SOTU: "...frivolous asbestos claims..."

[DanJ]

Thanks to Kos:

To make our economy stronger and more competitive, America must reward, not punish, the efforts and dreams of entrepreneurs. [...] Justice is distorted, and our economy is held back, by irresponsible class actions and frivolous asbestos claims - and I urge Congress to pass legal reforms this year.
-- President George W. Bush, State of the Union Address
Feb. 2nd, 2005


MORE THAN 100 FAMILIES WIN $30 MILLION SETTLEMENT IN ASBESTOS CASE
Associated Press
Feb. 3rd, 2005
SEATTLE - More than 100 Northwest families have won a $30 million settlement in an asbestos lawsuit involving a subsidiary of Houston-based Halliburton Co.

The deal was part of a $4.3 billion global settlement encompassing Halliburton's past, present and future asbestos liabilities, Matthew Bergman, a lawyer who represented the families, said Thursday. [...]

Dresser Industries, a subsidiary of Halliburton acquired when Vice President Dick Cheney was chairman of the company, distributed asbestos products to shipyards, power plants and industrial facilities.

Plaintiffs alleged Dresser officials knew their products were harmful to workers in the 1930s but continued to distribute them through the mid-1970s.



I wonder if Cheney wrote that part into the SOTU; as a bitch and moan sort of a deal. Clearly those 100+ families hate freedom and the economy.

 

[digitalsm]

Originally posted by: DanJ
Thanks to Kos:

To make our economy stronger and more competitive, America must reward, not punish, the efforts and dreams of entrepreneurs. [...] Justice is distorted, and our economy is held back, by irresponsible class actions and frivolous asbestos claims - and I urge Congress to pass legal reforms this year.
-- President George W. Bush, State of the Union Address
Feb. 2nd, 2005


MORE THAN 100 FAMILIES WIN $30 MILLION SETTLEMENT IN ASBESTOS CASE
Associated Press
Feb. 3rd, 2005
SEATTLE - More than 100 Northwest families have won a $30 million settlement in an asbestos lawsuit involving a subsidiary of Houston-based Halliburton Co.

The deal was part of a $4.3 billion global settlement encompassing Halliburton's past, present and future asbestos liabilities, Matthew Bergman, a lawyer who represented the families, said Thursday. [...]

Dresser Industries, a subsidiary of Halliburton acquired when Vice President Dick Cheney was chairman of the company, distributed asbestos products to shipyards, power plants and industrial facilities.

Plaintiffs alleged Dresser officials knew their products were harmful to workers in the 1930s but continued to distribute them through the mid-1970s.



I wonder if Cheney wrote that part into the SOTU; as a bitch and moan sort of a deal. Clearly those 100+ families hate freedom and the economy.

Hes not talking about vaild asbestos claims. There are thousands of frivalous asbestos claims filed a year, which is why some in govt/business want to have a $150billion(IIRC) fund to pay of all future asbestos claims.

 

[DanJ]

I find the need to include the specific line "frivolous asbestos claims", and the timing (next day and all) of a $30 million dollar settlement by a subsidiary of Halliburton that was acquired under Cheney..to be quite humerous.

And must we quote the entire post in the first reply? 🙂

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: DanJ
Thanks to Kos:

To make our economy stronger and more competitive, America must reward, not punish, the efforts and dreams of entrepreneurs. [...] Justice is distorted, and our economy is held back, by irresponsible class actions and frivolous asbestos claims - and I urge Congress to pass legal reforms this year.
-- President George W. Bush, State of the Union Address
Feb. 2nd, 2005


MORE THAN 100 FAMILIES WIN $30 MILLION SETTLEMENT IN ASBESTOS CASE
Associated Press
Feb. 3rd, 2005
SEATTLE - More than 100 Northwest families have won a $30 million settlement in an asbestos lawsuit involving a subsidiary of Houston-based Halliburton Co.

The deal was part of a $4.3 billion global settlement encompassing Halliburton's past, present and future asbestos liabilities, Matthew Bergman, a lawyer who represented the families, said Thursday. [...]

Dresser Industries, a subsidiary of Halliburton acquired when Vice President Dick Cheney was chairman of the company, distributed asbestos products to shipyards, power plants and industrial facilities.

Plaintiffs alleged Dresser officials knew their products were harmful to workers in the 1930s but continued to distribute them through the mid-1970s.



I wonder if Cheney wrote that part into the SOTU; as a bitch and moan sort of a deal. Clearly those 100+ families hate freedom and the economy.

LOL
I love it. It's the same as if he started crying and screamed, "Stop picking on us!"

 

[Brackis]

Bush also new that this ruling was coming, it has been in court for months. In fact I heard a piece on NPR about it 3 weeks ago.

 

[DevilsAdvocate]

Some of the asbestos claims have merit, and some don't.

 

[aidanjm]

Originally posted by: digitalsm
Hes not talking about vaild asbestos claims. There are thousands of frivalous asbestos claims filed a year, which is why some in govt/business want to have a $150billion(IIRC) fund to pay of all future asbestos claims.

It is the job of the courts to determine if a claim is frivolous, not George Bush or Dick Cheney.

 

[irwincur]

You can now sue for 'possible exposure' to asbestos. Just have to find a John Edwards type to take it to court and you have a guaranteed victory. No need to ever prove that you were exposed, just that you think you might have been...

You really need to know the science behind asbestos to realize that the risks are extremely low compared to the costs. Actually, many scientists would have no problem advocating its use again.

 

[Gaard]

Originally posted by: irwincur
You can now sue for 'possible exposure' to asbestos. Just have to find a John Edwards type to take it to court and you have a guaranteed victory. No need to ever prove that you were exposed, just that you think you might have been...

Really? To hell with the lotto, I got a better idea...

:roll:

 

[Spencer278]

Originally posted by: irwincur
You can now sue for 'possible exposure' to asbestos. Just have to find a John Edwards type to take it to court and you have a guaranteed victory. No need to ever prove that you were exposed, just that you think you might have been...

You really need to know the science behind asbestos to realize that the risks are extremely low compared to the costs. Actually, many scientists would have no problem advocating its use again.

You have a link to the claims based on possible exposure. Assuming your not just spewing BS I would assume that the company distoryed the records on who was exposed or that they ever used asbestos and the people have lungs field with the fibers.