You need evidence to bring a claim to court that alleges another party injured you. That may be relatively simple to get in something like a car crash. A police report stating the other driver was drunk or speeding may be enough to win you the case.
Getting the evidence involving harm done by exposure to asbestos is much more complicated. You will rely, in part, on detailed scientific research linking asbestos exposure with cancer such as mesothelioma.
The problem is, the defendants will also present scientific evidence to counter your claim and that evidence may not be as scientific as they say.
Research is not always funded with the aim of furthering science
The Center for Public Integrity (CPI) reports that car manufacturer Ford spent $40 million on asbestos research. They did it after losing numerous cases brought by former mechanics who had contracted mesothelioma while working on the brakes of Ford vehicles.
The CPI claims that Ford did not spend the money in good faith to further the knowledge of the relationships between asbestos in brakes and mesothelioma. Rather, they paid the money in exchange for evidence that would help them defeat these claims.
Exponent, the company they paid for this work has given ‘expert’ testimony in their defense and also produced numerous papers that Ford has repeatedly used to deny the relationship between the mesothelioma mechanics have suffered and the brakes they worked on.
Learning this might put you off bringing an asbestos claim. However, it’s important to remember that many judges know about this and there are vast quantities of evidence from other sources, such as the World Health Organization, that lay clear the connection between asbestos and mesothelioma. Learning more can help you hold those responsible for your ill health to account.