For years, people diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases sought justice and fair compensation from Englehard Corporation, a subsidiary of BASF. They accused the company of exposing them to asbestos in the talc that they produced. These efforts were blocked by the company’s law firm, which insisted that no evidence existed to support the victims’ claims. This was not true and their falsehoods were exposed. This week a New Jersey federal judge approved a settlement of $100 million that orders BASF and its law firm to pay approximately 20,000 class members between $3,500 and $300,000 each.
The class action lawsuit revolved around thousands of mesothelioma victims and others diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases who were stymied by the actions of BASF and its former counsel at Cahill Gordon and Reindel LLP. BASF acquired Englehard in 2006 after the company had produced Emtal Talc between 1967 and 1983. When victims claimed the talc was contaminated with asbestos, the law firm and the company’s representatives falsely said there was no evidence or testimony to support the claims.
