Mel spoke with Michael Ponterio, founding partner of Lipsitz, Ponterio and Comerford, LLC. There are many ways to get the compensation you are owed if you unfortunately have something like mesothelioma and bankruptcy trusts are just one of them.

Michael Ponterio says that about 40 years ago, one of the former major manufacturers of asbestos, a company called Johns Manville filed for bankruptcy and set up a trust for people exposed to asbestos. He says that since Johns Manville, there have been at least 40 to 50 other companies that are now bankrupt that have also formed these bankruptcy trusts.

Michael says a person diagnosed with mesothelioma, in addition to a lawsuit against viable businesses, has the ability to file claims against former bankruptcy trusts.

Michael says that over the past 35 years our firm has accumulated a database so that we can, if a client comes to our firm, and says I was just diagnosed with mesothelioma and worked at Bethlehem Steel ; we are able to identify companies responsible for supplying asbestos to Bethlehem Steel that are still profitable and viable in a legal action. Additionally, you can file claims against those bankrupt entities that supplied asbestos to Bethlehem Steel. So he says in this example that it is important that an applicant come to us as soon as possible so that we can submit this documentation on their behalf.

Michael says that to qualify for payment, you must establish not only medical criteria for asbestos diagnosis, but also exposure to a job site where that company’s products were located.

Can families left behind still make claims on behalf of a loved one who died of mesothelioma? Michael says we are trying to secure settlement funds for an asylum seeker with living mesothelioma, and we have been very successful in doing so. He says sometimes these bankruptcy trusts take a little longer, so a state representative would be replaced if that person with mesothelioma died so the family would still be entitled to compensation.

Michael tells Mel that this is what my founding partner John Lipsitz and I have focused our livelihood and our practice on is helping people with asbestos disease including mesothelioma and lung cancer, and we’ve collected a database spanning 37 years now and we have the knowledge and experience to help individuals in Western New York make successful claims and get compensated as they should be.

You can call them at 716-849-0701.

For more information, visit lipitzponterio.com.