We have written several posts recently about pending asbestos-related legislation at the federal level as well in some states. The federal bill, known as the Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act (FACT), could move forward in the Senate this month if the Senate Judiciary Committee votes to advance it.
The two senators from Texas (Ted Cruz and John Cornyn) are among the members of the Senate Judiciary Committee. This is notable because of an op-ed piece written by one of their constituents, a Texas woman. Most mesothelioma victims are diagnosed in their 50s or later. This woman is only 26 years old.
According to the article, the woman’s father was a jet mechanic in the air force, and his duties included working on older aircraft parts that were manufactured with components containing asbestos. She would hug her father upon his return from work, and also helped with his laundry. In the process, she was exposed to the asbestos fibers he unwittingly carried home with him.
The woman was diagnosed about a year ago, and has undergone numerous expensive treatments since then, which have likely only slowed the disease down. She has also become an advocate for herself and other mesothelioma victims by publicly speaking out against the FACT Act. She has met with the staffs of her state’s two senators, and hopes that her story will show just how detrimental the pending legislation would be for victims and their families.
Asbestos exposure lawsuits already tend to be an uphill battle for plaintiffs. Major corporations do not need or deserve legislative assistance that would make it even more difficult to hold these companies liable. Hopefully, this woman’s advocacy will prompt her senators to do the right thing and reject this bill.
