Washington--Attorneys at a business conference here today urged companies and their insurers to counter class action suits over silicosis or asbestosis injuries with comprehensive studies that can reveal patterns of claim fraud.

According to lawyers speaking at an event hosted by the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform in Washington, the scales of credibility are tilting away from plaintiffs' attorneys and their "diagnosis mills" in these mass tort cases, and defendant attorneys should press the issue.

They said lawyers for companies under attack can help their own cause by compiling and analyzing the full medical data involved in these cases that can show negligent or fraudulent activities.