Illinois House OKs More Time for Asbestos Suits

The Illinois House has approved a bill allowing more time to file a lawsuit over asbestos-related disease.

The initiative was adopted 70-43 Tuesday and moves to the Senate.

Rep. Elaine Nekritz is a Northbrook Democrat. Her bill would remove a time limit for filing a civil action related to the use of asbestos in building construction.

Asbestos was used widely as a fireproofing material into the 1970s. Exposure has been linked to the aggressive cancer called mesothelioma.

Nekritz says the law currently limits legal action to 10 years after a person has been exposed. But she says it takes 20 years for mesothelioma to develop.

Opponents, overwhelmingly Republican, say the measure was too broad, expanded liability too much and was anti-business.