In mesothelioma cases involving both background and specific asbestos exposure, the sources of exposure may be characterised as multiple sufficient cumulative causes rather than alternative causes, with the consequence that both sources materially contribute to the disease and causation is established under the Bonnington Castings approach. However, the plaintiff must still establish that warnings would have prevented the exposure. The English Fairchild principle of material increase in risk is not the law in Australia. Cross-examination of a plaintiff cannot logically establish the absence of unrecalled specific asbestos exposures, and a trial judge errs in excluding a plaintiff from the background risk group on that basis.
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