The court battle going on now with six test cases will be decisive for the families of thousands of others who also died from mesothelioma. At issue from the insurance companies’ viewpoint is the timing of developing cancerous cells related to when the company was still in business and insurance was in effect. If a worker worked at a company in the 1960s, and it went out of business in the 1990s—10 years before the worker was diagnosed—the insurance company claims the insurance was not in force at the time. It will take a great deal of careful medical research together with skillful legal maneuvering to work through this kind of argument.
If the insurance companies win this lawsuit, says the union lawyer involved, “it will mean the policies they sold to employers, at the time when workers were being negligently exposed to asbestos, will not be worth the paper they were written on.”
In the U.S., mesothelioma cancer patients who suffered asbestos exposure or were exposed to a similar related substance at work can normally file an asbestos lawsuit. Companies that do not or did not reveal the dangers of asbestos to workers can often be held responsible and must compensate victims and their families. But understanding the legal details and understanding the position of insurance companies is essential. This is one of the reasons why it’s critical to have a lawyer who is highly experienced with the laws and the history of asbestos and mesothelioma. If you or someone you love have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, first find a doctor who understands the disease. Then contact us to talk about your mesothelioma legal rights. We focus on helping victims of mesothelioma win cases and receive compensation, and we’ll be happy to talk with you about your situation.
Visit our website to learn about alternative medicine and other resources to help you manage the stress of living with mesothelioma. Or you can call us for information at 800.443.6353, or email us. We have many years of experience helping mesothelioma patients and their families with information, resources, and guidance on their legal rights.