Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen has represented mesothelioma victims and their families honestly and effectively for over 40 years.
For over four decades, the mesothelioma law firm of Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen has limited its practice to asbestos litigation. In that time, ELSM has helped thousands of mesothelioma victims get the financial compensation they deserved for injuries they sustained from asbestos products made and sold by negligent asbestos companies.
In this section, you can learn more about our firm, our experienced legal team, and the outstanding results that we have achieved for our
clients. We are confident that after you learn more about us, the clients we serve, and our past track record, you will see how we can put our decades of
experience winning
mesothelioma settlements to work for you and your family.
Initial consultations at Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen are always free of charge and are designed to help us evaluate your case and measure your chance for a viable, successful lawsuit. We answer any
questions you may have about the process thoroughly at this time. In addition, because Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen operates on a contingency fee basis, the client pays nothing unless we succeed in your behalf and money is recovered.
Meet the Partners at Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen
The Partners at ELSM will do everything in their power to make sure you and your family get the justice and financial award that you deserve.
Beyond the partners, the remaining mesothelioma lawyers at ELSM are experienced, dedicated, hard-working, and committed to their clients. They take time to get to know you and your families as individuals and they truly care about the people they serve.
Meet the Attorneys at ELSM
Meet the experienced team of attorneys at ELSM who will work tirelessly on your behalf to earn you the highest settlement award possible.
More About ELSM
ELSM has consistently been at the top of the list in terms of per case
settlement dollars obtained for its asbestos clients. We have dedicated extensive resources to gathering information and evidence against the asbestos industry. We will explain the multiple paths to follow to maximize your recovery against asbestos manufacturers and suppliers. We will discuss with you the options of lawsuits, out of court settlements, and claims in the bankruptcy courts. We will seek to determine and advise you as to the best course of action in your case. In many cases, we can obtain settlement offers from certain asbestos manufacturers within a few months of retention.
We urge you to consider our extensive database of medical information, mesothelioma treatment options, and product identification that dates back to the 1930s when choosing your legal representation. Our website contains the most up-to-date information from the best sources; it is a source of pride, and we hope that it shows. Maintaining the site and adding new material is a daily process because our clients indicate they want it that way. In fact, Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen is often approached by doctors and world medical conferences, asking if they can place information on our website. Of course, we answer yes. Moreover, we are a nationally recognized law firm, which runs at the forefront of asbestos litigation, as we are intimately involved with current legal and political events regarding asbestos. We urge you to contact Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen first.
We represent clients in every state across the Nation. See where we’ve worked in your state.
See some of the recent settlements that we’ve negotiated on behalf of our clients.
Learn why we are a top mesothelioma law firm and what we’ll do to get top results for you.
We are honored to work with each and every one of our clients and are always happy to hear when we’ve exceeded their expectations.
We represent a wide range of clients who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
In this section we provide comprehensive answers to your most frequently asked questions.
We’ve Earned National Recognition
Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen is nationally recognized for our representation of product liability and
mesothelioma victims, and for our understanding of and compassion for injured parties and their families. Our experience in these matters spans two decades and our lawyers have been recognized as some of the best in the country. We have been awarded Martindale-Hubbell's highest AV rating, we are a National, Tier 1 ranked law firm with
U.S. News & World Report Best Law Firms, and we have been selected for inclusion in the
Best Lawyers and
Super Lawyers rating publications.
Martindale-Hubbell's Highest AV Rating
ELSM has been awarded Martindale-Hubbell’s highest AV rating for excellence in ethical standards and legal expertise. This highly regarded system utilizes both client and peer review feedback to rate lawyers in the areas of experience, expertise, knowledge, judgment, communication, and ethics.
The goal of the rating system is to help those seeking legal counsel to make informed decisions with a higher level of confidence. When you choose a law firm with a Martindale-Hubbell AV rating, like Early, Lucarelli Sweeney & Meisenkothen, you can be assured that you have chosen to work with attorneys that are well-regarded by their peers, have an exceptional track record, and that work with a high degree of integrity. In short, you have chosen the best.
The following letter from Martindale-Hubbell confirms that Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen has earned an AV rating, the highest rating awarded only to those who exhibit excellence and uphold high standards of conduct in the legal profession.
Dear Mr. Early:
I am pleased to inform you that you have been awarded the highest accolade in Martindale-Hubbell; an AV rating. This is as a result of an extensive, confidential review conducted among the legal profession in your community.
Your AV rating is important because it is a confirmation of the status you have achieved as a highly respected, ethical member of the Bar. It signifies that your legal abilities are of the very highest standard and that your professional ethics are unquestioned. You now join a select group of attorneys who have been recognized by their peers for their legal expertise and professional reputation.
Martindale-Hubbell has gone to considerable lengths to confirm the validity of your rating. To maintain the accuracy of ratings, periodic reevaluations are conducted.
Our congratulations to you on your new rating.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Roycroft, Jr.
Vice President
Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
To start the process of seeking compensation for a
mesothelioma client, ELSM begins with a brief introductory meeting. During this meeting, an attorney from ELSM will outline the various steps of the legal process; address any questions or concerns you may have related to the legal process; and discuss the ways in which a mesothelioma client has been exposed to asbestos.
After this introductory meeting, ELSM will work on your behalf to collect all diagnosing medical reports from the medical facilities where you were treated. Before a
mesothelioma lawsuit is filed, ELSM performs a thorough work history investigation of the diagnosed party. ELSM will collect work history records, including, union records, military service records, and other documents to substantiate employment history. In addition to interviewing the mesothelioma client, ELSM will also identify any potential family members, co-workers, and other product identification witnesses who can assist in providing details about the work history and potential asbestos exposure in the case.
After we have completed a thorough product identification and work history investigation, our next step is to identify potential recoveries through asbestos trusts. A number of companies have admitted past asbestos liability and have set up asbestos trusts to compensate mesothelioma clients who present qualifying claims. ELSM is familiar with these asbestos trusts and their requirements for successful claims submission. For the most part, compensation through these trusts happens relatively quickly assuming your particular case meets each trust’s exposure criteria.
After your case has been evaluated for recovery through the asbestos trusts, ELSM then begins investigation of your case against viable companies who have yet to fully admit their asbestos liability. After an investigation period of about 30 to 60 days, ELSM will determine the proper venue to file the legal action. Venue selection is extremely important and is determined based on a number of factors including: a thorough understanding of scheduling, process time-frame, settlement history, and local laws. ELSM can file a lawsuit in any forum where a mesothelioma client has resided, worked, or served in the military. ELSM can also file your lawsuit in “open forum” states that are agreeable to allowing non-resident / non-exposure claimants to file.
As soon as the proper forum is determined, ELSM will file a formal Complaint on behalf of the mesothelioma client. The Complaint will typically assert various legal causes of action against the asbestos companies likely responsible for causing or contributing to a mesothelioma client’s diagnosis. The number of asbestos companies or defendants named in the Complaint will vary based on the specific type and amount of exposure a mesothelioma client may have had during his/her lifetime.
After filing the Complaint, the Discovery phase commences and usually lasts 3 to 4 months. Discovery allows ELSM to present information to the Defendant asbestos companies which document where, when, and how the mesothelioma client was exposed to particular asbestos products. ELSM can present this information via written documents (interrogatories) and/or oral testimony (deposition) to the Defendant asbestos companies. The Defendant asbestos companies will also be entitled to present information and/or documentation to your attorney during this period. ELSM will also file appropriate motions in Court during the Discovery phase on the mesothelioma client's behalf. Additionally, ELSM will likely try to reach some financial settlement(s) during the Discovery phase.
Most mesothelioma lawsuits will not end up going to trial, but rather will resolve in settlements well in advance of the trial date. Throughout the entire process, ELSM will discuss the strengths and weaknesses of seeking trial resolution vs. settlement with the mesothelioma client. ELSM values continued client input and respects the client’s right to decide what may be in his/her best legal interests. Should a matter proceed to trial with your approval, ELSM is experienced, qualified, and prepared to do so.
Have a QUESTION? Ask Jennifer
Ask a question and Jennifer will respond to you promptly.
Meet Attorney Jennifer Lucarelli:
- Advocate for over 1,000 mesothelioma victims
- Knowledge of Navy shipyard asbestos exposure
- Well versed in the latest mesothelioma treatment options
- Experience with the VA disability claim filing process
Meet Our Welcome Team
We are eager to serve you. ELSM's initial consultations are 100% free of charge and, since ELSM works on a contingency basis, you will NEVER be charged anything out of your own pocket. ELSM only gets paid if it makes a recovery on your behalf.
Your first contact with the firm will usually be with Annette Charlevois or Kim McDonald. They are experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate asbestos paralegals who have dedicated their lives to helping mesothelioma clients. They will listen to your individual situation and, together with you, decide on the next best course of action. Often a conference call or an in-home visit with one of our lawyers is arranged at your convenience. Click on the links above to learn more about Annette and Kim.
Don't Lose Your Rights to File a Mesothelioma Claim
Each state has its own deadlines, called
statutes of limitations, which allow victims of mesothelioma to file lawsuits. Don't wait until it is too late to protect your rights! Request a
Free Evaluation now if you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma. The evaluation will cost you nothing. Our attorneys will travel to visit you at your convenience. We understand how difficult a time this is for you and will assist in any way that we can. You can also fill out the form below to receive a free Mesothelioma packet, or call us toll-free at
1-800-336-0086.
