Clarence Borel

Our plain-English summary of Clarence Borel, by L. Reinstein, B. Bersin (New Solutions, 2017).

The study

• Authors: L. Reinstein, B. Bersin
• Journal: New Solutions
• Published: 2017;26(4):622-629
• Type of article: Historical article
• Read it: PubMed · Publisher

Abstract

Borel v. Fibreboard Paper Products Corporation is the 1973 landmark case that paved the way for successful litigation against the asbestos industry. Clarence Borel's granddaughter shares recollections of the reluctant man behind the court case.

In plain English

This is not a research study. It is a personal account by Linda Reinstein of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization and Bridget Bersin, a granddaughter of Clarence Borel, the man whose lawsuit became Borel v. Fibreboard Paper Products Corporation. The family account described Borel as an insulation worker in shipyards and oil refineries, mostly in Texas, starting in 1935. He was described as never having been a drinker or smoker. Asbestos dust came home on his work clothes, and he brought asbestos home as Christmas tree flocking. A 1964 insurance chest x-ray showed his lungs were "cloudy." A January 1969 lung biopsy led to a diagnosis of asbestosis. In February 1970 his right lung was removed and he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He died on June 3, 1970, aged 57. The article reported that a federal court in the Eastern District of Texas ruled in his widow's favor, that the verdict was upheld on appeal in 1973, and that the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case. His son Bracy and three of Bracy's siblings were reported to have asbestosis. The authors argued that courtrooms remain the avenue for asbestos victims to fight back.

We wrote this plain-English summary from the full article with the help of AI, and a second AI model checked each sentence against the article. It is not the authors' wording; the abstract and the article are their own account.

What the study did and found

• Design: Personal narrative and commentary (journal 'Voices' piece): a granddaughter's family recollections plus a short account of the lawsuit; not a research study
• Who was studied: One man, Clarence Borel, an insulation worker who worked mostly in Texas, and members of his family
• Exposure: Asbestos dust from insulation work in shipyards and oil refineries, starting in 1935. The family was also exposed at home through dust on his work clothes and asbestos used as Christmas tree flocking. No fiber type is named.
• Main results:
  • In 1964, chest x-rays done for an insurance policy showed his lungs were 'cloudy'
  • In January 1969 a lung biopsy led to a diagnosis of asbestosis
  • In February 1970 his right lung was removed and he was diagnosed with mesothelioma (site not specified)
  • He died on June 3, 1970, at age 57
  • He was described as never having been a drinker or cigarette smoker
  • Household exposure: family members shook asbestos dust from his work clothes, and he brought asbestos home to decorate the Christmas tree
  • He was at first against suing and decided to sue because of his co-workers
  • The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas ruled in the family's favor, the verdict was upheld on appeal in 1973, and the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the case
  • His son Bracy and three of Bracy's siblings were reported to have been diagnosed with asbestosis
• The authors' conclusion: The authors argued that courtrooms have provided the only avenue for asbestos victims to fight back and end exposure, and that asbestos continues to affect the Borel family

Topics

The National Library of Medicine indexes this study under subjects our site covers: Asbestosis.

Related studies

• Epidemiology and the law: courts and confidence intervals — T. Christoffel, S.P. Teret (1991)
• Perspectives in the development of asbestos litigation and its future implications — A.H. Parnell (1986)
• Mesothelioma and the law — A. Samuels (2015)
• Product liability forecasting for asbestos-related personal injury claims: a multidisciplinary approach — E. Stallard (2001)
• Toxic torts: are they poisoning the scientific literature? — P.E. Enterline (1996)
• Tobacco and asbestos litigation — T.R. Goffe (1986)

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