Texas Law Firm Fined Due To Duplicate Asbestos Lawsuits
CORPUS CHRSITI, TX — A Texas state judge levied a $500,000 fine against lawyers of Provost & Umphrey, a Beaumont, TX, law firm representing workers at Alcoa Inc.’s Reynolds Metal unit, according to a story in The Detroit News. The fine is reported to be due to duplicate filings of asbestos lawsuits.
The workers claimed they were sickened by asbestos at company work sites. Since 1999, 7,000 asbestos lawsuits have been brought against Alcoa, costing the corporation about $1 million each year, according to the company.