Mesothelioma Settlements-What’s the Value of a Human Life Worth?

Posted at May 1, 2009

What is the value that can be placed on a human life? How much is pain and suffering worth in terms of dollars and cents? Could it be worth millions?

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, a disease almost exclusively contracted from exposure to asbestos, there may be legal grounds for pursuing a lawsuit. If they win a favorable verdict or receive a settlement it could be a very sizable amount of money.

There is no accurate gauge for measuring the damage this disease can cause to a person and their family. It can be difficult to evaluate exactly the value of a settlement. Each case will have different circumstances and can vary greatly. Also there can be many differences in how these cases are viewed from one state to another.

That being said there have been many high settlements with mesothelioma cases in the US. Here is a sampling of some very high settlements:

After being diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2001, Roby Whittington, a retired US Steel worker was awarded $250 million

$34.1 million was awarded in 2000 to a 64 year old retired worker from the Shell Oil Company. It was in 1998 that he was diagnosed with plueral mesothelioma. He was exposed to the asbestos when he worked at the Shell Oil Refinery from 1956-1966.

$33.7 million was awarded to a Navy electrician and his wife in California. The electrician contracted mesothelioma from occupational exposure to asbestos.

$10 million was awarded to a retired 82-year old machinist with mesothelioma in 2005.

One of the very earliest recorded cases for a mesothelioma award was in 1973 for a posthumous patient at $80,000.

There are numerous reports of other cases where the settlements ranged in the millions of dollars to others that were just in the thousands. The majority of settlements in mesothelioma cases are not as high as those mentioned. Most will pay for medical expenses, lost wages, expenses incurred during the time of the disease and occasionally something for pain and suffering. But a multimillion dollar settlement is still a possibility. It is best that you discuss with an attorney that is a specialist in this type of case.

A well selected mesothelioma attorney should be able to help you get an idea of what a settlement might look like. Costs covering medical, loss of income and other expenses that can be documented are easy to add up. But putting a price on the value of pain and suffering (non economic damages) can be very different and a good mesothelioma lawyer can your best help in soring things out.

Most attorneys will offer a free consultation. Be sure to seek out one that will take on the case with out any upfront cost to you. They will be paid only if they win a settlement. You will also agree upon how much their fee will be out of any settlement before you agree to go forward. Here is a list of good questions you can ask that will help you select a good mesothelioma lawyer texas.