| Q. |
“Is
it financially worthwhile to seek compensation?”
 |
| A. |
“Yes,
amounts may be very significant, and are often enough to provide
care for the patient, as well as financial security for the surviving
spouse and family.”
|
| Q. |
“What
is the advantage of dealing with compensation issues now?”
|
| A. |
“In most states,
a case will settle more quickly if the plaintiff is alive, because
those cases receive priority. Additionally, there is no one better
suited to establish the facts of exposure than the person who has
the disease. It is important to accomplish this while he/she is
still strong and able to relate this information. And, all states
limit the amount of time after a diagnosis that funds can be made
available.”
|
| Q. |
“Why is
the asbestos industry required to pay compensation to victims of mesothelioma?
As someone who has never filed a claim of any kind, should I feel
right about filing?”
|
| A. |
“Yes, you should.
It has been proven from internal documents, that the companies who
manufactured asbestos-containing products knew of the dangers of
their products as far back as the 1920s, yet failed to warn anyone
until the 1970s.
“They conspired as an industry to spread false and manipulated
medical results so people would be persuaded their products were
safe. Many of these companies are now willingly negotiating settlements,
which allow the victims and their families to achieve financial
security and peace of mind as they deal with the devastating results
of mesothelioma.”
|
| Q. |
“How can
you prove exposure from so long ago?”
|
| A. |
“People have been
exposed to asbestos in many different ways, sometimes unknowingly.
Some are exposed on the job or in military service; some are exposed
at home. A firm with experience in investigating asbestos exposure
has numerous proven methods for finding and documenting a person’s
exposure.”
|
| Q. |
“How do
I find the right attorney?”
|
| A. |
“Some states do
not have attorneys who handle asbestos cases. It is important to
make a connection with a firm that is experienced in the
claims processes, has a proven track record, a strong network
of local counsel, and will also give you personal attention.
We send an attorney to meet with you at no cost or obligation before
you make any decisions. Our firm handles cases nationwide; we currently
have clients in all 50 states. We put together a legal team that
includes local co-counsel in the state of filing at no additional
cost to the client.”
|
| Q. |
“How can
we afford to have our claim investigated, filed and represented?”
|
| A. |
“Our firm handles
cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that you pay nothing
unless we make a recovery for you. You will only pay out of this
recovery, and will not have out-of-pocket expenses.”
|
| Q. |
“Where
would be the case be filed?”
|
| A. |
“Every case is
evaluated to determine the geographical options for filing. For
instance, a person might live in Oklahoma, have been in the Navy
on a ship that docked in California, and been exposed to a product
in Texas. We might advise against filing in Oklahoma, where settlements
are traditionally lower, and instead suggest filing in California,
where, like Texas, settlements may be higher, and case resolution
may be quicker. In such cases, we would add local California counsel
to the legal team at no additional cost.”
|
| Q. |
“Are these
class actions?”
|
| A. |
“No. Our philosophy
is against class actions. Our firm believes in representing one
person at a time in their own personal case. In this way, the client’s
situation is evaluated and compensated individually, based on its
own circumstances and merits.”
|
| Q. |
“How long
does it take to resolve these cases?”
|
| A. |
“In many jurisdictions,
mesothelioma cases are treated with urgency, and are given high
priority. This is particularly true if the client is alive. In addition,
we target numerous asbestos manufacturers, and as soon as a settlement
with one manufacturer is reached, the funds are dispersed to the
client. In this way, the client and his/her family receive settlements
along the way, rather than waiting for a single lump sum at the
end, thus enabling them to use the money for medical treatment or
other personal expenditures while the client is still alive.”
|
| Q. |
“Would
this claim be filed against my employer?”
|
| A. |
“Our firm files
claims against the asbestos industry, where, in most situations,
people with mesothelioma will receive the largest recoveries. If
a person has an interest in filing against their employer, we would
refer the client to an attorney who handles Workers’ Compensation
claims.”
|
