https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5bOwhyOYpl4 Asbestos Litigation Cases - Individual Versus Class Action In certain cases, plaintiffs are pursuing individual lawsuits instead of the traditional class action. Individual lawsuits may provide more compensation for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related injuries. Scientists have established that asbestos exposure causes lung damage and disease. Because mesothelioma sufferers have a latency time of 40-50 years, it can take an extended time for patients to develop the disease. The History of Asbestos Litigation Asbestos suits are the longest-running mass torts in U.S. History. The federal and state courts began processing asbestos cases in the 1970s, when medical research linked asbestos exposure to illnesses like mesothelioma or lung cancer. Many companies that mined asbestos, made asbestos products, and then sold asbestos products were aware of the dangers, but downplayed or ignored them. As a result, many asbestos-related companies were forced to close under the weight of lawsuits brought by families of victims. The majority of companies that filed for bankruptcy created asbestos trust funds as compensation to victims. While the vast majority of asbestos-related lawsuits settle out of court, a small number of cases go to trial. In these cases, judges tend be skeptical of defense arguments of the defendants. They often give large verdicts to victims. Asbestos attorneys have successfully moved thousands of cases through the trial process and secured significant verdicts for mesothelioma sufferers. However, the complexity of an asbestos case can make it difficult to win. In an asbestos lawsuit plaintiffs must prove that their illness was caused by exposure to asbestos, a dangerous substance. This requires a database that links workers, their work sites and employers, as well as the products they used and their suppliers and vendors. This process can take many years, especially if a victim's employment history is complex. I