Insurers Join Appeal of Texas Employer-Liability Asbestos Case

AUSTIN, Texas - The Coalition for Asbestos Justice and American Insurance Association have joined the appeal of a Texas decision that would allow an asbestos claimant to bypass the workers' compensation system and sue his employer in state court. Reynolds Metals Co. v. Kelly J. Welch, No. 01-0109 (Texas Sup. Ct.).

The insurers, which are comprised of dozens of insurance companies, filed their brief Aug. 16 in the Texas Supreme Court.

In it, the insurers state that upholding the state appeals court decision would significantly disturb the workers' compensation system and expose state courts to a flood of lawsuits by …