Asbestos Trust Fund Legislation Could Impact Silica Claims

The asbestos bill introduced recently in the Senate that would create a $140 billion trust fund to pay all future asbestos claims would likely have a profound impact on the silica litigation if it is passed in its current form, sources told HarrisMartin Publishing.

The bill, S.B. 852 - The FAIR Act of 2005, was introduced by Sen. Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) on April 19 and was expected to be marked up and voted on by the Senate Judiciary Committee in early May.

According to the proposal, all asbestos claims would be taken out of the nation's courts and paid …