Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts

U.S. veterans may be eligible to receive mesothelioma settlements from asbestos companies through lawsuits. The average settlement for mesothelioma lawsuits is $1 million to $1.4 million, with first payouts often coming in 90 days or less. See if we can help you pursue mesothelioma settlements.

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What Is a Mesothelioma Settlement?

Settlements are the most common outcome of a mesothelioma personal injury lawsuit.

Through a settlement, manufacturers of asbestos-containing products (defendants) agree to pay patients (plaintiffs) to resolve the lawsuit out of court.

Key Facts About Mesothelioma Settlements

  • Mesothelioma settlements award $1 million+ on average.
  • Over 99% of mesothelioma lawsuits reach settlements, meaning you will likely get money without going to court.
  • Pursuing a settlement doesn’t impact your ability to file for benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) — you can get money from both.
  • Our legal partners never sue the military or government when they seek settlements.

The Mesothelioma Veterans Center can help veterans with mesothelioma pursue the highest settlements possible and VA benefits, if eligible.

Get a free case review to find out your eligibility.

Free Case Review for Veterans With Mesothelioma
  • File for or increase VA benefits
  • Get legal payouts worth $1 million+
  • Law firm founded by veterans

Get a Free Case Review

What Is the Average Settlement for Asbestos Claims?

The average mesothelioma settlement amount is $1 - $1.4 million, while the average payout from a trial verdict is between $5 million and $11.4 million.

Mesothelioma patients can use the money from a settlement to help pay for anything they need or want, including medical bills, living expenses, or even vacations.

Mesothelioma Settlements & Verdicts Secured for U.S. Veterans

Our team has secured significant mesothelioma lawsuit settlement amounts for U.S. veterans fighting this cancer. Learn about just a few of those we’ve helped below.

  • Walter Twidwell

    Walter Twidwell developed mesothelioma after serving in the U.S. Navy, where he serviced asbestos boilers. By working with our legal partners, Walter secured a $40 million payout from the companies that harmed him.

    “I didn’t wanna sue my government and I damn sure didn’t wanna sue the Navy. I was suing the manufacturer.”

    – Walter Twidwell, U.S. Navy veteran with mesothelioma

  • Art Putt

    Following his service in the U.S. Army and Air Force, Art Putt became a mechanic and was exposed to asbestos. Art was awarded a significant payout with help from our experienced mesothelioma lawyers.

    “We gave all that money to our kids, paid all their debts off, paid our house off, and made our life a little easier because we had no financial worries.”

    – Art Putt, U.S. Army and Air Force veteran with mesothelioma

Other notable mesothelioma settlement amounts for veterans include:

Call (877) 450-8973 to see how much you could get through asbestos lawsuit settlements. Our team will fight to get the highest payouts and do all the work on your behalf.

Mesothelioma Verdicts vs. Settlements

Over 99% of mesothelioma lawsuits result in out-of-court settlements. However, if a settlement can’t be reached, the lawsuit will move forward to a trial.

A judge and/or jury may award compensation through a mesothelioma verdict after hearing from both legal teams in a trial.

Settlements are typically preferred over trials because they are:

  • Less risky: Your attorneys can negotiate a set amount of money you’ll receive from a settlement. There’s no way to know how much compensation (if any) you’ll get in a trial.
  • Faster: You may start getting money in 90 days or less from settlements. Trials add more time to the mesothelioma lawsuit process.
  • Easier: Trials take up more time and are more of a hassle, as you may have to testify in court. Settling allows you to avoid these inconveniences.

In the very rare event that your case doesn’t settle, your attorneys can prepare the case for trial if needed.

Get a free case review to learn how a mesothelioma settlement or verdict could help you or a U.S. veteran that you love.

Free Case Review for Veterans With Mesothelioma
  • File for or increase VA benefits
  • Get legal payouts worth $1 million+
  • Law firm founded by veterans

Get a Free Case Review

How to Get a Mesothelioma Lawsuit Settlement

When you work with a top asbestos lawyer, they’ll handle every step of the mesothelioma lawsuit process on your behalf and fight for the most compensation possible. See how attorneys can make the process much easier below.

1. Find Out Your Eligibility for Mesothelioma Settlements

Call (877) 450-8973 now to learn if you qualify to pursue a settlement. You might be eligible if you or someone you love developed mesothelioma.

From there, we can recommend lawyers who can handle the lawsuit process for you.

2. Gather Evidence

An experienced mesothelioma attorney will gather information about your asbestos exposure and cancer diagnosis.

This information may include:

  • Corporate documents from manufacturers of asbestos-based products
  • Medical records that confirm the mesothelioma diagnosis
  • Military service records and civilian work history

Lawyers will build a case that explains how you got sick from asbestos exposure and why the defendants are to blame.

“I have the tools to hold companies accountable for their decisions and give my clients some type of peace that their families will be provided for.”

– Brian Cooke, U.S. Marine Corps veteran & mesothelioma lawyer

3. File the Lawsuit

The next step in the legal process is to file the mesothelioma lawsuit against any and all asbestos companies that made the products you were exposed to.

A lawyer can file your case before state deadlines called mesothelioma settlement statutes of limitations expire.

You won’t have to file the claim yourself — your legal team will do it on your behalf, saving you time and stress. Filing a lawsuit won’t affect your ability to pursue VA benefits if you’re a U.S. veteran.

5. Receive Mesothelioma Settlements

An older couple sits with a younger person who is holding documents in their hand.Using the evidence collected, your asbestos lawyer will try to negotiate strong mesothelioma settlements to get the most amount of compensation possible on your behalf.

In the off chance that a settlement isn’t reached, your attorneys can fight for a favorable verdict for you in a trial.

Your attorney will keep you updated about when you’ll receive settlement money or if a trial may be necessary.

Who Is Eligible for Mesothelioma Settlements?

Any U.S. veteran or civilian who developed mesothelioma could be eligible for a legal settlement.

In addition, family members could also qualify to receive mesothelioma wrongful death settlements if a mesothelioma patient has passed away from the cancer.

Finally, representatives of a mesothelioma patient’s estate may qualify to file lawsuits and pursue settlements.

Get a free case review now to find out if you’re eligible for a mesothelioma settlement.

Free Case Review for Veterans With Mesothelioma
  • File for or increase VA benefits
  • Get legal payouts worth $1 million+
  • Law firm founded by veterans

Get a Free Case Review

How Long Does It Take to Get a Mesothelioma Settlement?

While every mesothelioma lawsuit settlement is different, you may start to get the first payouts in 90 days or less when you work with our partner mesothelioma law firm.

Your lawsuit for mesothelioma will likely be filed against multiple defendants, each of whom may settle at different times.

“One check showed up, and then another check showed up, and then another, and they’re still coming in now. It’s been very satisfying.”

– Jimmy, pleural mesothelioma survivor

Your attorneys will help you better understand your specific mesothelioma settlement time frame.

Factors Affecting Mesothelioma Settlement Amounts

Every case is different, so a mesothelioma settlement offer may depend on various factors. Explore common factors below.

  • Asbestos Exposure

    A mesothelioma law firm can examine your military and work history to determine when and where your exposure occurred. Knowing this can help them pinpoint the specific companies to pursue settlements with.

  • Diagnosis

    Which asbestos-related disease you have can affect your settlement payout. Cancers like mesothelioma and lung cancer may award more compensation than non-cancerous illnesses like asbestosis.

  • Medical Bills and Other Expensess

    Your lawyer will want to make sure you have money to cover your mesothelioma treatment costs, lost wages if you or your loved ones can’t work, and pain and suffering.

  • Number of Defendants

    Up to 70 asbestos companies are named in each mesothelioma lawsuit, according to KCIC’s 2022 asbestos industry report. Having more defendants may increase your overall settlement amount as each defendant may contribute a portion of money.

Get Help Pursuing Mesothelioma Settlements

If you or a family member developed mesothelioma after serving in the military, an attorney may be able to fight for an asbestos settlement on your behalf.

Mesothelioma settlements award $1 million or more on average, helping many families pay for medical expenses and other bills.

The mesothelioma lawyers we work with:

  1. Have secured over $9.6 billion for mesothelioma patients and their loved ones
  2. Offer free case reviews to see if you’re eligible for settlements
  3. Can file lawsuits for families in all 50 states
  4. Typically secure the first mesothelioma settlement payments in 90 days or less

Call (877) 450-8973 now to see if you can work with a top asbestos lawyer to pursue mesothelioma settlements.

Mesothelioma Lawsuit Settlement FAQs

What is the average mesothelioma settlement?

The average settlement for mesothelioma cases is $1 million to $1.4 million, though some veterans who’ve worked with our legal partners have received even more.

Reach out to the Mesothelioma Veterans Center to find out how much you could secure through a mesothelioma settlement.

Are mesothelioma settlements taxable income?

Mesothelioma settlements are typically not taxable since they’re considered financial compensation for your illness.

That said, taxes may apply to portions of some awards. Your lawyer or tax advisor can tell you whether any part of your settlement will be taxed, and if so, how much.

Can I pursue a mesothelioma settlement after death?

Yes, you may be able to pursue mesothelioma settlements after death if your loved one has passed away from this cancer.

An experienced asbestos attorney can determine if you may be eligible to file a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit and seek settlement compensation.

What is the largest mesothelioma settlement?

Our legal partners have secured some of the biggest mesothelioma settlements and verdicts for U.S. veterans and civilians.

This includes:

  • $250 million to a retired steelworker (largest payout on record)
  • $40 million to U.S. Navy veteran Walter Twidwell
  • $34.1 million to U.S. Army and Air Corps veteran Art Putt

Get a free case review now for help securing the highest possible settlement or trial verdict in your case.

Can I get a mesothelioma class action settlement?

Mesothelioma settlements are typically awarded on an individual basis, which provides victims with more compensation than a class action settlement would.

In fact, mesothelioma class action settlements rarely ever occur, as each person's asbestos exposure history is unique and can't be grouped together in a class.

Does everyone with mesothelioma get a settlement?

The majority of mesothelioma lawsuits result in a settlement. In fact, over 99% of mesothelioma lawsuits that our legal partners handle reach settlements, allowing families to get compensation without a trial.

Mesothelioma lawsuit settlements don’t involve the military or government, and you can still get VA benefits in addition to settlement payouts if you’re a veteran.

Call (877) 450-8973 now to see if our legal partners can help you pursue a settlement for mesothelioma.

Veterans Support Team
Brian J. Cooke PhotoReviewed by:Brian J. Cooke

Mesothelioma Lawyer and U.S. Marine Corps Veteran

  • Fact-Checked
  • Legal Editor

Brian J. Cooke is a mesothelioma attorney with Simmons Hanly Conroy and a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Thanks in part to his military service, Brian is in tune with many of the issues that veterans with mesothelioma face. Brian and his team work tirelessly to secure compensation for those with this rare and deadly cancer.

Christopher Dryfoos PhotoWritten by:

Contributing Author

Christopher Dryfoos is a journalist and member of the American Medical Writers Association (AMWA). As the grandson of the U.S. Navy’s first forensic pathologist, he aims to help veterans with mesothelioma access needed care.

  1. Bates, C. and Mullin, C. (n.d.). Mealey’s Litigation Report: Asbestos: Show Me The Money. Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://www.bateswhite.com/media/pnc/5/media.285.pdf.
  2. Feeley, J. (2020, January 7). J&J Said to Pay More Than $2 Million in Rare Talc Settlement. Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://www.claimsjournal.com/news/national/2020/01/07/294865.htm.
  3. The Philadelphia Inquirer. (2020, February 27). Philly School District poised to pay $850K to teacher diagnosed with mesothelioma. Retrieved August 5, 2024, from https://www.inquirer.com/news/lea-di-russo-settlement-asbestos-mesothelioma-cancer-philly-school-district-board-20200227.html.