Brian J. Cooke is an asbestos claims lawyer at Simmons Hanly Conroy and U.S. Marine Corps veteran. He is proud to help veterans with mesothelioma pursue compensation after a diagnosis.
Brian comes from a family of veterans and legal professionals. Growing up in St. Louis, both parents served in the Vietnam War and his extended family included attorneys and judges.
During his time in the U.S. Marines, Brian helped prosecute terrorism and organized crime, later serving in Iraq. Since his discharge, he has spent more than 20 years helping veterans with mesothelioma and their families get justice.
We sat down with Brian to discuss why so many veterans get asbestos diseases like mesothelioma, what their legal options are after a diagnosis, and how VA benefits are affected.
Get a free case review now to find out if a mesothelioma attorney can help you pursue compensation.
Q: Why Are U.S. Veterans at Risk of Mesothelioma?
Veterans are at particular risk of mesothelioma because asbestos was used by all branches of the military in some capacity. In fact, veterans account for about one-third of new mesothelioma diagnoses each year. Many were exposed while serving — oftentimes without realizing it.
A number of our veteran clients have been exposed to asbestos through boilers, engines, gaskets, insulation, and other components during service. These were used in Navy ships, Army and Air Force bases, vehicles, and many more military assets through the early 1980s.
Many manufacturers made and sold asbestos-containing materials to the military for decades without making them aware of the health risks. And since mesothelioma develops decades after asbestos exposure, veterans may not remember when, where, or how they were exposed.
Q: Why Should Veterans Work With Asbestos Claims Lawyers?
We’ll work with veterans and their families to determine their exposure and build a case against the asbestos companies that harmed them.
Veterans never deserved to develop mesothelioma from serving their country. Yet our firm speaks with veterans and families struggling to grapple with the medical, personal, and financial uncertainty this cancer brings every day.
As mesothelioma lawyers, our job is to right some of the wrongs and assist in securing financial stability during an otherwise incredibly unstable time.
We'll handle the work of filing a lawsuit from start to finish on your behalf — so you can get the money you need with minimal extra stress.
Q: What Is the Average Asbestos Cancer Settlement?
Many clients end up recovering significant compensation from asbestos cancer settlements. Our firm has been successfully handling mesothelioma cases for decades, and companies know we'll go toe-to-toe with them if we have to.
So, most of our cases reach settlements to avoid the battle, but we're always prepared in case claims do go to trial. In one case, we won a $40 million verdict for a U.S. Navy veteran suffering from mesothelioma. Our client's life was upended after his diagnosis, but the verdict helped him afford medical care and get a sense of justice.
Q: How Long Does Filing Take, and How Much Does It Cost?
Our mesothelioma law firm can start getting compensation for clients quickly — often within months of filing. We work to resolve most lawsuits in 1-2 years depending on the state it was filed in, available evidence, and other factors.
Because we work on a contingency fee basis, our clients don’t pay upfront or by the hour to file a lawsuit. We only get paid after successfully recovering compensation.
Q: Can Veterans Get Mesothelioma VA Claim Help?
Veterans are owed and deserve VA benefits if you develop health problems as a result of your service. Accessing them can be daunting, especially if you're facing a cancer like mesothelioma.
An asbestos exposure litigation lawyer can help gather key evidence showing why you deserve mesothelioma VA benefits, which can help take some of the pressure off you.
At the same time, we can also help you pursue additional payouts through the legal system to supplement your VA benefits package.
VA asbestos claims pay out only a few thousand dollars a month at best, while millions of dollars could be available from a mesothelioma lawsuit.
Q: Will Filing a Lawsuit Affect My Asbestos VA Claim?
Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit is a separate process from applying for VA benefits, so you may be able to do both at the same time with our help. In mesothelioma cases, we don't take legal action against the U.S. government or military.
Instead, we target manufacturers that concealed the health risks of asbestos for decades. We utilize a database of asbestos-containing products, job sites, and manufacturers to determine how our clients were exposed — and who's responsible for their illness.
We can then use all of this information to build strong asbestos legal claims and secure strong VA payouts on your behalf.
Q: When Should I Contact a Mesothelioma Lawyer?
We encourage you to reach out to us as soon as possible if you are facing mesothelioma. Not only is this cancer incredibly aggressive, there are also legal deadlines called statutes of limitations that may prevent you from recovering money if you wait too long.
Most states set the statutes of limitations for asbestos claims at 2-3 years, but it could be as short as 1 year in some cases.
The attorneys on our staff know the laws in all 50 states and can help you file before it's too late. Even if you think the time limit has passed, you should still reach out. We may still be able to assist you depending on the circumstances of your case.
Connect With Top Mesothelioma Attorneys for Veterans
U.S. veterans and families facing a mesothelioma diagnosis have the right to pursue VA benefits and asbestos litigation payouts following a diagnosis.
Brian J. Cooke and the other mesothelioma attorneys on staff at Simmons Hanly Conroy are prepared to fight hard for eligible veterans, getting them everything they deserve.
Simmons Hanly Conroy asbestos lawyers can:
- Help clients in all 50 states
- Investigate when, where, and how military asbestos exposure occurred
- Prepare and file strong asbestos litigation claims for you
- Work to secure meaningful compensation for veterans and families
Call (877) 450-8973 now or fill out our online form to find top mesothelioma and asbestos litigation attorneys who may be able to fight for you.
