Order Code RL32286
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Asbestos Litigation: Prospects for
Legislative Resolution
Updated April 20, 2004
Edward B. Rappaport
Analyst in Industry Economics and Finance
Domestic Social Policy Division
Congressional Research Service ˜ The Library of Congress

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Asbestos Litigation: Prospects for
Legislative Resolution
Summary
A large volume of litigation has been occasioned by occupational exposure to
asbestos, which may ultimately result in payments of $200 billion or more and has
already bankrupted numerous companies. This litigation “explosion” has led to a
number of innovations in legal process, but some of the settlements that seemed most
promising were overturned by the Supreme Court, with the Court suggesting that the
situation “calls for national legislation.”
Bills in the 108th Congress deal with asbestos in various ways. H.R. 1586
(Cannon), H.R. 1737 (Dooley) and S. 413 (Nickles) would conserve the resources of
defendant corporations — many of which have been bankrupted by asbestos cases
— so that funds could be applied first to workers who are already sick. This would
be done by postponing the cases of those who show early symptoms of asbestos
disease but are not yet impaired.
There are also bills — H.R. 1114 (Kirk) and S. 2290 (Hatch) — that would try
to resolve the question of asbestos litigation comprehensively. S. 2290 (a somewhat
revised substitute for S. 1125) has received the most attention and been reported out
by the Senate Judiciary Committee. However, most observers do not see the
committee’s passage as a consensus, so that further comprises would be needed for
full Senate passage. The House has not acted on any of these asbestos bills.
S. 2290 would spell out uniform criteria for diagnosing and classifying asbestos
diseases in 10 categories, each with a specified level of compensation, ranging from
$20,000 to $1 million. It would establish a fund through which all claims are paid,
financed by assessments on defendant companies and their insurers. Each of the
largest firms subject to assessment would be responsible for paying up to $25 million
per year for 27 years. The assessments (including those of insurers) could eventually
total $108 billion, with provisions in the measure for perhaps $30 billion more if
needed.
The most-debated points of S. 2290 include the adequacy of the funding
scheme, the levels of compensation, medical criteria (especially as regards smoking
history), and transition issues.
This report discusses such issues thematically, and will be updated to reflect
major legislative actions. A section-by-section analysis of S. 2290 may be found in
CRS Report RS21815, Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2004.

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Contents
Scope of Litigation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Procedural Improvisation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Policy Alternatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Status Quo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Changes in Tort Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Proving “Physical Impairment” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Administrative System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
S. 2290 — Points of Debate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Funding Adequacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Compensation Adequacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Medical Criteria . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Disputed Categories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
The Tobacco Question . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Diagnostic Quality Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Transition Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Start-Up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Status of Current Settlements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Cash Flow Timing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
List of Tables
Table 1. Asbestos Disease Categories and Compensable Amounts . . . . . . . . . . . 9

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Asbestos Litigation: Prospects for
Legislative Resolution
Asbestos has been widely used as an insulation material, friction product (e.g.,
in brakes and clutches) and textile reinforcement, due to its unique combination of
strength, flexibility and resistance to heat and corrosion. Over the years, scientific
studies have increasingly implicated the material as a cause of debilitating, fatal lung
diseases. Protective standards have been adopted and progressively tightened, but
human exposures continue to occur through ongoing use and from legacy buildings
and equipment.1 Moreover, cases of asbestosis, lung cancer and other diseases will
be emerging for years to come because they occur after a long latency.
Although most cases of asbestos-related disease have occurred from
occupational exposure, few of the affected workers have been able to obtain medical
and financial assistance from their employers under state workers compensation law.
However, many have successfully sued the manufacturers of asbestos under claims
of products liability, to such an extent that many large firms have been forced into
bankruptcy. This litigation “explosion” has led to calls for legislation that would
expedite the settlement process through administrative alternatives.
This report describes how the asbestos litigation process has evolved, and then
discusses some legislative “fixes” that have been tried or proposed. Finally, we
discuss more extensively S. 2290, the bill receiving the most attention in the 108th
Congress. The discussion is thematic, highlighting the sub-issues remaining most in
dispute. For a section-by-section explanation of S. 2290, see CRS Report RS21815,
Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act of 2004, by Henry Cohen.
Scope of Litigation
It is estimated that at least 600 thousand people have brought asbestos-related
personal injury suits so far, and the number of new claims each year appears to be
still increasing. Typically, each plaintiff sues dozens of defendants, so the total
volume of litigation is quite substantial. The total amount spent on asbestos litigation
1 The Environmental Protection Agency issued a regulation in 1986 that would have banned
virtually all major uses, but most of the rule was overturned by the Fifth Circuit Court of
Appeals (Corrosion-Proof Fittings, 947 F.2d 1201). S. 1115 (Murray) has been introduced
in the 108th Congress for a ban on asbestos products (with a procedure for EPA to allow
exceptions). One of the bills for resolving litigation, S. 2290 (Hatch), would also include
a ban on future usage. Current regulatory standards are described in CRS Report RS21042,
Asbestos: Federal Regulation of Uses, by Edward Rappaport.

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CRS-2
(awards and expenses) has been on the order of $54 billion, most of this expenditure
being financed by defendant companies and their insurers. The total ultimate bill
may be on the order of $200 billion.2 The amounts awarded in individual cases are
difficult to estimate, as most are resolved confidentially by settlements. Among cases
that have gone to trial and succeeded,3 the average award has been about $1.8
million. Negotiated settlements tend to be considerably less, however. Minus the
legal expenses of both plaintiffs and defendants, about 43% of total spending has
been reaching the claimants as their net recovery.
The resulting liabilities have forced some 60 companies into bankruptcy in the
last 20 years, 22 of them since January 1, 2000. Among the most prominent of these
firms are Armstrong World Industries, Babcock & Wilcox, Federal Mogul, Johns-
Manville, Owens-Corning, U.S. Gypsum and W. R. Grace. Bankruptcy is not a
desirable outcome for either the defendant firms or the claimants. Claims can be put
on hold for five years or more, and in some cases the trusts established to take care
of victims have been able to pay only 5% to 10% of what was expected. A subsidiary
question is the extent to which defendants can rely on their insurance companies to
cover their liabilities, an issue that is occasioning substantial litigation of its own.4
Procedural Improvisation
The unprecedented scale of litigation has induced courts and the parties to
develop new structures for resolution of cases. Whereas, at first, defendants
vigorously contested such issues as whether a worker was “injured,” whether the
cause was asbestos exposure, and which manufacturer’s asbestos was the particular
asbestos at fault, by the 1980s new court procedures and decisions were establishing
clearer bases for liability. Some judges encouraged consolidation of cases, for
example, by selecting a few individual cases to go to trial as representative of the
whole. Defendants found that their best opportunity was to negotiate settlements
through attorneys representing thousands of claims at a time, with the amounts for
each individual to be determined by schedules of factors such as disease type. By the
1990s, the leading law firms representing claimants had standing agreements with the
major defendants for settling claims (though that system has since lost much of its
viability).
The bankruptcy courts have been a notable forum for resolving cases en masse,
beginning with the pathbreaking Manville Trust.5 In 1988, after six years under court
2 Quantitative data cited here are from Stephen Carroll et al., Asbestos Litigation Costs and
Compensation, An Interim Report (Santa Monica, CA: RAND Institute for Civil Justice,
2002), p. 99. Available at [http://www.rand.org/publications/DB/DB397]. (Hereafter cited
as RAND report.)
3 About two-thirds of plaintiffs going to trial win and receive awards.
4 Randy Maniloff, “Asbestos: Insurance Coverage Issues on a Changing Landscape,”
Mealey’s Litigation Report: Insurance, July 9, 2002.
5 Daniel Gross, “Recovery Lessons from an Industrial Phoenix,” New York Times, Apr. 29,
(continued...)

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CRS-3
supervision, Johns-Manville Corp. emerged from bankruptcy 50% owned by a trust
charged with compensating current and future asbestos liability claimants.
Administrative procedures were developed to streamline claims handling. The trust’s
operating expenditures are only 5% of benefits paid, and lawyers representing
claimants cannot charge more than 25%. Thus, claimants receive 70% of what the
trust pays out. Unfortunately, though, the amounts paid are quite low, since the
assets of the trust have only been adequate to pay 5% to 10% of full value. The
system became a model for other, solvent companies. Congress also codified the
process for a bankrupt firm to resolve its liability for all pending and future claims
via such trusts.6 In short, some observers believe that through such innovations
“asbestos litigation was transformed in fact — although not in form — into a quasi-
administrative regime.”7
Most recently, some corporations, including Halliburton, Honeywell and the
European-based manufacturer ABB, have presented plans by which claims are to be
resolved by the bankruptcies of their subsidiaries rather than the parent corporation,
which would then be able to carry on freed of asbestos liabilities. This would make
use of the 1994 bankruptcy law amendment, but leave the parent corporation solvent
and still in control of its operations (unlike the Manville model, which put control of
the whole corporation under the trust).8
Finally, many had expected eventually to come to a final resolution of most
cases by “global” settlements. However, the two prominent asbestos settlements that
were fully litigated up to the Supreme Court were overturned there.9 The key
features of the Georgine settlement were (a) definitive criteria for proving exposure
and illness, in a simplified and expedited process, (b) standardized compensation for
actual illness only, (c) preservation of the right to compensation later if disease (or
worsened disease) occurs later, (d) a cap on attorney fees, and (e) a limited right to
opt out and rely on one’s ordinary right to sue. These settlements were rejected for
not meeting the requirements for establishing class actions under Federal Rule of
Civil Procedure 23. Georgine was found wanting because various subgroups of
claimants (and potential claimants) were in widely varying circumstances, so that
common elements did not predominate among their cases. Also, adequate
representation was not broadly enough assured, especially for those who might
become aware of their injury only in the future. These defects were not adequately
overcome by the agreement’s provision allowing potential plaintiffs to opt out. The
Ortiz class was established under a different subsection of Rule 23 that did not
require meeting such criteria, but the Court said it had not been demonstrated
5 (...continued)
2001, Business Section, p. 4.
6 Section 111 of the Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1994 (P.L. 103-394).
7 RAND report, p. 26.
8 Susan Warren and Alexei Barrionuevo, “Halliburton to Settle Asbestos Claims,” Wall
Street Journal (Dec. 19, 2002), pp. A3, A6.
9 Amchem Products v. Windsor, 521 U.S. 591 (1997) [also known as the Georgine case] and
Ortiz v. Fibreboard, 527 U.S. 815 (1999).

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CRS-4
convincingly enough that the settlement qualified for this alternate rule subsection
(assets of defendants insufficient to meet liabilities).
What was notable about these cases is that members of the Supreme Court
expressed discomfort with having to reject settlements with some merit for not
meeting the detailed requirements of federal court procedure (which, of course, has
its own merits). As stated by Justice Ginsburg in the Georgine case, “Rule 23, which
must be ... applied with the interests of absent class members in close view, cannot
carry the large load ... heaped upon it.” More pointedly, Justice Souter in Ortiz
commented that “this litigation defies customary judicial administration and calls for
national legislation.”
Thus, each of several hoped-for routes toward resolution — bankruptcy court,
class actions, or consolidation of individual cases in one court (which is possible for
federal court cases) has run into significant impediments in recent years. At the same
time, a schism may be emerging between claimants who are critically ill and others
who may be less sick (or show abnormal x-rays without apparent illness) but who sue
immediately, either because of legal deadlines (“statutes of limitations”) or because
they fear that funds may not be available later. Some prominent attorneys
representing those with cancer have shown interest in solutions that would postpone
suits by those who are not yet impaired, conserving currently available resources. 10
Policy Alternatives
Status Quo
Despite warnings that the asbestos problem is reaching “crisis” proportions, it
could be argued that the current legal regime has distinct advantages and should be
allowed to proceed as it is, or with minor improvements. The current system is
providing substantial assistance to large numbers of victims, most of whom do not
have to pay lawyers’ fees unless and until compensation is received. From a public
policy perspective, the fact that defendant companies are the ones financing the
benefits may be considered broadly beneficial. That is, companies in all industries
are being put on notice that allowing harm to occur to employees and the public can
be fatal to their own financial well-being.
On the other side of the ledger, the current system is not likely to have adequate
resources to fully compensate all claimants. A substantial portion of the resources
that are available is used to run the system rather than directly benefit claimants. It
is also disorganized, with no oversight to assure that compensation is allocated
primarily to those with the most compelling cases.
10 Greg Hitt, “Asbestos Makers, Litigants: Uneasy Allies,” Wall Street Journal (May 28,
2002), p. A4.

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CRS-5
Changes in Tort Law
Some observers see asbestos litigation as part and parcel of broader problems
with personal injury litigation that justify more general “tort reform,” especially in
cases with thousands of plaintiffs. Many specific measures have been suggested,
such as caps on punitive damages, limitations on joint and several liability, and more
narrowly specifying the court(s) in which each plaintiff can bring his/her case. These
are discussed more fully elsewhere.11
A tort innovation peculiar to asbestos is the “pleural registry.” In a number of
states, this device enables one to make a tentative filing when one learns of one’s
injury (often upon diagnosis of pleural plaques),12 and thus meet the legal deadline
even though no (or minor) impairment has yet occurred. Trial of the claim is delayed
until serious symptoms occur. This procedure can postpone many cases — many of
which will never progress to debilitating disease — and allow immediate resources
to be concentrated on those with the most serious immediate problems. Similar
provisions are included in the bills now pending in the Congress.
Proving “Physical Impairment”
Several current bills — H.R. 1586 (Cannon), H.R. 1737 (Dooley), and S. 413
(Nickles) — build on the pleural registry concept by requiring that, before they can
proceed further with an asbestos suit, plaintiffs must make a prima facie case that
they have a physical impairment and that exposure to asbestos has been a substantial
contributing factor. Until such time as impairment can be established, statutes of
limitations and other time limits would be held in abeyance. If a non-malignant case
is established, claims for cancer must be put aside until that disease becomes evident
(a two disease rule). If a state court does not apply such principles, the bills would
authorize removal of cases to federal court. There are also restrictions on venue (i.e.,
which courts have jurisdiction) and on consolidation of cases.13
The bills differ in particulars, but each specifies exactly how physical
impairment and causation are to be established. Factors to be considered include
employment and smoking history, x-ray evidence of abnormalities such as pleural
thickening or opacities, pathological evidence of lung scarring, and impaired
breathing shown by measures such as forced vital capacity. The bills provide a
presumption that the presence of cancer, or particular kinds of cancer, entails physical
impairment. (Whether the disease was caused by asbestos may still have to be
11 See CRS Issue Brief IB97056, Products Liability: A Legal Overview, by Henry Cohen.
12 Pleural plaques resemble calluses. They are patches of tough sinewy tissue which form
on the inside of the chest wall and show up in chest x-rays. They are generally thought of
as an indicator of asbestos exposure rather than a disease.
13 H.R. 1586 also has provisions to: limit non-economic damages, prohibit punitive damages,
allocate responsibility according to proportional liability (including liability of the
claimant), require disclosure of other sources of compensation, and require proof of specific
types of negligence in the case of sellers of asbestos products other than manufacturers.

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CRS-6
proven.) The bills also specify qualifications for those professionals who render
diagnoses.
Administrative System
Two bills in the 108th Congress (H.R. 1114 and S. 2290) would in effect
establish administrative systems to settle claims along the lines of the Georgine
settlement. Their intent is to circumvent the seemingly insurmountable requirements
of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure — while assuring a reasonable measure of
justice for all parties.
Like the other bills just discussed, H.R. 1114 (Kirk) would require all claimants
to first establish that they have an eligible asbestos-related medical condition; failing
that, their right to future action would be preserved until such time as impairment
occurs. Unlike the other bills, the determination of impairment and causation would
be made administratively rather than judicially, through medical review panels
appointed by a new agency in the Justice Department, the Office of Asbestos
Compensation (OAC).
The OAC would perform a number of functions beyond determining medical
eligibility, most importantly taking a direct part in litigation and settlement. First
(upon issuing a claimant a certificate of medical eligibility), the OAC, acting through
a Trustee, would receive offers of settlement from both sides. The Trustee would
also make offers of its own to claimants. If a claimant accepts the Trustee’s offer,
the Trustee would assume the claim and pursue it against the defendants. Claimants
could accept or reject any offers they wish, and for any cases not settled, either
pursue a regular lawsuit or an administrative proceeding under the auspices of the
OAC. A federal fund would be established for the purpose of facilitating the
Trustee’s assumption of claims, with the intention of the fund breaking even
financially in the long run.
S. 2290 — Points of Debate
S. 2290 (Hatch), the Fairness in Asbestos Injury Resolution Act, will be
discussed at further length here, as it has been the focus of considerable attention in
the Senate. It is a somewhat revised substitute for S. 1125, a bill that emerged out
of negotiations encouraged by the Senate Judiciary Committee among groups
representing all parties. Most observers do not expect the House to act on the
asbestos issue until the Senate passes a bill. (For further explanation of the bill’s
detailed provisions, see CRS Report RS21815, Fairness in Asbestos Injury
Resolution Act of 2003, by Henry Cohen.)
S. 2290 would simplify the resolution of cases, not only, like the other bills, by
specifying medical eligibility criteria, but also by establishing a schedule of benefits,
a specific amount payable for each diagnostic category ranging from $20 thousand
to $1 million (the latter for mesothelioma and some lung cancer cases). It would
establish a fund through which all claims are paid, financed by assessments on
defendant companies and their insurers. Each of the largest firms subject to

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assessment would be responsible for paying up to $25 million per year for 23 years.
The assessments (including those of insurers) could total as much as $108 billion.
In addition, Subsections 204(k) to (m) would authorize up to $10 billion more, if
needed, via a contingent call to a “guaranteed payment account.” The federal
government is expressly excluded from any payment obligation.
Among the asbestos bills in the 108th Congress, S. 1125 has received the most
attention. The Senate Judiciary Committee, along with representatives of all of the
involved interests, put considerable effort into finding a consensus. While consensus
was not achieved, significant concessions were made on all sides and S. 1125 was
reported by a vote of 10-9 on July 30, 2003. S. 2290 is a substitute bill reflecting
some further negotiations, including mediation by Edward Becker, former chief judge
of the Third Circuit Court of Appeals.14 The most contentious points still remaining
primarily fall under the headings of funding adequacy, acceptability of the
compensation schedule, basis for the diagnostic categories, and transitional issues.
In what follows, this report describes how the bill would handle such matters and
what objections have been raised. All of these points, among others, are addressed
in the report of the committee.15
Funding Adequacy
A number of unknowns mean the bill’s stated funding capacity of $114 billion,
a substantial sum by any measure, may yet not suffice to pay all scheduled benefits.
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated ultimate total costs of $123 billion.16
One of the central points of debate in committee was whether to establish an overall
funding figure first or establish the benefit schedule first, the question being framed
in terms of who deserved “certainty.” On one side, it was argued that workers
deserved certainty of payment because they would be giving up their right to sue and
because previous bankruptcy resolution trusts had been inadequate. On the other
side, business advocates argued that certainty for them (regarding the extent of their
liability) was essential, it being the only reason they would consider giving up their
right to defend themselves against what they see as tenuous claims in many cases.
The bill as reported features a fixed schedule of benefits, while the adequacy of
funding is addressed through a number of various contingency measures (e.g., the
guaranteed payment account). The revenue side of the equation thus becomes a bit
complicated. It should be recognized that the “headline” figure of $114 billion is a
goal or estimate rather than a fixed mandate. Actual assessments on defendant
companies will be determined by their assignment into tiers and sub-tiers, these
defined by the companies’ historical asbestos payments and recent (2002) sales
14 See statement by Sen. Specter, Congressional Record, daily edition, vol 150 ( Mar. 23,
2004), pp. S2987-S2988.
15 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on the Judiciary, The Fairness in Asbestos Injury
Resolution Act of 2003, 108th Cong. 1st sess., S.Rept. 108-118 (Washington: GPO, 2003),
227 p. (hereafter cited as “Committee report”).
16 Letters from CBO Director Douglas Holtz-Eakin to Sen. Hatch, Mar. 24, and Sen.
Nickles, Apr. 8, 2004.

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CRS-8
revenue. Annual assessments (for 23 years) will range from $25 million (a company
with historical asbestos payments greater than $75 million and falling within the top
quintile of these companies by revenue) to the smallest assessment, $100 thousand
(a company with asbestos payments of $1 - 5 million and revenues in the smallest
third of these companies). This scheme is intended to raise $57.5 billion from
defendant companies over 23 years. The bill also requires $46 billion from the
insurance industry, but leaves the allocation among companies to a special
commission (Subtitle II B).17
The possibility of temporary shortfalls in the early years will be dealt with below
under “Transition Issues.”
Compensation Adequacy
The diagnostic categories and their compensable amounts are shown in Table
1. At least three types of consideration have guided the development of these
numbers: (a) the pattern of awards given by courts or agreed in settlements, (b) the
severity of symptoms and prognosis for each category, and (c) the likelihood that
asbestos is the principal cause of disease. For example, non-lung cancers (Level VI)
are paid less than one-sixth of what is paid for mesothelioma (Level X). This is both
because mesothelioma is one of the most lethal of cancers (usually resulting in death
within 18 months) and because mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos.18
Values within Levels VII to IX are to be determined by the fund administrator within
the ranges shown, by devising a “matrix” that takes into account the amount of
asbestos exposure, age at diagnosis (higher awards for younger claimants), and
smoking history (sect. 131(b)(3)). (Diagnosis categories are discussed in more detail
in the next section.)
Some of those who voted against S. 1125 in committee advocated that award
values should be higher, promoting instead a schedule known as the Leahy/Kennedy
claims value amendment. That schedule would have increased benefits for the lower
disease levels the most in proportional terms (e.g., nearly doubling the benefit for
Level II and raising by about 50% the Level III benefit). Many of the higher levels
would be raised by $100,000 or so; some raises similar to these were incorporated in
S. 2290. The biggest differences in dollar terms were the benefits for smokers in the
cancer levels. (See Committee report, pp. 202-205.) But supporters of the bill as
reported emphasize that each dollar of benefits under this scheme is worth more than
under the court-operated tort system. Under the tort system about 40% of total
spending is reaching plaintiffs, whereas the administrative system is intended to be
more efficient than that.
17 Section 404 adjusts the obligations of insurers and reinsurers to each other and to
defendant companies.
1 8 For gener al i nf ormation about asbestos-related di seases, see
[http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/asbestos.html] and
[http://www.health.nih.gov/result.asp?disease_id=54].

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Table 1. Asbestos Disease Categories
and Compensable Amounts
Level
Disease or Condition
Award Amount
I
Asbestosis — normal lung function
Medical monitoring only
II
Mixed disease (asbestosis + other) with
$20,000
impairment
III
Asbestosis — TLCa 60-80%
$85,000
IV
Severe asbestosis — TLC 50-60%
$400,000
V
Disabling asbestosis — TLC < 50%
$850,000
VI
“Other” cancers (non-lung)
$150,000
VII A
Lung cancer — smokers
$25,000 - $75,000
VII B
— former smokers
$75,000 - $225,000
VII C
— non-smokers
$225,000 - $600,000
VIII A
Lung cancer with pleural disease — smokers
$150,000 - $250,000
VIII B
— former smokers
$400,000 - $600,000
VIII C
— non-smokers
$600,000 - $1,000,000
IX A
Lung cancer with asbestosis — smokers
$450,000 - $550,000
IX B
— former smokers
$650,000 - $950,000
IX C
— non-smokers
$800,000 - $1,000,000
X
Mesothelioma
$1,000,000
Source: S. 2290, sections 121(d), 131.
a. TLC means Total Lung Capacity. For full diagnostic descriptions, see bill, subsection 121(d).
Medical Criteria
Eligibility for benefits would require certain kinds of evidence, including
documentation of occupational exposure to asbestos (preceding a minimum 10-year
latency period), smoking history, physical examination, pulmonary function test, x-
rays, and pathology report. With this evidence, administrators are to apply the
criteria in Subsection 121(d) and determine the highest of the 10 disease levels to
which each claimant belongs (if any). The goal is a non-adversarial system that is
prompt, efficient, and as accurate as possible in a field where there are substantial
scientific uncertainties. While in some respects the benefit of the doubt is given to
claimants, on the other hand the system is meant to eliminate screening “mills” that

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produce thousands of claims upon evidence that is fragmentary at best, if not
fraudulent.19
Disputed Categories. Several of the disease categories have drawn criticism
on the ground that they are not credibly linked to asbestos exposure. Among these
are as follows:
! Simple asbestosis (Level I). It is agreed on all sides that claimants
at Level I are not impaired (“ill”), hence do not receive cash
compensation, only the right to monitoring. If illness on other levels
is subsequently found, compensation can then be claimed. Some
dispute the rationale for monitoring, arguing that being at Level I
does not imply any higher probability of subsequent illness than for
other workers who are not at Level I. On the other side it is argued
that, as done with many toxic substances, all exposed workers
should get screening regardless of whether they show symptoms.20
! “Other cancers” (Level VI). There is dispute here on whether
asbestos causes non-lung cancers (such as colorectal). Proponents
of the provision note that the existing bankruptcy trusts compensate
for non-lung cancers, but opponents claim that this is due to quirks
of bankruptcy bargaining dynamics. The bill would award $150,000
for such cases, but also mandate a study by the Institute of Medicine
to be completed within two years.21
! Lung cancer without asbestosis (Levels VII and VIII). Some claim
that when asbestos causes lung cancer, there is almost always
evidence of clinical asbestosis.
The Tobacco Question. Beyond the foregoing disputes, however, the most
contentious issue of all is the relevance of smoking history. The committee report
states that “The Fund is not intended to be a compensation system for smokers,
which would otherwise overwhelm the Fund leaving no money for asbestos victims.”
Thus the compensation scheme discounts the awards to smokers in two ways. First,
the three lung cancer levels (VII through IX) are distinguished by the degree of
pathology or x-ray evidence linking the cancer to asbestos. Implicitly, Levels VII and
VIII attribute a higher probability to other causes (e.g., tobacco or radon) where
asbestos cannot be specifically linked. Second, levels are divided explicitly into sub-
levels for smokers, former smokers22 and non-smokers, and the compensation matrix
to be developed by the Administrator would differentiate awards within each sub-
level according to smoking history.
19 On allegations of fraudulent testing, see Sen. Kyl’s statement, Committee report pp. 95-
98.
20 Compare Committee report pp. 98-99 and pp. 212-213.
21 Presumably the results of the study would not affect cases already decided.
22 Those who quit at least 12 years before diagnosis.

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The resulting scheme has been criticized from both sides. On the one hand, as
noted, some claim that asbestos is almost never the cause of cancer without also
causing clinical asbestosis, so there should be no Levels VII or VIII. On the other
hand, plaintiff advocates note that a high percentage of the blue collar workers most
exposed to asbestos were indeed smokers, so that the widely publicized figure of up
to $1 million for lung cancer would be received by very few.
A key point of disagreement is whether there is synergy between tobacco and
asbestos in causing cancer. Many believe that there is such a synergistic effect (i.e.,
when one is exposed to both asbestos and tobacco), the risk of lung cancer is
enhanced greatly beyond the sum of the two factors independently. If this is so, then
it could be argued that the awards to smokers should not be reduced very much vis-a-
vis non-smokers. However, differing testimony on the matter was received by the
committee and consensus not reached.23
Diagnostic Quality Control. In addition to the foregoing disagreements
about defining eligible medical categories, there is the issue of types of evidence to
be deemed credible. In the existing tort law system, plaintiffs present evidence
favorable to their case and defendants have an opportunity to challenge it. Since S.
2290 would replace tort law with a non-adversarial, administrative system, it
explicitly defines what kinds of evidence are necessary and acceptable, and requires
auditing of the results.
Subsection 121(b) sets general rules for expertise of those developing evidence.
Thus, (a) x-ray interpretations must be done by “B-readers,” a certification overseen
by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health; (b) pulmonary function
testing for asbestos (Levels III to V) is to be done in accordance with the standards
of the American Thoracic Society; and (c) diagnosis of malignancies (Levels VI
through X) must be done by board-certified pathologists.24
Section 115 provides for reviews and audits, including the empaneling of
independent B-readers to spot check accuracy of submitted readings. The
Administrator is also instructed to develop methods for evaluating medical evidence.
Consequences may include disqualification of physicians or facilities if their
evidence is found “not consistent with prevailing medical practices or the applicable
requirements of this Act.” Finally, Section 401 provides criminal penalties for fraud
or false statements.
23 Both sides were supported by expert witnesses. The committee majority in favor of the
bill relied particularly on testimony of Dr. James Crapo of the University of Colorado. The
dissenting minority claimed a “scientific consensus” for synergy as expressed by institutions
such as the National Toxicology Program (Department of Health and Human Services) and
the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Compare Committee report pp. 64-66
with pp. 200-202.
24 According to the bill text, diagnoses of non-malignant conditions (Levels I through V) can
be rendered by any physician. However, the Committee report (at p. 39) expresses the intent
that “the documentation would be provided by an appropriately board-certified physician
in occupational medicine or pulmonary medicine,” while recognizing that access to same
“may not be feasible for all claimants due to geographical constraints.”

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Transition Issues
Start-Up. S. 2290 would transfer all cases pending on the date of enactment,
and all future cases, to the new system. By some estimates, as many as 300 thousand
cases would be adopted at the outset, so that getting the system established and
making what are supposed to be prompt decisions may be an administrative
challenge. Concern has been expressed about claimants who may have their pending
cases dismissed but must wait for the new system to begin. S. 1125 as passed by the
committee included an amendment by Senator Feinstein that would delay termination
of tort proceedings until the administrative system was up and running, but this was
not included in S. 2290.
Status of Current Settlements. The bill (Subsection 403(d)) would in
effect dismiss all claims that have not yet been finally adjudicated as of the date of
enactment. Some questions have been raised about the consequences. First, the bill
would terminate “inventory” or “matrix” agreements, which are open-ended, standing
arrangements that pay specified amounts to claimants who qualify currently or in the
future. One’s view on whether these should be terminated will probably correspond
with one’s overall evaluation of the fairness of the proposed system vis-a-vis the
current tort system. Furthermore, it is argued that some companies recently agreeing
to settlements will pay much less under the bill’s terms, and may even be stalling on
finalization of the settlements because of that prospect.25 Again, one’s view of this
will depend on one’s view of the overall scheme. As argued by the majority for
passage, “The purported unfairness of preempting non-final settlement agreements
... [etc.] ... rests on the faulty premise that the existing system is somehow fair.”26
Cash Flow Timing. As noted, a large number of cases may be expected at
the outset. Beyond the administrative challenge, questions have been raised about
whether the initial flow of funds will be adequate. Testimony was received
indicating that it could take eight years to collect the funds that are needed for the
initial claims (Committee report, p. 208-209). But the majority for passage pointed
to several provisions intended to bolster initial funding: collection within six months
of $4 billion or more from liquidation of existing bankruptcy trusts, commencement
of preliminary collections within six months (which may be before any cases are
decided and payments made), and expedited judicial review, during which
assessments would not be stayed. The fund would also have borrowing authority.
(Section 221(b))
Three provisions of the bill specifically deal with the possibility of a fiscal
“crunch.” First, there is a lockbox-type mechanism (Section 221(c)), whereby the
administrator would establish separate accounts for each of the most serious
diagnoses (Levels IV, V, IX and X) and reserve needed funds to them first.
Implicitly, claimants in other levels would not be paid if sufficient funds are not
available for the four protected levels. Second, as an “early warning” system, the
25 Susan Warren, “Halliburton to Request Extension on Stay for Asbestos Obligations,”
Wall Street Journal (July 21, 2003), p. A3; and “Halliburton Deal on Asbestos Suits could
be at Risk,” Wall Street Journal (Aug. 13, 2003), p. C13.
26 Compare Committee report pp. 69-71 with pp. 206-208.

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Administrator is to include with each annual report a five year financial projection.
If any shortfall is foreseen, he is to make recommendations for correction. Finally,
if the Fund ever (after the first seven years) actually reaches a point of negative net
worth, then the whole program would terminate 180 days after such determination
is made. In that case, asbestos claims would revert to the tort liability system.
However, they could be pursued only in federal court, not the state courts

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