Mesothelioma Settlements & Verdicts
The average mesothelioma or asbestos settlement ranges from $1 million to $2 million. The average trial verdict is $20.7 million, according to the 2024 Mealey’s Litigation Report. Amounts vary based on individual cases. A mesothelioma lawyer can help you secure a settlement or verdict.
Written by: Joe Lahav, Esquire | Legally Reviewed By William A. Davis | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: March 17, 2025
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Mesothelioma Settlements vs. Verdicts: Understanding the Differences
Mesothelioma settlements and verdicts are types of compensation awarded in mesothelioma lawsuits. A mesothelioma settlement is a negotiated agreement between parties to resolve a case for a specific amount of money. A mesothelioma verdict is a decision a judge or jury makes at the end of a trial determining compensation.
Despite differences, both help people cover their medical expenses and lost wages. The majority of asbestos cases are settled. Legal experts explain settlements are quicker and carry less risk, though payouts are usually smaller.
| Settlement | Verdict | |
|---|---|---|
| Payout | Usually smaller but more certain. | Often larger but not guaranteed – can be appealed or reduced. |
| Risk | Lower – outcome is more predictable. | Higher – outcome is uncertain and could result in no compensation. |
| Legal costs | Lower – avoids trial expenses. | Higher – includes trial-related costs and time. |
| Speed | Faster – provides compensation more quickly. | Slower – can take years to reach a decision. |
| Control | More control over the outcome through negotiation. | Less control – decision is up to the judge or jury. |
| Privacy Protection | Settlements are usually confidential. | Verdicts are often made public. |
While an asbestos verdict could be more substantial, judge or jury awards are uncertain and unpredictable. Trials can take years and involve additional costs and efforts. Verdicts often lead to higher payouts, but defendants can appeal. Amounts awarded to plaintiffs can later be reduced or overturned.
A mesothelioma payout is what you get after paying attorneys’ fees and costs. Your mesothelioma lawyers will describe this information in your retainer agreement.
Average Mesothelioma Settlement & Verdict Amounts
The average mesothelioma settlement amount is between $1 million to $2 million. The average mesothelioma verdict is $20.7 million, according to the 2024 Mealey’s Litigation Report covering data from 2023. Settlement amounts differ for each case. They depend on specific details and circumstances. Many people with mesothelioma and their families have received settlements or jury awards worth millions of dollars.
“Because settlements provide compensation faster than lawsuits, they may be a more immediate solution to pay expenses,” says Joe Lahav, a lawyer and Asbestos.com legal advisor. “I’ve seen verdicts typically result in higher amounts of total compensation, but the majority of lawsuits are settled before trial.”
Additional forms of financial assistance exist for many mesothelioma survivors. Examples include asbestos trust fund payouts from bankrupt companies and VA claims for veterans. Talk to an attorney to evaluate the best options for you and your family.
Factors Influencing Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts
When you file an asbestos claim, factors such as medical expenses and lost wages, case strength and jurisdiction will affect your potential settlement or verdict amount. A defendant’s litigation history can also play a role. If a defendant has settled or lost cases, they may want to settle quickly to avoid another trial.
Mesothelioma lawyer Samuel Meirowitz of Meirowitz & Wasserberg explains, “What certainly helps in determining the value of a case is the work history of the person that’s sick. The most important part of the process is taking down an occupational history, and asking all the right questions in terms of what work was done, and what products were used.”
Factors Affecting Average Mesothelioma Settlements
Speak with your attorney about factors affecting your asbestos settlement or trial claim. Each mesothelioma case is different.
Top asbestos law firms prepare well for court, knowing a strong case improves settlement outcomes. “We’re prepared to take every one of our cases to trial. A very small percentage, though, ever get to a verdict,” explains Dan Kraft, a mesothelioma attorney at Meirowitz & Wasserberg.
Use our calculator to quickly understand what compensation you may be eligible for and understand your rights — all at no cost to you.
What Can You Expect From the Asbestos Settlement Process?
Filing an asbestos lawsuit is a complex process involving multiple steps. Your first step is to contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer. Your lawyer will manage the process for you and guide you through each step.
Your attorney will help you gather evidence detailing your asbestos-related diagnosis. After filing your lawsuit, the defendants will have 30 days to respond. Some may offer a quick settlement, while most deny liability and fight the claim.
Next is the discovery process, when lawyers on both sides collect evidence to build their cases. Litigation can take several months or even years to complete. Your attorney will help you weigh your compensation options before accepting or rejecting a settlement offer.
Is Accepting an Asbestos Settlement the Right Choice?
Choosing to accept a settlement offer is a personal decision you and your family will make together with the guidance of your experienced, skilled attorney. Your asbestos attorney can provide valuable insights, ensuring you receive a fair amount.
Pleural mesothelioma survivor Kim Madril tells us deciding what the right choice was for her family was challenging. But she says her lawyer’s support was invaluable. “Throughout the whole process, it was always like, ‘Kim, is this okay with you?’ Which I appreciated. He’d say, ‘You know, this is what I’m recommending, but ultimately it’s up to you.’”
In the end, Kim says a mesothelioma settlement was the right choice for her children, her husband, and herself. Kim says the benefits were “beyond anything I’d ever hoped before.”
“I mean, really it was. I made a point because I stood for something I thought was right,” Kim said. “And I ended up with some money. I ended up with a bit of security.”
Access mesothelioma compensation through trust funds, settlements or travel grants.
Get Financial Help NowLatest Mesothelioma Lawsuit Settlement and Verdict Updates
For the past 5 years, between 3,500 and 4,100 asbestos lawsuits have been filed in U.S. courts each year, according to the consulting firm KCIC. Most of these claims are settled privately before reaching a jury trial.
Status of Asbestos Lawsuits and Settlements
- January 2025: A jury in a mesothelioma case against Johnson & Johnson attempted to award $22 million to Michelle Felton, executor of Michaeleen Lee’s estate, despite J&J winning the case. The jury believed J&J was negligent and misrepresented the safety of its talc products, but a post-trial challenge may be possible.
- December 2024: A Connecticut judge awarded $7.5 million in punitive damages to the family of Nicholas Barone, an engineer who died of mesothelioma, adding to a $15 million jury verdict from May 2024. The lawsuit against R.T. Vanderbilt Holding Co. claimed asbestos exposure from contaminated talc caused Barone’s mesothelioma. He worked in plastics manufacturing between 1960 and 1979.
- November 2024: A New York jury awarded $600,000 to mechanic Michael Wagner, who sued multiple defendants, including Honda, over asbestos exposure linked to his career. Wagner claims Honda knew its asbestos-based auto parts were dangerous but failed to warn users, leading to his mesothelioma diagnosis.
These recent settlements and verdicts highlight the significant legal and financial consequences companies responsible for asbestos exposure face. They also call attention to the ongoing risks linked to asbestos-related diseases.
Notable Mesothelioma Lawsuit Settlements and Verdicts
Exact mesothelioma settlement amounts are kept private, and confidentiality agreements bind claimants. However, some mesothelioma lawsuit settlement amounts can become public on occasion.
- Metal Worker: $250M Verdict
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U.S. Steel was ordered to pay $250 million in 2003 to the wife of a former steel worker who died of mesothelioma. U.S. Steel reached a post-verdict settlement for an undisclosed amount believed to be substantially less than the trial award.
- Talc Consumer: $117M Verdict
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A jury awarded damages to Stephen Lanzo III and his wife totaling $117 million in 2018. A jury found Johnson & Johnson and Imerys Talc America liable for his mesothelioma. Lanzo bought their asbestos-contaminated talcum powder from 1979 to 2003.
- Navy Veteran: $70.8M Verdict
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A California jury awarded $70.8 million to U.S. Navy machinist Robert Whalen in 2014. Whalen claimed he developed mesothelioma working with John Crane’s asbestos-containing products. He served for 26 years in the Navy.
- Drywall Worker: $13.4M Verdict and $75K Settlement
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A drywall worker received a $13.4 million verdict and $75,000 in settlements in 2020 from a lawsuit filed in Washington. Drywaller Raymond Budd said he developed mesothelioma from working with multiple asbestos-containing products. Among them was Kaiser Gypsum’s asbestos-containing joint compound.
- Mechanic: $630K Settlement
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The family of a mechanic from Redding, California, received a $630,000 settlement in 2018. It resolved a wrongful death lawsuit over asbestos-related lung cancer. Exposure to asbestos brakes, clutches and gaskets led to their loved one’s mesothelioma.
Settlement amounts can vary widely, often reaching millions of dollars. Your case is unique. Working with an experienced mesothelioma attorney can help you better understand and navigate the complexities of asbestos litigation to maximize your settlement potential.
Common Questions About Mesothelioma Settlements
- What is the average asbestos settlement amount?
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There is no average asbestos settlement amount. Any compensation is determined by the evidence obtained against the viable asbestos companies pursued in litigation and the bankrupt asbestos companies in which claims were filed against the asbestos trusts.
Answered By: Carl Money, Mesothelioma Attorney, Nemeroff Law Firm
- Are mesothelioma settlements taxable income?
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Mesothelioma settlements are not considered taxable income.
Answered By: Carl Money, Mesothelioma Attorney, Nemeroff Law Firm
- How much does an attorney cost?
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It does not cost anything to hire a mesothelioma attorney. A mesothelioma attorney represents you on a contingency fee basis (no win, no fee) so that you have no out-of-pocket costs. The mesothelioma attorney only receives a fee if they obtain compensation for you and your heirs.
Answered By: Carl Money, Mesothelioma Attorney, Nemeroff Law Firm
- How are mesothelioma settlements paid out?
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Mesothelioma settlements are paid out once the asbestos company has made an offer and you have accepted it.
Answered By: Carl Money, Mesothelioma Attorney, Nemeroff Law Firm
- How long does it take to receive a mesothelioma settlement check?
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Generally, it takes 1-3 months to receive a settlement check once you have accepted the offer to settle with the asbestos company.
Answered By: Carl Money, Mesothelioma Attorney, Nemeroff Law Firm
