Asbestos Settlement Amounts
Many patients require an amount of money to pay for medical expenses, travel costs and other financial losses. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist determine the compensation amounts that a patient may be entitled to.
Although going to trial may increase mesothelioma compensations, the majority of cases result in an agreement. These agreements are reached through discussions 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 used by locals to describe workers who perform manual labor that is tough. His job was to pour bags of additives into mud on the oil field to speed up the drilling process. These bags, which he mixed unknowingly in the workplace, contained asbestos. When he reached 48, he was suffering from asbestosis and required oxygen 24-hours every day. The jury awarded him $300 million in punitive damages. It was the largest asbestos verdict ever handed out to a single plaintiff.
Union Carbide Corp. was hit hard by the award as they produce the asbestos-containing product Brown used. Not long after the award was handed out the company contacted Circuit Judge Eddie Bowen for a reversal of the verdict. They also demanded to remove him from the case, saying that he displayed bias and prejudice against them in his decisions, remarks in front of the jury, and in his coaching of Brown's lawyers in interviewing witnesses.
In the lawsuit, the plaintiff claimed that the defendants were aware of the dangers of the product, but did not warn the public or other workers. The jury found that the defendants were negligent in causing the plaintiff's disease. The jury concluded that the plaintiff would have suffered fewer consequences if the contaminated mud had warning labels.
Asbestos lawyers have a great deal of experience in arguing behalf of their clients' rights in the courtroom. They are skilled at both trial and appellate levels, combining thoughtful counsel with a ferocious advocacy in order to achieve their client's legal objectives. They have handled cases that are complex in a variety of jurisdictions and are highly respected for their accomplishments.
The Canadian community has not been able to obtain any clear answers as to the cause of death of their friend. KENS 5 previously reported that the district attorney's office has not presented the case before a grand jury since it was suicide. The attorney general released 249 pages in the evening prior to the townhall meeting, stating that there was no evidence to support the claim that Thomas committed suicide.
Roby Whittington's $250 million verdict
Asbestos lawyers from Simmons Hanly Conroy, a national mesothelioma lawyer firm, obtained a verdict of $250 million for former steel mill worker Roby Whittington. It's the biggest verdict in Madison County, Illinois and one of the highest mesothelioma cases in the nation. The mesothelioma lawyers of the firm have handled a number of asbestos cases. A large part of them involved exposure to industrial substances.
The case centered on Whittington's job at the U.S. Steel Gary Works plant in Indiana. He was employed at the plant from 1950 until 1980. In his lawsuit, he claimed the company failed to warn him about the dangers of working in a workplace which was highly contaminated with asbestos.
A jury awarded the former worker in the steel industry with $50 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages. The retired steel worker also received lifetime medical expenses. This huge verdict was secured in part by the lawyers at Simmons Hanly Conroy because they have expertise in large mesothelioma cases. Lawyers like Randall Bono, Perry Browder and others spend hours building asbestos case for clients to ensure that the firm's resources are used effectively to achieve the best results.
In the Whittington asbestos case, the asbestos attorneys were allowed to make preemptive challenges against John Crane Inc. when juror selection was taking place. This allowed them to strike potential jurors that appeared favorable to the defense. In a similar instance, Matushek was able to use the same tactic against a co-defendant, Daimler-Chrysler in a mesothelioma lawsuit filed against the car manufacturer.
Steel mill workers are at a higher risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. They are exposed to asbestos while working on boilers and machinery. They may also be exposed to asbestos when cleaning and repairing machinery.
Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma should be advised to contact a qualified lawyer as soon as possible. Baytown asbestos attorney of Simmons Hanly Conroy have experience bringing corporations to account for exposure to asbestos. They have won multi-million dollar settlements in asbestos lawsuits against companies like U.S. Steel and Georgia Pacific, as well as companies that did not produce asbestos but used asbestos in their facilities.
Nancy Lopez's $10 Million Verdict
Nancy Lopez, who died of mesothelioma at the age of 10 she fought a legal battle that took decades to reach its final resolution. She fought, as many other plaintiffs suffering from asbestosis or other mesothelioma related illnesses, for compensation from the companies that exposed her to this dangerous substance.
In her case, a jury awarded her $10 million after determining that her mesothelioma was caused by her exposure to asbestos during her work on the Jackson County Courthouse renovation project between 1983 and 1984. Her family members demanded compensation from the county and US Engineering Company, the firm that conducted the work on the renovation at the time.
The verdict also set an important precedent in law. Missouri's Supreme Court ruled that workers who been exposed to toxic substances and are now suffering from mesothelioma or another illness should be compensated for the medical expenses they've incurred. The asbestos fibers responsible for these diseases do not break down and remain in the lungs for years before symptoms appear.
The verdict will not bring Lopez back, but it does send a clear message that courts are standing with those who have been affected by asbestosis. The lawsuit also opened the way for others to claim financial compensation from the companies responsible for their exposure.
If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, your attorney will immediately start to gather details regarding your exposure to asbestos and the companies at fault. When your lawyer has all the necessary evidence, they can submit a claim to the defendants. Then, both sides will begin to exchange information during the discovery process and work toward a settlement.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Trusts for asbestos are the only way asbestos victims can receive compensation from companies that deceived or concealed asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. After asbestos-related lawsuits flooded the courts in the 1970s of these companies filed for bankruptcy and set up trusts to compensate the victims. The lawsuits of these companies are often reduced or dismissed in favor of asbestos trust payouts.
The trusts are run by a bankruptcy trustee, not a jury or judge. Mesothelioma attorneys will work with the trust administrators to make sure that your claim meets all the requirements. This includes evidence of exposure, confirmation of your diagnosis, and an assessment of whether your illness was the result of the company you worked for. Your attorney will also help resolve any disagreements with the amount you should receive in light of your personal circumstances and unique mesothelioma signs.
Each asbestos bankruptcy trust has its own guidelines for remunerating victims of asbestos. The Trust Distribution Procedure (TDP) is a method, referred to as Trust Distribution Procedure, is used to determine the amount that a victim receives according to their type and severity. These guidelines are based on disease levels and are designed to ensure every victim is treated with respect. The mesothelioma disease level will always be different however other asbestos-related diseases might have a different level of disease.
Your asbestos lawyers will make a claim on your behalf if you are eligible for an expedited review. This can be completed within about 90 days, and you will be awarded a fixed amount in accordance with the asbestos bankruptcy trust's established criteria for your diagnosis. The streamlined process can be helpful for people who have a limited time to submit a legal claim before the time limit expires.
If you aren't qualified for an expedited review, the asbestos bankruptcy trust will conduct an individual review of your case. The trustees will look over your medical background and evidence of asbestos exposure to determine the amount you are entitled to.