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