Current Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Asbestos/mesothelioma lawsuits are increasingly common, and mesothelioma research is easier to do now than ever before. This can help give you the perspective you need to achieve a basic understanding of the disease and of the steps that must be taken for a successful mesothelioma lawsuit. Be sure to see a mesothelioma attorney to get a full evaluation of the strengths and challenges of your case. Specific facts are crucial in determining who wins and how much compensation is fair and reasonable in your case. This area of law is not a do-it-yourself undertaking.

See the examples of recent successful cases below to get an idea of the types of damages that could potentially be recovered.

In a March 2005 mesothelioma lawsuit in San Francisco, a jury awarded nearly $9 million in damages to a plaintiff with mesothelioma and his wife. He proved that he contracted mesothelioma years after exposure to asbestos on the job in the 1960s.
In another 2005 case in Los Angeles, an 82-year old man who was exposed to asbestos as a machinist 60 years ago and contracted mesothelioma was awarded $10 million in damages. The jury also found by clear and convincing evidence that defendant company was guilty of malice, fraud, and oppression.
In a 2002 case in California, a woman who contracted mesothelioma and suffered full body impairment from exposure to asbestos fibers in the floor of her childhood home won over $16 million.

Despite these large awards, every case differs and past awards are no guarantee that you will be equally successful. For example, a 76-year old male in 2004 sued a company in California for asbestos exposure 50 years ago as the cause of his mesothelioma. The defendant, Asbestos Corporation LTD, argued that the man’s cancer was lung cancer rather than mesothelioma, and that it was caused by the man’s long history of smoking (smoking often causes lung cancer, but it never causes mesothelioma). The jury found for the defendant and the man got nothing.

All of the above asbestos/mesothelioma lawsuits, both the successes and failures, would have had no chance without a reputable mesothelioma lawyer. For more information on legal choices on mesothelioma injuries, see “Legal Options”.