The tort reform crowd often complains about how many asbestos lawsuits are still being filed today.  Why are there still so many cases being filed today?  Because of the long period of time between exposure and development of mesothelioma.  For example:

A TERMINALLY-ILL mum is suing the council – claiming asbestos exposure at school gave her cancer.

The 48-year-old from Huyton has undergone chemotherapy and surgery for mesothelioma, an asbestos-related cancer.

Mesothelioma is a fatal tumour of the lining of the lung or abdomen caused almost exclusively by asbestos and sufferers often have only a short life expectancy after diagnosis.

The woman is seeking damages from Knowsley council, claiming her illness was triggered by asbestos dust at her old school – Bowring Comprehensive in Huyton.

The claim is believed to be one of the first of its kind in the country.

Her Liverpool-based solicitors, John Pickering and Partners LLP, will tell a judge asbestos dust allegedly released during classroom renovation in the 70s was to blame for the cancer she was diagnosed with in spring, 2007.

Source: School asbestos ‘gave me cancer’ - Liverpool Echo.co.uk

Isn’t it scary to think you can be exposed to something and get sick 20, 30, or even 40 years later?