Mesothelioma Class Action Lawsuits

Class action lawsuits are filed on behalf of a group of people with the same or similar injuries allegedly caused by one or more defendant. The intent is to streamline the judicial process and save time and money by grouping similar cases together.

When the American public became aware of the terrible health effects of asbestos exposure in the late 1960s, class action lawsuits were a natural option to hold negligent companies accountable.

State and federal courts have their own rules for governing class actions, but most agree on the basics.

Mesothelioma class action lawsuits were typically filed against companies in the construction, shipbuilding, mining or manufacturing industries. These companies were liable because their executives knew about the risks of asbestos exposure but hid this information from workers and consumers.

As more asbestos-related claims piled in, however, it became clear that mesothelioma lawsuits were best handled on an individual basis.

Asbestos litigation is the longest-running mass tort in American history. But while the thousands of claims filed each year have a common theme — asbestos exposure — each case is unique.

Every patient diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease has a different story and unique circumstances that affect their case. This makes it problematic to group the cases together in class actions.

Class action lawsuits are better suited for groups with similar injuries and shared circumstances such as those affected by dangerous drugs, product defects or civil rights issues.

In 1991, the federal courts consolidated their asbestos cases into the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Since then, a special court known as MDL 875 has heard multidistrict asbestos litigation at the federal level.

In Georgine v. Amchem Products Inc., a group of asbestos-product manufacturers and plaintiffs’ attorneys sought to negotiate a settlement agreement. Their idea was to create a class solely for settlement purposes and set up a payment matrix to calculate payouts for present and future claims.

The Third Circuit Court of Appeals ultimately ruled against the plan. It determined class certification was inappropriate because the group of claimants was too large and their circumstances were too diverse.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled against certifying an asbestos class action lawsuit in Ortiz v. Fibreboard Corp. Federal courts generally uphold the precedent set by Georgine v. Amchem. Some state courts are more willing to certify class actions, but it is uncommon in asbestos litigation.

Most mesothelioma lawsuits are filed as personal injury claims or wrongful death claims. Compensation may also be available through asbestos trust funds, workers’ compensation or claims through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

It is best to consult an experienced mesothelioma attorney about your options for legal compensation. A qualified asbestos lawyer will focus on your individual circumstances.