Michigan Asbestos Cases
Michigan is one of the states that has rich deposits of natural asbestos. Asbestos in Michigan is most abundant around the towns of Marquette, Negaunee, and Ishpeming. Asbestos deposits have also been detected in Norway, Niagara, and Iron Mountain. The towns of L’Anse, Copper City, and Allouez were also known to have asbestos deposits. This abundance of asbestos has lead to the founding of an asbestos mining industry in Michigan, which in turn has given rise to health risk issues related to asbestos exposure.
There was a time when Detroit was known for being the center of the country’s car manufacturing industry. Quite a number of processes involved in car production required the use of asbestos, making car factories rank high in the list of potentially harmful places to work in. Workers directly involved with car production had high risks of contracting complications due to asbestos exposure.
Other types of business were also found to pose risks of asbestos exposure to their works. These included manufacturers of consumer ingestible products, power plants, chemical plants, shipyards, and even school facilities.
In 1999, Michigan ranked 12th in the country for the most number of mesothelioma cases. The state ranked 38th in the country for the highest mortality rate due to mesothelioma or asbestos (with 69 mesothelioma deaths in 1999).
In September 1986, the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Growth (MDLEG) initiated an Asbestos Program to assure that people working with asbestos are given proper training. The Program also ensures that employees engaged in asbestos removal observe the rules governing such work activity.
2003 was the year when Michigan put together the inactive asbestos docket that added to the competence in handling the state’s lawsuits relating to asbestos cases. It assured that trials involving very ill plaintiffs will be heard prior to those which involved plaintiffs who do not yet manifest any physical symptoms. The inactive asbestos docket also aimed to minimize bankruptcy filings and protect financial assets for those who really suffered.
In 2006, the Michigan Supreme Court executed prohibitions regarding courts “bundling” asbestos-related cases. This called for such cases to be tried individually.
Up to now, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is conducting investigations on asbestos exposure in the public areas of Michigan. On the other hand, the Center for Occupational and Environmental Medicine of Wayne State University has founded the National Center for Vermiculite and Asbestos-Related Cancers. One can visit their facility in Detroit at the Karmanos Cancer Institute. The facility also emphasizes the need to address the early diagnosis and treatment of asbestos-related complications.