You have probably heard about monetary awards juries are making to victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Each of these situations represent the culmination of a lengthy, stressful process that begins when the victim files a complaint and ends when the judge or jury issues their ruling at the end of the trial. Between those two events is months, even years of discovery - the fact finding process during which evidence is obtained, examined, analyzed and organized, mesothelioma testimony and depositions, arguments, interviews, and more.
In addition to the stress and strain of litigation, costs in terms of time and money can be considerable. If a malignant mesothelioma victim is in the advanced stages of the mesothelioma disease, s/he may want to discuss options with his/her attorney for resolving the claim, especially if the case is in a court that does not have a docket that accelerates in situations like this. One option may be investigating whether or not there is an interest by any defendant in reaching an out of court settlement of the claim. There is no right to a settlement, but if each party agrees, it may happen.
If you fell that the behavior of corporations in the matter of asbestos has been beyond reprehensible. This may anger you. Juries have found the men who control some of these corporations guilty of conspiracy, fraud and oppression. These actions are, in other instances, sometimes considered criminal acts. But, mesothelioma claims are in the civil court not criminal court. In some states, this does not prevent juries from assessing punitive damages, which are monetary awards designed to punish corporate malfeasance.
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