Asbestos Litigation Paralegal
Asbestos litigation paralegals help attorneys prosecute mesothelioma lawsuits against asbestos companies. These companies were responsible for placing asbestos in a variety of kinds of products. Many years pass between exposure to asbestos and the development mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related ailments.
In 1988, Vogel worked on asbestos cases at Brobeck, a firm which represented defendants in a variety of asbestos-related lawsuits. The firm had an exclusive asbestos docket.
Preparation for Trial
A paralegal who works in asbestos litigation is a vital part of the attorney's team, assisting in the pursuit of justice on behalf of people diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses. A significant portion of a toxic tort paralegal's job is aiding attorneys in preparing for trial, which requires extensive legal research and preparation of many documents that are presented in court by plaintiffs and defendants.
A asbestos litigation paralegal is in charge of drafting legal documents like pleadings, motions, discovery requests and responses, and memos. Paralegals may also conduct computerized legal research as well as medical, scientific and technological literature research in order to prove a client's claim. They must be able to find and analyze data to assist their lawyers, such as evaluating medical records or corporate documentation.
Asbestos paralegals also prepare demand packages, medical chronologies and expense itemizations for mesothelioma cases. They are knowledgeable about the mesothelioma claim process and frequently interact directly with patients who are terminally sick and their families, which requires them to be sensitive to the situation.
Preparing for a trial involves the use of the attorney's knowledge of medical and legal research to develop expert witnesses, and to prepare persuasive testimony. A paralegal can also help in juror selection which is a crucial stage in the litigation process. She can make suggestions on how to challenge potential jurors, or counter testimony of witnesses.
When a trial has been scheduled the asbestos litigation paralegal assists attorneys in preparing courtroom details which include scheduling depositions and other court appearances. The paralegal can also serve as a liaison with clients, keeping them informed of the status of their case and responding to questions.
The security of confidential information between an attorney and the client is among the most important responsibilities for an asbestos litigation paralegal. The law firm that employs the asbestos litigation lawyer must ensure that their employee doesn't disclose information about pending or future asbestos lawsuits with third parties. It is not unusual for employers to establish a procedure prior to hiring a person that prevents them from participating in these matters, which was once referred to as a "cone of silence." The Harrison firm's principal argument on appeal is that it didn't know that Vogel possessed any specific confidences at Brobeck. The evidence supports a conclusion that the firm did not exercise due diligence or take reasonable measures to protect confidential information.
Document Preparation
If someone is diagnosed as suffering from an asbestos-related disease, such a mesothelioma, or a different condition, he or she may seek compensation from companies that exposed them. For assistance with filing claims in New York, victims can seek out a mesothelioma attorney. These firms are familiarized with the asbestos bankruptcy fund as well as laws in New York to protect victims from unfair treatment.
The law firm will enlist the assistance of paralegals lawyers and other professionals to prepare for the trial. This involves drafting legal documents and giving them to the court. It also involves collecting and reviewing medical records and making evidence for trial.
Asbestos litigation can be a bit complicated and requires a team of experts to assist attorneys throughout the course of the process. Legal paralegals are an important component of the team and typically are involved in multiple cases at a time. A paralegal with a specialization in mesothelioma has many duties to complete and must be able to work independently and quickly.
A paralegal who specializes in mesothelioma might be required to submit a variety of documents to the court, as well as to a variety of parties. These include subpoenas and motions. The paralegal should be knowledgeable of every aspect of the case, and possess excellent organizational skills to manage the various tasks.
Paralegals prepare for trials by reading medical records, analyzing documents, and analyzing the facts of each case. They should be aware of the company, product as well as the scientific and medical background that are associated with each piece of evidence. This is a critical job duty in any asbestos or toxic tort case, as having the correct information can make a huge difference in trial.
Another crucial aspect of the asbestos paralegal's job is to contact plaintiffs to ask their answers to the questionnaire. These questionnaires can be a treasure trove of information for attorneys who are seeking mesothelioma-related cases. The questionnaires can also be used to detect asbestos-related diseases and determine whether an individual is eligible for compensation. The statute of limitations or deadline for filing a personal injury claim within the state of New York is three years from the date of diagnosis.
Interviewing Witnesses
Paralegals are often employed to help mesothelioma attorneys with the complicated litigation involving asbestos. These paralegals meet with clients, collect documents and information, research asbestos-producing companies, and medical and scientific records of patients. They also draft documents and assist in filing or reserving asbestos bankruptcy claims.
A paralegal with experience in asbestos litigation will also interview witnesses and prepare witnesses' testimony. They will collaborate with attorneys and the client to determine what kind of questions should be asked to obtain the most accurate information. They will plan and coordinate a witness's appearance during a deposition or in a trial.
Asbestos paralegals need to have a great deal of patience, as they frequently spend significant amounts of time researching and preparing documents, as well as answering questions from the attorneys. Additionally, they might be required to question witnesses and clients, and work closely with insurance adjusters. It is essential to keep their professionalism at all times, regardless of the circumstances.
A paralegal may find themselves handling a variety of cases within a firm that include medical malpractice defense, wrongful death and insurance bad faith litigation. In certain situations they may also be working on a range of general liability cases and cases involving products liability asbestos claims.
Sara has a wealth of experience in toxic tort litigation as well as asbestos litigation. She has conducted investigations and collected evidence in numerous asbestos cases. Sara has prepared interrogatories and requests for production as well as studied companies. She has also identified officers, located archived documents and conducted research locally and nationally. She has also worked with various insurance companies on the assessment of asbestos claims.
Krista is well-versed in mesothelioma's effects on asbestos-related diseases, and other asbestos-related diseases on a person's quality of life. She is able to prepare medical chronologies for lawyers and has experience in the preparation of bankruptcy trust claims for mesothelioma. She loves these types of cases because they require thorough research on the company, product as well as medical and scientific history.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related disease, call mesothelioma lawyers at Waters Kraus & Paul for assistance. Our mesothelioma lawyers hold asbestos-related companies and responsible parties accountable for the role they played in causing these life altering diseases.
Preparing Exhibits
Asbestos litigation lawyers are crucial in building cases to help victims who have mesothelioma, asbestosis or other asbestos-related diseases receive compensation from the responsible parties. They perform a variety of tasks behind the scenes to assist lawyers fight for maximum settlement through mesothelioma funds or insurance companies.
Preparing exhibits for trial is among the most important tasks an attorney can perform. Exhibits are the evidence presented in the trial process and may include medical documents, records and even recordings of interviews with witnesses. A properly prepared exhibit list is crucial to the success of a case because opponents will often raise several objections about the evidence. Relevance and authenticity are two of the most frequently raised objections.
Working in the legal field for more than 10 years, Joanne finds her passion for organization and precision to be an ideal fit with mass torts. She loves the repetitive nature of the job and is fascinated by the complicated nature of asbestos litigation and other tort litigation that involves toxic substances. She enjoys the challenge of finding the right pieces that will strengthen the client's case. This is especially applicable when researching the product, company and the medical/scientific history.
She also enjoys the rigor of trial preparation and helping attorneys during depositions. Joanne's expertise in the field has led her to work with multinational corporate defense firms in large complex toxic tort cases, including mesothelioma lawsuits. She assists Husch Blackwell’s asbestos and mass-tort practice which includes a range of documents, including Medicare paperwork and discovery documents, court pleadings and deposition preparation.
If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you could be entitled to financial compensation through an action against the those responsible. asbestos class action litigation can make a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit to claim compensation for the losses resulting from the illness, including loss of income and quality of life medical bills, travel costs, funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering, and more. A New York mesothelioma attorney can explain the differences between these types of lawsuits and give guidelines on how to make claims.