Bill Curbing Asbestos Suits Signed Into Law By Ohio Gov.

Ohio GOP Gov. Bob Taft signed a measure making the state the first in the nation to require individuals exposed to asbestos to prove that exposure and meet a set medical threshold to proceed with a lawsuit. Otherwise healthy companies have gone bankrupt because of asbestos lawsuits. The bill will become law in 90 days and is expected to face legal challenge. Some asbestos lawyers have mulled financing a referendum petition campaign asking voters to repeal the law. Individuals seeking to sue or already in the system would have to demonstrate either they have developed an asbestos-related lung cancer or suffered a significant loss of lung function.