On March 17, veterans and representatives from veterans groups gathered to urge Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to stop a controversial asbestos-related bill from becoming law.
The bill, which was heavily lobbied and narrowly passed in the Senate (17-16), would require asbestos-exposure plaintiffs to reveal the number of businesses their attorneys intend to sue. The bill has divided politicians, similar to the FACT Act (Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency), which saw supporters arguing that it was necessary to prevent fraudulent claims, while opponents considered the bill a way to discourage claimants from filing lawsuits.
“I haven’t looked at the particulars of the bill, but as I understand it, it’s really about keeping trial attorneys from double dipping,” said Governor Walker of the proposal.
Senate Democrats and other opponents argue that the proposed law would delay and deny justice for those who deserve compensation, which could result in the victim’s passing prior to a settlement. It’s not uncommon for those with to succumb to the disease within a year of their diagnosis.
“If you think that the bill is protecting the rights of victims, it is not. It is about protecting corporations,” said Renee Simpson, state commander of the Wisconsin Veterans of Foreign Wars. Simpson’s father passed away in 2013, only nine months after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. According to Simpson, her entire family has been exposed to asbestos through Army service. To date, veterans are the demographic most affected by asbestos-related diseases; 1 in 3 mesothelioma victims are veterans.
Wisconsin’s chamber of commerce, Republican sponsors, and other proponents believe the bill is necessary to prevent plaintiffs from filing multiple claims against both trust funds and individual businesses.
Some veterans are proponents of the bill. Steve Chesna, the state commander of AMVETS, supports the bill’s aim to ensure “valuable resources are not depleted by unscrupulous lawyers convincing clients to double and triple dip for one individual for one claim.”
On March 20, the State Assembly passed the bill in a 55-38 vote. Next, Gov. Walker will consider whether to approve or veto the bill.
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