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August 22, 2013
Mount Pleasant, South Carolina - Ron Motley, a titan in the asbestos litigation world, passed away on Thursday at 68 years old. A partner at the Mount Pleasant, South Carolina law firm of Motley Rice, LLC, Motley was a ferocious advocate for victims of industries that intentionally put workers and consumers in harm's way. Most notably, Motley won the first suit against the asbestos industry, setting a remarkable precedent and establishing a career devoted to ensuring that major corporations are held accountable.
In an email announcing Motley's passing, Joseph F. Rice, a partner at Motley Rice, calls Motley a “pioneer for justice,” who did not shy away from battling against those who knowingly wronged another. If a company knowingly put a product out into the marketplace that was dangerous and did not tell potential consumers of the harm, Motley saw that as an incredible injustice.
Perhaps, in part, to Motley's work, asbestos has been classified as a carcinogen and is now banned from widespread use. Exposure to asbestos – whether through mining or manufacturing processes – is linked to several severe health conditions including mesothelioma cancer, lung cancer and asbestosis. In most cases, development of asbestos-related disease often takes years, upwards of decades to present.
Though Motley was most well-known for his courtroom battles against the asbestos industry, he became a trailblazer for victims of the tobacco industry's bid to hide the dangerous additives of cigarettes, whose victories paved the way to more explicit cigarette packaging. Motley and his work saved countless lives, and for those lives inexplicably damaged by big business, Motley ensured that justice was served.
“Indeed, there is no better way we can celebrate Ron's life and honor his memory than by redoubling our efforts to put the powerless on a level playing field with the powerful, to get them their day in court, and to win justice for all,” said Rice.
Motley's extensive career also included cases against lead paint manufacturers and drug makers.
At this time, the cause of Motley's death has not been released. Funeral arrangements have not been made public.
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