Although the expression "mesothelioma law firm" has no meaning within the conventional legal sense, it refers to a law firm which specializes in handling litigation involving victims of the disease known as malignant mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer of the mesothelium, or the protective lining that surrounds many of the internal organs within the body, especially the lungs. Although not exclusively caused by a single agent, mesothelioma is most commonly caused by prolonged exposure to the mineral asbestos.

Asbestos is a term that describes one of six different fibrous minerals that have long been used in business as both an insulator and a fire retardant. Although the minerals are well-suited to those uses, their fibers are small, sharp, and often inhaled by humans who work with them. The sharp fibers can puncture tissues within the body and linger there for decades. Mesothelioma does not develop swiftly; the elapsed time between publicity and onset of the disease can vary from fifteen to nearly fifty years. Mesothelioma treatment options are few and the prognosis for individuals who are diagnosed with the illness is not good. The disease is almost always fatal.

Lawsuits have been successfully brought against asbestos producers and firms who have used asbestos in construction since the early component of the twentieth century. It has been estimated that some 800,000 individuals have so far brought suit for exposure to asbestos and as a result, several large corporations, including Manville Corporation, which filed for bankruptcy in 1982, have been forced out of business.

Litigation against asbestos producers is complex and lengthy. A lawyer with a general practice may not be well inclined or well-suited to taking on a possible lawsuit involving asbestos cancer. Such litigation can take years and might involved hundreds or even thousands of man-hours of research. Attorneys who don't specialize in asbestos law may discover themselves overwhelmed by the amount of work that needs to be carried out to bring this type of case to court. Mesothelioma law firms which specialize in handling this kind of cases on a fulltime basis are ideal for anybody who has been exposed to asbestos and is considering filiing an asbestos lawsuit. A mesothelioma law firm will probably be familiar with situation histories, previous lawsuits, established precedents, and other factors that may assist in expediting the case as well as being in a better position to arrange for a possible cash settlement for the plaintiff.

Such lawsuits have, in some instances, resulted in huge settlements for the plaintiffs. The first significant mesothelioma settlement took place in 1982, and the plaintiff, James Cavett, was awarded more than $3 million in compensation.

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