Despicable corporate interests often attempt to equate "large verdicts" with "frivolous lawsuits". They scream "lawsuit abuse" as often as they can, while procketing huge profits at the expense of those who they injure or kill. The American Association for Justice, appropriately calls this attempt "Profits over People".
In this case, for example, the victim received a verdict of $15 million. While this appears to be a huge sum, let’s examine the case and see who among us would trade places with the plaintiff; who would trade their health for the money the plaintiff received?
This unfortunate gentleman spent his entire career as an oil and well drilling company worker. He was first diagnosed with asbestosis in 2004. His lungs were scarred and he had difficulty breathing. This put him at high risk to contract lung cancer and mesothelioma. During the course of his career, he inhaled such a significant amount of airborne asbestos fibers that, over time, he suffered serious lung damage. He exists on oxygen 24/7/365. Diagnoses in this disease class are often made years later; these diseases may go undetected for up to 40 years. By then, the victim’s prognosis is not encouraging.
The evidence in this case indicated that the man’s employer, ConocoPhillips, had shipped a product (Flosal) that contained asbestos; the company knew it contained asbestos. The product was poured from sacks into a hopper and then mixed. Site workers were constantly enveloped by asbestos dust. Despite the fact the company knew the product was deadly, they continued to ship it until the mid-1980s. This lawsuit was one of over 700 cases filed by oilfield workers who developed asbestosis, mesothelioma or lung cancer due to handling ConocoPhillips products.
So, you be the judge. Would you trade your healthy lungs, your precious ability, simply, to breathe, for $15 million? Would you accept the death sentence of mesothelioma or lung cancer for a large verdict? Most sensible people would answer, emphatically, "NO".
Serious verdicts result from serious injury or illness caused by careless or deliberate acts of corporate Goliaths who care more about profits than safety. The ridiculous notion of "lawsuit abuse" is an invention of those corporate interests who would poison the environment, ship jobs overseas, create unsafe workplaces, injure, maim and kill, all in the name of company profits. A "worker" is a commodity; a damaged one can be replaced, like a piece of damaged equipment. Shame on them and shame on you if you buy this ‘tort reform’ nonsense. You are one injury, one serious accident away from being a victim; what system of justice do you want if you are the victim?
Lawsuit Financial provides lawsuit funding to seriously injured or disabled plaintiffs. These cases are hard fought and take a long time to resolve. In this case, a verdict from a 2004 disability results in a 2010 jury verdict. Six years is a long time to go without income; the corporate defendant has all the time and money in the world. The company does all that it can to hang onto that money for as long as possible. A lawsuit cash advance is money advanced to an eligible plaintiff in “advance” of their settlement or verdict. Hopefully, by assisting with vital bills and expenses like uninsured medical expenses, rent, mortgage or car payments, we can prevent the plaintiff from being forced to settle too early for too little. And, if the case fails, our money is theirs to keep, free of charge. It costs nothing to apply and the application process is easy. Contrary to the contention of the tort reformers, justice in America comes at a very high price; Lawsuit Financial is proud to do its part to help victims achieve that justice.
