Asbestos Settlement Amounts
Many patients require a substantial settlement amount to cover medical expenses, travel costs and other financial losses. A mesothelioma lawyer can assist determine the possible compensation awards that a patient may be eligible for.
Although going to court could raise the mesothelioma payouts, most cases settle with 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" which is the term used by locals to describe workers who do tough manual labor. His task was to mix bags of additives on the oil field to speed up drilling. These bags, which he mixed unknowingly at work, contained asbestos. At the age of 48, he was diagnosed with asbestosis and required oxygen 24-hours a day. The jury awarded him $300,000,000 in punitive damages. This was the largest asbestos verdict ever awarded to one plaintiff.
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 requested Circuit Judge Eddie Bowen for a reversal of the decision. They also asked to remove him from the case, claiming he displayed bias and prejudice against them in his rulings, comments before the jury, and coaching of Brown's lawyers in interviewing witnesses.
In the lawsuit, plaintiff claimed that defendants were aware of the risks associated the product but did not warn him or any other workers. The jury ruled that the plaintiff contracted his illness as a result of the negligence of the defendants. The jury ruled that the plaintiff would have suffered less consequences when the mud that was contaminated had warning labels.
Asbestos lawyers have experience arguing for the rights of their clients in court. They are adept at both the appellate and trial levels, combining thoughtful advice with aggressive advocacy in order to achieve their client's legal objectives. They have handled complicated cases in a variety of jurisdictions and are highly respected for their accomplishments.
The Canadian community is still unable to find out the cause of death of their friend. KENS 5 reported previously that the district prosecutor's office didn't present the case before a Grand Jury since it was suicide. The attorney general released 249 pages of documents the night before the town hall stating that there was no evidence that proves Thomas committed suicide.
Roby Whittington's $250 million verdict
Asbestos lawyers from Simmons Hanly Conroy, a national mesothelioma law firm, obtained a verdict of $250 million for a former steel mill worker Roby Whittington. This is the largest verdict in Madison County, Illinois and one of the most prestigious mesothelioma verdicts in the country. The mesothelioma attorneys at the firm have handled hundreds of asbestos cases, including a significant portion involving industrial exposure.
The case revolved around Whittington's employment at the U.S. Steel Gary Works plant in Indiana. He worked in the plant from 1950 until 1980. In his lawsuit, he alleged that the company failed to warn him about the dangers of working with asbestos.
A jury awarded the former steel worker $50 million in compensatory damages, and $200 million in punitive damages. He also was awarded an entire lifetime of medical expenses. Simmons lawyers Hanly Conroy were successful in winning this massive verdict due to their experience with handling large mesothelioma cases. Lawyers such as Randall Bono and Perry Browder are able to spend hours constructing asbestos lawsuit cases for clients, ensuring that the firms have the resources to yield the highest results.
In the Whittington case, asbestos lawyers were able make peremptory challenges to John Crane Inc. during the jury selection. This allowed them to strike jurors that appeared favorable to the defense. In a similar instance, Matushek was able to use the same strategy against a co-defendant, Daimler-Chrysler in a mesothelioma suit against the auto manufacturer.
Steel mill workers face a high-risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. This is because they are often exposed asbestos-based toxic substances while working with boilers and other machinery. They can also be exposed to asbestos while cleaning up and fixing the machinery.
Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma is advised to consult a knowledgeable lawyer as soon as possible. The mesothelioma lawyers of Simmons Hanly Conroy are experienced in holding companies accountable for asbestos exposure. They have secured multimillion-dollar verdicts for asbestos lawsuits against U.S. Steel, Georgia Pacific and other companies that didn't manufacture asbestos, but used it in their factories.
Nancy Lopez's $10 million Verdict
Nancy Lopez, a mesothelioma victim who passed away in 2010 she fought for years to settle her legal case. Like many other plaintiffs diagnosed with asbestosis and other mesothelioma-related diseases, she fought for compensation from the companies that exposed them to this dangerous material.
In her case she was awarded $10 million after determining that mesothelioma caused due to her exposure to asbestos during her work on the Jackson County Courthouse renovation project between 1983 and 1984. Her heirs brought suit against the county and US Engineering Company (the firm that did the renovation work in 1983 and 1984) to seek compensation.
The decision set a significant precedent. Missouri's Supreme Court decided that workers who breathed toxic substances and are now suffering from a condition such as mesothelioma, should be compensated for their medical expenses. The asbestos fibers responsible for these diseases don't break down and remain in the lungs for a long time before symptoms begin to manifest.
While the award won't bring Lopez back, it is an important signal that the courts are in the best interest of those who suffered from asbestosis. The lawsuit opened the door to other victims seeking financial compensation from companies who were responsible for their exposure to asbestos.
If you're diagnosed with mesothelioma, your attorney will immediately start to gather information about your exposure to asbestos and the companies that are responsible. Once your lawyer has the evidence needed they are able to submit a claim to the defendants. Then, both sides can begin to exchange information during the discovery process and work towards an agreement.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Asbestos trusts are the only way asbestos victims can receive compensation from companies that deceived or concealed Asbestos Lawsuit-related ailments such as mesothelioma. In the 1970s, asbestos-related lawsuits were flooding the courts. Many of these companies declared bankruptcy and set up trusts to pay those who were owed compensation. These lawsuits filed by these companies are often shortened or dismissed to make way for asbestos trust payouts.
The trusts are managed by a bankruptcy trustee, not a judge or jury. Mesothelioma lawyers will work with trust administrators to ensure that your claim is in line with the requirements. This includes documentation of your exposure, a confirmation of your diagnosis, and the determination that your disease was the result of the company which you worked for. Your lawyer can also help to resolve any disagreements regarding the amount of compensation you'll receive, based on your unique life circumstances and mesothelioma related symptoms.
Each asbestos bankruptcy trust has its own guidelines for remunerating asbestos-related victims. The Trust Distribution Procedure (TDP) is a technique, also known as the Trust Distribution Procedure, is used to determine the amount of money the victim receives depending on their severity and type. These guidelines usually involve levels of disease, which are used to ensure that every victim receives fair treatment. The mesothelioma disease level will always differ, but other asbestos-related diseases could have a different disease level.
Your asbestos lawyers will submit an application on your behalf if you qualify for an expedited review. The process can be completed in approximately 90 days, and you will receive a set amount based on the asbestos bankruptcy trust's established guidelines for the diagnosis of your disease. This process is streamlined for those with limited time to file their legal claim before the statute expires.
The asbestos bankruptcy trust will examine your case on an individual basis if you are not eligible for the expedited review. This may take longer, but the trustees will scrutinize your evidence of exposure to asbestos and your medical background to determine the amount you are entitled to in accordance with your medical diagnosis.