Lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers and installers mushroomed during the 1980's.

The first lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers were brought in 1929.

The Denver-based company was for decades the world's largest asbestos manufacturer and, until the trust was set up, the largest defendant.

"You should know," he said, "that most of them have been involved with the asbestos manufacturers as medical advisers or consultants or in some similar capacity."

History The first lawsuit against asbestos manufacturers was brought in 1929.

As a result of large settlements from the asbestos manufacturers, he would go on to earn millions of dollars.

Manville, the largest asbestos manufacturer until it halted production in 1986, would be the primary contributor to a 27-year evergreen trust.

But the tobacco industry's opponents are already comparing the decision to a 1973 appeal that upheld the first successful claim against an asbestos manufacturer.

Local school boards are trying to recover cleanup costs by filing lawsuits against asbestos manufacturers.

Initially, five asbestos manufacturers and more than 70 of their insurers were involved in the trial, which began in March 1985.