The first pieces of asbestos related legislation were introduced in the 1970s as a part of the Black Lung Bill. Since then, asbestos laws have changed considerably, in part due to recent legislation that was advocated by asbestos product manufacturers and employers.
In 1999, there was a proposed law by the name of The Fairness in Asbestos Compensation Act. Physicians, victims, mesothelioma attorneys, and advocates strongly opposed this law because it essentially denied victims the right to have their case heard in court. It did not pass.
The senate passed the Asbestos Claims Criteria and Compensation Act in 2003, though it failed to gain enough support to become law. It required victims to fulfill stringent medical criteria and would have limited the rights of many to receive full compensation for their injuries.
Proposed in 2004, the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution (“FAIR”) Act would create a $124 billion fund for victims of asbestos disease. This would supposedly make compensation for victims quicker. Mesothelioma lawyers and lawmakers thought this, too, would limit the ability for a mesothelioma victim to receive adequate compensation for their particular situation. It did not pass in 2004, 2005, or 2006. The FAIR Act has been put on hold since then.
Mesothelia and asbestos laws are complicated and ever changing, which is why you need an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. Please contact us at mesothelioma attorneys Brown | Kiely, LLP today to schedule a consultation. We serve all of Washington, D.C. and Baltimore, Maryland.
