America's largest legal group has revealed it is set to back legislation clamping down on asbestos related claims.
The proposal seeks to limit the spiralling claims for non-malignant lung tissue injuries that plaintiffs allege are caused by asbestos exposure.
The American Bar Association (ABA) lawyers argued that these claims are the source of the current wave of litigation.
ABA president Alfred Carlton told Reuters his group needed to act because Congress is poised to stem the wave of asbestos suits.
He said: "Asbestos litigation presents unique challenges for this country's civil justice system and requires a national solution."
The ABA move was in response to a recent report by the Institute for Civil Justice, which claimed that 2.4m more claims could be filed in the years ahead.
Critics of the proposal are understood to oppose the move on the basis that it would unfairly prevent injured plaintiffs from their right to go to court.
The ABA is set to make the decision on Tuesday.
