NOTABLE LAWYERS-LAW FIRMS
IN ASBESTOS LITIGATION

Angelos Law Firm (Maryland)
Early leader at consolidating cases for class action leverage. Firm has earned an estimated $500 million from asbestos. Peter Angelos is now a leading real estate developer in Baltimore, owner of the Baltimore Orioles. Very influential in Democrat politics.

Baron & Budd (Texas)
Top 5 asbestos firm. Involved in controversies related to aggressive client recruiting, allegations of improper client “coaching” and links to discredited B-readers. Vast political influence. Firm is allegedly subject of federal investigation involving asbestos. Litigation. Co-founder Fred Baron departed in 2006; currently suing his former firm claiming fraud, conspiracy, conversion, legal malpractice, negligence; firm has filed counterclaims.

Beasley Allen (Alabama)
Politically connected firm led by former Alabama Governor Jere Beasley. National asbestos practice.

Belluck & Fox (NY)
Firm has represented thousands of asbestos clients. Joseph Belluck was one of lead attorneys in New York state $25 billion tobacco settlement. National political connections to both parties. Specialists in wide range of personal injuries.

Brayton, Purcell (California)
Top 5 firm. National asbestos practice. Entangled in Ohio "double-dipping" asbestos case: filed multiple claims alleging conflicting causes of asbestos injury for a single client. Banned from Ohio court in subsequent judge’s ruling.

Brent, Coon & Associates (Illinois)
Coon is Provost & Humphrey veteran, started own firm, now Madison County regular. Represented several silicosis clients in notable Texas case (“red flags of fraud”) that led to controversy over “double-dipping’ charges.

Rex Carr (Illinois)
Leading plaintiffs’ lawyer in Madison County for years, 80-year-old Carr remains active.

Cooney & Conway (Illinois)
Boasts of handling 90% of all mesothelioma cases in Cook County (Chicago); donates vast sums to judicial candidates in two of nation’s leading asbestos venues, Cook and Madison counties.

Early, Ludwick, Sweeney & Strauss (New York)
National asbestos practice. Named in Ohio “double- dipping” controversy by associate firm Brayton, Purcell as the firm responsible for filing of duplicate claims.

Gray, Weiss & White (Kentucky)
Low profile firm is active in asbestos litigation nationally. Political contributor in many states.

Harowitz & Tigerman (California)
Asbestos practice limited to California; claims “hundreds of millions of dollars” won for clients.

Heard, Robins, Cloud & Lubel (Texas)
Politically connected Houston firm claims more than 20,000 asbestos clients.

Kazan, McClain (California)
Steven Kazan is pioneer in asbestos law (since 1973), now with Kazan, McClain, Abrams, Fernandez, Lyons, Farrise & Greenwood. Kazan is widely respected plaintiff attorney considered among leading asbestos experts; limits practice to seriously injured clients.

Kelley & Ferraro (Ohio/ Florida)
Death of partner Michael Kelley in January, 2006 led to bitter feud over disposition of firm’s assets: Ferraro and firm sued for $2.5 billion by partner’s widow. Ferraro Law Firm in Florida involved in silicosis controversy with discredited B-reader firm. Firm with 9 attorneys claims to rank among “top five asbestos and mesothelioma law firms in the nation.”

Lakin Law Firm (Illinois)
Early leader in asbestos and class action cases in Madison County, firm is currently plagued by controversies related to legal, ethical and criminal improprieties. Founder Thomas Lakin suspended from practice in West Virginia for improper solicitation of clients in 2004; firm sanctioned. Lakin currently under investigation by Illinois Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission for allegations of sexual abuse of minors and drug use.

Langston Law Firm (Mississippi)
Tiny firm founded by Joe Ray Langston powerhouse in Mississippi with 50-year roots in state political circles.

Milberg, Weiss, Bershad & Schulman (NY)
Prestigious Manhattan firm has been most aggressive and most profitable class action specialist for years; indicted along with two firm attorneys for illegal kickbacks in 2006.

Motley Rice (Illinois)
Top 5 asbestos firm, formed after dissolution of Ness, Motley. Combination of super-lawyers: Ron Motley was one of pioneer asbestos lawyers, winning landmark cases in 1978 in South Carolina, 1981 in Georgia. Firm involved in numerous controversies, including asbestos trust practices.

Ness, Motley, Loadholt, Richardson & Poole (S. C.)
Subject of NYC federal investigation into fraud in asbestos litigation. Firm was slapped with a $36 million malpractice verdict in 2003 for placing firm’s financial interests before clients in class action suit. Firm in process of dissolution.

O'Quinn, Laminack and Pirtle (Texas)
At the center of allegations of fraud and double-dipping in silicosis class action controversy in Texas. Firm split in 2006.

Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler (New York)

Peter McNulty (California)

Provost & Umphrey (Texas)
Connected to highest circles of Texas politics; huge sums donated to candidates. Broad-based personal injury firm has won billions in asbestos and tobacco settlement fees. Sanctioned for forum-shopping tactics in Texas ($500,000). Called one of the “kingpins of the trial bar” by Wall Street Journal.

Richard Scruggs (Alabama)
Widely regarded as the “King of Asbestos Lawyers, ” outspoken Dickie Scruggs was a pioneer in asbestos claims and mass torts. Broke ranks in recent years to express support for national asbestos reform and criticized current litigation tactics as “an endless search for a solvent bystander.”

Savinis, D'amico & Kane (Penn.)
Leading asbestos-specialty firms in Pennsylvania; thousands of cases.

SimmonsCooper (Illinois)
Top 5 asbestos firm, national practice. Aggressive in client solicitation; linked to discredited B-readers in several states. Millions in political donations earn powerful allies in Congress and on the bench.

James Sokolove (Massachusetts)
TV ad-intensive lawyer is top asbestos litigator in Massachusetts claims over $1 billion in awards for clients.

Waters & Kraus (Illinois)
Top 5; national asbestos practice. Firm and 2 lawyers suspended from Seattle Court pending eavesdropping investigation, allegations of misconduct.

Weitz & Luxenberg (New York)
Upscale NY firm. Politically active: listed as a top donor to Senators Ted Kennedy, Harry Reid and Hillary Clinton. One of three firms named in current federal investigation related to asbestos claims.

Williams Bailey (Texas)
Claims “hundreds of millions” won for asbestos clients. Very active in political/financial circles: Partner John Eddie Williams personally donated $450,000 to one candidate for Texas governor; $325,000 to the Democratic Senate Campaign Committee.