Mesothelioma Lawsuits: I read that lots of asbestos lawsuits are class actions. Should I be part of a class action lawsuit rather than file an individual claim?

A class action is a legal procedure used to efficiently handle a lawsuit in which a large number of people - a class-- have been injured by a common act or set of actions. By participating in a class case, you accomplish a number of objectives. You may receive compensation for a wrong, injury, or loss you have sustained -- compensation that may not have been available to you in any other forum. Through inclusion in a class of similarly harmed persons, you also demonstrate to the court that the alleged harm done was substantial and impacted a large number of people, increasing both the likelihood of recovery and its size. Moreover, the only costs to you will be drawn from any settlement or judgment proceeds upon successful resolution of the case.

That said, filing your own individual claim makes sense in a Mesothelioma matter since there is a higher probability that you will get more money in damages acting separately than if you brought your case as a class to a jury.