Mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, affects nearly 3,000 people per year in the United States alone. Asbestos, a naturally occurring fibrous mineral, was once considered the “miracle mineral” due to its durability and heat-resistant properties. It was used extensively in construction, shipbuilding, and various other industries from the early 1900s up until the 1970s when the health hazards associated with asbestos exposure became more widely understood.
Today, mesothelioma victims and their families are seeking justice and compensation with the help of asbestos lawyers, who have become champions in getting these cases heard and settled. Dubbed by some as the “Asbestos Avengers,” these attorneys have the expertise to take on large companies and corporations in the ongoing legal battles over responsibility for asbestos exposure.
The Litigation Landscape
With tens of thousands of cases filed, this litigation has been considered as the longest-running mass tort in American history. Defendants have included major manufacturers, distributors, and end users of asbestos-containing products. Lawsuits typically claim that companies knew of asbestos hazards and failed to warn employees and customers or take reasonable precautions. The landscape today involves trusts set up by bankruptcy courts to compensate victims as well as class action settlements against companies still in business.
Some key facts and figures provide insight into the enormous volume of asbestos lawsuits:
- Over $70 billion has been spent on asbestos litigation since the 1980s.
- Nearly one million people have filed asbestos claims since the 1970s.
- Over 100 companies have filed for bankruptcy due to asbestos liabilities including construction material and insulation manufacturers.
This complex legal landscape is tricky for victims to navigate. Help is needed from attorneys well-versed in asbestos litigation and law.
The Asbestos Avengers Assemble
Specializing in asbestos cases, these lawyers help people whose lives have been turned upside down by an aggressive cancer caused by corporate negligence and greed. They stand ready to fight tirelessly for justice despite the inherent challenges of battling powerful corporations.
- They investigate the details to build strong cases, pinpointing where and how asbestos exposure occurred and naming potentially responsible companies.
- They utilize cutting-edge technology and tools for evidence-gathering and research. Plaintiff databases contain documentation on millions of asbestos exposures and Defendants to aid their fight.
- They bring compassion and understanding to frightened and suffering clients and families, making house calls when needed.
- They have mastered complex legal arguments around product liability and responsibility. Their grasp of asbestos litigation history helps predict outcomes.
- They are courtroom warriors who can sway juries and judges to make fair rulings in favor of very sick plaintiffs.
- They negotiate intensely to get the maximum compensation in settlements, which plaintiffs desperately need for expensive treatments.
Asbestos Avengers law firms have made an impact in states across the country:
- In 2021, a Dallas firm won a $46.5 million verdict for a mesothelioma victim against a valve manufacturer.
- A prominent California firm has won over $3.5 billion in verdicts and settlements for clients since 1990.
- A Philadelphia powerhouse asbestos law firm has won several major victories over companies like Honeywell, Ford, and Crane Co.
While money can never make up for the suffering or lost time with loved ones, it does provide vital resources so families can make the most of their time together without further financial hardship.
The Challenge Ahead
With over 3,000 mesothelioma diagnoses per year, the mission is nowhere close to finished. The commitment of these lawyers to getting justice busts myths that lawsuits just line lawyers’ pockets. In reality, they take huge risks by spending millions to litigate complex cases. Settlements reward these investments funding bigger fights ahead and discouraging continued negligence.
While some companies have found ways to evade responsibility, exploiting bankruptcy loopholes and legal technicalities, the asbestos avengers adapt to create new ways for victims to be fairly compensated. Plaintiff lawyers continue collaborating to take on industries that cause harm and still refuse accountability.
Ultimately this is about justice and giving voice to those suffering devastating loss. The asbestos avengers won’t rest until victims feel heard and companies that caused harm make amends. John Grisham may write a legal thriller about it someday! For now, these lawyers continue working tirelessly – gathering evidence, connecting victims to specialty care, and standing up to corporate giants in the courtroom.