Mesothelioma lawyers want to obtain compensation for you and your family for the wrongs done to you that caused your mesothelioma.  If you are suffering from mesothelioma it is because you were exposed to lethal asbestos dust without your permission.  In nearly all cases, the asbestos exposure occurred on the job – either at work or in the military.

Even though mesothelioma emerges decades after the exposure, which it typically does, skilled mesothelioma lawyers know how to investigate and discover what products and product manufacturers, distributors and other companies may be to blame.

Mesothelioma lawyers will then file a lawsuit on your behalf.  The lawsuit will result in either a verdict or a settlement.

How Mesothelioma Lawyers View Verdicts vs. Settlements

You may have heard of “settlements” or “verdicts” in lawsuits where one party has suffered great harm and injury because of another party. But what is the difference between the two, and how do mesothelioma lawyers decide which outcome will be in your best interests?

A settlement is an out-of-court agreement. It means that two parties in a lawsuit have reached an agreement without completing all the legal proceedings of a full trial. In some cases when all the parties settle, that means no trial.

Mesothelioma lawyers seek to file a lawsuit on behalf of a client with mesothelioma against the persons and/or businesses that caused their mesothelioma due to negligence or deliberate wrongdoing. The plaintiff is the person suffering from mesothelioma and the defendants are the parties accused of causing this harm to the plaintiff. If the plaintiff’s mesothelioma lawyer files a lawsuit against defendants but the lawyers for both sides are able to reach a negotiated compensation agreement before or during civil court proceedings, this is considered a settlement.  It generally involves an agreed upon sum of money to be paid to the plaintiff.

Either the plaintiff or the defendant may make the offer of a certain amount to be paid to the plaintiff to settle the case. The other side can choose to accept, counter or reject the offer.

Mesothelioma Lawyers and Trial Verdicts

A verdict or judgment is the final decision reached by a judge and/or jury in court proceedings. If your mesothelioma lawyers take your mesothelioma lawsuit to trial, both sides of the case will be heard. Then evidence will be evaluated in order to determine whether your opponents are guilty or not guilty. Unlike criminal court, where guilt must be proven “beyond a reasonable doubt,” the proof needed in a mesothelioma lawsuit is a “preponderance of evidence” in your favor. Preponderance is defined as most of the evidence.

If the defendant is found guilty, the jury may have the task of determining what amount of financial compensation the defendant will pay to the plaintiff. Mesothelioma lawyers will typically show evidence of the amount of compensation that should be awarded by reviewing current and future medical expenses, lost earnings and also the emotional impact that mesothelioma has had. Verdicts reached in civil court typically result in higher payouts to plaintiffs than settlements, but this can vary depending on specific factors in the case.

Why Mesothelioma Cases Settle

Mesothelioma lawyers sometimes advise their plaintiffs to settle mesothelioma cases out of court. This could be in your best interests so you can avoid a long courtroom battle. Whether your particular case goes to court and results in a verdict will depend on the circumstances, such as the defendants  willingness to pay fair settlements and your determination to seek maximum compensation even if it means going to trial. Your mesothelioma lawyers should discuss your options ahead of time to determine whether settling out of court or going to trial will be best for you , and regularly revisit this subject as the trial continues.

Mesothelioma Lawyers Who Win Multimillion Dollar Verdicts

When mesothelioma lawyers are among the best at what they do, they often win large multi-million dollar verdicts for their clients.  These clients are people who were wrongfully exposed to asbestos and are facing the tragic consequences.

Kazan Law in Oakland, California is a firm of mesothelioma lawyers who are rated as one of the premier mesothelioma law firms in the U.S.  Kazan Law won some of the first major victories for victims of asbestos exposure in the U.S. since it started over forty years ago.  Kazan Law helped establish asbestos litigation as a legal specialty and went on to win some of the biggest monetary verdicts for their clients.

Today well into the 21^st century, Kazan Law’s dedication to legal excellence and justice for asbestos victims continues to result in major verdicts.  These verdicts gain Kazan Law recognition in the legal profession among their peers in the United States and throughout the world.

• $32,800,000 – In 2016, Kazan Law won a California jury verdict for their client, a foundry worker for American Optical Corporation in Los Angeles, California, of $22.8 million in compensatory damages and $10 million in punitive damages for marketing a faulty respirator. Our client used a faulty American Optical respirator for 17 years expecting that it would protect him from breathing asbestos dust.
• $6,951,000 – In 2015, a California jury returned a verdict, after a six-week trial, in favor of Kazan Law’s client a boilermaker by trade. The jury found Union Pacific Railroad Company responsible for the suffering and wrongful death of our client who worked as a boilermaker at the Southern Pacific Railroad from 1971 to 1995. The award consisted of $6,500,000 in pain and suffering damages in the mesothelioma lawsuit. The court had already determined that Mr. Emerson’s economic damages totaled $451,265 bringing the total of the verdict to $6,951,000.
• $29,270,000 – In 2014, Kazan Law received first place ranking for highest wrongful death verdict amount in California. The recognition was bestowed by the legal profession’s leading publication The Recorder in its review of top verdicts. The $11,800,000 wrongful death verdict followed a two-phase trial verdict Kazan Law won on behalf of the family in previous years. In December 2010, the jury awarded $3,900,000 million in compensatory damages. In January 2011, Kazan Law obtained $13,500,000 in punitive damages. The verdict total amounted to $29,270,000.
• $27,342,500 – In another recent case, the $27, 342,500 verdict won by Kazan Law for a client made the National Law Journal’s exclusive list of Top 100 Verdicts for 2013. The verdict covered damages for pain and suffering, loss of companionship and economic damages.

If you are considering starting a mesothelioma lawsuit, you must understand the basic facts about mesothelioma law before beginning the process of finding the right mesothelioma attorneys to represent you. First, you need medical proof that you have mesothelioma. Your efforts to proceed with the legal process rely upon a doctor’s diagnosis. Second, and often most time consuming, you need proof that specific persons or businesses exposed you to the asbestos which caused your mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma Law and Medical Diagnosis

Mesothelioma lawsuits can result in verdicts or settlements for the victim representing millions of dollars in compensation. Businesses responsible for causing mesothelioma and their insurance companies would rather not take responsibility for their actions by admitting guilt or paying out millions of dollars to those they have irrevocably harmed. Because of their unwillingness to admit responsibility for your asbestos exposure, it is critical that solid proof be gathered and documented.  Mesothelioma is a devastating preventable type of cancer with only one known cause – exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma silently and slowly attacks the tissues lining vulnerable organs of the body. In most cases because microscopic asbestos dust fibers are inhaled into the lungs, mesothelioma develops in the tissue lining the lungs. This is pleural mesothelioma. But the tiny flecks of asbestos can also make their way through the body’s systems into tissue that line other organs such as the heart and the abdomen.

What makes mesothelioma unusually difficult to diagnose and makes mesothelioma law such an  intense area of litigation is that the symptoms only emerge decades after the asbestos exposure. The disease develops silently for many years with no outward signs.

When symptoms first make themselves known they can easily be mistaken for another more common illness such as a cold or flu.

If your cold or flu like symptoms linger longer than normal, and will not go away, don’t hesitate to seek medical help. Be persistent about seeing your primary care physician. If you recall working around asbestos or recall having a family member who did work around asbestos, then take immediate action. Your physician may decide it is necessary to have you go for x-rays, blood tests and possibly additional tests, or send you directly to a cancer specialist. The sooner you have definitive results, meaning a medical mesothelioma diagnosis, the sooner you can put mesothelioma law in play on your behalf.

California Mesothelioma Law Not Limited to Californians

Mesothelioma law in California is often open to  non-Californians suffering from mesothelioma. The laws are structured so that you do not have to be a California resident to file a mesothelioma lawsuit here.  Nor do the companies named in your lawsuit have to have offices or businesses here.

California has some of the strongest most favorable mesothelioma laws in the country for achieving justice for victims of asbestos exposure.  California also has some of the top expert mesothelioma lawyers in the country, like Kazan Law.  The following are a few of the reasons why California mesothelioma laws are advantageous to those filing mesothelioma lawsuits: .

• Mesothelioma laws in California are among the most favorable in the U.S. for asbestos victims.
• California residency is not required to file an asbestos lawsuit here.
• California mesothelioma law allows you to initiate your lawsuit even if you have not yet identified who or what is responsible.
• Top pioneers in the asbestos litigation field, like Kazan Law, were at the forefront in helping asbestos victims receive compensation for their injuries

Mesothelioma Law Reflects Mesothelioma Facts

Those of us who helped initiate the first mesothelioma lawsuits and have practiced mesothelioma law for decades expected that by now mesothelioma might be a thing of the past. We had hoped that once it was understood how fatal and preventable mesothelioma was, laws would be enacted to prevent people from being exposed to asbestos that causes mesothelioma.

But unfortunately mesothelioma is still very much part of the global landscape. Although recent laws have cut down on asbestos exposure they have not eliminated it.  Mesothelioma law continues to be a necessity as reflected by mesothelioma facts and statistics.

Key current statistics to know are:

• 3,000 people are diagnosed with mesothelioma in the U.S. every year
• Almost 3,000  people die from mesothelioma in the U.S. every year
• 20 – 50 years is the usual time frame of asbestos exposure to diagnosis of mesothelioma

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) tracks and analyzes mesothelioma statistics. Here are some results from the decade 2001 – 2010, the most recent data set[1] that has been compiled.

• 26, 471 mesothelioma U.S. deaths
• 21, 246 mesothelioma deaths in U.S. men
•    5,225 mesothelioma deaths in U.S. women
•        75  median age of death from mesothelioma in the U.S.

According to the CDC, these states have the highest number of deaths from mesothelioma – which remained constant over the decade even with some fluctuations from year to year:

1. California
2. Florida
3. Pennsylvania
4. New York
5. New Jersey
6. Texas

Survival Statistics

Mesothelioma law is adamant about pursuing businesses that knowingly exposed people to asbestos because mesothelioma is almost always a fatal disease. New avenues of cancer research are making progress in developing new mesothelioma treatments. But at present many of these are not approved by the FDA and can only be accessed through participating in an investigative clinical trial, with no guarantee of results.

Conventional treatments, including surgery to remove tumors, chemotherapy and radiation, can help increase survival time. But overall survival time depends on the stage at which mesothelioma is diagnosed and age at the time of diagnosis. Earlier diagnosis and diagnosis at a younger age can improve survival odds.

Below is current median survival data for mesothelioma from the American Cancer Society[2]. Median survival is similar to an average – half the patients at each stage will not reach the survival time cited but half will live longer.

Consequently, if you have mesothelioma, you likely have enough time to see your mesothelioma lawsuit to conclusion, at least in California, but it is best to begin as soon as possible.

[1] Mortality multiple cause-of-death data from National Center for Health Statistics, National Vital Statistics System.

[2] American Cancer Society data 02/17/16

You and your family never heard of the term mesothelioma cancer. You and your family were not prepared for a mesothelioma diagnosis when it happened, you were not prepared for your doctor’s description of the reality of pain and suffering mesothelioma can cause, nor were you and your family prepared to seek legal advice from California mesothelioma attorneys.

Yet, here you are in a situation where you are juggling your emotions, thinking about your feelings of responsibility for your family’s well-being, and trying to come to grips with the next logical steps to consider.

At some point, you may decide you wish to seek some form of justice where the parties responsible for your asbestos exposure, and possibly another family members’ exposure, are held accountable so that no other innocent person can be victimized. You most likely will want to seek compensation that will help pay for the extremely expensive process of undergoing mesothelioma treatment as well as secure financial compensation for your family’s future well-being.

6 Must Ask Questions for Your California Mesothelioma Attorneys

You are at the point where you are ready to research and reach out to a California mesothelioma attorney. But where do you begin? The following six questions will help you, and your family, evaluate the California mesothelioma attorneys you have chosen to contact. The questions are designed to aid in your decision-making process by taking into consideration each firm’s level of experience, their track record in the field of asbestos litigation, and the cost and compensation involved in a mesothelioma lawsuit.

How old is your firm and how long have you been doing this?

One of the most critically important criteria you should seek in hiring a law firm specializing in mesothelioma is their experience and practice focus. The length of time a firm has been practicing asbestos litigation is critical. What is the law firm’s role in the history of asbestos litigation? Have they been practicing since the 1970’s when asbestos law was established and were they one of few pioneering law firms that helped create asbestos litigation?

In conjunction with the history of the California mesothelioma attorneys you are evaluating, is their practice focused on asbestos litigation? Does the firm practice mesothelioma-asbestos law exclusively? If they do not specialize in asbestos litigation, then that firm most likely is not experienced enough to guide you and your family through the complex process of going to trial or seeking settlement. They will not be equipped to answer all of the intricate questions about asbestos trusts, bankrupt defendants, and the dozens of other critical decisions you will need support in navigating.  No lawyer is an expert at everything- and like any other job, people get good at doing things by doing them repeatedly.

Will your firm represent me in court  and negotiate the settlements against the defendants?

This is absolutely critical. If the answer is no, then the law firm you are vetting is a case broker. Case brokers are simply lead generation specialists who often produce expensive television commercials and digital advertisements attempting to attract asbestos plaintiffs. Once a case broker has your commitment, they place your case with the highest bidding law firm who buys the case from them. Consequently, you are then passed off to a firm without having been given the time to research their qualifications, experience, and practice focus. Instead of choosing the most qualified firm for your representation, the choice is left up to the broker who has no moral obligation to seek the most qualified law firm.

How much will it cost me to investigate my asbestos claim?

California mesothelioma attorneys should never bill you for investigating your potential claim.  A consultation should always be free. The investigation process will include questions about you, about your family, and about your work history. This investigation will uncover the information that will help you lead to the next steps in the process if you have a legitimate claim.

How much will it cost for your firm to represent me?

You and your family should not work with a law firm that doesn’t work on a contingency fee basis. That means that the firm you hire to represent you and your family does not charge you an hourly fee. Instead the law firm is paid compensation only if a judgement is won in your favor or settlements are reached in your case.

How long do I have to file a mesothelioma lawsuit?

The law places time limits on how long a person can wait before filing a mesothelioma lawsuit. Once the deadline passes, it is too late to file a lawsuit. These time limits are called statute of limitations. Your right to pursue a claim or a lawsuit varies depending on where your asbestos exposure occurred and when you were diagnosed. There is a wide range of statute of limitations in the United States. California is one of the most stringent for victims often allowing only one year from diagnosis for a personal injury claim. A number of other states allow two to three years from diagnosis. It’s vitally important to obey these time limitations or you could lose the right to compensation.  Although California’s statute of limitations is stringent, the California court system is widely recognized as one of the most sympathetic to victims in the country.

How much compensation can I expect from my mesothelioma lawsuit?

Every case is unique, with a unique set of circumstances that influences the outcome and amount of compensation you and your family can expect. With that said, in most instances negotiations between the attorneys on both sides will inevitably yield mutually agreeable settlement amounts to be paid to you.  The goal of a settlement is to ensure you receive a fair amount of compensation as quickly as possible.

Mesothelioma Settlements

What is a settlement? When you reach a settlement with the defendants you are agreeing to a compromise between you and the guilty party(s) who knowingly exposed you to deadly asbestos. Settlements rarely if ever come with an admission of guilt from the responsible parties. The amount of your settlement will vary dependent upon a number of factors.

The advantages of a settlement include having quick access to settlement money to pay for your medical treatment costs as well as financial support for your family. In addition, you and your family will not have to go through the complicated, often long, and invariably painful process of trial.

Going to Trial with California Mesothelioma Attorneys

If it is justice you seek, in the form of holding the people and organizations accountable for your asbestos exposure, in a public forum then you may wish to go to trial seeking a verdict.

Trials come with risks not associated with a settlement. In most cases, trials take longer to complete than settlements. Because of the unpredictability of court proceedings, trials come with additional risks. Depending upon the circumstances of your case, you have the chance of losing when the verdict is returned. If you lose at trial, you and your family will not receive any money or compensation from trial defendants.  The compensation that you deserve will be lost. The best and most experienced California mesothelioma attorneys understand the risks and will help you understand those risks before you make the decision to move forward with a trial.

California Mesothelioma Attorneys at Kazan Law

Since our founding in 1974, Kazan Law has represented thousands of people suffering from asbestos related illnesses, particularly mesothelioma. Our firm was built upon asbestos litigation and after four plus decades we remain dedicated and focused on representing people harmed by asbestos exposure.

Among our principals are pioneers in asbestos litigation­. As a pioneering law firm in the field, we are the most experienced mesothelioma attorneys in California. We have unparalleled expertise and involvement in asbestos bankruptcy reorganizations and asbestos bankruptcy funds.

You will receive the personalized service and expertise you and your family deserve through our staff of more than 80, including 25 attorneys and a team of paralegals and professional investigators. We pride ourselves on the fact that Kazan Law excels in complex litigation involving, catastrophic asbestos cancer  and personal injury.

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California mesothelioma lawyers are among the most experienced expert advocates for mesothelioma victims in the United States.  California mesothelioma law firms like Kazan Law helped set the standard for mesothelioma law. They continue to set precedents and win major victories for their clients.

If you are trying to find mesothelioma lawyers who are the most likely to help you win the greatest amount of money damages for your case, you should consider hiring California mesothelioma lawyers.  California laws often allow you to file a case with a California mesothelioma lawyer even if you do not live in California and the companies you intend to sue are not based in California.

Why California Mesothelioma Lawyers Are the Go-To Experts

Mesothelioma is a life-threatening illness with only one cause – exposure to asbestos.  Mesothelioma victims stand a good chance of receiving a substantial financial award if their case is handled by a good mesothelioma lawyer.

Mesothelioma victims most likely were exposed to asbestos on the job or through asbestos dust brought home by a family member who worked with asbestos. In nearly all cases, mesothelioma victims were exposed to asbestos without their knowledge or consent. Who would knowingly allow themselves to be exposed to a substance that can cause a cancerous disease like mesothelioma?  But each case requires substantial proof and evidence.

At first, mesothelioma cases were handled by personal injury lawyers.  California mesothelioma lawyers were among the first to recognize that the complexities of asbestos exposure resulting in mesothelioma demanded a niche law specialty all its own.

Because mesothelioma symptoms can take 10 to 50 years to emerge, a mesothelioma victim often needs help determining and proving which mesothelioma manufacturers and/or distributors may be held liable. It takes knowledgeable experienced mesothelioma lawyers to know how to do this and bring a solid case forward. California mesothelioma lawyers know where to look.  They know which companies manufactured and installed asbestos even if they are no longer in business and which ones have victims’ trust funds.

Having experienced successful California mesothelioma lawyers fighting on your behalf can make a huge difference.  Steer clear of personal injury attorneys without mesothelioma experience and work only with lawyers who specialize in mesothelioma.

How California Mesothelioma Lawyers Save You Money

You may think that you can’t afford California mesothelioma lawyers’, like Kazan Law, with impressive track records of court wins and decades of experience. The opposite is true. You can’t afford not to work with them.

The best California mesothelioma lawyers:

• Do not charge for your initial consultation
• Will free of charge do all necessary research to determine whether you have a case
• Will not take your case unless they believe they can win it for you
• Will not charge you a penny unless they win your case
• Will arrange medical liens for you so you can receive all the medical treatment you need
• Will review all your medical bills to eliminate excess charges and help you keep more of your settlement

California mesothelioma lawyers win some of the biggest financial awards in the nation.  Choosing a mesothelioma lawyer is one of the most important decisions you will ever make for yourself and your family. This is one instance where it makes sense to go with the best.

Ways to Find the Best California Mesothelioma Lawyers

Retaining the best mesothelioma lawyer is vital to not only winning your case but also to winning it with the most substantial award possible.  Finding the best lawyer for your case can seem like an overwhelming task if you are not feeling well and are undergoing medical treatment. But do not put off finding the best mesothelioma lawyer possible.  Consider asking a family member or friend to help you research this important matter.  You need to carefully review the qualifications and recent achievements of any mesothelioma lawyer you are thinking about hiring before making any kind of commitment.

Here are several suggestions:

Check with former co-workers: If you have received a medical diagnosis of mesothelioma, it is probable that some of your co-workers from the job where you were exposed to asbestos have mesothelioma too.  They may already be working with a lawyer with whom they have filed a lawsuit. If they are pleased with their lawyer and how their lawsuit is progressing, that could be a lawyer to consider.

Check the website Nolo’s California listings:  Since the 1970s’, the company Nolo has been providing the public with consumer-friendly legal advice and documents.  In their online listings, they include lawyers’ educational backgrounds, qualifications and legal specialties. Click on their California listings, to find California mesothelioma lawyers.

Check lawyer rating lists:  Some of the best people to rate lawyers are other lawyers.  Anyone can buy advertising but recommendations by one’s peers are harder to come by and  likely to be more accurate. Lists of the best lawyers published online and in print by Super Lawyers, Best Lawyers and US News and World Reports Best Lawyers can help you find the best California mesothelioma lawyers.

Research lawyers online:  Be warned that the moment you type the words “mesothelioma” and “lawyer” into an online search, you will be bombarded with aggressive ads making big promises. Unfortunately, many of these ads may be placed by brokers who are hired to fish for clients by lawyers too unaccomplished to attract clients on their own merits.

How do you cut through all the promotional ads to find the best mesothelioma lawyer?  Review the website of each mesothelioma lawyer and mesothelioma law firm carefully. Look for thorough information sensitive to the needs of mesothelioma victims and their families. Check the firm history, background and track record of successful cases.  This information should all be there for you to see.  The best California mesothelioma lawyers provide it.

Mesothelioma law may seem daunting at first.  Basically though, if you want to know only one thing about mesothelioma law, let it be this:  California has some of the most powerful mesothelioma laws in the country when it comes to winning justice for victims of asbestos exposure.  And all mesothelioma patients are victims of asbestos exposure.  It is the only cause of mesothelioma, a vicious cancer that at present has no cure.

Mesothelioma Law in California Not Limited to Californians

Also important to know is that mesothelioma law in California can be open to anyone suffering from mesothelioma. The laws are structured so that you do not have to be a California resident to file a mesothelioma lawsuit here.  Nor do the companies named in your lawsuit have to have offices or businesses here.

However, as in every other state, California mesothelioma law has a statute of limitations.  That means you have a limited amount of time to file a lawsuit.

California’s Mesothelioma Law Favorable Statute of Limitations

California mesothelioma law stipulates that if you are diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you have one year to file a lawsuit from the date you were first disabled from your usual work; and if you are retired, there is no time limit. If a mesothelioma patient dies before a suit can be filed, the family has one year from the date of death to file a lawsuit. This is similar to the statute of limitations for mesothelioma lawsuits in most other states.

Because mesothelioma can be dormant for many decades and not cause symptoms until near the end stages of the disease, it is sometimes difficult for people to immediately pinpoint where and how they were exposed to asbestos. Cruelly, in some states the statute of limitations can run out before that information can be pieced together.  California mesothelioma law makes it possible to get a lawsuit started following a mesothelioma diagnosis using a fictitious or made-up name for the responsible entity.  Then you do not lose your chance to seek justice.  Your attorney will simply amend the lawsuit with the correct name when they discover that information for you.

3 Facts to Remember About California Mesothelioma Law

California is on your side. Here’s why:

1. California mesothelioma laws are among the best in the U.S. for asbestos victims.
2. You do not need to be a California resident or sue a California company to file an asbestos lawsuit here.
3. California has a very generous statute of limitations law. Unlike most other states, here you can get your suit started even if you have not yet identified who or what is responsible.

If you think you may have mesothelioma immediately make an appointment to get a physical exam. You cannot move forward with a mesothelioma lawsuit without an official mesothelioma diagnosis.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma immediately contact an attorney to help you initiate a lawsuit. The clock may be ticking.   The rapid progress of the disease itself means you want to get started quickly.

If you think you cannot afford the costs of a lawsuit stop worrying and call a mesothelioma lawyer. A good mesothelioma lawyer, like the ones at our firm, will not charge you a cent unless they win compensation for you. We will not bill you for investigating whether you have a case that will stand up in court and we will not take your case unless we believe we can win it.  And your first consultation should always be free; it is with us!

If you are too ill to travel you should still consider filing your mesothelioma lawsuit in California where the law about asbestos is amongst the strictest anywhere.  Your asbestos lawyer should travel to where you are to meet with you to discuss your case. That is what we do.

If you are wondering how large a settlement or verdict you will receive please back away from any lawyer who quotes you any numbers.  Many factors related to your individual case determine any settlement or verdict amounts. Be suspicious of anyone willing to cite amounts at your first meeting. You can explore a range of verdicts and settlements on our website.

If you are concerned about time, you are correct. A mesothelioma lawsuit is a race against time given the rapid progress of the disease at the stage when symptoms emerge. That is why it is more important to hire mesothelioma lawyers who are experienced and can move a case quickly to court than to go with someone who happens to be local.

Mesothelioma Law:  A Triumph over Adversity

Mesothelioma law was partly created in California and Kazan Law founding partner Steven Kazan played a pivotal role.

Through most of the industrial age, corporations and businesses were able to knowingly sacrifice their workers’ lives for profit by exposing them to asbestos in products and machinery.  They essentially got away with murder.

That started to change in 1966. An attorney named Ward Stephenson filed a case on behalf of a worker with asbestosis against eleven manufacturers of asbestos-containing insulation products, including Johns-Manville, Fibreboard and Owens Corning Fiberglas.  In 1969, the manufacturers won. A few months later, Mr. Stephenson filed a similar lawsuit for another worker. This time he won. The manufacturers appealed. By 1974, Mr. Stephenson’s victory over corporate greed was upheld. But sadly he had died the year before. Nonetheless, the torch had been passed and asbestos lawsuits began to be filed in other states.

In California, in 1974, Steven Kazan filed a precedent-setting lawsuit against Johns-Manville on behalf of a sickened worker at their Pittsburg CA plant. Instead of allowing the case to be shunted off to Workers Compensation, Kazan successfully argued that the company executives should not be shielded from conspiracy and fraud charges. He won the case and forged a new path into mesothelioma law as a specific specialty area.  He continues to this day, along with his partners and associates, to fight against big companies on behalf of innocent people wrongfully and willfully exposed to asbestos.

California mesothelioma lawyers are your best bet if you are filing an asbestos lawsuit. In fact, California mesothelioma lawyers have all ready helped your asbestos lawsuit without you realizing it. That is because California mesothelioma lawyers were a major part of the effort to establish mesothelioma law as a distinct type of legal specialty.  Some California mesothelioma lawyers know asbestos law better than most anyone, because they helped invent it. They have set legal precedents and won major victories that benefit mesothelioma patients everywhere.

You do not have to live in California or have been exposed to asbestos by a California company to file an asbestos lawsuit here, according to California law.

Why Choose California Mesothelioma Lawyers, Not Ordinary Personal Injury Lawyers

Asbestos law as a specific area of law practice emerged from the general field of personal injury law. California mesothelioma lawyers like Kazan Law founding partner Steven Kazan were among the first ones to understand that the complexity of asbestos cases and the large number of unsuspecting people exposed to asbestos demanded an area of full legal concentration.  About 3,000 Americans a year are diagnosed with mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma is very different from other types of injuries and illnesses.  It is a silent killer. Following exposure to asbestos, it presents no symptoms for many decades.  When a mesothelioma diagnosis is made, 50 years may have passed since the initial asbestos exposure.  Who will remember exactly when and where the asbestos exposure occurred?  Asbestos dust is microscopic and has no odor or taste. The companies that a mesothelioma patient worked for may have gone out of business. The asbestos-containing products that caused the exposure may have long been discontinued. How do mesothelioma patients and their families put together their case?  They hire California mesothelioma lawyers to guide them through the process.

A few California mesothelioma lawyers have focused intensely on mesothelioma since the 1970s and have developed a wealth of institutional knowledge within their law firms.

• California mesothelioma lawyers know which companies have been associated with asbestos exposure over the years, even if these companies are no longer in business or are doing business under a different name.
• California mesothelioma lawyers know all the types of jobs and products that may have caused asbestos exposure to occur.
• California mesothelioma lawyers know which companies have declared bankruptcy and set up asbestos bankruptcy trusts.
• California mesothelioma lawyers know if your case is winnable and if they believe it is, they will fight for you all the way to the Supreme Court.

A knowledge base and expertise of this depth can be built only by focused experience. It can’t be acquired by someone who is spread thin in many areas of personal injury law.

For example, your family doctor may be a medical professional you trust. But would you want him to perform brain surgery on you?  You would want to be in the hands of a competent experienced brain surgeon, trained to be an expert in this specific area of medicine.

Likewise, if you seek to bring an asbestos lawsuit to court, you need an attorney who is an expert in this specific area of law.  Some California mesothelioma lawyers are good at what they do because that is all they do.  They do not handle other types of personal injury cases.

Hire Real California Mesothelioma Lawyers, Not a TV Pitchman

 10 Questions to Ask When You Call a Number from a TV Advertisement

1. Who is going to do the work on my case?
2. How will you be paid for your time on my case?
3. Who would I call or email if I have questions?
4. Are you going to work on the case yourself or are you going to send it to someone else?
5. Is your firm going to handle the case all by itself? How many lawyers, investigators do you have? Who are they?
6. Who will actually file the lawsuit?
7. Where will the lawsuit be filed?
8. Who is going to go to court for me?
9. How many years has your law firm been in business mesothelioma cases?
10. How many asbestos cases have you handled?

California Mesothelioma Lawyers and California’s Favorable Laws

Because California mesothelioma lawyers pretty much invented a lot of modern asbestos litigation, they were able to have a major impact on state laws regarding asbestos cases. They have helped to create a climate that is supportive of asbestos victims, with favorable laws and large jury verdicts.  The California legislature and courts have the created and applied special asbestos rules as a necessary and fair response to the unique problems faced by victims of asbestos exposure.

As a result many out-of-state asbestos plaintiffs have the option to file their cases in California with a California mesothelioma attorney as their counsel.

As we mentioned earlier, you do not have to live in California or be suing a California company to file your asbestos lawsuit here.  Nor do you need worry about airfare expenses.  Your California mesothelioma lawyers will travel to you, wherever you are.

Choosing the right mesothelioma attorneys can give you peace of mind during a difficult and stressful time of life.You don’t deserve this disease. That’s why it’s essential that you find the right mesothelioma attorneys to represent you, fight for you in court, and ensure you get the best financial compensation possible— money to cover your medical costs, lost income, living expenses, as well as secure the future security of your family.

Choosing the Right Mesothelioma Attorneys For Your Case

When it comes to a mesothelioma lawsuit, the stakes are high. Choosing the right attorney for your case may be one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make. So plan on doing a thorough search. Ask former colleagues where you worked, and search online for referrals. The mesothelioma attorneys you select should have:

• Proven Mesothelioma Litigation Expertise: Mesothelioma law is very complicated. An ordinary trial lawyer simply will not do. Your mesothelioma attorneys should have in-depth expertise in asbestos litigation, and familiarity with the mesothelioma laws and court guidelines that vary from state to state.

• An Impressive Track Record for Winning Cases: Your mesothelioma attorneys should have experience with jury trials, an understanding of asbestos history, manufacturing and construction, plus a proven track record for winning asbestos lawsuits and obtaining large settlements.

• Bankruptcy and Asbestos Trust Experience: Many of the corporations responsible for asbestos-related illnesses closed shop years ago. However, under the bankruptcy reorganization code section 524(g), they were required to fund asbestos trusts with enough money to pay current and future asbestos claims.

There are now about 50 asbestos bankruptcy trusts; together they represent over $30 billion reserved specifically almost exclusively for mesothelioma settlements and trials.

The type of attorney you choose could make a difference in the compensation you receive. Mesothelioma attorneys with extensive experience often get more for their clients than lawyers who don’t have experience with asbestos claims. Do your research and make sure to work with an attorney who has lots of experience with mesothelioma lawsuits and trust claims.

• Extensive Reach and Resources: Unlike most personal injuries, the symptoms of asbestos-related diseases can take decades to appear. So there will be a lot of investigating to conduct, and historical evidence to collect, in order to properly prove your claim.

Make sure the firm you choose has the resources available, including the ability to travel, in order to document and research your case. Here is just some of the documentation your mesothelioma attorneys will need to collect:

1. Past employment history
2. Proof of asbestos in the workplace
3. Medical records indicating the onset of your symptoms
4. The history of the companies whose asbestos hurt you, and records of their asbestos sales

• A Commitment to Cutting-Edge Science: Top-notch mesothelioma attorneys keep up with the science and medical breakthroughs discovered through clinical mesothelioma studies and research.  The findings from these studies can help bring scientists closer to finding a cure, and may even be used by your attorney to help prove your case in court.

• A Reputation for Being Pioneers in Mesothelioma Law: Having the right mesothelioma attorneys on your side can make all the difference. The firm you choose should enjoy a well-earned reputation in the area of mesothelioma law. Some firms limit their cases exclusively to asbestos-related illness, giving them laser-sharp focus and breadth in this complicated area of law.

What Your Mesothelioma Attorneys Will Provide You

Once you have hired your mesothelioma attorneys, you will embark upon a process that will include discovery, depositions, settlement discussions, a possible trial, verdict and a possible appeal. (However, most mesothelioma lawsuits do not go to trial because they are settled out of court before the trial takes place).

• Discovery: As the name implies, “discovery” is the process by which your mesothelioma attorneys will subpoena documents, and submit interrogatories in order to “discover” important things about the defendant such as who was responsible for the asbestos exposure, and where and when the exposure took place.

If you’ve selected the right mesothelioma attorneys, they will work with a team of investigators to identify the asbestos products you were exposed to, and the companies responsible for the “safety” of your work site. These investigators will likely contact your co-workers, oncologists and pulmonologists; they will visit libraries and archives, query databases, access government documents, and examine company records.

• Deposition: One form of discovery that directly impacts every client is the deposition. This is a legal proceeding that will take place in or near your home or at your attorney’s office. Your attorney will start by asking you a round of questions; then the defendant’s attorneys will ask you some more. Your statements and answers will be recorded on video.

An experienced attorney will meet with you before the deposition – to explain what will happen, prepare you, and address any concerns you may have. Your mesothelioma attorneys will protect you throughout the deposition.

• Working With Bankrupt Defendants: If the company responsible for your illness has gone bankrupt, there is a good chance they set up an asbestos settlement trust. While moving the case toward trial, your mesothelioma attorneys may submit claim forms and negotiate with the trustees of these settlement trusts. The money received from these trusts is generally much less than would have been received had they been in the litigation, as the compensation amounts the trustees are required to pay out are limited to ensure there is enough money to pay future claimants who will be diagnosed years from now.

• Settlement: As soon as possible, your asbestos attorneys will put your case on the court’s trial calendar. This action usually kicks off the beginning of serious settlement negotiations with the accused defendants.

Many defendants choose to settle once presented with the evidence against them. Your attorney will work with you to obtain the best settlement possible, given the facts of your case. If you decline the settlement offer, don’t be surprised if the defendant makes another offer during the trial proceedings. It is unusual for a case to go all the way to a verdict.

• Trials: Asbestos trials usually last about a month with evidence being given by treating doctors, oncologists, pulmonologists, pathologists, industrial hygienists, co-workers, you and your family. The benefit of going to trial is that the verdict award may be higher than the original settlement offer. But that is not always the case. The verdict can also go to appeal, which is another risk, as it can further delaythe outcome by years.

Over more than 40 years, the esteemed mesothelioma attorneys at Kazan Law have obtained hundreds of millions of dollars for thousands of people hurt by this dreadful disease. To learn more about your legal rights, visit us at kazanlaw.com or call for a free legal consultation today at 888-887-1238.

Did you know that you can file a California mesothelioma lawsuit in any state in the country? You don’t have to file in the state where you live. You don’t have to file in the state where a corporation you are suing is headquartered (which would be impractical in any event, since many mesothelioma cases involve multiple corporations from different states). People can file a California mesothelioma lawsuit from any state in the US. If the facts are right, at Kazan Law we think that is just what you should do.

Advantages of a California Mesothelioma Lawsuit

California is one of several states with higher than average levels of asbestos exposure. In fact, there are more deaths due to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses each year in California than in any other state. In addition to heavy industries and shipping, where asbestos was commonly used, Californians face an added threat from asbestos mines.

Not surprisingly, California is also one of the states with the largest number of asbestos lawsuits. This is partly historical: when people with mesothelioma first began to file lawsuits in the 1970s, many of the plaintiffs were based in California because of the state’s high rate of asbestos disease.

That isn’t the only reason so many people file asbestos lawsuits in California. Mesothelioma lawsuits are in a special category in California courts. The judicial system in the state has different rules governing asbestos litigation, including a faster route to trial for plaintiffs with mesothelioma.

In addition, California’s laws are more favorable to mesothelioma plaintiffs than the laws of some other states. Some of the other states with the largest number of asbestos lawsuits have passed legislation to restrict access to the judicial system for people who have been injured by exposure to toxic asbestos fibers,  or limit the damages they can recover or make suing more difficult.

For example, after Texas defendants lost lots of mesothelioma lawsuits in the late 1990s, the state passed laws that limit the legal liability of the corporations responsible for negligently exposing people to asbestos. When one of these corporations merges with another company or is sold, their responsibility for paying the damages they owe is reduced in Texas.

Who Can File a California Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Among the restrictions placed on asbestos litigation by some states are laws that limit or bar out-of-state residents from filing mesothelioma lawsuits. There are no such restrictions in California. Anyone can file a California mesothelioma lawsuit if the facts are right.

Your location and the expense of travel should not stop you from filing a California mesothelioma lawsuit. When you work with a top-notch asbestos law firm, your lawyer will travel to your location to meet with you. Kazan Law lawyers regularly meet with clients outside California, sometimes traveling across the country to work with people who have mesothelioma. We believe you can contribute more to the success of your mesothelioma lawsuit if you are able to rest in the comfort of your own home.

The bottom line is that California mesothelioma lawsuits are often more successful and usually deliver larger verdicts. California juries really understand the claims of plaintiffs who are terminally ill because of the negligent actions of corporations who valued corporate profits over workers’ health.

Even if your California mesothelioma lawsuit settles before going to trial, your settlement may be larger in California. Defendants know that a trial in a California court is likely to go against them. This gives them an incentive to agree to a more favorable settlement.

In addition, some of the top asbestos law firms in the country like Kazan Law are based in California. When you choose a lawyer to represent you in your California mesothelioma lawsuit, you can choose from among the best.

Your mesothelioma lawsuit can provide the financial stability to comfort you during your illness and provide for your family once you are gone. Where you file – and what law firm you choose to represent you – can make the difference of millions of dollars in the settlement or jury verdict you receive. Picking a law firm can be the most important financial decision of your life. That is yet another reason to file a California mesothelioma lawsuit.

Justice in California

There is one more good reason to file a California mesothelioma lawsuit. It’s not about money – although your compensation is important. It’s about right and wrong and justice for the next generation of mesothelioma sufferers.

When you bring a corporation to trial in California, you make it more expensive for that corporation to do the wrong thing. There are certainly still plenty of bad corporations in the world. There are some that are actively poisoning and harming people with toxic chemicals at this moment. But the more we hold those corporations to account for their actions, the less economic incentive they have to cut corners on safety.

When you file a California mesothelioma lawsuit, you aren’t just asking for compensation for your own injuries and money to replace the income your family is losing. You are standing up for the next generations so they have safer workplaces with better protections from asbestos and other toxic substances. Your lawsuit might just save someone else’s life!

If you or a member of your family has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-caused lung cancer, or another asbestos-related disease, you may want to consider filing an asbestos lawsuit. Because of the clear connection between the negligent use of asbestos by US industries and mesothelioma, many people have filed lawsuits and won compensation for their injuries.

The first thing you can do to help make your asbestos lawsuit a success is to hire the best asbestos attorney you can find, one with a great deal of experience in filing asbestos lawsuits. The next thing you can do is to learn about the process so you can best help your lawyer make your case.

Collect Your Asbestos Lawsuit Documents

In order to file an asbestos lawsuit on your behalf, your attorney will need proof of your diagnosis and the state of your health, as well as the cost of your medical treatment so far. In addition, your attorney will need to know your work history, to determine where you may have been exposed to asbestos. Top-notch asbestos law firms employ experienced investigators. An investigator will use your background information to gather evidence about where you were exposed to asbestos.

If this seems like an overwhelming amount of work, especially as you are coping with a severe illness, don’t worry. A good mesothelioma attorney will go over everything with you and will be able to help gather the documents you need for your asbestos lawsuit.

Beginning Your Asbestos Lawsuit

Before beginning the formal litigation process, your attorney may approach representatives from some of the corporations responsible for your asbestos-related disease. Some parties choose to enter into settlement negotiations with the most well respected mesothelioma attorneys before a lawsuit is filed, to avoid the time and expense of going to court. Instead some corporations ask us NOT to sue them so they can settle without wasting money on their lawyers.

If any of the parties have set up an asbestos trust fund, your attorney will initiate the trust paperwork. The corporations with asbestos bankruptcy trusts can’t be named in an asbestos lawsuit. They have already admitted their liability for exposing people to asbestos and have set aside money under court supervision to compensate those who become ill with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases.

The parties who don’t agree to compensate you will be named in your asbestos lawsuit. Your lawyer will draft a complaint, which states the facts of the case and identifies all the parties in the lawsuit.

Your lawyer will file the complaint and get a summons from the court to serve on the parties named in the suit. These parties, now called the defendants, must file an answer with the court within 30 days. If any of the defendants do not respond to your lawsuit within the required time, your lawyer can seek a default judgment against that party. After a default is entered, your attorney will pursue that party for compensation.

Defendants always respond by denying that they are liable for exposing you to asbestos. Some may argue that your illness is caused by other factors, such as smoking. This push back is a normal part of the litigation process. An experienced asbestos attorney will have heard all these arguments before and will know how to respond to them.

Asbestos Lawsuit Discovery

The next phase of your asbestos lawsuit is called the discovery process. During this phase, both your attorney and the attorneys for the defendants will ask for documents and other evidence about the case. The defense will want copies of your medical records. Your asbestos lawyer will ask for information about the use of products containing asbestos at different places where you worked or lived, who sold them, and what they knew.

Part of the discovery process is taking depositions. Depositions do not take place in a courtroom, but they are sworn testimony recorded by a court reporter that may be used in court during the trial.

It is likely that the defendants will ask for your deposition. This may sound scary, but it doesn’t have to be. Your lawyer will work with you beforehand to prepare you to testify and will be right by your side every minute. If your health is failing, the deposition is a chance to record your account of your asbestos exposure and illness. Later on, if you are unable to come to court to testify at trial, a recording of your deposition may be played instead,  and will become evidence.

The discovery process can take several months. At times, you may feel that your lawsuit has stalled and that nothing is happening. For much of this time, however, your legal team will actually be hard at work. They will be combing through the documents received from the defendants through discovery, looking for evidence to bolster your asbestos lawsuit.

Will Your Asbestos Lawsuit Settle or Go to Trial?

Television likes the drama of the courtroom, but most people who get sued do not. Most lawsuits end with a settlement before trial. Asbestos lawsuits are no different: more than 90%  end with a settlement and never go through trial.

The discovery process plays a big part in settlement negotiations. If the documents received through this process show that a defendant knew about the hazards of asbestos exposure and did nothing to protect you and others, that party is unlikely to win at trial. They may choose to settle with you to avoid the cost of trial, as well as the embarrassment of having their misconduct exposed.

If you are offered a settlement by one or more of the defendants in your asbestos lawsuit, your attorney will negotiate the settlement amount and will help you assess whether the offer is fair. The advantage of settling is that you will receive compensation much sooner than if your case goes to trial. If you win at trial, a jury may award you more money than you would get from a settlement. There is no guarantee, however, of winning at trial, or getting more than what was offered, so settlement may be a good idea.

Seek advice from an experienced asbestos attorney as soon as you are able. That is the best way to get your asbestos lawsuit off to a smooth start and heading to a good result.

The California mesothelioma attorneys at Kazan Law have been a pioneering force in the asbestos litigation field in the United States and in California since the early 1970s. As experienced California mesothelioma attorneys, we understand the many obstacles asbestos victims and their families face. The first challenge you face is choosing the best law firm for your situation. How do you go about this due diligence process? Let us help identify important factors when choosing your mesothelioma attorneys.

Why the Best California Mesothelioma Attorneys Are the Most Experienced

You need the best mesothelioma attorneys for your case. Mesothelioma is caused by only one thing – asbestos exposure.  It is a merciless swift-moving disease once the symptoms become evident.  But because the exposure may have happened years or even decades ago, it can be challenging to pinpoint the source of asbestos exposure and the culprit or culprits responsible.  You need mesothelioma attorneys who have the skills cultivated from decades of experience to know exactly how to locate facts and evidence needed to win your lawsuit.

Kazan Law’s 22 mesothelioma attorneys work exclusively with lawsuits stemming from exposure to asbestos. Experience, as they say, is the best teacher. Kazan Law attorneys won some of the very first pioneering cases in California asbestos law. We helped establish the designation “mesothelioma attorneys” as a special category of trial lawyers.  We have represented thousands of mesothelioma victims and won some of the largest awards in asbestos litigation.  It is important to work with attorneys who have this kind of experience and who know how to get you the best possible outcome.

The California Mesothelioma Attorneys Who Launched Asbestos Justice

“Mesothelioma attorneys” did not exist when the first wave of asbestos cases hit the U.S. courts in the late 1960s and early 1970s.  A few attorneys in Texas first started fighting for asbestos victims in 1966. They started filing lawsuits against major producers of asbestos-containing insulation products including Johns-Manville and Owens Corning Fiberglass.  Talk about a situation of David going up against Goliath.  These were tragic situations of loyal hard-working employees fatally sickened by major corporations. By 1973, after legal setbacks and appeals, the first U.S. legal victory for an asbestos victim was finally achieved.

In 1974, Steven Kazan, the founding partner of Kazan Law, had just started his law practice in Oakland, California.  With a growing reputation for expertise in complicated medical issues, he was sought out to work on the first California asbestos lawsuits being filed against a Johns-Manville plant in nearby Pittsburg, CA.  Soon Mr. Kazan was representing over 100 workers from  Manville plants. Eventually that number grew to nearly 400.  In 1983, Steven Kazan won a major victory against Johns-Manville.

Over the next decades, Steven Kazan welcomed into the growing firm brilliant passionate attorneys who had fought for justice for California farm workers and factory workers.  Together they all became Kazan Law. Today over 40 years later, Kazan Law is still considered the top mesothelioma law firm in California.

Kazan Law’s Mesothelioma Attorneys Win Major Cases

Kazan Law’s dedicated mesothelioma attorneys continue to win major cases resulting in large monetary awards and settlements for clients.  Our entire firm regularly receives top professional honors from the legal profession for legal and financial victories.

Kazan Law won an $11 million verdict in 2014 for the Bankhead family in a wrongful death suit.  It was a complicated case involving several trials but we doggedly fought for our clients.  Gordon Bankhead’s mesothelioma was caused by his work with brake linings produced by the Pneumo Abex company and others.

Prior to the Bankhead case, our mesothelioma attorneys had won a $5 million verdict for client James Hellam and his family.  He had worked as a teenager during the summers for his grandfather’s boiler company. As part of his job, he mixed cement purchased in powder form from Crane Co. That was a very long time ago. Yet, Kazan Law attorneys were able to successfully establish this as the source of Mr. Hellam’s asbestos exposure.  Crane Co. tried to deny that they were the ones who had exposed Mr. Hellam to asbestos.  But the California mesothelioma attorneys at Kazan Law proved that Crane Co. executives were fully aware of the dangers presented by asbestos in their products and were negligent in not warning their customers.

In a recent precedent setting case, the California Supreme Court upheld a Kazan Law victory over the Ford Motor Company.  Ford had sought immunity from the case because their headquarters are in Michigan where punitive damages are not permitted.  But the courts ruled that what mattered was that the asbestos exposure occurred in California, where punitive damages stand.  Kazan Law clients Patrick and Sharon Scotts were awarded $1.5 million dollars in punitive damages for Mr. Scott’s mesothelioma.  Our mesothelioma attorneys helped prove that Mr. Scott’s work with automotive brakes had caused his illness.

California Mesothelioma Attorneys Who Make a Difference

Some mesothelioma law firms have been scrutinized and criticized for their conduct. Not Kazan Law. We will not take your case unless we believe we can win it. That is because we work only on contingency. We never charge any fees upfront or take any money from our clients until we achieve a financial award for them.  We also make sure that you are not charged by your healthcare providers for your medical expenses while your case is underway.  If necessary, we will arrange for a lien so that your expenses can be paid from your award after your case is successfully completed.  The last thing you need when you are coping with the tragedy of mesothelioma is to have that tragedy compounded by debt from the costs of mesothelioma treatment.  We will also review all your medical bills to make sure you are not being overcharged. As mesothelioma attorneys, we are also detectives.  Most people can’t remember what they ate for breakfast last month let alone what product they might have been exposed to 30 years ago that may have contained asbestos.  Because of our decades of experience as mesothelioma attorneys, we know very well all the possible asbestos-containing products you may have been exposed to and which companies produced them. We will do most of the work for you so that you can focus on what is most important – your health and your family.  As California mesothelioma attorneys, defending your rights and your family’s well- being is job-one, our passion, and our pride.