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Asbestos Litigation Cases - Individual Versus Class Action
In some cases plaintiffs would prefer to pursue individual lawsuits rather than class actions. Individual lawsuits can provide greater compensation for injuries caused by asbestos and mesothelioma.
Scientists have proven that exposure to asbestos can lead to lung diseases and damage. Because mesothelioma has a latency time of 40-50 years, it can take an extended time for patients to develop the disease.
The History of Asbestos Litigation
Asbestos suits are the longest running mass tort in U.S. history. State and federal courts only began to process asbestos cases in the 1970s when medical research linked asbestos exposure with diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer.
Many companies that mined, made and supplied asbestos products knew of the dangers, but ignored or downplayed these dangers. In the end, a number of asbestos companies went bankrupt due to lawsuits filed by the families of victims. Most of the companies who declared bankruptcy had asbestos trust funds to compensate to victims.
A small number of asbestos-related cases are heard. When this happens, judges are often skeptical of defendants' arguments and may award substantial verdicts to the victims. Asbestos lawyers have been able to successfully move thousands of cases through the court process and obtained significant verdicts on behalf of mesothelioma sufferers.
However, the complexities of a case involving asbestos can make it difficult to win. In an asbestos lawsuit plaintiffs must show that their illness is directly caused by exposure to the dangerous substance. This requires a database that connects workers, their workplaces as well as their employers, the products they used and their suppliers and vendors. This can take many years, especially if a victim's work history is complex. It may involve interviewing co-workers or family members, abatement workers, suppliers, and other parties that could be involved in the case.
Expert witness testimony is also required to prove that asbestos-related illnesses have occurred. Often, these expert witnesses are doctors who have been trained in the asbestos-related pathologies and who have analyzed the medical records of a patient. This is especially important in the case of mesothelioma which is a difficult disease to identify.
Defense lawyers can also attempt to discredit experts through their qualifications or background. This is a worrying trend that has been noticed in recent years, as defendants are increasingly challenging global scientific consensus that asbestos causes mesothelioma as well as other diseases.
The First Case
Asbestos claims are different from other personal injury claims. The lawsuits involve a rare illness that's caused by breathing in microfibers and then developing mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease. These injuries are often caused by exposure to asbestos at certain workplaces, including shipyards, power stations and construction projects.
In contrast to other types of civil litigation asbestos lawsuits are filed on a class-wide basis, rather than individually. This allows victims and their families to file a single complaint against multiple defendants and receive compensation from multiple sources of funds, resulting in lower legal fees.
A seaman exposed to asbestos on an British vessel in 1927 filed the first mesothelioma suit. The victim developed mesothelioma as a result of asbestos dust inhalation during the fabrication of naval vessels at Harland and Wolff Plc. The company produced naval vessels for clients such as the Royal Navy.
A dock worker filed a claim in the early 1990s after developing mesothelioma as a result of exposure to asbestos released by factories where he was employed. The victim's wife filed a lawsuit in federal court against five companies including Union Carbide Inc. and Montello Inc. who both made asbestos-containing valves for oil rigs, industrial processes, and other industrial processes.
Other cases followed. In 1973 the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals found asbestos manufacturers strictly liable for any injuries suffered by workers (Borel v. Fibreboard). The ruling increased the number of asbestos-related claims, putting asbestos manufacturers on notice that they might face litigation over their products.
asbestos litigation group representing plaintiffs in a lawsuit involving asbestos must understand the complex chain of exposure. This includes determining the victim's exposure as well as mesothelioma diagnosis, as in identifying the potential defendants. It is also essential to ensure that the lawsuit is in compliance with the federal and state laws that relate to asbestos litigation. This includes laws which govern asbestos disclosure procedures.
The most important step is to find an attorney with expertise in mesothelioma. A reputable law office will offer a free consult and examine the client's medical records relating to asbestos to determine whether they are eligible for an asbestos lawsuit.
The Second Case
Asbestos sufferers have gotten significant awards at court. These awards are typically greater than the settlements offered by mesothelioma or asbestos trust funds. Asbestos victims have received compensation for a variety of reasons, including physical and psychological injuries caused by asbestos exposure. Researchers have found that those who worked with asbestos were more likely to have lung damage and disease than those who didn't work with it.
In this way, a variety of law firms that had years of experience in asbestos litigation filed huge mesothelioma lawsuits. This was a method for them to make a profit and earn recognition for their expertise. However, this strategy did not serve mesothelioma sufferers well. Many of these companies took on more cases than they could handle, and didn't offer the appropriate medical support and representation that mesothelioma sufferers deserve.
Insurance companies and defendants have employed various strategies to fight asbestos claims. For example the insurance industry claimed that asbestos sufferers must be required to prove that the particular asbestos they were exposed to was responsible for their illness. This was a direct attack on the principle of joint-and-several liability, which permits plaintiffs to be held liable for all damages resulting from exposure to asbestos by multiple defendants.
This approach was met with fierce opposition from mesothelioma patients and their lawyers, who claimed that it was unfair for asbestos sufferers to have to prove the root of their illness to recover damages. Additionally, it could dissuade people from filing claims with legal firms that are reputable and force them to settle their claims at a lower price than they should.
In the final decision, the House of Lords sided with the victims, and dismissed the arguments of insurers. However, this ruling did not affect the huge sums of money paid to asbestos victims by the insurance industry. It is important to choose an asbestos compensation company that has a reputation for expertise and skill. Thompsons Solicitors has run, and won more asbestos claim cases than any other UK law firm. We were also responsible for bringing the first-ever successful asbestos compensation claim to court in 1972.
The Third Case
Asbestos cases differ from other toxic tort cases because they result in serious injuries that have permanently altered the lives of people who were exposed to a deadly carcinogen. Mesothelioma is a cancer of the tissues around organs inside, including the lungs. The cancer can also expand to the abdominal cavity as well as the chest wall, heart and the brain. Because the disease can be a long time to manifest, victims must often live knowing that their condition is terminal. Many who have been affected by asbestos have endured a great deal of financial hardship, as they have been forced to sell their homes and pay medical bills and make other expensive adjustments to their lives.
In recent years, however many families of mesothelioma victims have resorted to suing manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos products. This is because the law permits people to seek compensation for their losses even after their businesses have filed for bankruptcy.
After paying billions of dollars in settlements to asbestos victims, many of these companies were forced to shut down or close. But there are still plenty of plaintiffs who wish to sue the remaining companies. In fact the number of new asbestos lawsuits has risen.
Certain cases have been manipulated by certain lawyers to benefit their clients. A New York City judge recently reversed a policy that was in effect for a long time against punitive damages in relation to mesothelioma cases. This was at the request of the lawyer representing Garlock Gasket, a bankrupt asbestos manufacturer that has been sued by more than 30 mesothelioma victims.
Although this was a single instance, it has attracted the attention of many observers. Many believe the case is an indicator of the deceitful methods that have become a regular feature in asbestos lawsuits. The corruption scandal that afflicted the former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver has drawn more scrutiny to the links between trial lawyers and politicians, which may help bring some balance back to the system.
You should seek legal counsel immediately if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease. The best mesothelioma attorneys will offer a free consultation in order to discuss your case with you and determine the best strategy for you. The process of filing an asbestos claim can take a few months, which is why it is crucial to engage an attorney who understands the complexities involved and knows how to obtain results.
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