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Asbestos

Practices

Asbestos

While asbestos is no longer widely used commercially, it still exists in many older homes and buildings. Businesses need to be aware of potential liabilities that can arise from its presence, which can lead to lawsuits or cause issues that can hinder transactions such as mergers or acquisitions, even after closing, or real estate construction projects. We have extensive experience serving as local and national counsel in a wide range of matters involving asbestos. We have an extensive track record of defending companies and reaching favorable resolutions.  Regardless of the type of case, we focus on identifying the most cost-effective way to minimize our clients’ risks.

Our clients who face extensive asbestos litigation benefit from SmartPaTH™, Thompson Hine’s service delivery approach that leverages legal project management, process efficiency, flexible staffing and value-based pricing to better align our services with clients’ needs. We have the tools and experience to streamline asbestos defense by finding cost-effective ways to help clients resolve claims.

Our asbestos-related experience spans a wide range of matters, including:

National Litigation Counsel

  • Defending hundreds of shipowners in tens of thousands of claims involving the Jones Act and claims of unseaworthiness related to alleged asbestos exposure on commercial vessels.
  • Defending companies in connection with purported exposure to asbestos on commercial premises, including motor vehicle manufacturing facilities, refineries and chemical plants.
  • Defending companies accused of negligently exposing individuals to asbestos through their activities as outside contractors.
  • Defending manufacturers and suppliers in claims related to a wide range of products and component parts, including gaskets, clutches, brakes, blast furnaces and foundry equipment.
  • Defending an outside contractor/fabricator in claims filed in multiple jurisdictions related to alleged exposure of steel mill workers to asbestos through insulation materials.
  • Defending manufacturers of commercial equipment and equipment components against allegations of illness related to purported asbestos-containing components.

Advice and Counseling

  • Advising companies on asbestos regulatory requirements and best practices for mitigating risk of asbestos exposure in products and at facilities.
  • Advising companies on the risks associated with potential acquisitions of entities with historical asbestos product lines.
  • Advising companies on structuring and executing out-of-court restructurings to separate clients’ legacy asbestos liabilities from their operating businesses.
  • Overseeing strategy development for resolving a significant number of cases filed against a utility company in multiple jurisdictions related to alleged asbestos exposure at its facilities.