14 Council CONNECT May 2018 Insurance Dangers in asbestos litigation DAVID GREENHALGH To many people, asbestos diseases and court cases are mysterious things that are vaguely talked about and poorly understood. However, Councils and their risk managers should be aware of potential problems caused by asbestos and take steps to lessen them. Asbestos is a naturally occurring product with many wonderful features, such as fire resistance and great insulation properties. However, there is one small problem: it is deadly. Asbestos fibres can enter the lungs and lie dormant for decades before a process not fully understood by the medical profession manifests itself in either a malignant or a benign asbestos disease. Mesothelioma is a malignant disease which results in death within two years (often a lot earlier) after diagnosis. While the benign asbestos diseases are less unpleasant, they can still be very disabling for the person affected, and therefore expensive for Council and its insurers.