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Ohio Mesothelioma Lawyer

Ohio workers faced significant asbestos exposure through most of the 1900s and still experience effects today in the form of devastating illnesses, including mesothelioma. These companies knew their workers were being harmed but failed to disclose the truth about asbestos. Our Ohio mesothelioma lawyers at The Lanier Law Firm help people with mesothelioma recover substantial compensation.

Legally Reviewed By: Luz Sympien-Restrepo
Senior Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos

Luz Restrepo

Legally Reviewed By: Luz Sympien-Restrepo
Senior Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis. Asbestos exposure is the primary cause. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, approximately 650 Ohioans were diagnosed with mesothelioma from 2015 to 2019. 

This is in addition to the thousands of others who developed lung cancer, asbestosis, and other devastating illnesses.

The companies that mined, processed, and used asbestos could have prevented this by informing the public and using alternative materials. Instead, they actively covered up that knowledge to protect their profits. 

The Ohio mesothelioma lawyers at The Lanier Law Firm are dedicated to holding them accountable and ensuring they compensate their victims.

An Experienced Mesothelioma Law Firm With a 25-Year History of Successful Results

The Lanier Law Firm has more than 25 years of experience helping asbestos-exposure victims get justice. We have won nearly $20 billion in settlements and verdicts on behalf of individuals facing large companies with unlimited resources. Our results for Ohio mesothelioma clients include:

  • $1.6 million recovery for the family of a man diagnosed with mesothelioma following exposure to asbestos through construction work, automotive work, and while working with cranes
  • $2.1 million recovery for the family of a man diagnosed with mesothelioma throughout his work history as a pipefitter, millwright, welder, construction laborer, and automotive mechanic
  • $1.2 million recovery for the family of a Navy man diagnosed with mesothelioma who was exposed in the Navy and throughout his civilian career as a laborer and millwright

When you hire an Ohio mesothelioma attorney at The Lanier Law Firm, you can count on us to take every necessary measure to ensure you receive the maximum compensation available. We will spend significant time with you to ensure we identify all sources of exposure so each company can be held accountable.

We value our attorney-client relationships and treat each client like family. We regularly receive positive feedback from our clients:

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“Lanier Law Firm has gone above and beyond to research every company that had a hand in this horrible cancer! They are making sure that the ones who caused his illness and ultimately, his death, have had to pay for their crimes. There aren’t enough stars to rate this law firm!” — Kristy Brown

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“The Lanier Law firm has been such a blessing for our family. My mother passed away from mesothelioma. The many settlements my father received allowed him to live comfortably until he passed away at 95.” — Nancy Katkowski

Our Featured Attorneys

Leydyluz “Luz” Symphorien-Restrepo

Leydyluz Symphorien-Restrepo is an experienced trial lawyer with a passion for helping people who have been victimized. Before joining The Lanier Law Firm, she represented members of the Latino community in Central Florida in personal injury matters. 

Early in her career, she served as a prosecutor in the state attorney’s office at the Ninth Judicial Circuit in Orlando, Florida. 

Today, she focuses exclusively on helping asbestos-exposure victims get justice. Best Lawyers has rated Mrs. Symphorien-Restrepo as one of the “ones to watch” in 2023.

Mark Lanier

Mark Lanier is the founder of The Lanier Law Firm and one of the most accomplished mesothelioma lawyers in the world. He is recognized by The New York Times as one of the “top civil trial lawyers in America.”

He is well-known in the legal community for his Benchmark Series, where he mentors other attorneys in mesothelioma litigation. He is a lifetime achievement recipient of the “America’s Top 100 Attorneys” designation.

His successful courtroom results have been featured in such prestigious publications as The New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Bloomberg News. 

Mark Lanier’s success in the courtroom can be partly attributed to his ability to use unconventional means to argue the case, his tech savvy, his talent for connecting with juries, and his passion for justice.

How are people in Ohio exposed to asbestos?

Ohio is a major agricultural and industrial manufacturing hub that leads the nation in the production of:

  • Plastics
  • Rubber
  • Fabricated metals
  • Electrical Equipment
  • Appliances

The state is a leading producer of steel, autos, and trucks. Ohio is also home to a large network of railroads, which have provided an inexpensive means of transportation throughout Ohio’s rich manufacturing history while also exposing workers to significant amounts of asbestos.

Occupational asbestos exposure is the most common source of exposure with the highest exposure levels. However, it is not the only source of asbestos exposure.

Asbestos

Occupational Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos is heavily restricted in the workplace today, but due to the latency of mesothelioma, many workers only now realize its devastating effects. Workers may continue to encounter asbestos while working in buildings constructed before 1990 or while working with older equipment. The following Ohio occupations are at risk:

Akron Rubber Talc Settlement

Talc is a naturally occurring mineral mined in areas that can contain asbestos. Talc is also known as soapstone, and it is used industrially to prevent substances from sticking. It was extensively used in the rubber industry from the 1950s through the 1980s to prevent rubber from sticking to machine parts.

According to the Akron Beacon Journal, rubber workers in Akron who were exposed to asbestos through talc supplied by Eastern Magnesia Talc, or Emtal, reached a $72.5 million class action settlement

Approximately 3,800 rubber workers and their heirs may be eligible for settlement proceeds of up to $300,000.

Environmental Asbestos Exposure

Environmental asbestos exposure is a more passive form of exposure in which asbestos happens to be present in the environment. Among the most common sources of environmental asbestos exposure are secondary asbestos exposure and asbestos exposure in public buildings, especially schools.

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Secondary asbestos exposure occurs when workers who have been exposed to asbestos carry the asbestos fibers home on their skin, hair, and clothing. These fibers become airborne in the home, where family members can inhale them.

Asbestos in Schools

The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act was passed by Congress in 1986 and is enforced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Its purpose is to require school districts to perform inspections, develop asbestos management plans, and inform the public about these plans and the results of their inspections. The regulations also require staff training in asbestos management.

Asbestos is still a significant problem in Ohio schools, many of which were built before 1980, when asbestos was commonly used. Asbestos in schools may be found in insulation, floor tiles, pipe insulation, boiler rooms, ceilings, plumbing pipes, and industrial adhesives. 

The cost of asbestos abatement can place a strain on public schools and disrupt educational activities. Ohio Code § 2305.091 gives schools the right to file civil lawsuits against the companies that provided asbestos as a means to recoup expenses related to asbestos abatement. 

Unfortunately, no meaningful enforcement of the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act is in effect, and the right to file an action has not been sufficient to prevent Ohio schoolchildren and staff from being exposed to asbestos.

Buckeye Education School

In 2013, teenage volunteers were filmed cleaning asbestos-contaminated materials from Buckeye Education School, a private religious school in Berea, with no protective gear. This allegedly occurred over weeks and triggered a criminal investigation.

Fitch High School

Asbestos was found under a warped gym floor while workers repaired burst water pipes, according to a report by WFMJ News. The school admitted that more water pipes were at risk of bursting. This could result in additional flooring damage with the resulting release of asbestos fibers.

Oakwood City Schools

According to a 2020 report prepared for Oakwood City Schools by MacParan, a local asbestos abatement company, asbestos was found in the following components at the junior/senior high school:

  • Pipe insulation
  • Fitting insulation
  • Tank insulation
  • Acoustical ceiling plaster
  • Transite panels
  • HVAC paper insulation
  • Window glazing
  • Exterior door frame caulking
  • Canvas/horsehair ceiling in the auditorium 

St. Michael School

The Columbus Dispatch reported that a damaged floor tile released asbestos dust at St. Michael School, a private Catholic school in Worthington, causing a delay to the beginning of the school year.

Cosmetic Talc

In addition to industrial uses, the softness of talc makes it valuable in cosmetics, especially powder-based cosmetics and most notably baby powder. The Lanier Law Firm was the first to prevail in a lawsuit connecting asbestos in baby powder to ovarian cancer

The verdict resulted in a historical $4.69 billion award for 21 women, which was later reduced to $2.1 billion and upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Cosmetic talc has also been linked to mesothelioma, according to the American Journal of Industrial Medicine. One study found that the mesothelioma latency period was shortened after exposure to asbestos through cosmetic talc. 

The study also found a higher incidence of peritoneal mesothelioma. Peritoneal mesothelioma typically accounts for 10 to 15 percent of mesothelioma cases, but in the talc study, it comprised 30.67 percent of cases and mostly impacted women.

Ohio Companies That Exposed People to Asbestos

Thousands of companies throughout the state of Ohio exposed workers to asbestos. Asbestos was considered a miracle mineral. As a result, it was used in a wide range of products, including:

  • Fireproofing materials
  • Machinery
  • Plaster
  • Drywall

Akron

Akron has long been known as the rubber capital of the world, according to Smart Business. It is the home of three of the nation’s leading tire manufacturers:

  • B.F. Goodrich Tire
  • Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
  • Firestone Tire and Rubber Company


All three of these tire companies have a history of exposing workers to asbestos. Other companies that exposed workers to asbestos in the Summit County area include:

  • Akron, Bedford, and Cleveland Railway Company
  • Akron Brewing Company
  • Akron Chemical Plant
  • Akron Electric Company
  • Akron Gas Company
  • Akron Standard
  • Akron Steel Treating
  • Akron Water Works Company
  • Babcock & Wilcox 
  • Firestone Tire
  • General Tire
  • John Knapp Sons Foundry 

Cincinnati

The largest and most famous company to be born in Cincinnati is Procter & Gamble, a consumer goods company. It is one of many companies in the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Area that has exposed workers to asbestos. Other Cincinnati companies with a history of asbestos exposure include:

  • Casco Manufacturing Solutions Inc.
  • Cincinnati Abattoir Company
  • Cincinnati Chemical Works
  • Cincinnati Gas & Electric Company
  • Cincinnati Industries Inc.
  • Cincinnati Municipal Airport
  • Cincinnati Rubber Manufacturing Company
  • Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago, and St. Louis Railway
  • John Crane
  • Kirk & Blum Manufacturing
  • Perry & Derrick Company
  • Planet Products Corp.
  • Procter & Gamble
  • Queen City Supply Company
  • University of Cincinnati
  • William Powell

Cleveland

While Cleveland is primarily known for health care today, manufacturing was the dominant industry throughout most of Cuyahoga County’s history. Factory workers and workers who maintained factory equipment often faced significant asbestos exposure.

However, manufacturers were not the only companies where workers were exposed to asbestos. The following companies may have exposed their employees:

  • Aluminum Co. of America
  • American Steel & Wire Company
  • Cleveland Pneumatic Tool
  • Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center
  • Cleveland Clinic Foundation
  • Cleveland Electric Illuminating
  • Corrigan, McKenney Steel Company
  • Cuyahoga County Hospital
  • Fisher Body Company
  • Ford Motor Company
  • General Electric
  • LTV Steel Corp.
  • Otis Steel
  • Republic Steel Corp.
  • U.S. Steel in Lorain
  • White Motor Company

Columbus

Ohio’s capital city, situated in a sprawling metropolitan area, has eight counties and a robust economy consisting of 11 key industries, including manufacturing, transportation, construction, and mining—all industries with heavy asbestos exposure. Companies in Columbus with a history of asbestos exposure include:

  • Abbott Laboratories
  • Clark Grave Vault Company
  • Cleveland, Southwestern, and Columbus Railway Company
  • Columbian Company
  • Columbus Aircraft Division
  • Columbus & Southern Ohio Electric
  • Columbus Coated Fabrics
  • Columbus London and Springfield Street Railway Company
  • Columbus Railway and Light company
  • Columbus PY Power and Light Company
  • Ohio State University
  • Whirlpool Corp.
  • Worthington Industries 

Dayton

Dayton is the birthplace of aviation and the original home of numerous other inventions, including the cash register and the hydraulic jump. Asbestos was heavily used in the aviation industry for its heat-insulating properties. Companies in Dayton that have exposed workers to asbestos include:

  • Dayton and Western Railroad Company
  • Dayton Builders Supply
  • Dayton Forging
  • Dayton Malleable Iron
  • Dayton Power & Light
  • Dayton Press
  • Dayton Rubber Manufacturing
  • Dayton Signal Depot
  • Dayton, Springfield, and Urbana Electric Railway
  • Dayton Tire and Rubber Company
  • Dayton Weather Corporation
  • Ohio Metal & Manufacturing Company
  • Robbins & Myers Inc.

Toledo

Toledo was the second largest railroad hub in the country after Chicago, and it was widely known as the Glass City due to innovations in glassmaking. Fiberglass was also patented in Toledo. 

Toledo has a rich history in the automotive industry. Its workers may have been exposed to asbestos while employed by the following companies:

  • Champion Spark Plug
  • Johns Manville
  • Libbey Glass
  • Owens Corning Fiberglass Corporation
  • Textileather Corporation
  • The Dana Corporation
  • Toledo Administration Building
  • Toledo, Bowling Green, and Southern Railway Company

Youngstown

The Mahoning Valley area is best known as a steel-producing area. Steel products were also fabricated in Youngstown, and limestone was mined nearby. Workers in the greater Youngstown metropolitan area may have been exposed to asbestos while working for the following companies:

  • Youngstown Coke Company
  • Youngstown Concrete Sand and Stone Company
  • Youngstown Manufacturing Company
  • Youngstown Mazda Lamp Works
  • Youngstown Municipal Railway Company
  • Youngstown Welding and Engineering

How is asbestos regulated in Ohio?

The United States Environmental Protection Agency implements regulations and carries out laws passed by the United States Congress. The state of Ohio also institutes and enforces its own regulations.

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency enforces state laws that regulate the control of asbestos emissions from public and commercial buildings and roadways. These laws govern notification before demolitions, asbestos inspections, and the use of appropriate protocols for the removal and disposal of asbestos. 

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency is also responsible for licensing and certifying asbestos abatement professionals. 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulates and enforces asbestos safety regulations in the workplace safety standards, including the permissible exposure limit and procedures for working in areas known to contain asbestos. 

The current permissible exposure limit is 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter over an eight-hour day. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration imposes fines on businesses that fail to comply with asbestos safety standards. 

In October 2012, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration proposed a fine of $65,000 against Sandusky-based Kyklos Bearings International for 13 serious safety violations after failing to follow safety standards while removing asbestos-contaminated boiler components.

Legal Options for Ohioans Diagnosed With Mesothelioma

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have undoubtedly been exposed to asbestos. It is not uncommon for mesothelioma patients to be unaware of exposure, resulting in an inability to identify the sources. This can be at least partly attributed to the concealment activities of many asbestos companies.

Fortunately, the mesothelioma lawyers at The Lanier Law Firm have the necessary resources to help you identify your sources of asbestos exposure so you can pursue damages and hold the offending companies responsible.

Ohio Mesothelioma Lawsuit

A mesothelioma lawsuit is generally filed against a supplier of asbestos-containing products. However, a lawsuit could also be filed against builders, premises owners, and in some cases, employers. 

What do I have to prove in an asbestos-exposure lawsuit in Ohio?

Plaintiffs with noncancerous conditions or lung cancer with a history of smoking must make a prima facie case with a medical expert verifying that their injuries are related to asbestos exposure. Making a prima facie case simply means showing the court sufficient evidence to move forward with the case. 

The prima facie evidence must be provided to the court within 30 days of filing the complaint. The prima facie showing is not required for mesothelioma cases. 

To prevail in any asbestos-exposure lawsuit in Ohio, you must prove that you developed an asbestos-related illness linked to asbestos exposure by the defendant. However, the course of conduct that must be proven varies by the type of defendant.

If you are suing an asbestos supplier, you may be able to sue on the grounds of strict liability. Under strict liability, it is not necessary to prove negligence. It is only necessary to prove that the party caused harm when it did one of the following:

  • Manufactured or sold an inherently harmful product
  • Manufactured or sold a product with a harmful manufacturing defect
  • Failed to provide adequate warnings or instructions

Since asbestos is an inherently harmful product and you likely were not warned of its dangers or informed that it was present, strict liability may apply in cases against:

  • Asbestos mining companies
  • Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products
  • Distributors and retailers of asbestos products

You may be able to hold a premises owner, such as a school, apartment complex owner, or office building owner liable for asbestos exposure if you can establish:

  • The owner intentionally violated asbestos safety standards in effect at the time of exposure.
  • You were present in the breathing zone where the violation occurred.
  • The resulting exposure was the proximate cause of your illness.

If you are an independent contractor or a regular customer in an area where asbestos was present, you may be able to sue some parties on the grounds of negligence.
For example, you may have a case if the defendant is a builder or construction company that breached a duty of care by using asbestos materials or failing to provide protective gear if you were a contractor.

How much compensation can I recover in an Ohio mesothelioma lawsuit?

The three types of damages available in Ohio include economic, noneconomic, and punitive damages. 

Economic damages are compensation for your actual monetary losses that can be verified, such as medical expenses and lost wages. These amounts can include future projected costs as well.

Noneconomic damages are compensation for subjective losses that cannot be measured monetarily. They include such losses as:

  • Pain
  • Suffering
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Loss of society
  • Loss of bodily functions
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State law limits noneconomic damages in most personal injury cases to $250,000 or three times the economic loss up to $350,000. However, if you can prove your injuries are permanent and that the injury resulted in either of the following, these limits are waived:

  • Permanent loss of a bodily organ system
  • A permanent functional injury that prevents you from independently caring for yourself and performing activities of daily living


We have found that clients with mesothelioma generally meet these criteria.

Punitive damages may be awarded in Ohio when you can prove that the defendant demonstrated malice, aggravated fraud, or egregious fraud. Punitive damages are limited to double the compensatory damages.

Many asbestos defendants participated in concealment activities that may meet the threshold for punitive damages.

Can I file a lawsuit if my loved one died from mesothelioma?

If your loved one has tragically passed away from mesothelioma, Ohio Revised Code § 2125.02 allows a personal representative to file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of the surviving spouse, children, or next of kin. 

The personal representative will be required to make a prima facie case before the court within 30 days of filing the lawsuit. 

In a wrongful death lawsuit, the family is given a rebuttable presumption that the next of kin suffered damages as a result of the death. Wrongful death damages may include economic, noneconomic, and punitive damages.

Economic damages in a wrongful death lawsuit may include compensation for the medical expenses of the deceased and funeral expenses. Lost wages are also pursuable, including the projected wages that would have been earned had death not ensued.

Noneconomic damages in a wrongful death case in Ohio include:

  • Pain and suffering of the deceased
  • The mental anguish of the family
  • Loss of comfort
  • Loss of services
  • Loss of support
  • Loss of companionship

Mesothelioma Trust Fund Claims

Several asbestos companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection when their asbestos liabilities became overwhelming. To comply with Chapter 11 § 524(g), these companies established asbestos trust funds to benefit the workers they exposed. The following companies in Ohio have established trust funds:


The asbestos trust funds have a combined total of approximately $30 billion in available funds for asbestos-exposure victims. Trust fund claims are handled directly through each fund’s claims administrator, avoiding the need to file with the court. Families of deceased asbestos-exposure victims may also file trust fund claims.

worker coughing

Mesothelioma Workers’ Compensation Claims

Ohio workers’ compensation provides free medical care for occupational illness and disability payments equal to 62.66 percent of your average weekly wages if you are unable to work because of your condition. If you were diagnosed after retirement, the disability benefit is not generally available. 

Death benefits are also provided to a surviving spouse or dependent children in the form of monthly payments of the same amount. A lump sum to help with funeral expenses may also be available. 

To qualify for workers’ compensation, you must prove that you were exposed to asbestos on the job and that the exposure is connected to your current illness. 

Ohio Revised Code § 2305.10 exempts employers from liability when workers’ compensation covers them. Thus, if you qualify for workers’ compensation, you cannot sue the employer.

VA Claims for Veterans With Mesothelioma

Ohio is home to two military bases:

  • Wright Patterson Air Force Base in Montgomery
  • Integrated Support Cleveland Coast Guard Base in Cleveland

If you were exposed to asbestos while serving on active duty on either base or overseas, and you were not dishonorably discharged, you may be eligible to file a claim for benefits through the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans Affairs benefits for mesothelioma patients include:

  • Monthly disability payments
  • Free medical care
  • Death benefits

How much time do I have to file a mesothelioma claim in Ohio?

The statute of limitations for Ohio asbestos-exposure cases is generally two years from the date you knew or should have known that an injury occurred. This is most often the date of diagnosis. 

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers in Ohio

Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer that requires specialized treatment from doctors with training and experience with mesothelioma. Ohio is home to the world-renowned Cleveland Clinic Cancer Center. Mesothelioma treatment is available there or at the following treatment centers:

Do I need an Ohio mesothelioma lawyer?

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you deserve compensation for your suffering due to an asbestos company’s failure to act. Asbestos companies are often large and experienced in litigating these cases. They hire attorneys to represent their best interests. You should too.

Our experienced mesothelioma lawyers will skillfully negotiate to win a generous settlement. When a settlement offer is reached, we will advise you of your options but leave the final decision to you whether you wish to accept the settlement or continue in court.

If it is necessary to litigate in court, you can count on the Ohio mesothelioma attorneys at The Lanier Law Firm to skillfully present a powerful case to the jury. 

While asbestos-exposure compensation cannot undo an illness, it can provide you with the necessary resources to obtain the best care available and provide you and your family with financial security. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.

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