Asbestos Settlement Amounts
Many victims need an amount of money to pay for medical expenses, travel costs and other financial losses. A knowledgeable mesothelioma lawyer can help determine possible compensation for a client.
Although going to court could increase the amount of money mesothelioma patients receive the majority of cases end in a settlement. These agreements are reached by bargaining with asbestos attorney companies.
Thomas Brown's $300 Million Verdict
Thomas Brown worked on oil drilling rigs as a "roughneck" in Mississippi, a term used by locals to refer to workers who perform hard manual labor. His task was to pour bags of additives in mud in oil fields to speed up drilling. Those bags, which he did not know about mixed in the workplace, 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. This was the biggest asbestos verdict ever given to a single plaintiff.
The verdict was an insult to Union Carbide Corp., which makes the asbestos-containing product Brown used. Not long after the award was announced the company requested Circuit Judge Eddie Bowen for a reversal of the verdict. They also requested to remove him from the case, saying that he was biased and prejudiced against them in his decisions, remarks before the jury, as well as in his coaching of Brown's lawyers in the process of questioning 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 plaintiff contracted his illness due to the negligence of the defendants. The jury concluded that the plaintiff would have suffered less consequences if the contaminated mud had warning labels.
Asbestos lawyers have experience arguing for the rights of their clients in court. They are proficient both at trial and appellate levels by combining a well-thought-out counsel with powerful advocacy to help their clients achieve their' legal objectives. They have handled many complex cases in multiple jurisdictions and are highly regarded for their success.
The Canadian community is unable to figure out how their friend died. KENS 5 reported previously that the district prosecutor's office did not present the case before a Grand Jury since it was a suicide. The attorney general released 249 pages of papers the night prior to the town hall and stated that there was no evidence to prove Thomas killed himself.
Roby Whittington's $250 million verdict
Asbestos lawyers from Simmons Hanly Conroy, a national mesothelioma law firm, won a $250 million verdict for former steel mill worker Roby Whittington. This is the biggest mesothelioma verdict in Madison County, Illinois. The mesothelioma lawyers of the firm have handled a variety of asbestos lawyer cases. A significant portion of them involved exposure to industrial chemicals.
Whittington worked at the U.S. Steel Gary Works in Indiana from 1950 to 1981. Whittington worked in the plant from 1950 until 1980. In his lawsuit, he alleged that the company didn't warn him about the dangers of working with asbestos.
A jury awarded the former worker in the steel industry with $50 million in compensatory damages, and $200 million in punitive damages. He also was awarded an entire lifetime of medical expenses. This huge verdict was secured in part by the lawyers at Simmons Hanly Conroy because they have experience with large mesothelioma lawsuits. Lawyers such as Randall Bono and Perry Browder are able to spend hours constructing asbestos cases for clients making sure that the firm's' resources are used effectively to achieve the best results.
In the Whittington case, the asbestos lawyers were able make peremptory challenges to John Crane Inc. during jury selection. This allowed them to strike potential jurors who appeared favorable to the defence. In a mesothelioma trial against Daimler-Chrysler in a similar situation, Matushek used the same method to strike prospective jurors who seemed favorable to the defense.
Steel mill workers are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. This is because they are often exposed to toxic asbestos when working on boilers and other machinery. They may also be exposed to asbestos while cleaning up and repairing the machinery.
Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma is advised to speak with a seasoned lawyer as soon as possible. The mesothelioma attorneys at Simmons Hanly Conroy are experienced in bringing corporations to account for asbestos exposure. They have secured multi-million dollar settlements in asbestos lawsuits against companies like U.S. Steel and Georgia Pacific, as well as companies that didn't manufacture asbestos, but employed asbestos in their facilities.
Nancy Lopez's $10 million verdict
Nancy Lopez, who died of mesothelioma at the age of 10 was a litigator that took decades to reach its final resolution. Like many other plaintiffs who were diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis and other diseases, she sought compensation from the companies that exposed them to this deadly substance.
In her case, she was awarded $10 million after a jury concluded that her mesothelioma was caused by her exposure to asbestos during the Jackson County courthouse renovation project in 1983 and 1984. Her heirs sued the county and the US Engineering Company (the firm responsible for the work in 1983 and 1984) to seek compensation.
The decision also established an important precedent in law. Missouri's Supreme Court ruled that workers who have breathed in toxic substances and are now suffering from an illness like mesothelioma should be compensated for medical expenses they've incurred. This is because the asbestos fibers that cause these diseases do not break down, and they can hang in the lungs for a long time before symptoms begin to manifest.
The award won't bring Lopez back, but it sends an unambiguous message that the courts stand by those who have suffered from asbestosis. The lawsuit also opened the way for others to claim financial compensation from the companies that were responsible for their exposure.
If you're diagnosed mesothelioma, your attorney will immediately start to gather details about your exposure to asbestos lawyer and the companies that are responsible. Once your lawyer has all the evidence needed they are able to submit a claim to the defendants. Then, both sides can begin to exchange information throughout the discovery process and work toward an agreement.
Asbestos Trust Funds
Asbestos trust funds are the only way asbestos victims can secure compensation from companies that concealed or misrepresented the dangers of mesothelioma and the other asbestos-related illnesses. As asbestos-related lawsuits flooded the courts in the 1970s of these companies filed for bankruptcy and established trusts to compensate claimants. These companies' lawsuits are usually shortened or dismissed to make way for asbestos trust payouts.
The trusts are administered not by a jury or judge however, rather a bankruptcy trustee. Mesothelioma lawyers will work with trust administrators to ensure that your claim meets all requirements. This includes documentation of your exposure, confirmation of your diagnosis and a determination that your condition was a result of the business that you worked for. Your lawyer can also help to resolve any disagreements regarding the amount of compensation you should receive in accordance with your specific life circumstances and mesothelioma related symptoms.
Each asbestos bankruptcy trust has its own set of guidelines to compensate asbestos victims. They utilize a process referred to as a Trust Distribution Procedure (TDP) to determine how much money a victim will receive based on the type and severity of their illness. These guidelines are based on the severity of disease and are designed to ensure everyone is treated fairly. The mesothelioma disease level will be different for each patient and other asbestos-related illnesses could have different levels of disease.
Your asbestos lawyers will make a claim on your behalf if you qualify for an expedited review. This can be completed within approximately 90 days, and you will receive a fixed amount in accordance with the asbestos bankruptcy trust's established criteria for your diagnosed disease. The simplified process can be beneficial for those with a short time frame to submit a legal claim before the time limit expires.
For those who are not qualified for an expedited review the asbestos bankruptcy trust will conduct an individual review of your case. The trustees will examine your medical history and evidence of asbestos exposure to determine the amount you are entitled to.