Mine workers sickened and killed by toxic asbestos ... are suing a major insurance [MUST READ]

[IcyPeas]

I added the MUST READ particularly for the bolded text. This is outrageous and I never heard of such a thing!

Mine workers sickened and killed by toxic asbestos exposure and their heirs are suing a major insurance company for allegedly stalling legal settlements and medical payments

BILLINGS, Mont. -- Attorneys for Montana mine workers sickened and killed by toxic asbestos exposure filed a lawsuit against Zurich American Insurance on Monday for allegedly stalling legal settlements and medical payments after transferring the workers' claims to investors who can profit off the delays.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Great Falls on behalf of 17 former workers and representatives of 29 deceased workers who developed lung cancer and other diseases following exposure to asbestos during the 1960s and 1970s at a W.R. Grace & Co. vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana.

The Montana Supreme Court in 2020 ruled that insurer Maryland Casualty Co. — now owned by Zurich — should have warned the workers about small fibers of asbestos in vermiculite dust that can be easily inhaled and damage a person's lungs. Maryland Casualty provided workers' compensation coverage at the now-shuttered W.R. Grace mine.

But rather than move to resolve the many remaining liability cases still pending against it, Zurich has paid to transfer at least some of the workers' claims to investors, said Allan McGarvey, an attorney for the workers. The investors, including Enstar Group Ltd., can hold onto and profit off that money even as the workers' health further deteriorates, according to McGarvey and the lawsuit.

“They are making huge amounts of money on the money that should be paid to claimants,” McGarvey said. “They are literally investing in human suffering."

https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/sick-mine-workers-allege-insurer-delaying-medical-payments-83586261

[malaise]

1. Get thee to the greatest page

Evil is everywhere

[Ninga]

2. Oh dear. In another time, this story would be front page. Kick.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

3. Companies like

Zurich should not be allowed to exist.

[halfulglas]

4. Unfortunately there are other companies like this because this is the way

Companies supposed to be paying the medical bills caused by employers' negligence work. The longer they can hold onto the money they make the money work for them and not the claimants. This is the same reason why many health insurance companies deny initial medical claims, then deny it again before finally being almost forced to pay. There should be laws protecting the public from this.