(a) The courts of this state shall construe this part liberally with regard to successors.
(b) This part shall apply to all asbestos claims filed against a successor on or after July 1, 2013.
(c) This part shall also apply to any pending asbestos claims against a successor in which trial has not commenced as of July 1, 2013, except that any provisions of these sections which would be unconstitutional if applied retroactively shall be applied prospectively.