Tens of billions of dollars have been paid out in the United States to asbestos victims from jury awards and settlements. As a result, asbestos law has become big business. With a single large case, an asbestos lawyer can earn hundreds of thousands of dollars.

The amount of money at stake has created an environment where many plaintiff lawyers may aggressively pursue asbestos claimants. In metropolitan areas, there are typically dozens if not hundreds of lawyers who handle claimant asbestos litigation.

Mesothelioma is a particularly deadly form of cancer. It attacks the mesothelium, which is the lining of such vital organs as the lungs, heart, and stomach. The asbestos becomes trapped in the mesothelium wall and can become cancerous. It typically takes 30-40 years for the cancer to appear after onset.

The symptoms of mesothelioma can be similar to other common illnesses. Shortness of breath, coughing, and weight loss are all symptoms. Early detection of the disease gives victims the best chance at prolonging their lives.

The amount paid out for lawsuits has resulted in nearly all major U.S. asbestos manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy protection. The bankrupt companies were forced to contribute to a fund.

While in the 1980s many victims of asbestos were paid the full value of their claims, today claimants receive only pennies on the dollars for compensation awarded from these bankrupt companies' liability. The amount of litigation has significantly dwindled the fund. For example, the Manville Corporation's trust, which filed for bankruptcy in 1982, has already paid out more than three billion dollars for asbestos claims.