This Week s Most Remarkable Stories About Asbestos Lawsuit Asbestos Lawsuit
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Asbestos lawyers can hold the companies accountable for exposure through an action. They could be former employers as well as asbestos manufacturers.
These companies were aware asbestos's dangers but did not inform their employees. These lawsuits seek to compensate the companies for their employees and victims.
Most asbestos lawsuits settle before trial. Experienced attorneys are ready to take your case to a jury trial should you require.
Military Service
Mesothelioma is a rare and pervasive disease however, it can also be a concern for veterans who were exposed to asbestos while serving in the military. Mesothelioma lawsuits are filed against the asbestos companies responsible for the disease and compensation may be offered to pay for treatment.
Military personnel were exposed to asbestos while in the service, especially when working on ships or in shipyards. A variety of military equipment, like boilers, pipes, and engine rooms, were contaminated with asbestos. The Navy was the branch that was exposed to the highest exposure to asbestos. This is the reason why a lot of Navy veterans are diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Asbestos victims receive compensation in various ways as well as VA benefits and legal settlements. Since mesothelioma can be treated, the condition is classified as a permanent and total disability, which means that veterans are eligible to receive VA disability benefits.
Veterans can be eligible for compensation from the VA or legal settlements to help pay for medical expenses and support their families and live a comfortable lifestyle. Asbestos attorneys can help veterans know how these benefits work and assist in filing claims.
Lawyers can assist their clients in filing asbestos lawsuits against the makers of this deadly product. Many large companies were aware of the dangers associated with asbestos, yet they filed for bankruptcy to avoid liability. Waters Kraus &Paul's mesothelioma lawyers hold asbestos companies accountable.
Some mesothelioma cases end in court, even although the majority settle. In a trial, the plaintiffs are presented before a judge and a jury who may decide to award more or less than an agreement. In one mesothelioma trial which was concluded by a jury, the jury awarded $40 million to the family of the victim. This is the highest verdict ever handed out in an asbestos case. The lawyers representing the victims must prove that the defendants were negligent and responsible for the victim being exposed to asbestos. This evidence is usually made through testimony and documents from those who worked with the victim.
Bankruptcy
In addition to monetary damages and compensation for pain, the victims and their families could be entitled to medical expenses and compensation. The process may take a long time. In general, it takes two years or more between the time of diagnosis and the time they receive compensation. Therefore, it is important to contact a mesothelioma lawyer as quickly as you are able to.
Asbestos lawsuits can be a bit complicated. They involve multiple parties which include multiple trusts and an extensive set of legal proceedings. The lawsuits are filed by mesothelioma patients and their estates against companies that manufactured asbestos-related products. The companies were aware of the connection between mesothelioma and asbestos but continued to manufacture the product for years. Due to this, thousands asbestos victims have received compensation.
Many of the companies producing asbestos-containing products have gone bankrupt due to the overwhelming number of lawsuits. This has led to the creation of a legal sector dedicated exclusively to asbestos lawyers litigation.
Companies that remain in business will often make bankruptcy filings to reduce their risk. The Texas Two-Step strategy is based on state law that allows companies with high liability to form subsidiary companies with lower assets. The company then reorganizes the company under Chapter 11 and transfers the assets and liabilities to the newly formed subsidiary.
In most cases the new subsidiary will usually be in another jurisdiction to avoid lawsuits arising from asbestos exposure that occurred prior to the restructuring. This strategy has been used in a number of high-profile cases, including J&J's restructuring of LTL Management, which faced 40,000 claims for baby powder. Gordon's firm has a number of clients currently using this strategy, including Georgia-Pacific Bestwall which is facing more than 60,000 claims.
The statute of limitations can complicate asbestos lawsuits. Mesothelioma generally develops between 10 and 40 years after asbestos exposure. State laws, also referred as statutes or limitations, allow victims between one and five years to file a lawsuit. If there is that a death is wrongful, the family has one to three years to file a lawsuit beginning from the date the deceased loved one died.
Settlements
Patients suffering from asbestos-related illnesses are often awarded substantial settlements. In some cases, for instance, the wrongful death lawsuit filed by the family of an asbestos pipefitter, the jury awarded settlements that reached millions of dollars. In many cases, victims are offered only a small amount of compensation. The reason behind this is that a lot of companies which once manufactured and used asbestos are now closed or bankrupt. asbestos lawyer manufacturers who declare bankruptcy do so under the approval of a court. This process requires that they put aside a large amount of money to pay future victims. These trusts allow more claimants to be compensated, but the amounts are usually much less than the amount granted under the tort system.
The value of an asbestos claim depends on the severity of the condition and the time it took the victim to develop the illness and the extent of the suffering suffered by the victim. The dollar value of a case is also influenced by the amount of lost wages, medical expenses and the extent to which a mesothelioma victim's pain and suffering can be quantified.
Many states have statutes that restrict the period of time that a victim of mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related injury, may bring a lawsuit against the defendant. The date that the plaintiff was diagnosed with mesothelioma usually is an indication of intent to start the clock for the time limit.
Because mesothelioma is a deadly form of cancer and it takes a long time for symptoms to manifest in mesothelioma patients, most claims are not litigated and are settled through an agreement or a decision from the court. When mesothelioma victims die before their cases are resolved and their estates are able to continue to pursue a lawsuit against asbestos on their behalf.
Waters Kraus & Paul represents clients from diverse industries across the United States and abroad who have been exposed to asbestos. We hold asbestos manufacturers and their insurers accountable for their role in the exposure of victims to this harmful chemical. We have represented mesothelioma victims' families in lawsuits against companies located across the United States, Canada and the Middle East including Iran.
Trials
While going to trial is rare but when it does happen victims are able to receive multi-million-dollar verdicts. These awards can be used to cover medical expenses loss of wages, medical expenses, and other losses caused by asbestos exposure. A jury can also decide to award punitive damages in order to punish the responsible companies for their conduct and to discourage other companies from putting their employees or customers in danger.
An asbestos lawsuit could aid families of mesothelioma patients get back on their legs after losing a loved to the disease. Families are often required to take time off from work to care for mesothelioma patients, which results in lost income. Mesothelioma judgments and settlements can cover the costs and give family members financial security.
Asbestos lawsuits have been part of mass torts for a long time in the United States. The lawsuits have led to dozens of companies filing for bankruptcy and asbestos trust funds have been created to pay victims. Research has shown that asbestos exposure leads to lung damage and diseases like mesothelioma.
A mesothelioma attorney can build and negotiate an argument to ensure that clients receive the highest amount. A knowledgeable lawyer can guide clients through the advantages and disadvantages of settling a claim versus going to trial. An attorney can explain the implications of asbestos laws as well as the different state laws on a claim.
During the trial attorneys and clients conduct a series of interviews called discovery. In this phase, attorneys collect evidence and details from defendants to prepare for trial. During this period, many defendants are willing to settle to avoid a damaging verdict.
An experienced mesothelioma lawyer has the expertise and resources to make asbestos distributors, manufacturers and insurance companies accountable for negligence. Lawyers at Waters Kraus & Paul have successfully held asbestos companies accountable, and have secured significant settlements for their clients. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help you and your family receive the justice you deserve. We represent people across the country who were exposed to asbestos. If you or someone close to you suffered from an asbestos-related illness We can help you seek the compensation you deserve.