PHILADELPHIA – Asbestos-related filings in Philadelphia’s Complex Litigation Center (CLC) have, so far, slightly decreased from 2015 through the first half of 2016.
A statistical analysis provided by the CLC showed asbestos filings are down to 560 pending cases this year as of July 1 – from 592 pending through the end of last year.
The figures also show that 102 new asbestos cases were filed in the CLC as of the end of June, which would put the pace on track to reach 204 new cases by the end of the year. This projected total would be the lowest since 2008’s 182, and down a full 126 cases from 2013’s record of 330.
The statistics also show that 136 asbestos cases were disposed of in the CLC through the end of June.
Last year, in 2015, a total of 259 asbestos cases were filed in the CLC. Among them, 101 concerned plaintiffs afflicted with mesothelioma, known to be among the most valuable asbestos-related claims; 92 were from plaintiffs with lung cancer; and 41 were from plaintiffs with non-malignant disease.
Further, approximately 339 asbestos cases were disposed of in the CLC in 2015.
In a larger sense, the 560 asbestos actions currently pending in the CLC represent 10.2 percent of the organization’s total case load, listed for the moment at 5,495 as of the end of June.
Per analysis using standards from the American Bar Association, of the 136 asbestos cases were disposed of in the CLC through the end of June and over at least the preceding three-year period of more: 8.1 percent (11 cases) were concluded within six months; 10.3 percent (14 cases) were concluded within 13 months; 40.4 percent (55 cases) were concluded within 19 months; 61.8 percent (84 cases) were concluded within 25 months; 77.2 percent (105 cases) were concluded within 30 months; 85.3 percent (116 cases) were concluded within 36 months and all cases were concluded after more than 36 months.
For the 102 new asbestos cases filed so far in 2016, 41 percent (42 cases) were from out-of-state plaintiffs. Throughout all of 2015, 258 asbestos cases were filed in the CLC. Among them, 33 percent (84 cases) were from out-of-state plaintiffs.
From the Pennsylvania Record: Reach Courts Reporter Nicholas Malfitano at nickpennrecord@gmail.com