Asbestos Settlement Amounts
Many victims need an amount of money to cover medical expenses, travel costs and other financial losses. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer can assist in determining possible compensation amounts for clients.
Although going to court can increase the amount of money mesothelioma patients receive the majority of cases settle with the settlement. 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" which is the term used by locals for those who do tough manual labor. His job was to pour bags of additives into the mud on the oil field to accelerate drilling. The bags that he mixed up unknowingly at work, contained asbestos. He was diagnosed with asbestosis at 48 and required oxygen 24 hours a day. The jury awarded him $300,000,000 in punitive damages. It was the largest asbestos verdict ever given to a single plaintiff.
The verdict was an insult to Union Carbide Corp., which manufactures the asbestos-containing product Brown used. Not long after the award was handed out the company requested Circuit Judge Eddie Bowen for a reversal of the verdict. They also asked him to quit, claiming he was biased and prejudiced against them, as evidenced by his rulings, remarks made in front of jurors, and coaching Brown's lawyers during the interrogation of 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 ruled that the plaintiff contracted illness because of the negligence of the defendants. The jury ruled 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 on behalf of their clients' rights in the courtroom. They are skilled both at the appellate and trial levels, combining intelligent counsel with a ferocious advocacy to help their clients achieve their' legal objectives. They have handled a variety of complex cases in various jurisdictions and are highly regarded for their success.
The Canadian community has been unable to get any definitive answers on the circumstances surrounding the 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 a suicide. The attorney general released 249 pages of documents the night prior to the town hall and stated that there is no evidence that proves Thomas committed suicide.
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 have won the verdict of $250 million for Roby Whittington, an ex-worker at a steel mill. It is the largest verdict in Madison County, Illinois and one of the most prestigious mesothelioma cases in the nation. The mesothelioma lawyers at the firm have handled a variety of asbestos cases, with a significant portion of them involving exposure from industrial sources.
The case was centered around Whittington's work at the U.S. Steel Gary Works plant in Indiana. He was employed there from 1950 until 1981. In his lawsuit, he claimed that the company did not warn him of the dangers of working in a place which was highly contaminated with asbestos.
A jury awarded the former steel worker $50 million in compensatory damages as well as $200 million in punitive damages. He also received an entire lifetime of medical expenses. Simmons' lawyers Hanly Conroy were successful in obtaining this huge verdict in part because of their experience with handling large mesothelioma cases. Attorneys such as Randall Bono, Perry Browder and others work for hours on the construction of asbestos case for clients to ensure that the firm's resources are used effectively to produce the best results.
In the Whittington case, the asbestos lawyers were able use peremptory challenges against John Crane Inc. during the jury selection. This allowed them to strike jurors who appeared favorable to the defence. In a mesothelioma lawsuit against Daimler-Chrysler in a similar case, Matushek used the same tactic to strike prospective jurors who seemed favorable to the defense.
Steel mill workers are at a high-risk of developing mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases. They are exposed to asbestos when they work on boilers and machinery. They may also be exposed to asbestos while cleaning up and repairing the machinery.
Anyone who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma is advised to contact an experienced lawyer right away. The mesothelioma attorneys at Simmons Hanly Conroy have experience bringing corporations to account for exposure to asbestos. They have won multimillion-dollar settlements for asbestos lawsuits against U.S. Steel, Georgia Pacific and companies that didn't produce asbestos but still employed it in their facilities.
Nancy Lopez's $10 million verdict
Nancy Lopez, a mesothelioma victim who died in the year 2010, fought for decades to resolve her legal case. Like many other plaintiffs who were diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis and other illnesses, she fought for compensation from the companies that exposed them to this dangerous material.
In her case, a jury awarded her $10 million, after concluding that her mesothelioma was caused due to 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 company that was responsible for the renovation work at the time.
The decision set a significant precedent. Missouri's Supreme Court decided that workers who breathed in toxic substances and are currently suffering from a disease such as mesothelioma, should be compensated for their medical expenses. This is because the asbestos fibers that cause these diseases do not break into pieces, and can remain in the lungs for years before symptoms appear.
Although the award will not bring Lopez back, it does send an affirmation that the courts are in the best interest of those suffering from asbestosis. The lawsuit also opened the door for others to seek financial compensation from companies that were responsible for their exposure.
If you're diagnosed mesothelioma, your attorney will immediately begin gathering details regarding your exposure to asbestos and the companies responsible. When your attorney has all the evidence required they can file the claim with the defendants. After that, both sides can begin to exchange information during the discovery process and work towards the settlement.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Trust funds for asbestos are the only way asbestos attorney victims can receive compensation from companies that concealed or misrepresented the dangers of mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. In the 1970s, asbestos-related lawsuits were flooding the courts. Many of these companies filed for bankruptcy and established trusts to compensate those who were owed compensation. These lawsuits filed by these companies are usually shortened or dismissed to make way for asbestos trust payouts.
The trusts are not managed by a jury or judge however, rather a bankruptcy trustee. 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 a determination that your condition was the result of the company you worked for. Your lawyer can also help in settling any disputes about the amount of compensation you'll receive, based on your unique life circumstances and mesothelioma-related symptoms.
Each asbestos lawyer bankruptcy trust has their own guidelines for compensating victims of asbestos. They employ a procedure known as a Trust Distribution Procedure (TDP) to determine the amount a victim will receive based on the nature and severity of their illness. These guidelines are based on the severity of the disease and are used to ensure each victim is treated fairly. Mesothelioma will always be listed as a separate disease level, but other asbestos-related conditions might have different levels of disease.
If you're eligible for an expedited review, your asbestos lawyers will submit your claim to the asbestos trust on behalf of you. This can be completed within about 90 days. In return, you will receive a fixed amount according to the asbestos attorney bankruptcy trust's established criteria for your diagnosed disease. This streamlined process is helpful for those with limited time to file a legal claim before the statute runs out.
For those who are not eligible for an expedited review the asbestos bankruptcy trust will conduct an individual review of your case. The trustees will review your medical history and evidence of asbestos exposure to determine what you should receive.