Illinois Mesothelioma Lawyer
Illinois workers faced significant asbestos exposure throughout the Industrial Revolution when asbestos use was at its peak. Although asbestos use is limited today, exposed workers are still experiencing its deadly effects. The Illinois mesothelioma lawyers at The Lanier Law Firm help asbestos exposure victims recover significant compensation.
Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- November 15, 2023
Legally Reviewed By: Case A. Dam
Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- November 15, 2023
Approximately 110 Illinois residents were diagnosed with mesothelioma every year from 1990 through 2015. The number of new cases decreased to below 100 beginning in 2016, but this is more likely a result of people moving away rather than a decrease in new mesothelioma cases.
The state of Illinois and the asbestos industry became aware that asbestos was an occupational hazard by the 1930s. However, the asbestos industry actively engaged in coordinated efforts to ensure workers and the public were never informed.
Asbestos companies have been allowed to use their vast assets as a liability shield for too long. The Illinois mesothelioma lawyers at The Lanier Law Firm are dedicated to holding them accountable and ensuring they compensate their victims in proportion to the harm they cause.
Why The Lanier Law Firm is the Top Choice for Asbestos Exposure Victims in Illinois
If you are suffering from an illness caused by asbestos exposure, you need a law firm with the resources and experience required for mesothelioma cases. The Lanier Law Firm is one of the most experienced mesothelioma law firms in the world with more than 25 years of experience holding asbestos companies accountable.
Our Illinois mesothelioma attorneys are nationally recognized trial lawyers who have accomplished such results as the following for our Illinois clients:
- $2.3 million settlement on behalf of a man exposed to asbestos on the job
- $2.1 million settlement on behalf of a victim of asbestos exposure against multiple
defendants - $1.75 million settlement on behalf of an 82-year-old woman exposed to asbestos by
Johnson & Johnson
These are just a few examples of the compensation our attorneys have been able to recover on behalf of our deserving asbestos exposure clients. Click here to view more of our case results in Illinois and nationwide.
Our Featured Illinois Mesothelioma Attorneys
Case Dam
Case is a fervent advocate and passionate litigator who has successfully litigated several mesothelioma cases to verdict. He has performed extensive research on the asbestos industry and served as a trial and appellate attorney for clients exposed to asbestos in a variety of circumstances, including veterans of the United States Armed Services. He is licensed to practice in California, Illinois and Florida.
Mark Linder
Mark is a toxic tort, product liability, and personal injury litigation attorney who has represented clients in state and federal courts across the country, including Alabama, Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. He has represented persons exposed to asbestos as shipyard workers, auto mechanics, electricians, and railroad workers.
Illinois’ Asbestos History
The central position of Illinois in the United States made it a strategic center of manufacturing, agriculture, and commerce throughout the early to mid-1900s. In addition to being a major port city with access to Lake Michigan and the Mississippi, Ohio, and Illinois rivers, Chicago, together with St. Louis, comprise the largest concentration of railroads in the nation.
During World War II, Chicago became a major source of meat processing and packing for the military, while outlying areas such as Rock Island supplied ammunition. Sadly, asbestos was an integral component to these businesses in Illinois.
Industries That Used Asbestos in Illinois
The following industries exposed workers to asbestos while contributing significantly to the Chicago economy during and after the Industrial Revolution:
- Steel mills
- Oil refineries
- Automobile plants
- Paint plants
- Chemical plants
- Power plants
Lanier Law Firm Illinois mesothelioma attorney Case Dam says, “Outside of Chicago, Illinois was and is home to the largest farm and construction equipment manufacturers in the world. Caterpillar, Deere & Co., Allis-Chalmers, International Harvester, J.I. Case, and more all had their own foundries in addition to the assembly lines. These plants were generally located around the Quad Cities, Decatur, Springfield, and towards St. Louis.
Illinois also has a significant presence in the U.S. agricultural economy, and as such there are many sizable processing plants located throughout the state.”
Government Regulation of Asbestos
Illinois began making changes as far back as the 1930s in response to its knowledge of the risks associated with asbestos exposure. While the unions and state legislature worked towards protecting workers, the industries that hired them fought against regulations, hoping to continue exposing workers without restrictions.
The Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act
When the state of Illinois amended its workers’ compensation statutes to require workers’ compensation to cover occupational illnesses, including asbestosis, it became one of the first states to recognize asbestos-related illnesses as a compensable condition. In 1951, the Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act was codified.
Due to the latency of asbestos-related illnesses, affected workers may file a workers’ compensation claim for up to 25 years after the last exposure.
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) officially opened for business in April 1971. OSHA’s first official act was the imposition of limits on asbestos fibers in workplace environments. OSHA remains the primary regulatory agency tasked with regulating asbestos exposure in the workplace.
At the state level, the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency and the State Department of Health also regulate asbestos in the workplace. Local enforcement agencies are also in place.
Asbestos Abatement
Buildings that were erected in 1986 or earlier may contain asbestos in the floors, walls, roof, and siding. Buildings constructed as late as 1990 may contain asbestos if vermiculite insulation was used. This includes the following:
- Public buildings
- Schools
- Hospitals
- Apartment buildings
- Office buildings
- Private residences
Removal of asbestos may be more hazardous than leaving it in place, depending on the nature of the asbestos present. The Illinois Department of Health regulates licensing standards for asbestos abatement professionals and provides training. OSHA and the Illinois EPA provide guidelines for the removal and disposal of asbestos.
If you live or work in an older building, the following precautions will protect you from exposure and ensure you are compliant with local, state, and federal laws:
- If you suspect asbestos is present, hire a licensed asbestos inspector. It is not always possible to confirm the presence of asbestos without testing.
- Hire a licensed asbestos inspector before undertaking demolition or renovation of older buildings.
- Do not attempt to remove asbestos-containing materials yourself. When asbestos is disturbed, it becomes airborne and can enter the building’s ventilation system.
Asbestos Companies in Illinois
The companies listed below have a history of exposing workers to asbestos.
Aurora
- Builders Supply Company
- C.E. Refractories
- Caterpillar Tractor Company
- Forty-Eight Insulation
- M.H. Detrick Company
- U.S. Diamond Wheel
Decatur
- A.E. Staley Manufacturing
- Archer Daniels Midland Company
- Firestone Tire & Rubber
- General Electric Company – Decatur Plant
- Mueller Company
- Wagner Castings Company
Joliet
- American Steel and Wire Company
- Amoco Chemicals Corporation
- Calumet Chemical Company
- Dow Chemical Company
- Illinois Steel Company
- Joliet Ammunition Plant
- Joliet Shipyard
- Olin Corporation
- U.S. Steel
Naperville
- Amoco
- Kroehler Manufacturing Company
- National Biscuit Company (Nabisco)
- North Star Concrete Pipe
- Standard Oil
Springfield
- Allis-Chalmers Manufacturing Company
- Aramark Uniform Services, Incorporated
- Pillsbury
- T. Reisch & Brothers
- U.S. Naval Reserve Training Center – East Lake Drive
- Western Cartridge Company
Chicago Asbestos Companies
- Abbott Laboratories
- Allied Chemical and Dye Corporation
- American Airlines
- Brach Candy Company
- Campbell Soup Company
- Diamond Shamrock Corporation
- Ford Motor Company
- General Motors – Electro-Motive
- Hunt-Wesson Foods, Incorporated
- Hyde Park Electric Light and Power Company
- Illinois Steel Company
- Jarrow Products
- Johns Manville
- Kentile Floors, Incorporated
- Kraft Foods Company
- Mobil Oil
- Morton Chemical
- Nabisco Company
- O’Hare Airport
- Paragon Die Casting
- Rheem Manufacturing Corporation
- Standard Oil
- Texaco
- U.S. Gypsum
- United Airlines
- United Laboratories
- W.R. Grace
- Zenith Radio Corporation
- Zonolite