As defined by the National Cancer Institute: "Malignant mesothelioma, a rare form of cancer, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the sac lining the chest (the pleura), the lining of the abdominal cavity (the peritoneum) or the lining around the heart (the pericardium)."
Because mesothelioma is most commonly found in people who worked in jobs where they breathed absestos, often without their knowledge, you may be curious if a lawsuit is possible. Some patients don't know when or where they came in contact with absestors, but with enough research it is usually shown to be the cause.
Mesothelioma patients and families do often have the potential to bring a lawsuit and win a judgement against an employer or product manufacturer for using absestors and exposing them to this risk. It is important to note though that there is often a statute of limitations on filing a suit, so it's important to speak to an attorney as soon as possible after diagnosis. In some cases, a wrongful death lawsuit can be filed by family of a patient who has died from Mesothelioma. Again, speaking with an attorney is the best course of action in this situation.
Most attorny's will work on a contingency basis if they believe in your case, so you often don't need any money up front to pay a Mesothelioma attorney. It is difficult to give any expected judgement, each case is different in terms of exposure, severity of the illness, and at how much the company or manufacturer is at fault. Often different states handle these laws in different ways, so speaking to an attorney is necessary.
