Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Between the 1920s and 1970s, companies exposed millions of employees to toxic asbestos. Lawsuits accuse companies of knowing about the dangers of asbestos and failing to warn workers about the risks of developing mesothelioma and other diseases.

In 1973, a shipyard worker named Clarence Borel won the first mesothelioma asbestos jury verdict against Fireboard Paper Products Corporation. Borel sued 11 companies that made the asbestos. He died before a verdict. A jury awarded his widow $79,436.

Borel’s case paved the way for successful litigation against asbestos manufacturers. By the early 1980s there were more than 20,000 mesothelioma claims.

About one-third of mesothelioma victims are military veterans who were exposed to asbestos in ships, tanks, aircraft or military bases. Other people who filed claims include factory workers, construction workers, electricians and others who worked with asbestos-containing products.

The average settlement for mesothelioma is between $1 million and $1.4 million, and awards for trial verdicts average $7.4 million.

In May 2018, a California jury awarded a freelance construction worker $6.8 million after he developed mesothelioma. In September 2018, a man who said asbestos-contaminated talc in Johnson’s Baby Powder led to him to develop mesothelioma received a $37 million jury verdict. In June 2022, a jury awarded $36.7 million to a former welder and pipefitter who developed mesothelioma.

In addition to settlements and jury verdicts, manufacturers have also placed billions of dollars in asbestos trusts to pay out compensation.

If you or a loved one receives a mesothelioma diagnosis from suspected asbestos exposure, there are some criteria to meet before filing a lawsuit.

First, people with mesothelioma, or their family members, must gather all medical records proving the diagnosis. This should include a biopsy confirming diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma.

Second, people should know the approximate date of asbestos exposure. It may be a time frame of months or years rather than an exact date. The exposure must have occurred in the U.S. and have been before 1985.

In addition to these criteria, people should think of any products containing asbestos they may have worked with. It is also important to note if they worked in a location that may have contained asbestos. These details may help determine which companies to sue. Mesothelioma lawsuits usually name several asbestos manufacturers as defendants.

Traditionally, these defendants have been industrial manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. However, there is a new wave of lawsuits involving manufacturers of cosmetic products. These include Johnson & Johnson, which is defending itself against allegations its talcum products, including baby powder, may have contained asbestos.

The next steps involve writing a complaint and filing it with civil claims court. People filing suit will have to pay court fees. A process server will have to serve a copy of the complaint to all named defendants.

Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit is complex because many of the defendants in asbestos litigation filed for bankruptcy or are no longer in business, and filing a lawsuit without a lawyer can be difficult.

An experienced lawyer will know the proper way to write your lawsuit and discover all possible defendants in your case. They will also determine whether you will need to file a civil lawsuit or claim with the asbestos bankruptcy trust.

Historically, most mesothelioma lawsuits have involved men exposed to asbestos on the job. For example, the family of boiler factory worker Pietro Macaluso received a verdict of $60 million in New York. This is known as primary exposure to asbestos.

But lawsuits for secondary exposure to asbestos are increasing. Secondary exposure occurs when family members breathe in asbestos from the clothes, hair or skin of someone who worked with asbestos.

In 2016, about 22 percent of asbestos cases claimed secondary exposure. In these cases, 90 percent of plaintiffs were women.

People exposed to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder can also file mesothelioma claims. Exposure to contaminated talcum powder can be industrial or cosmetic.

People who work with ceramics, paints or in talcum powder factories, for example, may be exposed to asbestos in industrial talc. People who used consumer products containing talc may also be at risk of asbestos exposure.

In April 2018, a jury awarded $117 million to a banker who used Johnson & Johnson’s baby powder and was diagnosed with mesothelioma.

As of 2002, about 730,000 people had filed lawsuits against more than 8,400 manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. A lawsuit may name several defendants.

For example, a union steamfitter may have worked in many buildings for many companies. The steamfitter may also have used asbestos products from many corporations.

In more recent lawsuits that involve asbestos-contaminated talcum powder, defendants may be manufacturers of cosmetic talc and personal hygiene products like Johnson & Johnson or Colgate Palmolive.

Asbestos Trust Claims

Many of the manufacturers involved in early asbestos litigation filed bankruptcy. Instead of suing these manufacturers directly, lawyers file asbestos trust fund claims for mesothelioma patients.

The Johns-Manville Corporation filed bankruptcy and began establishing the first trust in 1982, and it was officially established in 1988. Since then, virtually every asbestos manufacturer has filed for bankruptcy and created a trust.

Companies deposited about $37 billion into the trusts. More than $18 billion has been paid to claimants.

Have you been diagnosed with mesothelioma?
Patients seeking compensation need to have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma by their doctor. This is done via a biopsy.

When were you diagnosed with mesothelioma?
Your attorney will want to know the date of your mesothelioma diagnosis to make sure you’re within the time limit to file a lawsuit. If you have mesothelioma, the statute of limitations started the day you were diagnosed. If you’re filing on behalf of a loved one who died of mesothelioma, the statute of limitations began on the date they passed away. Based on this information, your lawyer can help you determine whether you’re within the time limit for your state and type of claim.

When were you exposed to asbestos?
People filing mesothelioma lawsuits were generally exposed to asbestos in the U.S. before 1985. Asbestos-related diseases typically take 20 to 50 years to develop, which means that even if you were exposed to asbestos on the job as an adult, it may take decades for your cancer to manifest itself.

Where do you believe you were exposed to asbestos?
The majority of people who develop mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos on the job. Military veterans, shipyard workers and construction workers are among those individuals who are most at risk of occupational asbestos exposure. Providing your attorney with a list of the companies where you worked can help him or her build your case.

Were you exposed to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder?
Individuals who were exposed to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder can also file mesothelioma lawsuits. Exposure to talcum powder can either be industrial or cosmetic, as talc was and still is used in makeup and body powder products.

How are you being treated for your mesothelioma?
Traditional mesothelioma treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation. Let your attorney know about the treatments you’re currently undergoing as well as their effectiveness.