FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—June 08, 2006
Contact: Larry Akey
202-463-5824
Chamber: Dubious Asbestos Claims Reinforce Need for Sweeping Investigation
Lisa Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, issued the following statement today regarding the filing of a motion by asbestos defendants to dismiss all claims from the federal asbestos multi-district litigation in Philadelphia:
"The fact that six doctors have recanted or refused to testify about their diagnoses in more than 140,000 asbestos claims substantiates our serious concerns about potential widespread fraud in asbestos litigation. This revelation is the latest in a string of eye-opening developments that have raised serious questions about the validity of not only asbestos lawsuits, but also silica, pharmaceutical and other mass tort litigation.
"The need for an immediate and thorough investigation has never been clearer. Authorities owe it to the truly injured and those who have been denied justice to route out fraud and abuse in mass tort litigation and hold those who engage in fraudulent conduct fully accountable."