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Mealey's Reports Asbestos Companies Sue Tobacco Firms For Reimbursement of Past Asbestos Claims 

Reacting to the recent bankruptcies that have hit many of the major defendants in the asbestos industry, seven second-tier asbestos-related companies recently filed suits against several tobacco firms in Mississippi state court in Fayette, Miss., Mealey Publications, a Lexis-Nexis company, informed its readers today.

The companies -- Kaiser Aluminum, Asbestos Claims Management Corp., Combustion Engineering, T&N, Uniroyal Holdings Inc., A.P. Green Industries, and A.P. Green Services -- all seek reimbursement for the payment of past asbestos claims and contend the tobacco companies knew of a dangerous tobacco/asbestos synergy, yet failed to warn the public. The suits, also on behalf of a number of individuals, seek compensatory and punitive damages and attorneys' fees. . .

Specifically, the complaints contend that the companies have received thousands of claims from people who allege that they have suffered personal injuries as a result of exposure to asbestos-containing products. The complaints allege that the overwhelming majority of these claimants were also smokers and that the injuries were caused, in whole or in part, by tobacco products.

``The Tobacco Defendants knew that their tobacco products, specifically including but not limited to cigarettes, were especially harmful to smokers who were also occupationally exposed to asbestos. Individually and in concert with each other, the Tobacco Defendants concealed their knowledge of the special risks of tobacco products to such workers and distorted the published scientific literature and the public debate about the true nature of the health risks to asbestos workers who smoked,'' the complaints allege.

The asbestos companies argue that the tobacco defendants intended and caused asbestos workers who developed lung diseases to seek compensation from the asbestos defendants. The suits also allege that the tobacco defendants unfairly shifted their civil liability to the asbestos companies and that the tobacco defendants ``carefully monitored the asbestos litigation, including through the Committee of Counsel, a group of in-house lawyers employed by the Tobacco Defendants.'' . .

Full coverage and copies of the complaints will be in the Feb. 23 issue. In the meantime, the Combustion Engineering complaint is available at www.mealeysonline.com. Document #01-010223-101.

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The Tobacco Defendants knew that their tobacco products, specifically including but not limited to cigarettes, were especially harmful to smokers who were also occupationally exposed to asbestos. Individually and in concert with each other, the Tobacco Defendants concealed their knowledge of the special risks of tobacco products to such workers and distorted the published scientific literature and the public debate about the true nature of the health risks to asbestos workers who smoked.
Complaint from the Mississippi asbestos cases. <I>Mealey's Reports Asbestos Companies Sue Tobacco Firms For Reimbursement of Past Asbestos Claims</I>