Asbestos Litigation Paralegal
Asbestos litigation paralegals help attorneys prosecute mesothelioma lawsuits against asbestos companies. These companies were responsible for putting asbestos in many different types of products. In many cases, decades go by between exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
In 1988, Vogel was a caseworker at Brobeck, an asbestos defense company. The firm had a special asbestos docket.
Preparation for Trial
A paralegal working in asbestos litigation is an essential member of the attorney's team. They help in the pursuit justice for people who are diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. A large part of a toxic tort paralegal's job is helping attorneys prepare for trial, which requires extensive legal research and preparation of numerous documents that will be presented in court by both plaintiffs and defendants.
A paralegal in asbestos litigation is responsible for the creation of legal documents, such as pleadings and motions, discovery requests, responses, and memos. Paralegals also conduct computerized legal research as well as medical, scientific and technological literature research to support the client's claim. They should also be able to discern and analyze data like corporate documents or medical records for their lawyers.
Paralegals who specialize in asbestos cases also create demand documents, medical chronologies and expense itemizations. They are well-versed in the mesothelioma claims process and work with patients who are terminally ill and their families.
Preparing for a trial requires the use of an attorney's research into the law and medical field to develop expert witnesses, and to draft convincing testimony. A paralegal can also help prepare jury selection, which is a critical phase in the litigation process. She can provide suggestions regarding how to ask prospective jurors questions or disprove testimony of witnesses.
If a trial is scheduled the asbestos litigation paralegal assists attorneys in preparing courtroom details, including scheduling depositions and other court appearances. The paralegal can also serve as a liaison with clients, keeping them apprised of the progress of their case and responding to inquiries.
One of the most important duties of an asbestos litigation paralegal is the protection of confidential attorney-client information. The law firm that employs the asbestos litigation lawyer must ensure that their employee doesn't disclose information about asbestos lawsuits that are pending or upcoming with third parties. It is not uncommon for employers to establish an employee screening process prior to hiring an employee for the first time that effectively blocks the employee from any such issues. This was previously described by a court as a "cone silence". The Harrison firm's main argument on appeal is that they didn't know that Vogel had any particular trusts with Brobeck. The evidence does support an assertion that the firm did not perform due diligence or take reasonable steps to safeguard confidential information.
Document Preparation

If someone is diagnosed as having an asbestos-related disease like mesothelioma or any other disease, they may seek compensation from companies that exposed them. If you need assistance in making a claim in New York, victims can contact a mesothelioma lawyer. They are well-versed in asbestos bankruptcy funds and the laws in this state that protect victims from unfair treatment.
The law firm will solicit the assistance of paralegals, lawyers and other professionals to prepare for the trial. This includes creating and submitting legal documents to the court, collecting and reviewing medical records, and making other evidence ready to be presented at trial.
Asbestos litigation can be complicated, and it requires a team of people to assist attorneys throughout the process. Legal paralegals are a crucial part of this team, and they often work on multiple cases at a time. A paralegal who is specialized in mesothelioma is required to perform a variety of tasks to fulfill and must be able to work independently and quickly.
For example, a mesothelioma paralegal at a particular firm might need to file numerous documents with the court and various parties, such as subpoenas, motions or notices of hearings as well as other Pleadings. Paralegals need to be familiar with all aspects of a case, and have an excellent ability to organize.
Paralegals prepare for trials by reviewing medical documents, reviewing records, and analyzing the details of each case. They must be familiar with the product, company, as well as the scientific and medical background that are associated with each piece of evidence. This is an important job obligation in toxic tort or asbestos cases, as getting the right information can make a huge difference during trial.
Another key aspect of an asbestos paralegal's job is contacting plaintiffs in order to obtain their answers to the questionnaire.
Garden Grove asbestos attorneys offer a wealth of information that can assist attorneys in their mesothelioma lawsuits. In addition the questionnaires can help identify asbestos-related illnesses and determine if a person is eligible for compensation. The statute of limitations, or deadline, for filing a personal injury claim in the state of New York is three years from the date of diagnosis.
Interviewing witnesses
Paralegals are often used to assist mesothelioma lawyers in the complicated litigation involving asbestos. These legal professionals interview clients, collect documents and information, research the asbestos-producing companies, as well as medical and scientific records of patients, create documents and assist with filing, reserving or monitoring asbestos bankruptcy trust claims.
A skilled asbestos litigation paralegal can also interview witnesses and prepare their testimony. They will collaborate with attorneys to determine the most appropriate questions to ask to obtain the most precise information. They will then plan and coordinate the witness's appearance in a deposition or trial, making sure that all the necessary documents are submitted to the court in advance.
Asbestos paralegals need to have a great deal of patience, as they frequently spend significant amounts of time researching and writing documents and answering questions from the attorneys. In addition, they may be required to interview witnesses and clients, and work closely with insurance adjusters. It is important for them to remain professional in all times, regardless of the circumstances.
A paralegal may find themselves dealing with a variety of cases within a company, including medical malpractice defense, wrongful death and insurance bad faith litigation. In some cases, they may also be involved in general liability and asbestos claims.
A vastly experienced attorney in asbestos litigation and toxic torts, Sara has performed investigations and collected evidence in numerous asbestos cases. Sara has prepared interrogatories, requests for production and conducted research on companies. She has also located officers, found archived documents and conducted research both locally and nationally. She also has worked closely with insurance companies to evaluate asbestos claims.
Krista is an expert of how mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases affect a person's quality of life. She is able to prepare medical chronologies, expense items and deposition summaries to her attorneys. She is experienced in the preparation of mesothelioma bankruptcy trust cases. She enjoys working on these kinds of cases due to the fact that they require a thorough study of the product, the company as well as the medical and scientific background.
Waters Kraus & Paul can assist in the event that you or someone near has been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases or mesothelioma. Our mesothelioma attorneys hold asbestos-related companies and responsible parties accountable for the role they played in causing these life altering diseases.
Create Exhibits
Asbestos litigation paralegals play a crucial role in the creation of cases to help victims who have mesothelioma, asbestosis or other asbestos-related illnesses win compensation from the responsible parties. They are involved in a variety of behind-the-scenes tasks to support lawyers in pursuing the highest compensation through insurance companies or mesothelioma trust funds.
Preparing exhibits for trial is one of the most important tasks that an attorney can perform. Exhibits are evidence that are presented during a trial and can include medical documents, records and even recordings of interviews with witnesses. Proper preparation of an exhibit list is crucial to the success of a trial, as opponents will often levy several objections against the evidence. Relevance and authenticity are two of the most frequent objections.
Working in the legal industry for more than ten years, Joanne finds her passion for organization and detail to be a perfect match with mass torts. She enjoys the repetitive nature of the job and is fascinated by the complex nature of asbestos litigation as well as other torts involving toxic substances. She loves the challenge of identifying and finding the right details that can aid a client's claim, especially when it involves research of medical, scientific and product histories.
She also enjoys the challenge of trial preparation, and also assisting attorneys during depositions. Joanne's experience in the field has led her to work with multinational corporate defense firms on complex toxic tort cases, such as mesothelioma cases. She is currently a part of Husch Blackwell's asbestos and mass tort practice. She works with a wide variety of documents such as Medicare documents discovery materials, court pleadings and deposition preparation.
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, or another asbestos-related disease, you could be entitled to financial compensation by filing a lawsuit against accountable parties. You can file a personal injury claim or wrongful death lawsuit to claim compensation for the loss resulting from the illness, including loss of income and quality of life, medical bills, travel costs funeral and burial expenses along with pain and suffering and more. A seasoned New York mesothelioma lawyer can explain how these kinds of lawsuits differ and offer guidance for the best way to file a claim.