Railroad Asbestos Companies

Exposure to asbestos materials was an all too common hazard for railroad workers – especially during the 1940s-1960s when steam driven locomotives ruled the rails. The boilers that powered these massive, heat radiating machines would often be covered with asbestos lagging and block insulation to conserve fuel. During regular overhauls, workers removed a locomotive’s metal outer shell, tore out worn asbestos insulation and patched it with asbestos slurry mixed from dry powder – releasing dangerous fibers into the air. Despite knowledge of the dangers of asbestos, manufacturers such as Johns Manville (advertising booklet pictured below) supplied toxic materials for use on railroads for decades.
Despite the end steam era, asbestos material continued to be used on electric and diesel driven trains well into the 1970s and 1980s. Asbestos was regularly used on pumps, valves, brake shoes, clutches, compressors, fire rope, roofing material, and other building equipment. Because it was an airborne contaminant, this toxic material could affect anyone in the vicinity of where it was applied.
For nearly a decade, the team at Simmons Hanly Conroy has worked nationwide with employees of railroads and the trades that served the industry. Our railroad clients have included:

• Yard masters
• Car inspectors
• Section hands
• Conductors
• Operators
• Pipefitters
• Foremen
• Clerks
• Boilermakers
• Sheet metal workers
• Freight handlers
• Hostlers
• Insulators,
• Yard clerks
• Brakemen
• Trackmen
• Machinists
• Engineers
• Roundhouse workers
• Mechanics
• Welders
• General laborers
• Painters
• Section gang workers
• Grinders
• Millwrights

Our clients have worked on and around railroads throughout the country, including:

Alaska Railroad
Alton & Southern Railway Company
Amtrak
Baltimore & Ohio Railroad/B&O Railroad (CSX)
Belt Railroad (Owned by, BNSF, Canadian National Railways, Canadian Pacific Railways, CSX, Norfolk Southern Railway and Union Pacific)
BNSF Railway
Boston & Maine Railroad
Burlington Northern Railway (BNSF)
Canadian National Railway
Chicago Aurora and Elgin Railroad (CA&E)
Chicago Great Western Railroad
Chicago Northwestern Transportation Company/Chicago North Western Railway (Union Pacific)
Colorado & Southern Railroad
Consolidated Rail Corporation (Conrail)
CSX Railroad/CSX Transportation
Eastern Railroad
Elgin, Joliet and Eastern Railway
Erie Lackawanna Railway/Erie Railroad/Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad (Conrail)
GM&O Rail Road/ Gulf, Mobile and Ohio Railroad

Illinois Central Railroad
Illinois Terminal Railroad
Kansas City Southern
Lehigh Valley Railroad (Conrail)
Long Island Railroad/LIRR
M&M (Mississippi and Missouri Railroad)
Missouri Pacific Railroad
New York Central Railroad
New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad
Norfolk & Western Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
Northern Pacific Railway (BNSF)
Pennsylvania Railroad (Conrail)
PFE (Pacific Fruit Express)
San Francisco Railway
Santa Fe Railway (SFSR and BNSF)
Seaboard Coastline Railroad/Seaboard Systems Railroad (CSX )
Southern Pacific/Southern Pacific Transportation Company (Union Pacific)
The Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad (Rock Island)
Union Pacific Railroad
Wabash Railroad (Merged with Norfolk & Western)
Yancey Railway/Black Mountain Railway

Oil Refinery Asbestos Companies

Petroleum refineries are a maze of distillation plants, furnaces, reactor units, heat exchangers, tanks, boilers, cooling towers – all interwoven by a network of pipelines, valves, wires, ducts, and pumps. One enormous structure common to many refineries is a catalytic cracking unit (or “cat cracker”) which distills crude oil into gasoline using high temperature heat exchangers, boilers, heaters and pumps. For years these structures were treated with high temperature resistant asbestos insulation, gaskets, packing material, and other asbestos building products. Cat crackers and other refinery structures became especially dangerous worksites during routine maintenance shutdowns or “turnarounds,” when asbestos materials were torn out and disturbed, exposing workers, contractors, and their family members.
Because of their experience in such dangerous environment, refinery workers are at high risk for asbestos exposure. For over a decade, the staff at Simmons Hanly Conroy has worked with hundreds of refinery workers at various plants and in various trades, including: engineers, insulators, electricians, general laborers, pipefitters, millwrights, boilermakers, carpenters, welders, foremen, metal workers, and other crafts. A number of our clients, for instance, worked at the Texaco (Indian) refinery, outside of Lawrenceville, Illinois. Workers at refineries such as this, especially during the 1940s-1970s, were at substantial risk to asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Company Oil Refinery Example

One example of an oil refinery asbestos company is the Texaco Oil Company Refinery, also known as the Indian Refinery. Here is some brief information about this facility and it’s link to asbestos exposure:

• Facility: Texaco Oil Company Refinery (aka Indian Refinery.) Lawrenceville, IL
• Principle Operating Years: 1908-1985
• Ownership: Formed as Central Refining Co and Indian Refining Co in 1908. Acquired by Texaco (now a subsidiary of the Chevron Corporation) from the Indian Refining Company in 1931. Operated by Texaco until 1985.
• Facility: Plant and properties formerly located on 990 acre plot south of Lawrenceville, IL.
• Daily Crude Processing Capacity (1913): 3,000 Barrels
• Daily Crude Processing Capacity (1985): 65,000 Barrels
• Products: gasoline, aviation gasoline, jet fuel, burner, oil, liquid petroleum gas, diesel oil, kerosene, asphalt materials, lube oil, and motor oil.
• Fate: Closed permanently in 1995. Subsequently demolished and designated a hazardous superfund site by the EPA.

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Our clients have worked on staff or as contractors at other various oil refineries across the United States, including:

Advance Oil Refinery- Centralia, ILAmerican Oil Refinery-Morris, IL
Amoco Oil Refinery- Whiting, IN
Amoco Oil Refinery-Casper, WY
Amoco Oil Refinery-Wood River, IL
Arco Oil Refinery- Carson, CA
Arco Refinery- Ferndale, WA
Asamera Oil Refinery- Commerce City, CO
Atlantic Richfield Refinery- Carson, CA
Beyond Petroleum Refinery- Lima, OH
Champlin Oil Refinery- Enid, OK
Chevron Oil Refinery-Manhattan Beach, CA
Cinza Refinery (Marathon)- Gallup, NM
Cities Service Refinery- Chicago, IL
Cities Service Refinery- Lake Charles, LA
Cities Service Refinery-East Chicago, IL
Conoco Refinery – Billings, MT
Conoco Refinery- Denver, CO
Conoco Refinery-Commerce City, CO
Conoco Refinery-East Chicago, IL
Conoco Refinery-Glen Rock, WY
Derby Refinery-Wichita, KS
E.C.I Oil Refinery/Earth Core Investments- Whiting, IN
Empire Petroleum – Commerce City, CO
Exxon Oil Refinery- Baton Rouge, LA
Exxon Mobile- Augusta, KS
Exxon Mobile- Lendale, NJ
Exxon Refinery- Baytown, TX
Frontier Refinery- Cheyenne, WY
Good Hope Oil Refinery – Slidell, LA
Gulf Oil Corporation/Chevron Refinery-Miami, OH
Gulf Oil Refinery/Chevron USA – Hooven, OH
Gulf Refinery- Toledo, OH
Gulf Refinery-Elk City, UT
Indian Refinery aka Texaco Refinery- Lawrenceville, IL
Jupiter Refinery-Lake Charles, LA
Koch Petroleum Corp (Refinery)-Rosemount, MN
Magnolia Petroleum Refinery-Beaumont, TX
Marathon Oil Refinery (Marathon/Ashland)-Robinson, IL
Marathon Oil Refinery- Gramercy, LA
Marathon Refinery- Rock Island, IL
Mobil Oil Refinery- Casper, WY
Mobil Oil Refinery- Joliet, IL
Mobil Oil Refinery-Sauget, IL
NCRA Refinery- McPherson, KS
Ohio Oil Refinery-Robinson, IL

Asbestos Companies & Lawsuits

From the Industrial Revolution through the 1980s, many companies used asbestos in manufacturing without significant regulation. As a result, many people encountered the substance at their workplace. This section lists many of those asbestos companies whose products and services may have contributed to their employees contracting diseases linked to asbestos.
If you believe you have been exposed to asbestos through your work, browse our list of companies known to be linked to asbestos exposure. If you have worked at one of these asbestos companies in the past, you should let your doctor know that you may have been exposed to asbestos and find out more about filing an asbestos exposure lawsuit.

Asbestos Exposure Companies Known for Asbestos Exposure Lawsuits

The following is a partial list of asbestos companies that sold asbestos, manufactured products containing asbestos, or designed products that required the use of asbestos:

• A.O. Smith
• A.P. Green Industries, Inc.
• A.T. Callas Co.
• A.W. Chesterton Company
• Abex Corporation
• Aerojet General
• AGCO Corp.
• Airco, Inc.
• Allied-Signal, Inc.
• Allis Chalmers
• Amchem Products, Inc.
• American BrakeBlok
• American Optical
• American Standard
• Anchor Packing Company
• Armstrong Contracting & Supply (“AC&S”)
• Armstrong World Industries, Inc.
• Arvinmeritor, Inc.
• ASARCO, Inc.
• Asbestos Corporation, Ltd. (“ACL”)
• Asten-Hill
• Atlas Turner / Atlas Asbestos Company
• Aurora Pump
• Bell Asbestos Mines, Ltd.
• Bendix
• Benjamin Foster Company
• Boeing
• Boise Cascade Corp.
• Babcock & Wilcox
• Bird & Son
• Bondex International
• Borg-Warner Corporation / Burns International Services Corp.
• Bridgestone Firestone
• Buffalo Pumps, Inc.
• Calaveras Asbestos, Ltd.
• Capco Pipe Company, Inc.
• Carlisle / Motion Control
• Caterpillar
• Celotex Corporation
• Certainteed Corporation
• Chevron U.S.A., Inc.
• Chrysler
• CleaverBrooks
• Combustion Engineering
• Congoleum Corporation
• Continental Teves
• Cooper Industries
• Crane Co.
• Crown, Cork & Seal Company
• Daimler Chrysler, Inc.
• Dana Corporation
• DB Riley
• Deere & Co.
• Deleval
• Domco Products
• Dow Chemical Co.
• Dowman Products
• Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc.
• Eaton Corp.
• Fibreboard Corporation
• Flexitallic Gasket Company
• Flintkote
• Ford Motor Company
• Forty-Eight Insulations
• Foster Wheeler
• GAF-Ruberoid
• Gardner Denver
• Garlock, Inc.
• General Electric Company
• General Motors
• General Refractories Company
• Genuine Parts Co. / NAPA

• Georgia Pacific Corporation
• Gould Pumps, Inc.
• Hamilton Materials
• Harbison-Walker Refractories Company
• Hill Brothers Chemical Company
• Honeywell International, Inc.
• H.K. Porter Company
• Industrial Holdings Corp.
• Ingersoll-Rand
• International Paper
• John Crane
• Johns-Manville Corp.
• Joy Machinery Co.
• Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
• Kaiser Gypsum Company, Inc.
• Keene Corporation
• Kelly-Moore Paint Company
• Kelsey-Hayes Co. / Fruehauf
• Kentile Flors, Inc.
• Kimberly-Clark Corp.
• Lincoln Electric Co.
• Lorillard Tobacco Corp. / Kent
• Lucent Technologies
• Mack Trucks, Inc.
• Maremont Corp.
• Marley Cooling Tower Co.
• Mead Westvaco Corp.
• M.H. Detrick Company
• National Gypsum Company
• Nicolet (Keasby-Mattison)
• North American Refractories Company
• Northrup Grumman
• Owens-Corning Fibreglas Corporation
• Owens-Illinois, Inc.
• Paccar
• Peerless Industries, Inc.
• Phelps Dodge
• Philip Carey Corporation (now Rapid American Corporation)
• Pittsburgh Corning Corporation
• Pneumo Abex Corporation
• Proko Industries, Inc.
• Quigley Company, Inc.
• Raybestos Manhattan / Raybestos Industries, Inc. / Raybestos Corporation
• Raytheon
• Reynolds Metals Co. / Atlantic Asphalt & Asbestos Co.
• Riley Stoker Corporation
• Rockbestos Product Corporation
• Rockwell
• Rock Wool Manufacturing Company
• Sager Corp.
• SCAPA Dryer Fabrics, Inc.
• Sepco Corporation
• Sherwin Williams Co.
• Spicer
• Synkoloid
• Texaco Oil Company Refinery
• T.H. Agriculture & Nutrition
• Turner & Newall
• Unarco Industries
• Union Carbide Corporation
• Uniroyal Holding, Inc. (Asbeston)
• U.S. Gypsum Company
• U.S. Steel Corporation
• Wagner Electric Corporation
• Weil-McClain
• Western Auto Supply Co.
• Westvaco
• Weyerhaeuser
• W.R. Grace & Co.
• Western Electric
• Westinghouse Electric Corporation

The tragedy surrounding the asbestos industry in the United States is that a vast majority of the harm it caused was entirely preventable. As early as the first century, asbestos exposure was suspected to cause health problems. Throughout the twentieth century, doctors connected a number of diseases to the negative effects of asbestos contamination. Yet, despite knowing the dangers, a number of companies continued to manufacture, sell and design asbestos products. Over time, this led to an increase in asbestos  lawsuits.
If you have suffered from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease due to the negligence of an employer or manufacturer, you are entitled to compensation through asbestos exposure lawsuits. Learn more about filing an asbestos exposure lawsuit by scheduling a free consultation with one of our mesothelioma lawyers.

The Asbestos Cover Up

The history of asbestos use has left a legacy of illness in hundreds of thousands of American families. It has been called one of the largest man-made epidemics in U.S. history. Sadly, it was preventable. Health conditions resulting from asbestos exposure were noted as early as the year 100, when Roman Naturalist Pliny the Elder reported the dangers that appeared to stem from asbestos exposure among slaves at asbestos job sites. These slaves suffered gruesome, painful respiratory diseases and died at young ages. Contrary to this realization, asbestos use was only in its beginning stages.
For centuries, asbestos use continued to increase. Originally praised for its fireproofing abilities, the mineral was frequently used in products such as:

• Gaskets
• Fire retardant coatings
• Concrete
• Bricks
• Pipes
• Cement
• Pipe insulation
• Fireproof drywall
• Flooring
• Roofing
• Joint compound
• Fire resistant clothing
• And more

The connection between serious respiratory diseases and asbestos exposure became definitive in the 1930s, when doctors began warning factory owners, mine owners and asbestos manufacturers of its dangers. Despite these warnings from medical professionals, business owners continued to expose their workers to the mineral without protective gear designed to prevent inhalation of the asbestos fibers.
As years went on, executives at asbestos manufacturing companies continued to cover up any illness among employees exposed to asbestos. They were able to do this by destroying evidence such as doctor’s notes, reports and memos detailing the dangers of asbestos. Instead of preventing the asbestos exposure or providing protective gear to employees, executives quietly offered compensation to those dealing with health problems from exposure that occurred while on the job. This forced employees to keep quiet about the underlying cause of their illness.
Eventually, the asbestos corporate cover-ups became apparent. The cover-ups primarily came to light through the efforts of labor and trade unions striving for safer working conditions. The discovery of 6,000 pages of documents called the Sumner Simpson papers revealed a cover up of the dangers of asbestos exposure planned by asbestos industry executives. The conspiracy dated back for nearly half a century when the secret documents were found by a plaintiff’s attorney in 1977.
At this time, mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuits began to uncover the wrong-doings of asbestos companies as well. These lawsuits provide justice to the innocent sufferers of deadly diseases like mesothelioma. Although asbestos is not entirely banned in the United States, progress has been made in the effort to raise awareness of asbestos health hazards and the dangers of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma Risk

sbestos is a naturally occurring group of minerals that contain strong, flexible and easily separated fibers. A poor conductor of heat and electricity, asbestos is a multipurpose material used in a number of building, manufacturing and commercial applications.
Unfortunately, the qualities that make asbestos a highly desirable material also make it deadly. Once disturbed, asbestos fibers turn into microscopic airborne dust particles. Lingering in the air for hours or days, these fibers can attach to clothing or work instruments. If these fibers are inhaled, they can cause serious health problems.
Asbestos exposure has been known to cause a number of cancers, the most notable being mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that normally attacks the lungs and abdomen.

Asbestos Exposure Information

Use the information below to learn more about the dangers and sources of asbestos exposure.

• Asbestos Companies
• Asbestos Occupations
• Asbestos Products
• Asbestos Exposure by State
• Asbestos Exposure & Unions
• Asbestos Exposure & Veterans
• Understanding Mesothelioma and Asbestos Exposure

Every mesothelioma lawyer at Simmons Hanly Conroy is committed to helping mesothelioma victims and their families. If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, and you have more questions about the information above, please contact one of our mesothelioma lawyers today.

Asbestos Exposure History

Although asbestos history dates back to ancient Greece, the mineral became most popular in the United States during the 20^th century industrial revolution. Known as the “miracle fiber” for its tensile strength, electrical resistance and fireproof properties, asbestos was most commonly used in factories, oil refineries, railroad yards and shipyards. Numerous products were also made with asbestos, including:

• Gaskets
• Fire retardant coatings
• Concrete
• Bricks
• Pipes
• Cement
• Pipe insulation
• Fireproof drywall
• Flooring
• Roofing
• Joint compound

Over time, asbestos found its way into over 3,000 household and industrial products, particularly in the automobile and construction industries.
By the middle of the 20^th century, it was clear that asbestos was dangerous. Articles and reports were making connections between workplace asbestos exposure and diseases such as lung cancer and asbestosis. Despite the new found awareness of the dangers of asbestos exposure, many companies continued to allow its use and failed to provide their workers with warnings.
Asbestos use finally began to decline in the early 1970s, when major asbestos lawsuits became more commonplace. Because asbestos exposure was so widespread, generations of workers were experiencing negative asbestos health effects and were seeking compensation for their injuries. The mountain of litigation drove many U.S. companies to seek refuge in bankruptcy and others to cease asbestos use in order to avoid lawsuits against themselves.
While some countries have completely banned asbestos, and other countries, like the U.S., have placed heavy regulations on its use, asbestos is still present and continues to be used.
The prevalence of asbestos use during the 20^th century now poses serious health risks for more than one million U.S. workers. View a list of occupations most at risk for asbestos exposure.

Filing a Wrongful Death Mesothelioma Lawsuit

Filing a Wrongful Death Lawsuit to Receive Compensation for Mesothelioma Death

If you have recently lost a loved one to mesothelioma, we understand you may be facing a difficult time coping with grief while juggling challenges such as taking care of your family, or paying for medical bills. As a surviving family member of a mesothelioma victim, you may have the right to recover compensation to help you during this difficult time by filing a mesothelioma claim after their death.
Our mesothelioma lawyers have dedicated their careers to people who have unfairly lost a loved one to an asbestos-related disease. They are available to explain your rights in further detail and how they vary from state to state. Our lawyers are also available to review your specific situation and help you decide if filing a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit is the best option for you and your family.
Schedule a free consultation today.

What constitutes a “wrongful” death mesothelioma lawsuit?

The main difference between a mesothelioma lawsuit and a wrongful death mesothelioma lawsuit is that the person who had mesothelioma has passed away. When this happens, family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit against the companies responsible for their loved one’s asbestos exposure. In legal terms, “wrongful” means a death was caused because of the reckless or negligent acts of another party. Mesothelioma victims were often exposed to asbestos through no fault of their own. Instead, the companies that used asbestos knew about the toxic dangers of asbestos, but failed to warn or properly equip workers with safety equipment. These negligent actions give families the right to file a wrongful death mesothelioma lawsuit.

Who can file a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit?

All states allow immediate family members – spouses, parents and children – to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Only in some states, can distant family members such as siblings and grandparents file for wrongful death. Few states will also allow life partners or financial dependents to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

When can I file a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit?

There are deadlines associated with filing a mesothelioma claim after someone passes away. These deadlines, called ‘statutes of limitation,’ are established by state law, so the time allowed to file varies by state. Statutes of limitation can allow you anywhere from one to five years after death to file a lawsuit. Because of this, we urge you to contact legal help as soon as possible. Our paralegals and lawyers are available to answer any questions you may have about filing, including questions about the statute of limitations in your state.

What do I need in order to receive compensation for my loved one’s death due to asbestos exposure?

To receive compensation for mesothelioma after death, you must be able to prove that your loved one’s death has had significant negative impact on you. There are several factors that affect the amount of compensation a victim or family may receive. While not all of them can be listed here, there are a few that may typically be applied to most cases.

1. Medical expenses. As most mesothelioma patients battle the disease, medical expenses can quickly add up. Your family’s difficulty paying for treatments, travel and care may be factored into compensation.

2. Lost wages. Mesothelioma patients needing to focus on their health may become unable to work causing a loss of income to support either themselves or a whole family. Similarly, spouses, children or other family members who need to provide care for the patient may also suffer a loss of wages.

3. Emotional effects. Emotional trauma and the loss of a loved one may be factored into some settlement agreements.

4. Company responsible for asbestos exposure. When the first mesothelioma lawsuits were filed in the 1970s, many asbestos companies responded by filing bankruptcy. Those companies were required to establish mesothelioma trust funds to help compensate victims who were harmed by the company’s asbestos products. The amount of compensation recovered from filing an asbestos trust claim may be different from the amount recovered when filing a wrongful death mesothelioma lawsuit. Talking to an experienced asbestos attorney can help you better understand your options and determine the best route to take.

What is the process for filing a mesothelioma claim?

1. After contacting a mesothelioma lawyer, you can expect that he or she will perform in-depth research into your personal, medical and work history to determine the best way for you and your loved ones to proceed. If it is determined filing a wrongful death lawsuit is the best plan of action, your lawyer will then help you file a claim.

2. Often there are options for where your case may be filed. Your attorney will work with you to determine the best place to file your lawsuit. We are able to file suits around the country.

3. After filing, the discovery phase beings. Your lawyer will further investigate and conduct interviews in order to build the best case possible. Ultimately, your wrongful death claim may result in a trial or a settlement. If you go to trial, your lawyer will make sure you’re prepared to navigate the complex legal process.

Asbestos Attorneys Experienced in Filing for Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Compensation

Filing a wrongful death lawsuit can be a legal challenge because the mesothelioma victim is not available to provide all the first-hand information about their workplace or asbestos exposure. This makes it very important to hire an attorney who has previous experience litigating mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuits.
Simmons Hanly Conroy asbestos attorneys have helped hundreds of families who have lost a loved one fill in the missing knowledge gaps. We are able to do this because we have decades of experience litigating these types of mesothelioma cases and a vast library of corporate documents detailing asbestos use at companies around the country.

Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Settlements

A recent case our asbestos attorneys handled was for a family who hired the firm more than a year after their father passed away from mesothelioma. He spent the 1970s and 1980s working as a maintenance supervisor at a chemical plant. The family’s legal team uncovered company records and conducted co-worker interviews which linked his mesothelioma diagnosis to asbestos-containing pumps and pipes he maintained at the plant. As a result, the family’s legal team secured a significant settlement for the family a day before the case would have gone to trial.
We strongly encourage you to learn more about our mesothelioma and asbestos attorneys and consider how they might help you just as they’ve helped many families of mesothelioma victims before.

How do I file a mesothelioma lawsuit?

1. The first and most important step is to choose an attorney who will make filing a mesothelioma lawsuit as easy as possible for you and your family. Choosing an experienced attorney with access to a number of resources is vital to the success of your lawsuit, but you’ll also want to ask questions about their past results, their average time to resolution and their recent verdicts.

2. After contacting an asbestos attorney, you can expect that he or she will perform extensive research and interviews to determine the best way for you and your loved ones to proceed. We understand time is of the essence, so your attorney will begin drafting a legal document called a complaint as soon as possible. The complaint will detail your mesothelioma case and why the asbestos company is liable for your diagnosis. Often there are options for where your claim will be filed. Your attorney will work with you to determine the best place to file your lawsuit.

3. After filing, your attorney and their team will guide you through the next steps to best prepare your case to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve. This often includes further investigation of your personal, medical and work history in order to build the strongest case possible.

4. Many times asbestos lawsuit settlements are reached either at the end of the investigation period or during the early phases of a trial. In a settlement, compensation is agreed on by both parties outside of court. Should you go to trial, your compensation, or verdict, is determined by the judge and the jury in court.

Hiring a mesothelioma law firm with experience filing and also preparing asbestos lawsuits for trial ensures you will receive the largest results possible.

Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Filing an asbestos lawsuit allows victims of cancer and asbestos exposure to hold accountable the companies who caused their diseases. Asbestos, a mineral the World Health Organization has classified as a human carcinogen, is the only known cause of mesothelioma. This mineral was a popular choice of companies that wanted their products to be durable and fire resistant throughout the twentieth century. However, the health dangers of asbestos exposure were known by companies that used asbestos as early as 1930s. Yet, they remained silent and used asbestos anyway.
Hundreds of asbestos companies made the choice to poison hundreds of thousands of American workers, their families and consumers. As a result, it’s fair to say, anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma was exposed to asbestos and most often that exposure resulted from their job or a family member’s job.
Asbestos exposure may have happened when workers encountered products that contained asbestos. For example, auto mechanics could have installed asbestos brakes, drywallers may have used asbestos-containing joint compound, pipefitters could have encountered asbestos while cutting asbestos cement pipes, and it’s even possible for workers like managers who didn’t work directly with asbestos products, but were around others who did, to also be exposed. The list of asbestos products workers could have encountered goes on and on.
Learn more about asbestos exposure.

“They (asbestos companies) didn’t care. They just thought, ‘Well, we’re going to make a lot of money now, and we’ll deal with the lawsuits later.'”
– Mary Jane, Peritoneal Mesothelioma Survivor, 13 years and counting

Why file a mesothelioma lawsuit?

In addition to holding the asbestos companies who harmed you accountable for their actions, filing a mesothelioma lawsuit can help you and your family cover medical expenses and lost wages. Mesothelioma is an expensive disease to treat; travel costs for visits to your mesothelioma specialist can add up quickly. Compensation from your mesothelioma lawsuit may allow you the flexibility to pay for any treatment costs that your insurance company will not cover. Simply put, filing a mesothelioma claim can allow you to take care of yourself during an exceedingly difficult time for you and your family.
In the videos below, some of our clients and mesothelioma expert, Mary Hesdorffer, share their stories and provide reasons to file a mesothelioma claim.

Ellen Relkin, of counsel attorney for Weitz and Luxenberg’s team focusing on defective drugs and medical devices, has been filing lawsuits against the manufacturers of Invokana. Those manufacturers are Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and its affiliated companies Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson.  She spoke about the injuries this drug is causing, including diabetic ketoacidosis, with The Legal Intelligencer. Read more at Pa. Becoming Destination for Growing Invokana Litigation. Cases filed by Weitz and Luxenberg also include those for serious injuries involving urinary sepsis and kidney  damage, as well as the consequences of these problems, such as prolonged coma, sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis.

Recent W&L Results

• $1 Billion
  W&L's Ellen Relkin, as lead counsel in the NJ Rejuvenate and ABG II hip stem litigation, played a key role in negotiating the more than $1 billion settlement. Most qualifying plaintiffs will receive $300,000 or more.
  

• $2.5 Billion
  W&L helped negotiate one of the largest mass tort settlements in recent history. More than 300 W&L clients are part of the settlement. Claimants had recalled DePuy ASR hips implanted and removed prior to August 31, 2013.

- See more at: http://www.weitzlux.com/firm-news/firm-news-2016/growing-number-of-invokana-lawsuits-in-pennsylvania-filed-by-wl/#sthash.08RCi2iN.dpuf

Ellen Relkin, of counsel attorney for Weitz and Luxenberg’s team focusing on defective drugs and medical devices, has been filing lawsuits against the manufacturers of Invokana. Those manufacturers are Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and its affiliated companies Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson.  She spoke about the injuries this drug is causing, including diabetic ketoacidosis, with The Legal Intelligencer. Read more at Pa. Becoming Destination for Growing Invokana Litigation. Cases filed by Weitz and Luxenberg also include those for serious injuries involving urinary sepsis and kidney  damage, as well as the consequences of these problems, such as prolonged coma, sepsis and necrotizing fasciitis.

Recent W&L Results

• $1 Billion
  W&L's Ellen Relkin, as lead counsel in the NJ Rejuvenate and ABG II hip stem litigation, played a key role in negotiating the more than $1 billion settlement. Most qualifying plaintiffs will receive $300,000 or more.
  

• $2.5 Billion
  W&L helped negotiate one of the largest mass tort settlements in recent history. More than 300 W&L clients are part of the settlement. Claimants had recalled DePuy ASR hips implanted and removed prior to August 31, 2013.

- See more at: http://www.weitzlux.com/firm-news/firm-news-2016/growing-number-of-invokana-lawsuits-in-pennsylvania-filed-by-wl/#sthash.08RCi2iN.dpuf