Mesothelioma Compensation

 

Roger Worthington is one of the founding directors of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (www.marf.org) and the Pacific Heart, Lung & Blood Institute (www.phlbi.org). The Law Office of Roger G. Worthington has contributed more than $2,584,000 to cancer research and science since 2000

Every case is different; similar results may not be obtained in your case. However, our results stand up with the best in the country.

 

Case Results, Settlements and Verdicts:

$15.25 million settlement. Widow of mason and boilermaker received $9,531,150 (after case expenses and contingency-based attorney's fees of $5,718,750). Verdict was rendered and portions are on appeal. Roger Worthington was lead on some settlements, Peter Kraus was the lead on others. Silvestro v. Bondex International et. al., Cause No. BC253974, September 6, 2006. Los Angeles County, Los Angles, California

$14.6 million settlement. 68 year-old plumber received $9,124,900 (after case expenses and contingency-based attorney's fees of $5,475,000.00). Roger Worthington was lead on some settlements, Ron Eddins was the lead on others. Anthony Chomo and Janet Chomo vs American Standard, Inc. et. al., Cause No. BC362159, November 17, 2006. Los Angeles County, Los Angles, California

$12.6 million settlement. 71-year-old man exposed to asbestos at side job received $7,874,900 (after case expenses and contingency-based attorney's fees of $4,725,000.00). Roger Worthington was lead on some settlements, Peter Kraus was the lead on others. Behshid v. Bondex International et. al., Cause No. BC343104, June 22, 2006. Los Angeles County, Los Angles, California

$11.2 million settlement. 64-year-old former laggers helper, pastor, funeral director and businessman, received $6,999,900 (after case expenses and contingency-based attorney's fees of $4,200,000). Roger Worthington was lead on some settlements, Peter Kraus was the lead on others. Robert I. Hutchison and Joyce Hutchison vs. Combustion Engineering, Inc., and Owens-Illinois, Inc. , Cause No. 18-215, August 21, 2001, Nolan County, Texas

$10 million settlement. The family of a 53-year-old wife, mother, daughter and former hotel manager who died of mesothelioma received received $6,249,900 (after case expenses and contingency-based attorney's fees of $3,750,000). Roger Worthington was lead on some settlements, Peter Kraus was the lead on others. Miller, et. al. v. Ford Motor Company, Cause No. 15077JG-01, May 2004. Brazoria County, Texas

$9 million settlement. 73-year old retired asbestos worker received $5,624,900 (after case expenses and contingency-based attorney's fees of $3,375,000). Roger Worthington was lead on some settlements, Michael Kaeske was the lead on others. Peter Gustafson and Charlene Gustafson v. AMETEK, et al, Cause No. 02-8988, May 2003. Dallas County, Texas

$9 million settlement. 64-year-old insulator and drywaller received $5,624,900 (after case expenses and contingency-based attorney's fees of $3,375,000). Roger Worthington was lead on some settlements, Michael Kaeske was the lead on others. Dallas, Texas. Ernest Kasprick and Beverly Kasprick, Plaintiffs, vs. ACand S, INC., et al, Cause No. 01-4720. July 2002. Dallas County, Texas

$8.25 million settlement. 59-year old boiler tender and crane operator received $5,093,750 (after case expenses and contingency-based attorney's fees of $3,056,250). Roger Worthington was lead on some settlements, Peter Kraus was the lead on others. John McNamara and Tricia McNamara v. Bondex International, Inc., et al Cause No. BC 342 803, July, 2006. Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California

$7 million settlement. 59-year-old boiler operator received $4,312,500 (after case expenses and contingency-based attorney's fees of $$2,587,500). Roger Worthington was lead on some settlements, Michael Kaeske was the lead on others. Jan Ackley Douma, et al., vs. Abb, Inc. et al., Cause No. 02-10283-K. August, 2003. Dallas County, Texas

$5.2 million settlement. 60 Year-Old Retired Navy, Civilian Machinist received $3,187,500 (after case expenses and contingency-based attorney's fees of $1,912,500). Roger Worthington was lead on some settlements Peter Kraus was the lead on others. Walmach, et. al. v. Aqua-Chem, et. al., May 23, 2007. Los Angeles County, Los Angles, California

* Roger Worthington negotiated settlements with certain defendants as lead counsel along with co-counsel indicated.

In addition...

Roger Worthington has been representing asbestos clients since 1988 and established his own firm in 1991.


Roger Worthington has been exclusively devoted to mesothelioma patients since 1996.


Roger Worthington has represented over 500 mesothelioma clients.


Roger Worthington is extremely proud of his results as an advocate for victims of asbestos cancer.

"If not for Mr. Worthington and his website my sister would not be alive today. It was Mr. Worthington that helped my sister find Dr. Taub."

Susan Huff, sister of Sharon Johnson.

 

 

Our Philosophy

 

We tailor our representation to your unique needs. Each mesothelioma case is different, and deserves a customized approach. Some of our clients need financial assistance immediately. Some are very ill and require immediate assistance in order to pursue life-extending medical treatments.


Our top priority is your health. We pride ourselves on helping mesothelioma patients get more life through state of the art medical treatments. We also navigate the legal obstacle course to resolve your case as quickly as possible, so that you and your family can put your settlement money to work.

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate your firm's help with the medical side of my case! It's something I never would have expected from a legal firm. You folks are a true asset to asbestos sufferers!"

Paul Zygielbaum, age 54, Santa Rosa, CA What We Provide

 

The value of your case is simple to explain, but complex to evaluate. The value depends on your age, number of dependents, lost wages, when and where you were exposed, and the number of solvent manufacturers, suppliers or premises who may be liable for your cancer.

Because Roger Worthington has been representing asbestos victims exclusively since 1988, he has developed an extraordinary database of crucial data that connects asbestos products to the ships, shipyards, refineries, steel mills, powerhouses, schools, skyscrapers and paper mills coast to coat that used those products.

At The Law Office of Roger Worthington, P.C. we do a thorough workup of your claim that leverages our years of experience investigating mesothelioma cases. A senior attorney, senior investigator, and senior intake analyst will review your case in order to determine the very best way to proceed. We will explore your exposure history in detail. We will contact and interview your coworkers. Our staff has years of experience in investigating mesothelioma cases.

The medical aspects of your case are just as important as your work history. We know your first priority is life. As your advocate, it follows that our first mission is to help you find the best team of doctors available. We can help you contact the best surgeons, oncologists, and radiologists who specialize in mesothelioma. We work with some of the world's leading mesothelioma specialists. We spare no effort to understand your diagnosis, the staging of your disease, your symptoms, your treatment options and your ability to afford the treatments you choose.

 

If you have mesothelioma, your primary concern is getting well, extending the quantity and quality of your life. We use our long-standing relationships with mesothelioma experts, medical centers and research institutions to help you get well. We stand with you every step of the way in your medical treatment.

If we file your lawsuit in California, we are likely to settle and/or try your case within a year. Under California law, a plaintiff who has a terminal disease, or is older than 70, has a right to have the case set for trial within four months from the time that we request a trial date. This means we have been able to resolve mesothelioma cases in California in less than nine months. We cannot guarantee the same speed in every case, as judges are different, and the severity of the prognosis varies among mesothelioma patients.

Mesothelioma settlements often involve allocating money among family members, including children. We have many years of experience in helping families reach these critical decisions early on in their case.

 "I wouldn't even know about Dr. Robert Cameron if, Roger Worthington hadn't introduced me. It's too bad the local doctors haven't responded to the asbestos epidemic here in Oregon."

Greg Deblock, age 73, Portland, OR

 

 

Associating with Trial Counsel

 

Most asbestos cancer cases involve claims asserted against at least ten companies which manufactured asbestos-related products. Some cases involve claims against 20, 30 or more companies. In the lawsuit, each of these companies is typically represented by a large corporate law firm that is paid hundreds of dollars an hour for each of the many attorneys assigned to the case. In order to combat all of the 20, 30 or more corporate law firms whose single mission is to delay your case and obfuscate the fact that their clients knowingly exposed you to a cancer-causing agent, we typically partner or associate with another law firm.

Our partner firms are some of the nation's top litigation firms and have extensive experience representing victims of asbestos cancer. This "team" approach to handling your case allows us to devote the resources necessary to aggressively prosecute your case against the legions of corporate defense attorneys and still provide you, the client, with an unrivaled level of one-on-one attention. The benefits of this "team" approach come at no increased cost to you. The same contingency fee agreement applies. As a result, you get two firms for the same fee.

 "When John was diagnosed, our doctors told us he had two months to live. They had given up on us. Then I met Roger Worthington. He knew more about mesothelioma than our doctors. His office helped educate us about our options and gave us what we needed most -- hope. Thanks to Roger, we found a world class surgeon and scientist who has been a godsend."

T.C. McNamara, Chatsworth, CA

 

How We Charge

 

We charge on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will never have to pay unless we recover money for you through bankruptcy trusts, settlement negotiations, or jury verdicts.

If we recover in your case, we charge a percentage that depends on how much effort, time, and resources we expend. For example, the fee for some bankruptcy settlements is 25%. The fee for a settlement with a trial defendant can range from 33% to 40%, depending on the facts of the case. We negotiate the fee structure with each client, so that we can tailor the pursuit and timing of settlements to coincide with your needs. You may choose to pursue early settlements in order to finance expensive treatment options, or to cover the cost of travel, housing, and other expenditures related to your treatment.

Every case is different, but the number of defendants in a mesothelioma case can range from as few as five defendants to as many as fifty-five in the case of a construction worker, refinery worker, or navy veteran. You have the freedom to decide early on whether you want to settle with certain liable companies even before the case is filed. The earlier we resolve your claim against a particular company, the less we charge. Your case can be resolved in these ways:

You can settle with asbestos bankruptcy trusts. There are about fifteen trusts now offering settlements, and another thirty-five trusts in the process of establishing claims resolution facilities.


You can authorize Roger Worthington to pursue settlement negotiations from select, potentially liable asbestos defendants before filing your third party civil lawsuit.


You can pursue settlements with defendants in litigation, after testifying in your deposition, or after we depose your coworkers, and after motions to dismiss have been resolved in your favor. Most defendants will not enter into negotiations until the case is actually filed.


You may wish to resolve with 90% of your liable defendants and then take select defendants to trial where you can defer to the judgment of the jury on your damages as well as the defendant's liability.