Madison County, IL, across the Mississippi from St. Louis, was the top asbestos-litigation county in the nation in 2015, with 1,000+ cases filed there during 2015.
In 2015, asbestos lawyers brought 1,012 mesothelioma lawsuits in Madison County, IL, according to a report by consulting firm KCIC. That’s less than half of all asbestos lawsuits filed in the U.S. during the past year. In general, for all asbestos cases, including mesothelioma, 25 per cent were argued in Madison County in 2015.
In simple terms, Madison County is much ahead of the rest of the states in asbestos cases. The next closest is Cook County, IL, which heard only 114 mesothelioma lawsuits last year.
The county is not a stranger to asbestos lawsuits. In 2003, the largest asbestos settlement, on which a Madison County jury reached a verdict, was $250 million – $50 million in compensatory damages and $200 million in punitive damages. Ever since, the county has been paying out some of the nation’s largest asbestos settlements.
Why Madison County Has So Many Asbestos Cases?
In Illinois, certain statutes apply to patients with mesothelioma. Specifically, an expedited docket for dying victims means trials can take place within six months of filing. Unfortunately, many asbestos victims face that grim end – average life expectancy for mesothelioma patients is 12 to 21 months.
This “rocket docket” was instituted in order to grant short-lived individuals the opportunity to help pay for medical expenses, and compensation for victims and families. In contrast to other states where cases take longer to go through, Illinois means that even short-lived victims can get justice in their lifetime.
The state also has venue laws where plaintiffs from out of state can bring lawsuits in that state and it has already established precedents in some cases. This allows plaintiffs anywhere in the country to sue in Madison County, provided that it can be shown the business was in business in the state.
Dale Jeffs, an asbestos-educated insulation worker and a longtime resident of Madison County, tried his mesothelioma case last year. Jeffs had reportedly claimed to have been exposed to asbestos while working at a Michigan plant.
But the majority judge concluded that, because the plaintiff company had registered to do business in the state, appointed an agent, and had litigated in Illinois, the company had agreed to state jurisdiction.
