Asbestos Compensation Reform
Situation:
Numerous studies documented that up to 90 percent of people receiving compensation for asbestos-related illnesses suffered no real physical impairment. But due to fraudulent screening practices that encouraged many healthy people to file claims, a growing volume of asbestos cases was driving more and more companies out of business and costing others millions in claims. This runaway compensation system threatened to dry up the dollars available to compensate people who were genuinely sick with asbestos-related illnesses.
Strategy:
We launched an aggressive campaign to change the terms of the debate from denying victims justice to giving priority to the claims of the truly sick. We organized and synthesized volumes of supportive data and academic studies to give credence to the argument that this out-of-control system was in need of reform - not just to benefit businesses but to protect the rights of the truly sick. And we educated the media and lawmakers on the real facts, correcting misinformation, and providing credible background to substantiate our position.
Outcome:
Through our persistent efforts to inform reporting on the issue, media coverage became increasingly balanced as the legislative session went on. Our work helped to educate legislators and staff about the issue, answer questions and quell opposition. Florida became the third state in the nation to pass legislation curbing abuses and reforming the asbestos compensation system.
