Terms Used In Michigan Laws 600.3011

  • Asbestos: means chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, actinolite asbestos, asbestiform winchite, asbestiform richterite, asbestiform amphibole minerals, and any of these minerals that have been chemically treated or altered. See Michigan Laws 600.3011
  • Asbestos action: means a claim for damages or other civil or equitable relief presented in a civil action that arises out of, is based on, or is related to the health effects of exposure to asbestos, and any other derivative claim made by or on behalf of an individual exposed to asbestos or a representative, spouse, parent, child, or other relative of the individual. See Michigan Laws 600.3011
  • Asbestos trust: means a government-approved or court-approved trust, qualified settlement fund, compensation fund, or claims facility that is created as a result of an administrative or legal action, a court-approved bankruptcy, or under 11 USC 524(g), 11 USC 1121(a), or another applicable provision of law and that is intended to provide compensation to claimants arising out of, based on, or related to the health effects of exposure to asbestos. See Michigan Laws 600.3011
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Partnership: A voluntary contract between two or more persons to pool some or all of their assets into a business, with the agreement that there will be a proportional sharing of profits and losses.
  • Person: means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity. See Michigan Laws 600.3011
  • Settlement: Parties to a lawsuit resolve their difference without having a trial. Settlements often involve the payment of compensation by one party in satisfaction of the other party's claims.
  • Testimony: Evidence presented orally by witnesses during trials or before grand juries.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  As used in this chapter:
  (a) “Asbestos” means chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite asbestos, anthophyllite asbestos, actinolite asbestos, asbestiform winchite, asbestiform richterite, asbestiform amphibole minerals, and any of these minerals that have been chemically treated or altered.
  (b) “Asbestos action” means a claim for damages or other civil or equitable relief presented in a civil action that arises out of, is based on, or is related to the health effects of exposure to asbestos, and any other derivative claim made by or on behalf of an individual exposed to asbestos or a representative, spouse, parent, child, or other relative of the individual.
  (c) “Asbestos trust” means a government-approved or court-approved trust, qualified settlement fund, compensation fund, or claims facility that is created as a result of an administrative or legal action, a court-approved bankruptcy, or under 11 USC 524(g), 11 USC 1121(a), or another applicable provision of law and that is intended to provide compensation to claimants arising out of, based on, or related to the health effects of exposure to asbestos.
  (d) “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, governmental entity, or other legal entity.
  (e) “Plaintiff” means the person bringing the asbestos action, including a personal representative if the asbestos action is brought by an estate, or a conservator or next friend if the asbestos action is brought on behalf of a minor or legally incapacitated individual.
  (f) “Trust claims materials” means a final executed proof of claim and all other documents and information related to a claim against an asbestos trust, including claims forms and supplementary materials, affidavits, depositions and trial testimony, work history, and medical and health records, all documents that reflect the status of a claim against an asbestos trust, and, if the trust claim has settled, all documents that relate to the settlement of the trust claim.
  (g) “Trust governance documents” means all documents that relate to eligibility and payment levels, including claims payment matrices, trust distribution procedures, and plans for reorganization, for an asbestos trust.