Asbestos Litigation Group

If you're working on asbestos litigation or another harmful tort issue, you require an organization that can provide comprehensive assistance. This includes electronic discovery management, high-tech depositions and a comprehensive solution to manage large volumes of information.

This group is open to Regular Life, Sustaining, Life and President's Club AAJ members. The group meets at both the AAJ Annual Convention and Winter Convention.

Asbestos Litigation History

Anna Pirskowski filed the first asbestos lawsuit in 1929 at Newark federal court. The case was not successful, but it marked an entire decade of effort by asbestos firms to compensate victims for exposure.

In the 1960s, health scientists began to recognize a connection existed between asbestos lawyers and the diseases like mesothelioma. The asbestos industry fought to keep the findings quiet, but articles about this research started to spread. Workers' unions and other groups began demanding that asbestos producers be forced to warn people about the dangers of this deadly mineral.

In the course of this time, a number of asbestos producers were found guilty of negligence and were required to pay compensation to victims. This was made possible by laws that require anyone who makes dangerous products to notify consumers to protect themselves.

By the 1980s, the pattern of asbestos litigation shifted. Attorneys began representing asbestos-exposed employees in other workplaces instead of focusing only on asbestos miners and manufacturers. Railroads, refineries, shipyards and shipyards were among the industries that were affected. These claims were often consolidated into large class actions.

One of the major issues with this litigation pattern was that plaintiffs' lawyers were tasked with too much work. They specialized in soliciting clients, aggregating them and filing lawsuits in large quantities. They wanted to overtake the judiciary and defendants with these massive filings.

Many firms representing plaintiffs were more focused on making profits rather than taking care of their injured clients. Some firms screened their clients using mobile vans that emitted radiographs, and refused compensation if serious illnesses such as mesothelioma arose.

Kazan Law's attorneys Kazan Law specialize in representing people who have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma. They have been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as "Best Lawyers in Asbestos Litigation." They are involved in regular meetings of the national Asbestos Trial Attorneys Association (AJA) list server for plaintiffs only and attend the AAJ's Annual and Winter Conventions. Their extensive involvement in asbestos litigation gives our firm an unique advantage. We can offer our clients the best possible representation in these difficult cases.

asbestos attorney Class Actions

Mesothelioma lawsuits are filed on behalf of a variety of people who have suffered similar asbestos injuries. These asbestos lawsuits allow victims to be compensated without the need to make individual claims. This can be costly and time-consuming.

Asbestos class action lawsuits can be an efficient method of obtaining victims the compensation they deserve. In a class-action lawsuit one plaintiff is chosen to represent the entire group. The plaintiff and their mesothelioma lawyers can concentrate on constructing strong cases to get the best outcome for the family of the victim.

Class actions can be found in a variety of areas across the country that have an abundance of asbestos exposure. In New York, for example, the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Con Edison powerhouse trials merged hundreds of mesothelioma cases in one trial, ensuring that each case could be settled efficiently instead of having to go through a series of trials.

It is important to keep in mind that class actions may not be in the best interest of the victims. The biggest issue with mesothelioma settlements is that the victims are not compensated as much as they would when they filed their own lawsuit against the asbestos companies.

The mesothelioma attorneys at Levy Konigsberg LLP are well-versed in representing victims in class action lawsuits as well as other asbestos-related litigation. For more than 20 years, we have been committed to providing comprehensive legal assistance to patients and their families. Our lawyers are able to file mesothelioma cases in federal and state courts.

While the majority of our clients live in and around New York, we regularly represent victims throughout the United States. No matter if you are in California or Florida we can assist you receive the money you are entitled to from a mesothelioma lawsuit against negligent asbestos producers. Contact us today to schedule a no-cost consultation. We are available to discuss your needs and explain the options available to you.

Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts

In the bankruptcy process, asbestos-related companies, they set aside funds for compensation to victims with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Instead of filing a lawsuit against the company, patients are able to file trust fund claims. Trusts guarantee that there is enough money to pay all valid claims.

To make a claim through an asbestos trust you must satisfy the eligibility requirements. To qualify you must have worked in a place where the trust was created and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. You must also show proof of exposure, including employment records, affidavits from people who worked with you, and in some instances, pathology reports or X-rays. If you are filing on behalf someone who has passed away, you will need to provide a death certification.

Additionally, each asbestos trust has its own rules for evaluating an application. Certain trusts have a two-step procedure called expedited review, whereas others have an individual review process. Lawyers who specialize in asbestos litigation can assist you in determining the best way to handle claims.

Asbestos trusts are required to fairly compensate claimants with similar diseases. To do this, they have established disease levels that range from mesothelioma without significant pulmonary function to pleural diseases.

It is normal for people to bring lawsuits and trust funds against several asbestos companies accountable for their exposure. According to the law of the state, companies could be required to provide details regarding trust claims during the discovery phase.

While certain states have passed legislation to prevent the sharing of this information, a lot of courts have allowed it to happen. However the U.S. Department of Justice has been calling for more accountability in asbestos attorneys trusts citing that they lack safeguards to prevent fraud and sloppy management.

The American Association for Justice offers assistance and resources for asbestos lawyers. Members can connect through a plaintiffs-only list server, and attend meetings during the AAJ's annual and winter conventions. The Asbestos Litigation Group welcomes Regular, Life, Sustaining, and President's club AAJ members. The lawyers in the group primarily handle cases involving asbestos-related diseases and mesothelioma.

Asbestos Settlements

A successful asbestos lawsuit could assist victims to receive compensation for their losses. These include medical expenses, loss of income as well as home care expenses, emotional stress, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life. asbestos lawyer victims can also seek punitive damages from negligent companies that put profits before worker safety.

The amount of an award or settlement is contingent on the victim's unique losses. It is essential that every case is evaluated by a skilled New York mesothelioma lawyer who will ensure that the victims receive maximum compensation.

Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses are not easy to diagnose or treat. It is essential that patients have a skilled legal team who can identify the sources of asbestos exposure and anticipate the defenses of the parties responsible.

During the mesothelioma lawsuit process the victim's legal team is responsible for collecting evidence and investigating the asbestos exposure of the victim to establish that defendants' actions caused the asbestos-related disease. They might interview former and current employees who worked at the job sites where the client was exposed. They can also look over the financial records and factory records that show the defendants knew about asbestos' dangers and failed to protect their workers.

While there are no public statistics about asbestos verdicts or cases in Connecticut, national data shows that the majority of asbestos cases settle before trial. The majority of asbestos cases that go to trial end in a win for the plaintiff. However there have been several asbestos jury award cases which were reduced to take into account the medical insurance benefits the victim or their loved family members received.

There are many different types asbestos litigation dockets in the United States, each with its own rules and procedures. In upstate New York, the 5th Judicial District (which comprises Onondaga, Oswego, Herkimer, and Jefferson) has an asbestos-specific docket controlled by Justice Charles C. Merrell, while the 4th District has a dedicated asbestos judge --- Justice Richard T. Aulisi -- and operates under an asbestos-specific case management order.