Reportage - long-tail liability: Breathe easy

Long-tail diseases are by definition gradual in operation, usually arising from cumulative exposure and where there is insidious manifestation of symptoms.

Much of the focus of long-tail liability cases has been on asbestos-related diseases such as pleural plaques and mesothelioma. To date, little attention has been given to pneumoconioses, excluding asbestos, a group of lung diseases caused by the inhalation of certain dust types. Though small in number, these cases need to be handled as expedi