Now, claims involving mesothelioma have become the core of litigation related to asbestos exposure. The volume of claims is smaller, but the severity has increased. Though PACE says it has the precise numbers, they are kept behind closed doors as research continues.

The Time Frame

Because so much money can be involved in just one case, it is sometimes a better decision for a particular company to choose to settle rather than let the courts decide. This push/pull decision, Tanella explained, is more of a “cash flow game.” Because so many companies have gone bankrupt as a result of these lawsuits, it is a tricky situation for those that are still involved.

Regardless, if a lawyer approaches a company with the statement, “Your product was at a job site where my client worked, and my client is now sick as a result,” then the defendant will have some explaining to do.

Many of the defendants are now spending much more money on these cases than ever before. Although each situation is unique, Tanella explained that the culprits cannot afford to ignore these issues.

The Bad Seeds

Unfortunately, fraudsters attempt to take advantage of the system just as they do with countless other types of claims. Tanella said that any given individual may have worked for a variety of employers throughout his or her lifetime and could claim to have come in contact with various products that have made him or her sick over time. However, investigations reveal that these claims may be far from the truth.

Tanella said it is it is not unheard of for defendants to hire private investigators who can verify if a client has filed asbestos-related claims elsewhere. Additionally, he explained that PACE has created an Asbestos Litigation Database (ALD), which contains nearly every asbestos and bodily injury complaint filed in the U.S., with detailed notes regarding the lawsuit, the entities named as defendants, the claimant's biographical information, and specifics surrounding the injury and exposure.

This type of information is crucial in detecting fraud, especially in such serious matters. Though we may never know exactly how many people have suffered from asbestos exposure, we can hope that the number eventually drops to zero.

For more information about the 14th Annual National Asbestos Litigation Conference, visit www.litigationconferences.com. The event takes place Oct. 3-4 at the Ritz-Carlton in Amelia Island, Fla.