Average Mesothelioma Settlement Amounts & Payout | November 2023 update

Mesothelioma settlements and lung cancer settlements are cash payouts for victims of asbestos exposure. The average asbestos settlement amount is over $1 million to $4 million. Mesothelioma settlement amounts vary based  on the seriousness of symptoms and severity of the exposure.

Average asbestos settlement amounts payout

The average settlement amount for mesothelioma can vary significantly depending on various factors. Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of cancer caused by asbestos exposure, and compensation amounts can depend on factors like the severity of the disease, the responsible parties, jurisdiction, and the strength of the legal case. Here are some key factors that can influence mesothelioma settlement amounts:

1. Severity of the Disease: The stage and type of mesothelioma can impact the settlement amount. More advanced stages of the disease may result in larger settlements due to increased medical expenses and a shorter life expectancy.
2. Medical Expenses: Mesothelioma treatment can be expensive, and the costs of surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and other medical procedures may be considered in determining the settlement amount.
3. Lost Income: If mesothelioma prevents the individual from working, lost income may be a significant factor in the settlement amount. Future earning potential may also be considered.
4. Duration of Exposure: The length and intensity of asbestos exposure can affect the settlement. Prolonged exposure to asbestos is often associated with higher settlements.
5. Jurisdiction: Laws and regulations governing asbestos lawsuits can vary by jurisdiction. Some jurisdictions may be more plaintiff-friendly, resulting in larger settlements.
6. Responsible Parties: Identifying and proving the responsibility of the companies or entities that exposed the victim to asbestos is crucial. The more parties involved, the potential for higher settlements.
7. Legal Representation: The choice of legal representation can have a significant impact on the outcome. Experienced asbestos attorneys may be more successful in securing larger settlements.
8. Settlement vs. Trial: Many mesothelioma cases are settled out of court, while others go to trial. The decision to settle or go to trial can impact the final compensation amount.

Specific settlement amount for mesothelioma cases can vary widely

It’s important to note that the specific settlement amount for mesothelioma cases can vary widely. Some settlements may be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, while others can reach millions, particularly in cases of extensive asbestos exposure and severe illness. It’s advisable to consult with an experienced mesothelioma attorney who can assess your individual case and provide guidance on potential settlement expectations.

1. In 2019, a settlement of $250 million was awarded to a former steelworker in a mesothelioma case against U.S. Steel.
2. In 2018, a $117 million settlement was reached in a mesothelioma case against Johnson & Johnson. The case involved asbestos-contaminated talc products.
3. In 2017, a $80 million settlement was awarded to a man who developed mesothelioma after using asbestos-containing talcum powder products.
4. In 2016, a $72 million settlement was reached in a mesothelioma case against Johnson & Johnson, involving asbestos in their talcum powder products.

Mesothelioma payout averages

Please note that these figures are not necessarily the largest settlements of all time, and the settlement amounts can change over time as new cases are litigated. It’s also important to consult updated legal sources for the most recent information on mesothelioma settlements. Mesothelioma cases often involve multiple defendants, including asbestos manufacturers, and can result in substantial settlements due to the severity of the disease and its connection to asbestos exposure.

Some of the larger mesothelioma payout settlements of all time:

$250 million awarded to 70-year-old Roby Whittington from U.S. Steel.

$34.1 million awarded to a previous employee of Shell Oil Company in Wood River,
Illinois.

$33.7 million to a resident of California and his wife from Foster Wheeler Corporation
in a wrongful death lawsuit.

Mesothelioma lawsuit updates:

July 15, 2023

A California jury awarded the loved ones of a mesothelioma verdict $107 million dollars.  The Jury determined that the defendant, Union Carbide acted with malice. The other defendants Elementis Chemicals and E. F. Brady Co. Inc. were determined to have acted negligently.

June 12, 2023

In a recent asbestos case in Connecticut, the family of a deceased victim was awarded 20 million dollars. The Plaintiff’s are seeking another 40 million in damages. The victim’s family asserts that a talc company who was a successor company acted recklessly after purchasing the predecessor company. The mesothelioma lawsuit was filed by Kathleen Peckham asserting that hew husband was killed as a result of exposure to asbestos.

Mesothelioma Settlement Amounts

$20 Million Dollar Mesothelioma Settlement
A 42 year-old Southern California woman was exposed to asbestos-filled flooring for 18 years. The company was also found guilty of malice and fraud.The jury awarded the woman $20 Million plus punitive damages.

$2 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A 69 year old gentleman was diagnosed with asbestosis as a result of his exposure to asbestos as a self-employed contractor. The jury found the defendant liable because of his exposure to its joint compound product.

$11.5 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A Northern California man was awarded this settlement as a result of his mesothelioma that was caused by exposure to asbestos. The breakdown of the settlement reveals $500,000 in economic damages and $6,000,000 for pain, suffering and other non-economic damages. His wife and the second plaintiff in the case was awarded $5,000,000 for the loss of her husband’s consortium and companionship caused by his mesothelioma.

$18 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A gentleman developed asbestosis as a result of his 30-year career as a laborer at a copper smelter. The jury found the defendant responsible for his asbestos-related disease, and awarded him $3 million in compensatory damages and $15 million in punitive damages. On appeal, compensatory damages award was confirmed, but punitive damages award was reversed.

$9.25 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
Two men – one an iron worker and the other a pipefitter and insulator – who developed mesothelioma as a result of their exposure to asbestos at a refinery and other industrial sites. The jury found the defendant and others liable and awarded $9.25 million in combined damages to the victims’ families. Appeal is pending.

$20.5 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A jury awarded this amount to a Northern California man who contracted mesothelioma.

$1.5 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
An individual who developed mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos-containing products he bought at a department store in the 1950s, was awarded $1.5 million in damages by a New York jury. Judgment was affirmed on appeal.

$17.035 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
Less than a week after a Tyler, Texas jury awarded over $9 million to eight of their co-workers, a Dallas, Texas jury awarded $17.035 million to seven foundry workers who developed asbestosis as a result of their exposure to asbestos at the foundry where they worked. The jury found that the defendant failed to provide a safe work place to these gentlemen, and that their hazardous work conditions resulted in the development of their asbestos-related diseases. Final judgment is pending.

$6.5 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
In a rare case, a jury awarded a Northern California woman this amount because of the mesothelioma she contracted as a result of exposure to asbestos fibers as a child. The fibers came from her parents’ clothing. Her parents worked at a shipyard in South San Francisco in the 1940’s.

$6.3 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
During his working career, a custodian was exposed to asbestos-containing products during the construction and remodeling of three school buildings. He developed malignant mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos and died at the age of 60. Following a two-week trial, a verdict of $6.3 million against the defendants was reached.

$4.2 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
This man was exposed to the defendant’s asbestos products while serving in the US Navy. The jury in Northern California found that the products were a cause of his mesothelioma, and they returned a verdict in the amount of $4,245,763.

$1 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
An auto mechanic, developed asbestosis as a result of his exposure to asbestos, including asbestos-containing clutch facings manufactured by the defendant. The jury found the defendant liable for his disease, and awarded $800,000 in compensatory damages and $200,000 in punitive damages. The case was affirmed on appeal.

$9.35 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A longshoreman and an employee of the defendant company, were exposed to asbestos-containing products while on the job. One died of mesothelioma at the age of 63; the other, age 69 at time of trial, suffers from asbestosis. The jury found that a fireproofing product was a cause of these gentlemen’s diseases and awarded a total of $6 million and $3,350,000 respectively. Both cases settled shortly after the verdict.

$1.704 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A laborer, age 61 at the time of trial, developed mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos while working as a laborer and fork lift driver for a corrugated box manufacturer in the Dallas, Texas area. As part of his treatment for the disease, he had a lung and half of his diaphragm removed. The jury awarded this gentleman and his wife a total of $1,704,000 in damages. Trial defendant settled the case shortly after trial.

$3.5 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
A mechanic for the defendant in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was exposed to fireproofing spray on the job between 1970 and 1972. He developed mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos. The jury found the manufacturer liable to this gentleman and his wife and awarded $1.75 million to him and $1.75 million to his wife for her loss of consortium. The case settled shortly after verdict.

$1.8 Million Mesothelioma Settlement
Two shipyard workers in this trial against the defendant company. One developed mesothelioma as a result of his exposure to asbestos at the shipyards; the other developed asbestosis. The jury awarded a total verdict to these gentlemen and their wives in the amount of $1.8 million, which was affirmed on appeal. The defendant eventually paid the amount on the bond pending writ.

Average Mesothelioma settlement amounts

Mesothelioma settlements are of course no substitute for good health and a long life, but the funds from a mesothelioma settlement can help a victim or his/her family alleviate some of the financial pressure. This huge settlement is reached not without reason. It is covering the enormous medical bills that victims run getting treatment for their disease, and compensation for the mental anguish and pain suffered by the victim and their family. Mesothelioma settlements often include funeral expenses, and in some cases, punitive damages. The settlement also considers the fact that the family of the victim has a right to be financially secure.

Mesothelioma verdicts

There have been several significant mesothelioma asbestos verdicts and settlements, with some of the largest verdicts exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars. :

1. Johnson & Johnson:
   • In 2018, a jury awarded $4.69 billion in damages to 22 women who claimed that their ovarian cancer was caused by Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based products contaminated with asbestos. This case was significant for asbestos-related claims, even though it was related to talc.
2. Johnson & Johnson (Again):
   • In a separate case in 2020, Johnson & Johnson was ordered to pay $2.1 billion in damages to women who claimed that the company’s talc products contained asbestos and caused them to develop ovarian cancer.
3. Sekisui, Georgia-Pacific, and others:
   • In 2005, a $250 million settlement was reached in a lawsuit brought by the family of a man who died from mesothelioma. The lawsuit claimed that the man was exposed to asbestos-containing products manufactured by Sekisui and Georgia-Pacific.
4. Viacom, CBS, and Westinghouse:
   • In 2012, a jury awarded $322 million to a pipefitter who developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure while working for these companies.
5. Union Carbide and Amchem Products:
   • In 1999, a jury awarded $250 million to a man who developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure from the defendant companies’ products.

Average mesothelioma payout

It’s important to remember that mesothelioma cases can vary widely, and the outcomes depend on various factors, including the severity of the illness, the extent of asbestos exposure, and the specific circumstances of each case. Additionally, asbestos litigation and settlements continue to evolve, and new cases may have emerged since my last update. It’s advisable to consult legal professionals and recent news sources for the most current information on mesothelioma asbestos verdicts.

Mesothelioma is a painful experience

Mesothelioma settlements are not only available for the individuals with the disease. They are also available for families of the deceased victim on the ground that they have lost their loved one and went through all kinds of the emotional stress. While mesothelioma is a painful experience for both victims and their close ones, a good settlement can go a long way in order to secure the future of the victims’ families.