"An idea not coupled with action will never get any bigger than the brain cell it occupied."Arnold H. Glasow
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How Second Hand Smoke Threatens Your Health
Secondhand smoking, breathing in of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), is also called passive smoking. It is when a person breathes in smoke given off into the environment by other people. Secondhand smoke or ETS is a combination of side stream smoke ...
Identifying Asbestos
How do you know if you have asbestos in your property? There are thousands of products that contain asbestos and these are referred to as being "asbestos containing materials" - and they come in all shapes and sizes. Asbestos has been used since the late ...
Pericardial Mesothelioma FAQ
What is pericardial mesothelioma? Pericardial Mesothelioma is a rare form of mesothelioma cancer that accounts for approximately 5% of all mesothelioma cases. Cancerous cells build up on the lining of the heart. What is the cause of pericardial ...
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10 Keys to Choosing a Mesothelioma Attorney
Hiring a lawyer can be an intimidating process, especially if you've never hired one before. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cases are complex and require experienced, top notch attorneys. How do you know which lawyer will bring the attention and skill to your case that it deserves? We've compiled the following list to help you with your decision:
1. Trust your instincts. Do you feel comfortable talking with the prospective attorney? Does he or she listen and ask questions? If you feel that you are not being taken seriously, go elsewhere.
2. Check the attorney's professional credentials. Carefully review the firm's website and brochures, and check the attorney's profile and rating at www.martindale-hubbell.com. If you're still unsure, ask for references.
3. Make sure the firm is customer-oriented. Do you have direct access to the attorney who is actually responsible for your case? Does he or she return your phone calls promptly? Remember you are the customer and have the right to expect good service.
4. Ask if your case will be handled individually. Some firms will accept your case, only to bundle it with a large group of similar cases. This practice tends to diminish the value of stronger cases in order to help weaker ones.
5. Find an attorney with experience in mesothelioma litigation. Does your attorney have direct experience in mesothelioma litigation? Look nationally for a firm with a solid track record in this area.
6. Make sure your attorney has trial experience. Many attorneys have limited trial experience. Although most cases settle out of court, a lawyer with a strong trial record puts you in a better bargaining position during the negotiating process.
7. Find a skilled negotiator. Does your attorney have training in negotiation? What is his or her settlement value track record? Even though most lawyers spend a much greater percentage of their time negotiating than trying cases, very few attorneys have training or expertise in this area.
8. Ask the firm who their strategic partners are. Under certain circumstances law firms join forces to share their research, expertise and other resources in order to build the best possible case for you.
9. Make sure the firm works on a contingency fee basis. With this type of arrangement the law firm incurs all the financial risk. You don't pay any out-of-pocket costs until the firm recovers compensation for you; fees are a percentage of the recovery.
10. Check to see if the lawyer is AARP-approved. If not, go to the AARP Legal Services Network to find an attorney. Besides being extensively screened by AARP to become approved, AARP attorneys offer AARP members a 20% discount on their standard legal fees.
Although selecting a qualified mesothelioma attorney is not easy, don't get discouraged. There are great lawyers out there who are genuinely interested in helping others. Your case deserves no less. For more information visit www.mesotheliomaadvice.org/legal/mesothelioma-attorney.asp.
About the author:
Scott Hendler is Founder of HendlerLaw, a plaintiff's firm focused on mesothelioma litigation(www.mesotheliomaadvice.com). His firm has won record verdicts and settlements in numerous cases and recently won an argument in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. In 2003 Scott was honored with an AV rating by Martindale-Hubbell. You can reach him at 800.443.6353 or help@hendlerlaw.com.
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You don't need to smoke to get lung cancerScranton Times-Tribune1 reason nonsmokers develop lung cancer. In addition to secondhand smoke, other potential causes of lung cancer in nonsmokers are air pollution, radon exposure and asbestos exposure. Another theory that has recently received significant attention as a ...and more » |
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Union couple names 69 defendants in asbestos caseWest Virginia RecordOn Aug. 1, 2011, Frank W. Arthur was diagnosed with lung cancer, according to a complaint filed Jan. 17 in Kanawha Circuit Court. Arthur claims he was exposed to asbestos during his career as an insulator and production worker from 1963 until 1994. |
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