U.K. insurers, lawyers keep wary eye on asbestos issues.The rampant costs of asbestos-related claims in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. are worrying British insurers and lawyers, who are concerned the unique structure of the U.K. legal system, which has kept runaway 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. at bay, eventually may be breached. U.S.-style litigation related to asbestos has been probing the British legal system and so far has been turned back, but that may not hold indefinitely, according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Richard Hopley, a partner with the London-based law firm Kendall Freeman. Speaking at a seminar on the London market held by his firm in New York City New York City: see New York, city. New York City City (pop., 2000: 8,008,278), southeastern New York, at the mouth of the Hudson River. The largest city in the U.S. , Hopley said the United Kingdom "almost certainly" has the second-largest asbestos liability problem in the world, after the United States. In some ways, the U.K. problem is more severe. For example, Hopley said there is greater exposure to the most dangerous form of asbestos. "Our death rate from mesothelioma Mesothelioma Definition Mesothelioma is an uncommon disease that causes malignant cancer cells to form within the lining of the chest, abdomen, or around the heart. Its primary cause is believed to be exposure to asbestos. is proportionately pro·por·tion·ate adj. Being in due proportion; proportional. tr.v. pro·por·tion·at·ed, pro·por·tion·at·ing, pro·por·tion·ates To make proportionate. five times greater than in the U.S." he said. "We believe our death rate will peak at about 2,500 a year. It's now at about 2,000, as it is in the U.S., which has a population five times ours." Legally, the asbestos liability problem in the United Kingdom is an employee problem, in that most cases involve exposure of employees through the activities of their employers, said Hopley. Since 1972, the United Kingdom has had compulsory employers liability insurance, said Hopley. "It's well established that the employer has a duty of care," he said, so the employer becomes an obvious target for a lawsuit. |
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