The latest statistics recorded 15,000 deaths annually due to asbestos over the last three years, but these numbers only take in to account those who were exposed to asbestos 40 to 50 years ago. Just three years ago, a UN report showed that one third of the 900 million people living in Europe and Central Asia are potentially exposed to asbestos at work and in the environment. For the countries without a ban in place, Swiss Re notes it fair to assume that tens of thousands workers are exposed at the time of writing. (Photo: Shutterstock)

A decision by the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts concerning the state's six-year statute of repose effectively bars all or nearly all tort claims arising from negligence in the use or handling of asbestos in construction-related suits.

Behind the headlines

Wayne Oliver died in 2016 of mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos during the construction of two nuclear power plants in the 1970s. The General Electric Company ("GE") had designed, manufactured and sold steam turbine generators for installation at each of the plants and had supervised the installations. GE's installation specifications at the time called for the use of asbestos-containing insulation materials.

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Steven A. Meyerowitz

Steven A. Meyerowitz, a Harvard Law School graduate, is the founder and president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. He may be contacted at [email protected].

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