Mesothelioma News: Asbestos trial begins in Italy

2009-12-15 01:57:07 (GMT) (WiredPRNews.com - Mesothelioma Asbestos, News)

A trial involving a class action lawsuit regarding alleged asbestos contamination has begun in Italy.

Turin, Italy (Mesothelioma News) – A trial regarding alleged asbestos contamination by Eternit, a Swiss building materials firm, began this week. As reported by AFP, the trial involves a class-action lawsuit on behalf of 700 individuals who were sickened or died as a result of the contamination.

As noted by AFP, two former shareholders of Eternit stand accused of negligence, which reportedly resulted in over 2,000 deaths from asbestos-related illnesses, and hundreds more illnesses. The trial is said to be the largest to involve blue asbestos contamination. The mineral was banned in the country over a decade ago.

Jean-Paul Teissonniere, an attorney for the plaintiffs, is quoted in the report as stating of the trial, “It’s a world first. This trial will determine whether the judicial system is capable of handling such a complex case.”

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