Long since decimated by lawsuits of former employees dead or dying as a result of exposure in mines or factories, the asbestos industry is once again at the center of multi-million dollar court cases. As suits by individuals only indirectly exposed to asbestos, and oftentimes not yet sick, trust funds established to help miners and processors dying of cancer and respiratory diseases have become severely overburdened. With most of the primary asbestos producing and handling companies already in bankruptcy, and the rest following, these new suits have focused on companies on the periphery of the asbestos problem---including auto-makers, oil refineries and railroads.
See "Firms Hit Hard as Asbestos Claims Rise", LISA GIRION, Los Angeles Times, December 16, 2001