Illinois Mesothelioma Lawyers and Law Firms
Illinois ranks 6th in the U.S. for deaths from malignant mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare, deadly form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
Mounting a mesothelioma lawsuit is a complicated process. For that reason, victims ofasbestos exposure may want to hire an experienced Illinois mesothelioma attorney who can help them to potentially win a mesothelioma settlement. Sokolove Law’s Illinoismesothelioma attorneys have helped thousands of people exposed to asbestos across the state get the help they deserve.
Those interested in filing an Illinois mesothelioma lawsuit, or a lawsuit for any asbestos cancer or asbestos-related injury, are advised to contact an Illinois mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after diagnosis.
In Illinois, Sokolove Law’s local offices are located at:
47 West Polk Street, Suite M2
Chicago, Illinois 60605
(312) 442-0004
If you have any questions or need to contact Sokolove Law, please call the local phone number above or our toll-free number 866-607-3099 to speak with a mesothelioma paralegal.
Filing an Illinois Mesothelioma Lawsuit
Those interested in filing an Illinois mesothelioma lawsuit or in hiring an Illinois mesothelioma lawyer should be aware that their legal rights may be restricted by Illinois’s statute of limitations. A statute of limitations is the period of time you have until it is “too late” to file an asbestos or mesothelioma lawsuit. So you are advised to contact an Illinois mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after a mesothelioma diagnosis in order to file any lawsuits within the state's statute of limitations.
An experienced Illinois mesothelioma attorney can help you present your case and maximize your chances of winning a settlement in a court of law. To make sure that you are protected under the law and to build a strong case, a mesothelioma attorney will first need to obtain the following information:
- Medical records confirming a diagnosis of mesothelioma or other asbestos disease
- Death certificate with cause of death listed (if applicable)
- Work history or military service to determine how and when the asbestos exposure occurred
It is important to know that even if your loved one has already lost their battle with mesothelioma, you may still have the right to file a claim.
Asbestos Litigation in Illinois
Illinois was long associated with pro-plaintiff decisions in asbestos-related cases. More specifically, Madison County had been known as pro-plaintiff, due in no small part to the 10 years of rulings by Judge Nicholas Byron. Illinois mesothelioma lawsuits involving asbestos cancer often resulted in multimillion-dollar awards, such as the $250 million judgment issued in 2003 by a jury in Byron's courtroom.
When Judge Byron retired, his successor was urged to tighten up on Illinois mesothelioma lawsuits. Other Illinois counties also became less relaxed in allowing asbestos-relatedlitigation. For example, Cook County, which has one of the largest state court systems in the US, began sidelining cases filed by plaintiffs who do not display actual symptoms of asbestos-related diseases. Cook County Judge William Maddux began regularly denying requests for continuances, in effect giving Illinois mesothelioma lawyers about a year to prepare for trial, which can be a challenge since many cases involve more than 50 defendants.
Some Key Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits in Illinois
One asbestos-related case that sparked media attention in 2007 was Yanchick v. Rapid American Corp. et al. Originally filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County in August 2006, the case was later removed to the federal court for the Northern District of Illinois. The plaintiff sued over 130 companies but that's not why this case made news. It made news because it brings up the issue of second-hand asbestos exposure. More specifically, it asks the courts to decide whether an employer has a legally recognized responsibility to protect a non-employee spouse or relative from asbestos exposure outside the workplace.
There is no specific legislation about the damages that can be awarded to Illinois victims of mesothelioma. However, in Kochan v. Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corp. (1994), when the defendant argued that the award violated the constitutional ban on excessive and unreasonable punishment, attorneys for the plaintiffs, a group of Illinois construction workers, were able to convince the appeals court to preserve the original monetary judgment.
See the topics below to learn more about asbestos exposure, doctors, and treatment centers in Illinois. You can also call us at our toll-free number 866-607-3099 or fill out the form located at the right-hand side of this web page for a free legal consultation specific to your potential case.
