A Step-By-Step Guide For Choosing Your Asbestos Settlement
Baron & Budd Asbestos Settlement Lawyers
Baron and Budd, one of the most successful plaintiffs' law offices in the United States, is a large and accomplished firm. The firm's lawyers specialize in toxic tort litigation.
Their clients have worked in various industries. They have been exposed to mesothelioma and asbestos. Their lawyers have fought threats to the rights of victims, including a recent attempt to settle asbestos claims through class action settlements.
Asbestos Litigation
Baron & Budd, founded in 1977, has earned national recognition for its work in cutting-edge litigation. The firm has tried hundreds of cases and settled thousands in areas like addictive and hazardous drugs defective medical devices, pollution of the environment in California mesothelioma as well as fraudulent banking practices.
The firm is known for its ability to pursue justice against large corporations. It has won some of the biggest verdicts in American history including asbestos, as well as many other settlements and awards. The firm's lawyers have won several awards which include the Trial Lawyer of the year award from the non profit organization Public Justice.
In the famous MTBE lawsuit, the firm represented residents from an Arizona community who were exposed to toxic MTBE pollutants in various refineries as well as other locations along Cancer Alley. In recognition of their efforts in this landmark case, the firm was awarded the famous Pro Bono Service Award from the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys (NACBA).
Customers of the firm have been exposed to asbestos in number of locations across the United States. After the PFAS scandal, the firm has filed lawsuits against companies who used toxic AFFF foam to put out fires at military bases, public water systems and airports, as well as private wells.
The firm's attorneys have also successfully litigated against asbestos-producing companies and represented mesothelioma patients against false claims made by insurance companies. The firm, for instance recently obtained the sum of $4 million on behalf of the family of late actor Paul Gleason who died from mesothelioma, caused by asbestos-containing substances he used at construction sites as an untrained young man.
Baron & Budd has also been at the forefront of defending victims' rights in mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuits and defending against asbestos defendants' attempts to restrict claimants' access to courts and other judicial resources. In one case Baron & Budd's mesothelioma attorneys fought the Fibreboard Corporation's proposed class settlement in a lawsuit all up to the Supreme Court, which ultimately denied the settlement as unconstitutional.
Mesothelioma Litigation
Mesothelioma cases are complicated and require extensive research. A mesothelioma lawyer must review medical records, employment history and asbestos company records to determine exposure and determine if asbestos caused the cancer. They also have to locate witnesses and locate old documents. In one case lawyers at Baron and Budd uncovered evidence that a company improperly dumped asbestos-based chemicals that were toxic in a Tucson community's groundwater. These chemicals were ingested and have been linked to rare illnesses like fibromyalgia, asbestosis, mesothelioma and a myriad of other cancers.
Mesothelioma cases are handled on an individual basis. The amount of compensation is determined by the specifics of each case. Lawyers who specialize in mesothelioma cases are able to provide more specialized representation, and help clients to receive higher settlement amounts. In one instance, for example mesothelioma lawyers helped an old worker who was exposed to asbestos at several different jobs in the US receive an $3.5million settlement.
The mesothelioma lawyers at Baron and Budd have fought to protect victims' rights in numerous cases, including Amchem Products v. Windsor and Ortiz v. Fibreboard Corporation. These cases were heard by the Supreme Court and ultimately helped protect present and future victims the right to sue asbestos companies for compensating them for their injury.
Lawyers from Baron and Budd have also been advocating for more comprehensive benefits for workers who suffer from mesothelioma and asbestos-related ailments. They were instrumental in obtaining a major ruling in the case of Pustejovsky v. Rapid-American Corp. The court ruled that workers who have already received compensation due to asbestos-related ailments should be granted a second claim in the event of being diagnosed with a different disease like mesothelioma.
Asbestos suits can be a long process. However, top mesothelioma lawyers strive to speed up the process so that victims get the amount of compensation they're entitled to as fast as possible. They are also able to negotiate large settlements in a variety of states. The majority of mesothelioma cases settle out of court, before they even go to trial. Settlements can also be made at any time during the trial.
Environmental Litigation
Baron & Budd has earned an international reputation for handling environmental litigation involving pollutants that harm individuals, businesses and property. When corporate negligence causes water contamination, Baron and Budd is committed to ensuring that those who have been injured by these pollutants are treated fairly by settling compensation. The firm also works to defend the rights of workers who have suffered injuries due to exposure to toxic substances.
The firm represents clients who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace and who have developed a serious illness, including mesothelioma and lung cancer, or other diseases. A large portion of these victims were employed by employers that used asbestos-containing products or Navy ships. The firm has been successful in pursuing cases against Boeing and General Electric. The firm's attorneys also participated in high-profile environmental cases, such as those related to the Volkswagen emission fraud scandal as well as the Takata recall.
Trust funds for asbestos are used to pay mesothelioma patients who have been incapable of suing individual defendants for their asbestos-related disease. The lawyers who handle mesothelioma cases help victims get money from these trust funds. It is important to know that the law firms that handle mesothelioma cases aren't responsible for collecting these funds.
Lawyers who deal with mesothelioma cases are familiar dealing with environmental statutes and regulations as well as the complex discovery and trial procedures. These lawyers are well-versed in the issues and are often called upon to serve as expert witnesses in the federal and state courts.
The firm's environmental litigation experience includes cases involving groundwater contamination, oil pipelines chemical plants, pipelines, and landfills. The attorneys of the firm have represented public agencies, and private individuals in cases involving the contamination of lead and mercury, as well as benzene and PCBs.
In a case against the U.S. Navy, the firm fought for justice for Admiral Elmo R. Zumwalt Jr. who was diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of his extensive exposure to asbestos aboard Navy vessels. The firm successfully argued that the Navy's exposure-equals-causation policy was unconstitutional. Memphis asbestos lawsuit agreed and reversed the lower court's decision.
Personal Injury
Personal injury cases involve injury to the body or mind and is not a matter of damage to property. Baron and Budd lawyers have extensive experience representing people with such injuries, including mesothelioma victims, drug injury plaintiffs, workers injured at work, families affected by environmental contamination and many more. The firm has achieved a national reputation for obtaining significant awards and settlements in class action lawsuits.
Our lawyers will assist you understand the legal procedure and your rights, ensuring that you receive the compensation you are entitled to. In some cases, you may be able to settle your case prior to trial by agreeing on a suitable amount of compensation with the defendant or their insurance company. This could allow you to avoid the stress of a long trial, and can also save you the time, expense and possible conflict that can arise in going to court.
Asbestos and mesothelioma litigation are a complex issue that requires skill and knowledge. Our lawyers have a wealth of experience handling these types of cases, and the resources to handle any difficulty. Our team of compassionate and committed lawyers has a long history of helping people get the justice they deserve.
Baron & Budd, founded in 1977, has been at forefront of plaintiff advocacy for over four decades. Their lawyers have handled thousands of asbestos, mesothelioma, and class action cases. They have secured millions of dollars in settlements and awards for clients across the nation.
Our attorneys are proficient at handling all kinds of litigation in federal or state courts of all sizes. They are adept in taking the lead during complex trials and negotiated agreements. They have been awarded national recognition for their efforts, including the Trial Lawyer of the year award from the non-profit group Public Justice.
In 2021, Environmental Litigation Group reached the $537.5-million class action settlement across the nation that settled claims against Monsanto Company, Pharmacia, LLC, Solutia, Inc. and Solutia, Inc. for MTBE contamination of water in 2442 governmental agencies which included Plumas, Lassen, Butte, Shasta, Tehama Counties. Scott Summy, a shareholder of the company, served as the lead counsel for the class.