Asbestos Settlement Amounts
Many patients require a substantial settlement to cover medical expenses, travel expenses and other financial losses. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist determine the possible compensation awards that a client may be entitled to.
Although going to trial may increase mesothelioma compensations, the majority of cases settle with an agreement. These agreements are reached through negotiations with asbestos companies.
Thomas Brown's $300 million Verdict
Thomas Brown used to work on drilling rigs for oil in Mississippi as a "roughneck", the term locals use for workers who carry out a lot of manual work. His job was to mix bags of additives into mud on an oil field to speed up drilling. The bags that he mixed up unknowingly in the workplace, were asbestos. When he reached 48, he was diagnosed with asbestosis and required oxygen 24-hours all day. The jury awarded him $300 million in punitive damages, the largest asbestos verdict to any single plaintiff in the history of asbestos.
The award was an affront to Union Carbide Corp., which manufactures the asbestos-containing product, which Brown used. After the award was announced the company contacted Circuit Judge Eddie Bowen for a reversal of the verdict. They also demanded that he step down from the case, claiming he was biased and prejudiced against them in his rulings, remarks in front of the jury, and in his coaching of Brown's attorneys when they were interviewing witnesses.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiff claimed that defendants were aware of risks of the product but did not warn him or any other workers. The jury concluded that the defendants were negligent in causing plaintiff's disease. The jury found that the plaintiff would have suffered less consequences when the mud that was contaminated had warning labels.
Asbestos lawyers have a lot of experience arguing on behalf of their clients the rights they have in court. They are proficient at both the appellate and trial levels, combining thoughtful counsel with a ferocious advocacy to accomplish the legal goals of their clients. They have handled complicated cases across a variety of jurisdictions, and are highly respected for their success.
The Canadian community is still unable to find out the reason why their friend passed away. KENS 5 reported previously that the district prosecutor's office did not present the case to a Grand Jury due to the fact that it was a suicide. The attorney general released 249 pages of documents the night before the town hall stating that there is no evidence to show that Thomas killed himself.
Roby Whittington's $250 million Verdict
Simmons Hanly Conroy is a national firm that is a specialist in asbestos and mesothelioma law. asbestos attorneys from the firm secured a verdict of $250 million for Roby Whittington who was former steel mill worker. This is the largest verdict in Madison County, Illinois and one of the highest mesothelioma verdicts nationwide. The mesothelioma lawyers at the firm have handled a range of asbestos cases. A significant portion of them involved exposure to industrial chemicals.
The case revolved around Whittington's work at the U.S. Newark asbestos lawsuits in Indiana. He worked there from 1950 until 1981. In his lawsuit, he claimed the company failed to warn him of the dangers of working in a place that was heavily contaminated with asbestos.
A jury awarded the former worker in the steel industry $50 million in compensatory damages and $200 million punitive damages. The retired steel worker also received a lifetime of medical expenses. Simmons' lawyers Hanly Conroy were successful in winning this massive verdict due to their experience in handling large mesothelioma cases. Lawyers like Randall Bono and Perry Browder spend hours building asbestos cases for their clients and ensure that the firm's have the resources to yield the highest results.
In the Whittington case, asbestos lawyers were able to use peremptory challenges against John Crane Inc. during the jury selection. This allowed them to strike potential jurors who appeared favorable to the defense. In a mesothelioma lawsuit against Daimler-Chrysler in a similar situation, Matushek used the same strategy to strike prospective jurors that appeared favorable to the defense.
Steel mill workers are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. This is due to the fact that they are often exposed toxic asbestos when working on boilers and other machinery. They may be exposed to asbestos while cleaning or repairing machinery.
Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma should be encouraged to consult a knowledgeable lawyer as soon as possible. The mesothelioma lawyers at Simmons Hanly Conroy are experienced in holding companies accountable for asbestos exposure. They have obtained multi-million-dollar settlements in asbestos lawsuits against companies like U.S. Steel and Georgia Pacific and Georgia Pacific, as well as companies that did not produce asbestos, but utilized the product in their factories.
Nancy Lopez's $10 Million Verdict
Nancy Lopez, a mesothelioma victim who died in 2010 was a tireless fighter for years to settle her legal case. Like many plaintiffs diagnosed with asbestosis and other mesothelioma-related diseases, she sought compensation from the companies who exposed them deadly substance.
In her case, she was awarded $10 million after a jury concluded that her mesothelioma was caused by the exposure to asbestos during the Jackson County courthouse renovation project in 1983 and 1984. Her heirs requested compensation from the county as well as US Engineering Company, the company that was responsible for the renovations at the time.
The verdict set an important precedent. Missouri's Supreme Court decided that workers who inhaled toxic substances and are currently suffering from a condition such as mesothelioma, must be compensated for their medical expenses. The asbestos fibers that cause these diseases do not break down and remain in the lungs long before symptoms begin to manifest.
While the award won't bring Lopez back, it is an affirmation that the courts are on the side of those suffering from asbestosis. The lawsuit also opened the way for other victims to pursue financial compensation from the companies that are responsible for their exposure.
Your attorney will begin gathering information as soon as you are diagnosed with mesothelioma. This includes your asbestos exposure as well as the companies that are responsible for. Once your attorney has the evidence needed they can file a claim with the defendants. After that, both sides can begin to exchange information during the discovery process and work towards an agreement.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Trust funds for asbestos are the only means asbestos victims can obtain compensation from companies who concealed or downplayed the dangers of mesothelioma and the other asbestos-related diseases. As asbestos-related lawsuits flooded the courts in the 1970s of these companies filed for bankruptcy and established trusts to compensate the victims. The lawsuits against these companies are typically reduced or dismissed in favor of a payout from an asbestos trust.
The trusts are managed not by a jury or judge, but rather a bankruptcy trustee. Mesothelioma lawyers will work with trust administrators to ensure that your claim meets the requirements. This includes documentation of your exposure, validation of your diagnosis and a determination that your condition was a result of the business you worked for. Your attorney will also help resolve any disagreements with the amount you are entitled to in light of your personal circumstances and specific mesothelioma symptoms.
Each asbestos bankruptcy trust has its own guidelines for compensating asbestos-related victims. They employ a procedure known as a Trust Distribution Procedure (TDP) to determine how much money an individual victim will receive based on the type and severity of their condition. These guidelines are based on disease levels and are designed to ensure every victim is treated with respect. Mesothelioma is always classified as a distinct disease level, but other asbestos-related diseases may have different disease levels.
If you qualify for an expedited review, your asbestos lawyer will submit your claim to the asbestos trusts on your behalf. This can be completed within about 90 days. In return, you will receive a fixed amount in accordance with the asbestos bankruptcy trust's established criteria for your diagnosis. This process is streamlined and can be helpful for people who have a limited time to make a claim in court before the time limit expires.
If you aren't eligible for an expedited review the asbestos bankruptcy trust will conduct an individual review of your case. This may take longer however, the trustees will scrutinize the evidence of asbestos exposure and your medical history to determine what you should receive based on your medical diagnosis.