Asbestos Litigation Group

You need a firm who can provide comprehensive support whether you're working on asbestos litigation, or another toxic tort case. This includes electronic discovery management, high-tech depositions, and a complete solution for Asbestos Litigation Group managing large volumes of information.

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

Asbestos Litigation History

Anna Pirskowski filed the first asbestos lawsuit in 1929 at Newark federal court. The case was not successful, but it marked the start of a decades-long effort to make asbestos companies pay for their exposure.

In the 1960s, health experts began to recognize a connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma. The asbestos industry attempted to keep the findings from being revealed however, news articles about the research began to circulate. Unions of workers, among other groups, demanded asbestos producers inform the public about the dangers of asbestos.

During this time, many asbestos producers were found to be negligent and were required to compensate victims. This was made possible by laws that require anyone who creates dangerous products to inform the public so that they can be protected.

In the 1980s, asbestos litigation began to change. Instead of focusing on miners and asbestos manufacturers, attorneys represented victims exposed to asbestos in other workplaces. Railroads, refineries, and shipyards were among the places of work that were affected. These claims usually resulted in large class actions.

One of the biggest problems with this type of litigation was that a lot of plaintiffs' lawyers were tasked with too many tasks. They were experts in soliciting and coordinating clients to file lawsuits in large quantities. The purpose of these mass filings was to overburden the court system and the defendants.

Many plaintiffs' law firms focused on generating profit instead of taking care of their injured clients. Some firms screened their clients using mobile vans that emit radiographs, and refused compensation if serious diseases like mesothelioma developed.

Kazan Law specializes in representing clients diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma. They have been recognized by U.S. News & World Report as "Best Lawyers in asbestos Litigation." They are involved in the regular meetings of the national Asbestos Trial Attorneys Association (AJA) plaintiff-only list server, and attend AAJ's Annual and Winter Conventions. This extensive participation in asbestos litigation gives our firm an advantage. We can offer our clients the most effective representation possible in these difficult cases.

Asbestos Class Actions

Mesothelioma class actions are lawsuits filed on behalf of a large number of people who have similar asbestos injuries. These asbestos litigation online lawsuits enable victims to receive compensation, without the need to submit individual claims. This can be costly and time-consuming.

Asbestos class action lawsuits are an effective method of obtaining the compensation that victims need. In the case of a class action, a single plaintiff is chosen to represent the group as a whole. The plaintiff and their mesothelioma lawyers concentrate on constructing solid cases to achieve the best possible outcome for the victim and their family.

There are a variety of regions in the United States where asbestos exposure is very high. Class actions are frequent. In New York, for example the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Con Edison powerhouse trials combined hundreds of mesothelioma lawsuits into a single trial so that each case could be dealt with efficiently instead of going through several individual trials.

It is important to keep in mind that class actions may not be in the best interests of victims. The main problem with mesothelioma settlements lies in the fact that victims aren't compensated as well as they would when they filed their own lawsuit against asbestos companies.

Levy Konigsberg LLP has a team of mesothelioma attorneys that have years of experience representing asbestos victims in class actions and other types litigation. For more than 20 years, we have been devoted to providing complete legal assistance to patients and their families. Our attorneys understand the ins and outs of filing mesothelioma lawsuits in state courts, as well as federal courts.

While the majority of our clients reside in and around New York, we regularly represent victims across the United States. Whether you live in California or Florida, we can help you get the compensation you deserve from mesothelioma lawsuits against negligent asbestos producers. Contact us today for an initial consultation for no cost. We are happy to discuss your case with you and discuss with you the options that are available.

Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts

During the asbestos bankruptcy procedure companies put aside funds to pay compensation for those suffering from mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. In lieu of suing a company or a person, victims can file a trust fund claim. The trusts are designed to guarantee that there is enough money available to pay all valid claims.

You must meet certain eligibility requirements to file an application. You must have worked for the company that established the trust and be diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition to be eligible. You should also be able to prove that you were exposed to asbestos, including employment records, affidavits of employees who worked with you and, in some cases radiographs or pathology reports. If you are filing on behalf a deceased individual you must provide a death certificate.

Additionally each asbestos trust has its own rules for evaluating an application. Some trusts use a two-step process called expedited review, while others have an individual review system. Lawyers who specialize in asbestos litigation will assist you in determining the best method for processing your claim.

Asbestos trusts must fairly compensate claimants with similar illnesses. To be able to do this, they must have established disease levels, which vary from mesothelioma through Pleural disease that is not significantly restricted in lung function.

It is normal for people to bring lawsuits and trust funds against a variety of asbestos companies that are responsible for their exposure. Based on the state's law the companies are required to disclose details about trust claims during the discovery phase of the lawsuit.

While certain states have passed laws to stop the sharing of this information, a lot of courts have allowed this to occur. The U.S. Department of Justice however, has called for increased accountability of asbestos trusts. They cite that they are not protected from fraudulent claims and poor management.

The American Association for Justice provides assistance and resources for asbestos litigation paralegal lawyers. Members can network through a list server for plaintiffs only and attend meetings at the AAJ's annual and winter conventions. The Asbestos Litigation Group is open to Regular Life, Sustaining, and President's Club AAJ members. The group's attorneys concentrate on cases involving asbestos-related diagnoses and mesothelioma.

Asbestos Settlements

A successful asbestos lawsuit will aid victims in recovering compensation for their losses. These include medical bills, loss of income as well as home care expenses, emotional distress, pain and suffering and loss of quality of life. Asbestos victims may also be able to seek damages for punitive harm against companies who place profits over worker safety.

The amount of a settlement or award is contingent on the specific losses experienced by the victim. It is vital that each case be evaluated by an experienced New York mesothelioma lawyer who will ensure that the victims receive maximum compensation.

It's not easy to diagnose and treat mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. This is why it is crucial that victims have a legal team that knows how to find the right sources of exposure and anticipate defenses from the responsible parties.

During the mesothelioma legal process, a victim's legal team will spend time collecting evidence and investigating their exposure to asbestos to demonstrate that the asbestos-related disease was caused by defendants' actions. They may interview former and current employees who worked at the job locations where the client was exposed. They may also examine the financial records and factory records that show the defendants knew about asbestos' dangers and failed to protect their workers.

Although there aren't any official statistics that provide information regarding asbestos cases or verdicts in Connecticut, national data shows that the majority of asbestos cases are settled before trial. The majority of asbestos cases that go to trial result in a win for the plaintiff. However there have been a few asbestos jury award cases which were reduced to reflect the medical insurance benefits that the victim or loved ones received.

There are also many different types of asbestos litigation dockets across the country, each having distinct rules and procedures. In upstate New York the 5th Judicial District, which comprises Onondaga and Oswego and Herkimer and Jefferson is home to an asbestos docket supervised by Justice Charles C. Merrell. The 4th District, on the other side, has a judge who is committed to asbestos cases, Justice Richard T. Aulisi, and operates under a case management order that is specifically geared towards asbestos.