Big 3 Automakers going bankrupt – are they defendants in asbestos cases?
It’s no secret that Ford, GM and Chrysler have been looking for handouts in the form of a $25 billion government bailout. If approved by Congress, this money is intended to keep the Big Three from going bankrupt by providing enough capital to keep building cars during the economic downturn. What most people don’t know, however, is that some of this money could end up being diverted from factory floors to the floors of courthouses across America.
Bendix Brakes, a subsidiary of Honeywell Consumer Products, has long been a factory supplier to Ford, GM and Chrysler. Prior to 2003, the Big Three routinely installed Bendix brakes with asbestos used as a friction material. This was routine at the time, though a 2003 law now prohibits the practice.
Despite the new law, thousands of pre-2003 cars and trucks on the roads continue to house the asbestos-laden brakes. As such, any individuals who suffer health-related issues as a result of exposure to these brakes have grounds for a viable lawsuit.
In 2002, New York court awarded a $53 million settlement to the family of one man who was killed in an asbestos-related death. The defendants who were ordered to pay included Ford, Chrysler, GM and Honeywell. There are approximately 47,000 outstanding lawsuits related to Bendix brakes in the United States. Whether the Big 3 go bankrupt or not, banks and the U.S. government may not be the only ones in line waiting to get their pay back.
Is asbestos still used in the workplace? « Workplace Safety and Asbestos Cancer
September 24, 2009 @ 4:53 pm
[...] Are you a mechanic? Do you install any parts in a car that are subject to heat? If so, you may be at risk of exposure to asbestos. Vehicles manufactured in the United States have such things as brake linings manufactured from other substances than asbestos, however many foreign imports have asbestos brake pads due to the function and reliability of the substance as a braking material. Asbestos brake pads are also available in the aftermarket trade and are extremely common replacements for original parts. If you work with these types of products you may want to protect your lungs by wearing a breathing apparatus while installing them. [...]