And, of course, a lot depends on where your father-in-law was exposed to the asbestos and how long ago that was. Some of this can be difficult to prove, since it was very common at one time and he’d have to prove that whoever he’s suing is the source of the cancer. So I’d wonder why the manufacturer is being sued, rather than the place where he was exposed to it.

My best advice is to make sure he has a good attorney. Tort cases usually base fees on contingency, so he shouldn’t have to spend any of his own money, but for something this important make sure the attorney knows what he’s doing.