physical hazard. became known, there was a flood of lawsuits. Senate Judiciary Committee The U.S. Senate established the Committee on the Judiciary on December 10, 1816, as one of the original 11 standing committees. It is also one of the most powerful committees in Congress; among its wide range of jurisdictions is investigation of federal judicial nominees and oversight of Chairman Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT~ and Patrick J. Leahy (D-VT) have been pressing the sides to reach agreement. Legislation is expected to be introduced by early summer, with debate and consideration to follow shortly thereafter. |
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