Cases of Mesothelioma Settlements
If you think that people do not win against the “big guys”, here are some examples of Mesothelioma attorney winning settlements for their clients. This is why it is important to find yourself a law firm that specializes in Mesothelioma cancer victims. Going out and just getting a any lawyer is not the way to go, you specifically need a Mesothelioma attorney.
When mesothelioma is misdiagnosed, it can sometimes be too late to successfully treat medically. In this case, seeking out a medical malpractice law firm should be a part of the process, but they can not sue companies that caused your Mesothelioma. Again, this has to be taken on by a Mesothelioma attorney.
$250M Mesothelioma Settlement Reached
Earlier this week, a settlement was announced over the asbestos problems that have been plaguing Libby, Montana for years.
W.R. Grace, which is a global chemical company that was forced to file for bankruptcy in 2001 due to mesothelioma settlements, has reportedly agreed to pay the government $250 million.
Settlement Makes History
According to the Department of Justice, the settlement is the highest in the Superfund programs history.
The money from the settlement is supposedly going to reimburse the government for the costs of the investigation and the cleanup of the asbestos that has contaminated the mines in Libby.
Asbestos Contaminates Community
The DOJ has reportedly been removing soil that has been contaminated with asbestos in Libby since 2000.
In 2001, the federal government filed a suit against W.R. Grace to cover cleanup costs under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA).
In 2003, the district court of Montana awarded the EPA more than $54 million for the cleanup costs they endured in that year.
Since the company went bankrupt, those costs were never paid and as a result this week’s settlement will cover that as well as the future cleanup costs of the contaminated schools, homes and businesses in the town.
(Source: OHS Online)
$20M Mesothelioma Settlement Reached
Baron & Budd P.C. announced this week that a $20 million settlement was reached in the suit against Georgia Pacific Corp.
The suit was filed on behalf of a woman who was employed with a construction company and developed mesothelioma as a result of being exposed to asbestos while at work.
Asbestos Exposure
Joan Mahoney, 69, worked part-time for a construction company where she was exposed to products containing asbestos that were manufactured by Georgia Pacific.
Evidence at the trial reportedly showed that Georgia Pacific knew when they entered the asbestos business that asbestos was very harmful and could cause the fatal disease.
The suit claimed that the company knew that its product posed a risk to workers, but continued to make asbestos containing compounds.
Settlement Reached
$20 million was given to Joan and her husband, Daniel, for her injuries and the pain and suffering that the couple has endured throughout the course of her newly developed illness.
“To our knowledge, this is one of the largest asbestos verdicts of its kind,” explains the attorney for the couple. “The results of this trial send a clear message that companies will be held accountable for endangering innocent people.”
(Source: Business Wire)
Family Receives $30M in Asbestos Suit
A New Jersey family who filed a wrongful death suit on behalf of their loved one has just received a $30 million award on his behalf.
According to reports, the award is believed to be the largest received in New Jersey for mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma Takes Man’s Life
Mark Buttitta, 50, reportedly handled auto parts that contained asbestos while working in GM warehouses throughout New Jersey.
His family also believed that since his father and brother both worked with and around asbestos while he was growing up, he was the victim of second-hand exposure.
Exposed as a Child
The three men are said to have worn the same work clothes for days at a time and are supposedly brought home asbestos fibers on a daily basis.
“Worse yet, as a young boy Mark would sit on his dad’s lap, or next to him on the sofa every night to watch TV, and was innocently exposed to asbestos,” explains the family’s attorney Moshe Maimon.
(Source: Newsday)
Settled for $5.6M
A lawsuit filed by a woman living in Oregon was recently settled for $5.6 million.
The suit was filed after the woman, who owned two ceramics teaching and manufacturing businesses, was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma.
Exposure at Work
Linda O’Donnell, a 66-year-old, a woman who owned the ceramics companies from 1973 to 1993, hired an attorney to investigate her case after she was suddenly diagnosed with mesothelioma.
The attorney’s discovered that several of the talcs that O’Donnell was using as ingredients in her ceramics contained asbestos.
The talcs were allegedly mined by companies in Death Valley, CA, where asbestos was a common contaminant in deposits of talc that were mined.
Husband and Wife File Suit
O’Donnell and her husband, Reginald, filed the suit against the manufacturers and suppliers of the talcs.
Witnesses retained by her attorneys claimed that O’Donnell was exposed to asbestos through the talcs she was using in her ceramics.
The talc that was used in the ceramic clay came in 50-pound sacks that were dumped into a hopper for mixing, which created clouds of dust and large amounts of asbestos.
When the ceramics dried they were sanded to prepare them for glazing, a process that only produced additional asbestos dust.
O’Donnell reportedly engaged in these activities daily throughout her ceramics career.
(Source: PRWeb)
$35M Mesothelioma Settlement Reached in Asbestos Suit
A former sailor who claimed he was exposed to asbestos more than 50 years ago was recently awarded $35.1 million in compensatory damages.
Sailor Diagnosed with Cancer
John R. Davis was diagnosed early this year with mesothelioma and filed the suit against his former employers.
In the suit, Davis claimed that his illness was triggered by exposure to asbestos-containing pipes and valves.
Davis worked for the Navy as a boiler tender.
Verdict Reached
The Superior Court reached their verdict only five weeks after the trial began.
The verdict includes $100,000 for economic damages, $25 million for the plaintiff’s pain and suffering and $10 million for Davis’ wife.
Defendants Accused in Case
Leslie Controls, a division of Circor International and Warren Pumps were named as defendants in the suit.
Both companies supplied asbestos-containing material to the Navy and are being forced to pay 7.1 percent of the damages.
The rest of the money will reportedly come from other entities, including the Navy.
(Source: Forbes)
$3.4 Million Mesothelioma Settlement Reached in Asbestos Suit
The Virginia Supreme Court recently rejected an appeal in a mesothelioma lawsuit filed by the family of a man who passed away due to asbestos exposure.
The court rejected an appeal brought about by John Crane Inc., one of the defendants in the suit, and upheld the $3.4 million verdict.
Shipyard Exposure
Garland F. Jones Jr. was employed at the Newport News Shipbuilding during the 1960’s.
During his employment, Jones was allegedly exposed to asbestos fibers, and as a result, developed mesothelioma years later.
In 2005, Jones died from the cancer and his wife, Wanda T. Jones, worked hard to see justice served in light of her husband’s death.
Defendant Tries to Appeal
Just after Jones’ death, the Newport New jury concluded that his family deserved $10.4 million in the wrongful death case that was filed against the three companies that made equipment-containing asbestos.
John Crane appealed the $10 million while the other companies, Johns Manville Corp., and Garlock Sealing Technologies settled for less before the case continued further.
The jury then concluded that John Crane Inc. was responsible for paying the Jones family $3.4 million.
Family Emerges Victorious
The $3.4 million settlement is said to be the largest of its kind in Virginia.
However, Wanda, who worked so hard on her husband’s behalf, died of cancer before the verdict was reached.
The rest of the Jones family took over for their diseased parents.
“It is a bittersweet day for our family,” said daughter, Ansley, “It was important to our mother to receive justice in this case. She worked very tirelessly to make it happen and didn’t allow such a big company to intimidate her.”
(Source: DailyPress.com)
$449M Asbestos Claim Settled by Travelers
This past week Travelers Cos. Inc. settled the asbestos claims involving their former asbestos contractor, AcandS.
The case was settled with Travelers, who insured AcandS, due to pay $365 million and Travelers’ reinsurers, the companies that protect insurers against high claims, are expected to pay $84 million.
Lead Up to the Settlement
This settlement is the most recent in a string of asbestos coverage disputes that have stemmed from the insurance industry since the 1980’s.
“AcandS had been one of our most significant and longest-standing asbestos exposures,” explains Jay S. Fishman, the chairman and chief executive at Travelers’.
According to reports, Travelers had 1, 762 policyholders in 2006 who had pending asbestos claims that had not been settled.
Asbestos Exposure Proves to be Costly
AcandS Inc., who is now bankrupt, was a former distributor and installer of asbestos insulation products.
Exposure to asbestos can cause a form of cancer known as mesothelioma, along with asbestosis, a breathing disorder.
(Source: The Hartford Courant