A Trust Fund Victims Can't Trust
Larry Prentis Rice’s story
Crystal River, Florida. Larry, 56, was exposed to asbestos during many of his working years. He spent time working at a juice plant, a paper mill, and a shipyard. But the majority of his career — 28 years — was at a power plant, where he worked with materials containing asbestos. His various jobs included maintenance mechanic, pipe fitter, steamfitter, welder, and machine operator.
Larry has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a terminal cancer caused only by asbestos. He had no prior adverse health conditions before the diagnosis. Because of this illness, he was forced to retire early. He is currently undergoing chemotherapy.
He and his wife, Linda, are living on her earnings at an assisted living facility. They have two children, Pamela and Larry, and three grandchildren. Larry is a musician, who also enjoys fishing and spending time in his garden. Many of his activities have been curtailed by his deteriorating health.
How would the asbestos bailout bill hurt Larry’s family?
Larry’s case is pending in Harris County District Court in Texas. If the asbestos bailout bill is enacted, Larry and his family would never see their day in court. They would have to start the claims process again from the beginning under the proposed asbestos trust fund.
The one-size-fits-all approach of the asbestos bailout bill is inadequate, especially in cases such as Larry’s. He and his family must bear significant cost for life-extending medical treatments and have lost their source of income from his job. In the tort system, they would receive compensation for their medical expenses and his lost wages; unfortunately, under the bill they would not.
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