Although the expression mesothelioma asbestos lawyer does not have any meaning in the conventional legal sense, it refers to a lawyer who concentrates on handling litigation involving victims of the illness known as malignant mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer in the mesothelium, or the protective lining that surrounds many organs of the body, particularly the lungs. While not exclusively brought on by just one agent, mesothelioma is most often caused by prolonged contact with the mineral asbestos.
Asbestos is an expression used to describe one of six different fibrous minerals which have long been used in business as both an insulator as well as a fire retardant. While the minerals are ideally suited to those uses, their fibers are small, sharp, and readily inhaled by humans. The razor-sharp fibers can puncture tissues inside the body and linger there for many years. Mesothelioma doesn't develop swiftly; the elapsed time between exposure and start of the disease can vary from 15 to 50 years, with a median of 32. Mesothelioma treatment options are few and the prognosis for individuals that are identified as having the condition is poor.
Litigation has been effectively brought against asbestos manufacturers and corporations who have used asbestos in construction since the early part of the twentieth century. It has been estimated that some 800,000 individuals have so far filed suit for exposure to asbestos and as a result, numerous corporations, have gone out of business, including Manville Corporation, which filed for bankruptcy in 1982.
Litigation against asbestos manufacturers is complicated and prolonged. A lawyer with a general practice may not be well inclined or well-suited to accepting a potential lawsuit involving mesothelioma. This kind of litigation may take years and may involve hundreds or even thousands of man-hours of study. Lawyers who don't specialize in asbestos law may find themselves overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be done to bring such a case to court. Lawyers who specialize in handling such cases on a fulltime basis are the best bet for everyone who has been exposed to asbestos and is thinking about either filing or participating in a mesothelioma lawsuit. A mesothelioma asbestos lawyer will be familiar with case histories, prior lawsuits, established precedents, and other factors that may help expedite the case in addition to being in a more suitable position to arrange for a possible mesothelioma settlement for the injured party.
Such cases have, in come cases, led to significant settlements for the plaintiffs. The first significant mesothelioma settlement occurred in 1982, and the plaintiff, James Cavett, was awarded nearly $4 million in compensation.
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