For the purposes of this chapter:
(1) "Asbestos claim" means a claim for damages, losses, indemnification, contribution, or other relief arising out of, based on, or related to asbestos, including:
(a) the health effects of exposure to asbestos, including a claim for:
(i) personal injury or death;
(ii) mental or emotional injury;
(iii) risk of disease or other injury; or
(iv) the costs of medical monitoring or surveillance to the extent these claims are recognized pursuant to state law;
(b) a claim made by or on behalf of a person exposed to asbestos, or a representative, spouse, parent, child, or other relative of the person; and
(c) a claim for damage or loss caused by the installation, presence, or removal of asbestos.
(2) "Corporation" means a corporation for profit, including a domestic corporation organized pursuant to the laws of this State, or a foreign corporation organized pursuant to laws other than the laws of this State.
(3) "Successor" means a corporation that assumes or incurs or has assumed or incurred successor asbestos-related liabilities.
(4) "Successor asbestos-related liabilities" means liabilities, whether known or unknown, asserted or unasserted, absolute or contingent, accrued or unaccrued, liquidated or unliquidated, or due or to become due, which are related to an asbestos claim and were assumed or incurred by a corporation as a result of, or in connection with, a merger or consolidation, or the plan of merger or consolidation related to the merger or consolidation, with or into another corporation, or which are related to an asbestos claim based on the exercise of control or the ownership of stock of the corporation before the merger or consolidation. The term includes liabilities that, after the time of the merger or consolidation for which the fair market value of total gross assets is determined pursuant to Section 15-81-140, were or are paid or otherwise discharged, or committed to be paid or otherwise discharged, by or on behalf of the corporation, or by a successor of the corporation, or by or on behalf of a transferor, in connection with settlements, judgments, or other discharges in this State or another jurisdiction.
(5) "Transferor" means a corporation from which successor asbestos-related liabilities are or were assumed or incurred.
HISTORY: 2006 Act No. 280, Section 1, eff May 23, 2006, applicable to civil actions asserting an asbestos claim filed on or after that date.