San Diego Mesothelioma Lawyer
San Diego’s thriving industries have left a lasting legacy of asbestos exposure. Our San Diego mesothelioma lawyers are here to help those affected by asbestos-related diseases seek the justice and compensation they deserve.
Legally Reviewed By: Darron E. Berquist
Managing Attorney | Asbestos Litigation
- Page Last Updated:
- May 6, 2025
Legally Reviewed By: Darron Berquist
Managing Attorney | Asbestos Litigation
- Page Last Updated:
- May 6, 2025
San Diego’s rich naval history and booming construction, manufacturing, and defense industries have contributed to a troubling legacy of asbestos exposure across the region. From 1999 to 2020, at least 1,637 San Diego residents lost their lives to mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by inhaling asbestos fibers. More recently, between 2018 and 2023, there were 515 mesothelioma-related deaths reported in San Diego County alone.
Occupations with elevated exposure risks include shipyard workers, Navy veterans, construction laborers, pipefitters, and industrial mechanics, many of whom were unknowingly exposed to asbestos on the job. Areas with the highest incidence of asbestos exposure in San Diego often include sites near Naval Base San Diego, National City, Chula Vista, and neighborhoods with older infrastructure and historic shipbuilding or repair activity.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with Mesothelioma in the San Diego area, the Lanier Law Firm is here to fight for the justice and compensation you deserve.
Why Choose Our San Diego Mesothelioma Attorneys?
The Lanier Law Firm is a nationally recognized leader in asbestos litigation, known for going head-to-head with some of the most powerful corporations in the world and winning. Our award-winning San Diego mesothelioma attorneys bring an unwavering commitment to justice, offering strategic, compassionate legal representation tailored to each client’s unique needs.
With more than 600 talented attorneys and offices nationwide, we offer the resources of a large firm with the personalized attention of a devoted legal team that treats every client like family. Our commitment to Legal Care means we handle every detail, from investigating your exposure to building a powerful case so that you can focus on your health and loved ones.
Mesothelioma Settlements in San Diego, California
- $7 million in settlements for a career mechanic and truck driver diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma
- $3.9 million in settlements for a long-time shipyard employee suffering from mesothelioma
- $2.3 million in settlements for a man who developed mesothelioma after working with and around asbestos as an electrician at a naval shipyard
- $2 million in settlements for the family of a former shipyard worker who died of pleural mesothelioma
Client Testimonials
Every mesothelioma case we handle is personal to us. With a proven track record of success nationwide, our dedicated team has the experience and resources to fight for you after a mesothelioma diagnosis. But don’t just take our word for it—hear from our clients.
Employers Who Exposed Workers to Asbestos in San Diego
Known sites for asbestos exposure in the Greater San Diego area include the following:
National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO)/General Dynamics – San Diego, CA
Since the 1940s, NASSCO has played a major role in shipbuilding and ship repair for the U.S. Navy and commercial fleets. Workers at this facility were exposed to asbestos-containing materials used in ship insulation, piping, and equipment, often without adequate protective measures.
Camp Pendleton – Oceanside, CA
As one of the largest Marine Corps bases in the United States, Camp Pendleton is a hub for military training and housing. Many of the older buildings and barracks on the base were constructed using asbestos-containing materials. Veterans and civilian maintenance crews may have unknowingly inhaled hazardous asbestos fibers.
These are just two of the known sources of asbestos exposure in the San Diego area, but they represent only a small portion of the many locations where workers and residents may have been at risk. To learn more, visit our California mesothelioma lawyer page for statewide information and legal support.
Occupations at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Many workers in San Diego unknowingly encountered asbestos in the workplace, often through daily contact with contaminated materials. The following are some of the occupations most at risk for asbestos exposure:
San Diego’s shipbuilding industry heavily relied on asbestos for insulation, gaskets, and engine components. Workers at sites like National Steel and Shipbuilding Company, or NASSCO, were frequently exposed during ship construction and repair.
Insulators who installed or removed thermal insulation around pipes, boilers, and HVAC systems often worked directly with asbestos-containing materials, placing them at high risk.
Pipefitters and welders in industrial and maritime settings encountered asbestos in valves, gaskets, and pipe coverings, especially in older buildings and naval vessels.
Asbestos was heavily used in the construction of ships and barracks. Equipment often contained asbestos for insulation and fireproofing purposes. Therefore, Navy and Marine Corps veterans stationed at Camp Pendleton and other bases were likely exposed to large quantities of asbestos.
Construction crews and maintenance workers frequently encountered asbestos in roofing materials, floor tiles, joint compounds, and insulation while repairing or remodeling older structures.
Learn More About
Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
- Are you eligible?
- What is the average settlement?
- How long will it take?
Why Should You Trust the Lanier Law Firm to Handle your Mesothelioma Case?
Options for Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Compensation in San Diego
A mesothelioma diagnosis is life-altering. The only known cause is asbestos exposure decades earlier. Many companies knew about the dangers but continued using the mineral, putting profits over the lives of workers and consumers. Fortunately, multiple legal pathways are available to help ease the financial burden and hold those companies accountable.
Personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits are the chief means to pursue compensation for mesothelioma. Our experienced mesothelioma attorneys in San Diego have successfully represented clients in complex litigation, securing substantial verdicts and settlements. While many cases are resolved through settlements, our trial-tested legal team is always prepared to take your case to court to pursue the best possible outcome.
Many asbestos companies have filed for bankruptcy protection and cannot be sued. However, the courts ordered them to establish asbestos trust funds. A trust fund claim is often faster and easier than a lawsuit and may allow victims to receive compensation from multiple sources.
Notable companies with San Diego ties that have available trust funds to compensate asbestos-exposure victims include:
- Johns-Manville
- Owens Corning
- Armstrong World Industries
- United States Gypsum (USG)
- Babcock & Wilcox
- Combustion Engineering
Additionally, U.S. veterans who have developed mesothelioma or other diseases from asbestos exposure during military service, including those stationed at Camp Pendleton or aboard Navy vessels in San Diego, may be eligible for monthly compensation and health care through the VA. Because mesothelioma is classified as a 100 percent disabling condition, qualified veterans may receive more than $3,800 per month in VA benefits.
Asbestos Laws and Regulations in San Diego, CA
California law enforces a strict one-year statute of limitations for filing asbestos-related lawsuits. Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma must file a personal injury lawsuit within one year of the date they first became disabled due to the disease. In wrongful death cases, surviving family members have one year from the date of death, or from the date they reasonably should have known the death was asbestos-related, to file a claim.
A mesothelioma personal injury lawsuit allows victims to seek compensation for the following damages:
- Economic damages: Medical expenses, travel costs, and lost income
- Non-economic damages: Pain, suffering, mental anguish, and loss of enjoyment of life
- Punitive damages: Awarded in cases involving especially egregious conduct by asbestos manufacturers or distributors
In addition, spouses of mesothelioma victims can file a separate legal claim known as loss of consortium, which provides compensation for the emotional, physical, and psychological suffering caused by the loss of companionship in the marital relationship. As clarified by the court in Lantis v. Condon, 95 Cal. App. 3d 152, 157 (1979), this claim is usually joined with the personal injury lawsuit and pursued as part of the same legal action.
When a loved one dies from mesothelioma, family members may file a wrongful death claim or pursue a “survival” action. A survival action allows the family to carry forward the legal claims initiated by the deceased before their passing and pursue compensation on their behalf.
Because California’s deadlines for mesothelioma claims are among the shortest in the country, it’s important to act quickly. Our renowned San Diego mesothelioma attorneys at the Lanier Law Firm are here to protect your rights and help you navigate the legal process with clarity, compassion, and unmatched experience.
Areas Of San Diego That We Serve
- Downtown San Diego
- Hillcrest
- North Park
- Bankers Hill
- Chula Vista
- Del Mar
- Encinitas
- Rancho Santa Fe
- Escondido
- Carlsbad
- Oceanside
- El Cajon
- La Jolla
- Pacific Beach
- Mission Beach
- Coronado
- Mission Valley
- Point Loma
- Ocean Beach
- Northeastern San Diego
Contact The Lanier Law Firm
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be life-altering for you and your loved ones, but our reputable San Diego mesothelioma lawyers can help you seek the justice and compensation you deserve.
Contact us online today to schedule a free case evaluation.
States We Serve
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