In a prior article of May 18, we noted an asbestos lawsuit in Japan. Since then, the lawsuit has not received much press, nor has there been a public annoucment of the filing of the second lawsuit that was indicated when the existing lawsuit was filed. My efforts to obtain the complaint from the plaintiff’s firm were turned down by that firm, citing ethical issues since I represent defendants. One wonders what issues are involved in providing a copy of a public document. In any event, it appears that the plaintiff’s firm also is not sharing the complaint with Laurie Kazan Allen or others on the plaintiff’s side since her website now refers to the lawsuit, but only to the original press release/article in Wikipedia. http://ibasecretariat.org/lka_jap_cause_effect.php. The complaint also has not appeared in Mealeys, HarrisMartin or other publications that follow asbestos litigation.
___________________________________________________ Asbestos litigation is ramping up in Japan. The English language version of a Japanese newspaper article reports that a lawsuit was filed in Japan late last week on behalf of 178 contruction workers (or their heirs) against 46 building products companies and agencies of the Japanese government. The article does not identify the defendants, or the lawyers. The articel also says that “About 40 construction workers from Kanagawa Prefecture will also file a similar suit at the Yokohama District Court in June.”
A parallel article on Wikinews adds some quotes from workers, but not much more.
Surprisingly, the website of the International Ban Asbestos Secretariat does not yet include an article on the topic. That may well change.