Asbestos Litigation Group

If you're working on asbestos litigation or another toxic tort, you'll need an organization that can provide comprehensive assistance. This includes electronic discovery management, high-tech deposition solutions; and an all-encompassing solution for managing large volumes of information about the case.

The group is open to all AAJ members, including Regular, Life, Sustaining, and President's club members. It meets at the AAJ Annual and Winter conventions.

Asbestos Litigation History

The first asbestos lawsuit in the United States was filed by Anna Pirskowski in 1929 in Newark federal court. The case was dismissed, but it marked a decade-long effort by asbestos attorney companies to pay victims for their exposure.

In the 1960s, health scientists began to recognize there was a link between asbestos and certain diseases, such as mesothelioma. The asbestos industry tried hard to hide the findings however, articles about this research began to circulate. Unions representing workers, along with other groups, demanded that asbestos manufacturers inform people about the dangers.

In this time asbestos manufacturers were found to be negligent and ordered to compensate victims. This was made possible through laws which require anyone who makes a hazardous product to provide information to consumers so that they can protect themselves.

In the 1980s, asbestos litigation started to shift. Attorneys began representing asbestos-exposure workers in other industries instead of focusing exclusively on asbestos miners and manufacturers. These included shipyards, refineries, railroads and power plants. These claims often became large class actions.

This pattern of litigation had several issues and issues, among them the fact that plaintiffs' lawyers were tasked with a lot of work. They were experts in soliciting and coordinating clients to file lawsuits in huge quantities. They hoped to overtake the judicial system and the defendants by filing massive lawsuits.

Many plaintiffs' law firms focused on making money instead of focusing on their injured clients. Some even screened clients using mobile x-ray vans. They refused them compensation when serious illnesses developed like mesothelioma.

Kazan Law specializes in representing clients who suffer from asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma. They were ranked as "Best Lawyers for Asbestos Litigation" by U.S. News & World Report. They attend the AAJ's Annual Convention and Winter Convention, and take part in regular meetings with the national Asbestos Trial Attorneys Association. The extensive involvement in asbestos litigation gives our firm an advantage that is unique. We can offer our clients the most effective representation possible in these complex cases.

Asbestos Class Actions

Mesothelioma lawsuits are filed on behalf of many people who have suffered similar injuries. These asbestos lawsuits enable victims to receive compensation, without the need to submit individual claims. This is time-consuming and expensive.

Asbestos class action lawsuits are a faster way to get victims the compensation they deserve. In the case of a class action, a single plaintiff is appointed to represent the group as a whole. The plaintiff and their mesothelioma attorneys can concentrate on building strong cases in order to obtain the best outcome for the victim and their family.

Class actions are common in a variety of areas across the country with a high concentration of asbestos exposure. In New York, for example the Brooklyn Navy Yard and Con Edison powerhouse trials merged hundreds of mesothelioma lawsuits into one trial, ensuring that each case could be resolved efficiently instead of having to go through a series of trials.

However, it's important to keep in mind that class actions aren't always in the best interests of victims. The biggest issue with mesothelioma settlements is that the victims are not compensated as fully as they would be when they filed their own lawsuit against asbestos companies.

Levy Konigsberg LLP has a team of mesothelioma attorneys that are experienced in representing asbestos victims in class actions and other forms of litigation. For more than 20 years, we've been committed to providing comprehensive legal assistance to patients and their families. Our lawyers are able to file mesothelioma cases in both federal and state courts.

We represent victims from all over the United States, even though the majority of them reside in or around New York. If you reside in California or Florida we can assist you get the compensation you deserve from a mesothelioma lawsuit against negligent asbestos lawyer producers. Contact us today for a no-obligation consultation. We're more than happy to discuss your case with you and discuss with you the options that are available.

Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts

In the bankruptcy process, asbestos companies set aside money for compensation to victims with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Instead of suing a business, victims can submit an appeal to the trust fund. The trusts are designed to guarantee that there is enough money to pay for all claims that are valid.

You must meet certain eligibility requirements in order to file a claim. To be eligible you must have worked for a company where the trust was established and be diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition. You must also show proof of exposure, such as employment documents, affidavits from employees who worked for you and in some instances the report of pathology or X-rays. If you are filing on behalf of someone who has passed away you must provide a death certificate.

In addition each asbestos trust has its own set of criteria for how to review a claim. Some trusts use a two-step process known as expedited review, and others have an individual review system. Lawyers who specialize in asbestos litigation can help you determine the best method of claim processing.

Asbestos trusts are required to compensate claimants suffering from similar diseases fairly. To achieve this, they established levels of disease that range from mesothelioma that has no significant respiratory function to pleural disorders.

People often have to file lawsuits and trust funds against multiple asbestos companies that are accountable for their exposure. According to the law of the state, companies could be required to provide details regarding trust claims during the litigation discovery phase.

While some states have passed laws to stop the sharing, many courts have permitted the sharing. The U.S. Department of Justice however, has pushed for increased accountability of asbestos trusts. They say they aren't protected against fraudulent claims and poor management.

The American Association for Justice offers assistance and resources for Asbestos lawyers (self-short-3.federatedjournals.com). Members can connect through a plaintiffs-only list server, and attend meetings during the AAJ's winter and annual conventions. The Asbestos Litigation Group is open to Regular Life, Sustaining, and President's Club AAJ members. The lawyers of the group are primarily involved in cases involving asbestos-related diseases and mesothelioma.

Asbestos Settlements

A successful asbestos lawsuit may aid victims in receiving compensation for their losses. This includes medical expenses, loss of income as well as home care expenses, emotional distress, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life. Asbestos-related victims may also be able to seek punitive damages against negligent businesses that put profit over worker safety.

The amount of an award or settlement is contingent on the victim's unique losses. Each case should be assessed by a knowledgeable New York mesothelioma attorney who will ensure victims receive maximum compensation.

It's not easy to recognize and treat mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related illnesses. This is why it is critical that patients have a legal team on their side who is aware of the sources of exposure and anticipate the defenses of liable parties.

During the mesothelioma litigation process, the victim's legal team will spend time collecting evidence and analyzing their exposure to asbestos to prove that the asbestos-related illness was caused by the defendants' actions. They may also interview former and current employees who worked at the job locations where the client was exposed. They can also review documents from the factory or financial records that prove that the defendants were aware of the dangers associated with asbestos and did not protect their workers.

There aren't any public statistics in Connecticut that give information on asbestos cases and verdicts, national data indicates that most asbestos cases settle prior to trial. The majority of asbestos cases that go to trial end with a victory for the plaintiff. However, there have been several asbestos jury awards which were reduced to reflect the medical insurance benefits the victim or their loved ones received.

There are numerous types of asbestos litigation dockets across the United States, each with its specific rules and procedures. In the upstate region of New York, the 5th Judicial District (which comprises Onondaga, Oswego, Herkimer, and Jefferson) has an asbestos-specific docket overseen by Justice Charles C. Merrell, while the 4th District has a dedicated asbestos judge --- Justice Richard T. Aulisi -- and is governed by an asbestos-specific case management order.