Legislation aimed at curbing asbestos lawsuits has been introduced in the US Senate.
The move comes days after a call for action on the issue by the nation's largest legal group.
The plan, introduced by Senate Budget Committee Chairman Don Nickles, would limit asbestos personal injury claims by setting medical criteria.
Nickles' bill would use American Medical Association (AMA) criteria to establish whether someone should sue. Supporters of the bill claim that recent claims have been filed by people who do not have any symptoms of illness.
It would also put on hold the statute of limitations until a physical impairment is discovered, a provision aimed at preventing a rush to file claims.
Nickles said: "There are many things outside the tax code that have real economic consequences, and the escalating problem of asbestos litigation is one of them."
