Factors Affecting the Largest Asbestos Settlement
There are many factors that influence the biggest asbestos settlement. Lawyers can draw on their experience to determine possible settlements in particular cases.
Generally, lawyers will settle 95% of cases. They begin by gathering evidence and then filing a lawsuit. They can also exchange information through discovery. Depending on the strength of the evidence, some cases go to trial.
Owens Corning
The Owens Corning Corporation manufactures fiberglass and glass products. Its two main operating segments are Building Materials Systems and Composite Solutions which are the latter accounting for 80 % of the company's annual revenue. The company is well-known for its Fiberglas and foam insulation, Owens Corning also makes asphalt products, vinyl siding, windows, and patio doors. Its Composite Solutions division manufactures composite materials that are used in electronics, telecommunications equipment, and bathtubs and showers.
The company is focused on corporate responsibility and sustainability as well as environmental sustainability. Its stewardship includes community and civic initiatives, donations to products as well as volunteer time. Owens Corning donates more than $1,000,000 in financial contributions each year to the communities that it serves. The social initiatives of the company and on the environment are an extension of its fundamental value Individual Dignity.
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related disease that may take a long time to develop. When the patients start to develop symptoms, many of the responsible businesses have already gone bankrupt. The pressure from companies like Baron & Budd has forced these bankrupt corporations to the bargaining table where they agreed to set up bankruptcy trusts to settle asbestos claims. The trust can sue victims for compensation.
Some victims do not receive a settlement. If you decide to go to court, you may get a verdict from a jury. These verdicts are often less than a settlement, however they do have the advantage of being guaranteed compensation. A jury or judge can lower or overturn jury awards after a trial.
Owens Corning is committed to the environment as evidenced by its green products and business practices. One of the company's most known environmental initiatives is to reduce the amount of energy used in its plants. The insulation products of the company use recycled glass and renewable resources as well as insulation and roofing products made using a minimum of 30 percent post-consumer material.
The firm is comprised of an asbestos-related team who are committed to helping victims with mesothelioma or other toxic exposures. The team has successfully represented clients who have had unconventional asbestos exposure histories. These include HVAC technicians and industrial workers. They also have won significant verdicts for auto mechanics and asbestos-related workers in shipyards and construction sites.
Union Carbide
In July 2023, a jury handed $107 million to the family of a man who died from mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos at an Union Carbide plant in California. The award is the largest verdict in an asbestos case ever. The company has the option of appealing this decision. It has alleged that the judge, Eddie Bowen, had an interest conflict due to the fact that his father suffers from asbestosis. The Mississippi Supreme Court will review the allegations.
Union Carbide produced asbestos in large quantities up to the 1980s. Its plants used the material for the production of cement, insulation and a variety of industrial products. It also offered asbestos to other companies to use in their factories. Workers in these factories were exposed to asbestos. Many of them were diagnosed with mesothelioma, which is a fatal form of cancer that is not curable or treated.
The gas leak of 1984 in Bhopal, India was one of the most infamous Union Carbide cases. This disaster killed thousands of people and injured many more. A faulty safety system was at fault for the incident. Union Carbide has refused to upgrade their safety systems in spite of this catastrophe.
Another asbestos lawsuit against the company involved a mesothelioma victim who worked at Kelly-Moore in San Carlos, California. Plaintiffs argued Union Carbide sold toxic asbestos to Kelly-Moore in a knowingly. Plaintiffs presented invoices showing that the company sold Kelly-Moore asbestos from 1971 and 1976. However, uncontradicted evidence suggested that Kelly-Moore sourced the majority of its asbestos from other sources.
These companies are just one of the many asbestos manufacturers that have been held liable for mesothelioma as well as other asbestos-related diseases. Union Carbide, unlike most asbestos producers, did NOT declare bankruptcy or set up a trust fund for the settlement of claims. The company continues to fight mesothelioma lawsuits in courts all over the country. If you have been exposed to asbestos in a Union Carbide factory, an experienced New York mesothelioma lawyer can assist you in obtaining maximum compensation from the company responsible for your illness. Contact Belluck & Fox to schedule a consultation.
Chevron Phillips Chemical
The Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC is a petrochemical firm that produces polyolefins and olefins. It also manufactures alpha-olefins as well as specialty chemicals. The company's headquarters is in The Woodlands. The company produces and markets various products for industries such as agriculture, electronics, and construction.
Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was extracted, processed and sold across the United States throughout the majority of the 20th century. Asbestos is extremely hazardous and can lead to a variety of serious health problems such as mesothelioma. If you or someone close to you has been exposed asbestos, you should contact an attorney for mesothelioma to find out more about your legal options.
Thomas Brown, a former oil worker, was awarded $322 million in the most infamous case against Chevron Philips Chemical. A jury found the defendants to be responsible for his asbestosis because they produced and sold drilling mud containing asbestos. Brown was employed at the plant from 1979 and 1990, during which time he breathed asbestos while mixing the drilling mud. The jury awarded him over $300 million in medical expenses for the future and pain, suffering and punitive damage.
Chevron Phillips Chemical is a manufacturing company for petrochemicals, which has three plants in Texas. Glendale asbestos lawsuits are primarily used for the production of ethylene, however they also produce propylene and polyethylene. The company has made a variety of environmental improvements to its plants. For example, in 2008, the company announced a plan to upgrade its emissions control equipment at the Baytown plant. The upgrade will cut emissions by more than 10 percent.
The company has also agreed that it will enhance its procedures for flaring waste gas. This will prevent the release of toxic chemicals into the environment. The agreement requires the company to install and operate instruments to ensure that the gases delivered to flares are combusted efficiently.
The agreement is part a larger settlement between a company and the Justice Department. The Justice Department has settled a lawsuit brought against the company for violating of the Clean Air Act. In this case the company is expected to pay an $1.8 million civil penalty for violations at its Pasadena plant in 1999 and 2000.
Dana Corporation
For a long time, Dana Corporation provided an assortment of asbestos-containing products to heavy-duty and standard vehicle manufacturers. These included axles, drive shafts, as well as universal joints and seals. Workers who assembled, mounted and disassembled the parts were at risk of asbestos fiber exposure. These harmful substances can also be accessed by relatives or friends of the workers if they are working near auto parts at their work sites or at home. This exposure to asbestos increased the likelihood of developing mesothelioma or lung cancer.
Clarence Spicer founded the company in 1904 following the invention of a revolutionary part for cars known as the Spicer Universal Joint. Despite the invention of this groundbreaking part, the company had a difficult time financially in its early years. It wasn't till 1914 that the company began to earn profits.
After establishing the company, Spicer hired a team of scientists and engineers to develop new products for the automotive industry. Eventually, the company became one of the leading makers of automotive parts worldwide.
In March 2006, Dana Company filed for Chapter 11 protection. As part of its reorganization strategy, the company put aside $240 million to settle asbestos-related claims.
Asbestos lawsuits against the company have been filed by a variety of individuals including former employees and customers of the company's products. Some of these cases resulted in large payouts for mesothelioma patients.
Edward Robaey was awarded the largest settlement, one from New York who contracted mesothelioma in the year prior. He filed a lawsuit against the company, Felt Products MFG Co., and four other asbestos producers. Robaey was diagnosed with Mesothelioma of the peritoneal after years of exposure to asbestos.
If you have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma, it is essential to speak with a mesothelioma attorney to determine what compensation may be available to you. Asbestos attorneys have the experience and resources to help asbestos victims receive maximum compensation. They can also connect asbestos victims with qualified mesothelioma physicians and assist them in getting the treatment they require. Contact us today for an absolutely free, no-obligation consultation with a mesothelioma attorney.