Are International Firms Responsible for Asbestos Liability in Foreign Jurisdictions?

Last week, a consortium of India investors made an offer to purchase one of Canada's last, surviving asbestos mines. The bid may extend the life of the Jeffrey Mine located in the ironically and appropriately-named town of Asbestos, Quebec. The 131-year-old Jeffrey Mine is one of only two sites in Canada that still extract asbestos, the harmful carcinogen responsible for 100,000 annual deaths in the United States alone and an untold number around the world.

So, why is an India consortium interested in purchasing a mine that produces a material which causes cancer, ruins lives and is devastating to human health? Because developing countries aren't just under-developed economically, they're under-developed legally, too. Unlike developed countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom, developing countries like India have virtually no regulations governing the use of asbestos. Of course, in some cases American law - which protects against the improper use of asbestos - can extend into foreign jurisdictions, like India.

If you've worked in a foreign country and have been exposed to asbestos, you may have a case in U.S. court! To find out more about the reach of U.S. law and whether tort liability extends to your former employer, contact the legal experts at Fears | Nachawati. For a free consultation, call 1.866.705.7584 or send an email to info@fnlawfirm.com. We're ready to fight for you.