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Association of Trial Lawyers of America Condemns Fraudulent Silicosis Claims
Asks to Work with Oversight Committee to Protect Silicosis Victims and Develop Witness and Evidence Standards

(Wednesday, March 8, 2006 -Washington DC)—Today Ken Suggs, President of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, applauded a congressional hearing to look into wrongly filed silicosis claims that were thrown out of court in Corpus Christi, Texas, but warned that big corporations would use the case as an excuse to push for legislation to deny justice to real victims of silicosis. Suggs also asked the committee to protect workers who continue to be endangered by silica because corporate executives refuse to provide adequate protective equipment.

In a letter to U.S. Rep Ed Whitfield, Chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, Suggs wrote:

“The Association of Trial Lawyers of America condemns fraudulent activity by any plaintiff or defense attorney or witness and believes those found guilty should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“As I’m sure you are aware, the civil justice system is properly dealing with those lawyers and doctors who wrongly filed claims that workers had silicosis disease – the cases were thrown out of court and federal investigators are looking into whether those involved should be prosecuted,” Suggs wrote.

Suggs asked to work with the committee in developing appropriate measures that ensure only reliable expert witness testimony is entered into the court record, but he warned Chairman Whitfield not to let manufacturers and big corporations use the case as an excuse to deny badly-needed help to silicosis and asbestos victims while providing themselves with another bailout.

“While corporate CEOs would like to use this as an excuse to eliminate the rights of victims, we hope that the U.S. Congress will make protecting silicosis victims the primary goal of any legislative effort,” said Suggs.

Though the dangers of silica were known in the 1930s, millions of U.S. workers risk exposure and silicosis, an often fatal disease that causes lung scarring, and often leads to the development of other diseases like tuberculosis. Some studies indicate that the Occupational Safety and Health Administration has yet to develop an effective standard to protect workers from silicosis.

Suggs also asked the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to use its new-found focus on silicosis to bring greater attention to the problem of silicosis disease, work to develop national standards and laws to protect workers from silicosis, and address the continued failure of corporations to provide adequate safety protections to their workers.

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As the world's largest trial bar, ATLA promotes justice and fairness for injured persons, defends the constitutional right to trial by jury, and strengthens the civil justice system through education and disclosure of information critical to public health and safety. With 60,000 members worldwide, ATLA provides lawyers with the information and professional assistance they need to serve clients successfully and protect the democratic values of the civil justice system.