New Orleans Mesothelioma Lawyer
Legally Reviewed By: Darron E. Berquist
Managing Attorney | Asbestos Litigation
- Page Last Updated:
- April 29, 2025
Legally Reviewed By: Darron Berquist
Managing Attorney | Asbestos Litigation
- Page Last Updated:
- April 29, 2025
Louisiana’s industrial legacy and widespread use of asbestos have left a lasting impact on the health of many residents, particularly in New Orleans. From 1999 to 2017, 491 Louisiana residents lost their lives to mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by asbestos exposure.
The Greater New Orleans area has consistently reported some of the highest mesothelioma case numbers in the state. Between 2000 and 2008, 182 cases were recorded locally, making up 60 percent of Louisiana’s total cases during that time. In 2009 alone, 12 new cases were reported in Jefferson, Orleans, and St. Bernard parishes, with over half of the patients already facing late-stage diagnosis.
Asbestos exposure in New Orleans has occurred in numerous settings, including shipyards, chemical plants, oil refineries, construction sites, and military installations. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the Lanier Law Firm’s dedicated New Orleans mesothelioma attorneys are here to help.
Why Choose The Lanier Law Firm?
The Lanier Law Firm is a nationally recognized leader in mesothelioma litigation, known for standing up to the world’s most powerful asbestos companies. Our award-winning New Orleans mesothelioma attorneys are committed to delivering the highest level of legal care, providing personalized, strategic, and relentless advocacy designed to achieve justice for victims and their families.
Since our founding in 1990, the Lanier Law Firm has built a reputation for securing substantial verdicts and settlements in complex asbestos exposure cases and mesothelioma claims. Unlike many firms that rush to settle, our dedicated legal team has the trial experience and resources to take cases to court when it’s in the client’s best interest. We are unafraid to challenge large corporations in the courtroom and have repeatedly shown our ability to win.
We understand the devastating toll a mesothelioma diagnosis takes and are here to shoulder the legal burden so you can focus on your health and family. When you work with The Lanier Law firm, you gain a devoted team fully committed to maximizing your mesothelioma compensation and pursuing justice with strength and compassion.
Mesothelioma Settlements in New Orleans
The Lanier Law Firm has a long track record of securing substantial settlements and verdicts in mesothelioma cases for New Orleans clients, including the following:
- $3.859 million for the family of a woman exposed to asbestos brought home on her husband’s work clothes
- $2.6 million for the family of a career oil field worker
- $2.1 million for the family of a deceased seasonal shipyard worker
- $1.785 million for the family of a deceased construction worker exposed to asbestos on the job
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.
Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred in New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans workers in numerous industries have been exposed to asbestos on the job, resulting in serious health risks. Below are some notable locations where asbestos exposure occurred:
- American Sugar Refining Company
- Avondale Shipyard
- Boland Machine Shipyard
- Delta Match
- Delta Shipyard
- Dow Chemical
- DuPont
- Equitable Shipyard
- Freeport Sulphur
- Gulf Oil
- Higgins Shipyard
- Louisiana Power & Light
- Quaker Oats
- Shell Oil Refinery
- Texaco
- Todd Shipyard
- Union Pacific
- W.R. Grace
- Westinghouse
These are just some of the known exposure sites located in New Orleans, which are linked to asbestos exposure claims in Louisiana. There are many additional sites throughout the state with a history of asbestos exposure.
Avondale Shipyard
Avondale Shipyard was once one of Louisiana’s largest employers and a key shipbuilding hub for military and commercial vessels. Thousands of workers were exposed to asbestos at the shipyard, which has been named in numerous asbestos-related lawsuits.
Higgins Shipyard
Famous for producing the WWII “Higgins boat,” Higgins Shipyard played a major role in the war effort. Asbestos was heavily used in ship construction, exposing workers to dangerous fibers during production. Many employees were unaware of the health risks tied to their daily work.
Occupations at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Many workers across Louisiana unknowingly faced dangerous levels of asbestos exposure while on the job. Prolonged contact with asbestos-containing materials has placed these workers at risk for developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses.
Shipyard workers, including welders, pipefitters, electricians, and general laborers, encountered asbestos regularly in insulation, gaskets, and ship components. Several major shipyards in and around New Orleans are known sites of asbestos exposure, including the following:
- Avondale Shipyard
- Boland Machine Shipyard
- Delta Shipyard
- Equitable Shipyard
- Higgins Shipyard
- Todd Shipyard
Louisiana’s oil refining industry employed thousands of workers in high-heat environments where asbestos was used extensively for insulation and fireproofing. At-risk jobs included pipefitters, boilermakers, electricians, and engineers at facilities including:
- Gulf Oil
- Shell Oil Refinery
- Texaco
Chemical plants used asbestos to protect machinery and personnel from high temperatures and corrosion. Maintenance workers and equipment operators at the following plants were especially vulnerable:
- Dow Chemical
- DuPont
- Freeport Sulphur
Power plants relied on asbestos to insulate boilers, turbines, and piping systems. Boiler operators, electricians, and maintenance staff at facilities, including Louisiana Power & Light, faced daily exposure.
Railroad workers, including mechanics, electricians, and maintenance personnel, encountered asbestos in brake pads, insulation, and other components. Union Pacific is one notable railroad operating in the area that is known for asbestos exposure.
Workers in industrial and manufacturing plants regularly handled asbestos materials during equipment maintenance and production. Known exposure sites include:
- Delta Match
- Quaker Oats
- American Sugar Refining
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 New Orleans
Mesothelioma is a devastating diagnosis with only one confirmed cause: preventable asbestos exposure. Victims and their families have several legal options for pursuing financial compensation to ease the burden of medical expenses, lost income, and emotional distress.
Filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is one of the most effective ways to seek compensation. Our experienced mesothelioma attorneys in New Orleans have successfully handled complex litigation against large corporations and won substantial verdicts and settlements. Most cases resolve through out-of-court settlements, but our team is always prepared to go to trial to fight for the justice you deserve.
Many asbestos companies filed for bankruptcy to shield themselves from mounting liability. The courts required them to establish asbestos trust funds to compensate asbestos-exposure victims. Today, an estimated $30 billion is still available in these trusts. A trust fund claim can often be resolved more quickly than a lawsuit and may provide compensation from multiple sources. Some notable companies that operated in Louisiana and have established trust funds include:
- Johns-Manville
- Armstrong World Industries
- Owens Corning
- Babcock & Wilcox
- United States Gypsum (USG)
- Combustion Engineering
Veterans sickened by asbestos exposure during military service may be eligible for VA benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Mesothelioma is rated as a 100 percent disabling condition, entitling qualified veterans to more than $3,800 in monthly disability compensation.
Asbestos Laws and Regulations in New Orleans
In Louisiana, the legal deadline (also known as the prescription period or statute of limitations) for personal injury lawsuits, including claims for mesothelioma or lung cancer, was recently changed. The old law required one to file a lawsuit within one year from the date of diagnosis or discovery of the illness. Now, the legal deadline is two years from the date of diagnosis or discovery of the illness. This change only applies to claims arising on or after July 1, 2024. For claims where the date of diagnosis or discovery was before July 1, 2024, the one-year prescription period still applies.
The one-year prescription period still also applies to wrongful death cases, which means a family member must file a wrongful death lawsuit within one year from the injured person’s death.
“The recent modification to Louisiana’s personal injury filing deadline is, ultimately, a good thing. The change essentially gives you more time to get help if you or a loved one have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease. But given the complexity of such cases, it’s important to seek legal advice as soon as possible after a diagnosis.” —Kevin LaMarca
Areas Of New Orleans That We Serve
The Lanier Law Firm is proud to serve clients throughout New Orleans, including the following neighborhoods:
- French Quarter
- Central Business District
- Garden District
- Uptown
- Marigny
- Bywater
- Tremé
- Mid-City
- Lakeview
- Algiers Point
Contact The Lanier Law Firm
A mesothelioma diagnosis can be overwhelming for you and your family, but a New Orleans mesothelioma lawyer can help you fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.
States We Serve
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