April 27th, 2005
The President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Tom Donohue, has requested that the Justice Department look into evidence of fraudulent claims in asbestos injury lawsuits all across the United States. The alarming rise in asbestos lawsuits over recent years has resulted in billions of dollars being paid out in compensation to victims, and many companies going into bankruptcy. However, Mr. Donahue stated that there was “compelling evidence of fraud” in the injury claims that have been filed to date.
In a letter to the Attorney General, Mr. Donohue wrote, "considerable evidence has come to light indicating the existence of substantial and systematic fraud in asbestos litigation." The letter also went on to state: "I request that the Department of Justice immediately open a formal investigation into the conduct of lawyers, doctors and others who are responsible for the explosion in meritless and abusive asbestos claims across the country in recent years."
One AFL-CIO official thinks that the request for an investigation may be a ploy to get the size of the proposed $140 billion trust fund reduced. The official stated: "It's another way of pressuring lawmakers to reduce the size of the fund, by representing the situation as being claims that are not real."
Even President Bush has expressed concerns about the asbestos claims, and has stated that many frivolous and false claims are ruining the economy as well as clogging up the courts.
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