Asbestos Lawsuit Disclosure Bill Heads to Ohio Governor

A bill headed to the Ohio governor aims to curb duplicate lawsuits over on-the-job asbestos exposure in a state with one of the nation’s largest backlogs of such cases.

A spokesman for Gov. John Kasich said he will sign the measure. It would require workers to divulge all asbestos claims filed by or for them or face perjury charges.

Proponents say the proposal prevents double-dipping by victims, who have two separate ways of pursuing damages: trusts set up by sometimes bankrupted companies to compensate victims, or lawsuits against active businesses.

Opponents say the bill impedes legitimate claims. They say its passage makes Ohio the first state to impose such claims restrictions.

Similar legislation has been introduced in Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas and West Virginia and in Congress.