Massachusetts Mesothelioma & Asbestos Lawyer
Legally Reviewed By: - Page Last Updated:
- November 28, 2023
Legally Reviewed By: Darron Berquist
Managing Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- November 28, 2023
Trusted Mesothelioma Attorneys for More than 25 Years
We Help Asbestos Exposure Victims Across Massachusetts
Massachusetts Asbestos Regulations
Companies in Massachusetts that Exposed Workers to Asbestos
Workers at Risk of Asbestos Exposure in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Work Sites with High Asbestos Exposure Risks
What Are My Legal Options If I Have Been Diagnosed with Mesothelioma?
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Claim for Mesothelioma Compensation?
Massachusetts has historically played a significant role in the shipbuilding, fishing, manufacturing, and electronics industries—all of which relied heavily on asbestos products. Thus, thousands of Massachusetts workers have been exposed to asbestos and developed deadly illnesses, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, asbestos-related illnesses have killed more than 6,000 people in Massachusetts. From 2016 to 2020, 388 new cases of mesothelioma were diagnosed throughout the Bay State, and 353 mesothelioma patients died.
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our talented and compassionate Massachusetts mesothelioma attorneys can help you recover financial compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, and more. Contact us today for a free case review.
Trusted Mesothelioma Attorneys for More than 30 Years
Mark Lanier founded our law firm in 1990 with the vision of providing serious and sound representation to injured people. No two cases are alike, and we think every client deserves personalized attention. We refer to this as legal care.
Mesothelioma cases require specialized knowledge about asbestos exposure and the tactics asbestos product manufacturers use to escape liability. These cases should only be handled by a law firm with experience handling mesothelioma claims.
The Lanier Law Firm Difference
We were one of the first law firms to take a stand against asbestos companies. Over the past 30 years, we have collected one of the world’s largest databases of internal company documents, asbestos products, and other evidence, giving us an edge when fighting for you to receive the maximum compensation.
When you hire one of our experienced mesothelioma attorneys in Massachusetts, we will travel to you and handle every aspect of your legal case while you focus on treatment.
We also provide referrals and information on the best mesothelioma treatment options available and other resources to help you and your family. When you hire the Lanier Law Firm, we are in it together.
Our Successful Track Record
We have won more than $20 billion in verdicts and settlements, including the following:
- $115 million verdict on behalf of 115 steel mill workers
- $4.5 million for a man who contracted mesothelioma from asbestos exposure through joint compound
- $3.7 million for an 82-year-old man exposed to asbestos in the Navy
- $2.3 million settlement for a naval shipyard electrician who contracted mesothelioma
- $1.9 million settlement for the surviving spouse of a chief engineer exposed to asbestos in cruise ship engine rooms
- $1.785 million settlement for the family of a construction worker who died from mesothelioma caused by occupational asbestos exposure
Client Testimonials
It means everything to us that our clients have been through so much, yet they still take the time to send us glowing testimonials about our services, such as the following:
Lanier Lawyer Darron Berquist represented us after my husband contracted mesothelioma. Working with Darron during the most tragic and stressful period of our lives was a godsend. We appreciated the clout and professionalism of being represented by Lanier and the personal attention, persistence, tenancy, knowledge, and professionalism of Darron as he walked us through our lawsuit with a very good outcome.
Darron Berquist…always took the time to work with my sister, my parent, and my family. His persistence, knowledge, responsiveness, and attention to detail have been a staple of his character in each and every conversation and meeting throughout the years.
My family is eternally grateful to Darron Berquist of The Lanier Law Firm for his gentle and reliable handling of our legal needs. He kept us informed, answered our questions without delay, and kept all of his promises. From the first day we met, we knew we could trust and rest easier knowing—really feeling—we were in great hands.
We Help Asbestos Exposure Victims Across Massachusetts
We help clients throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, from Amesbury to Rockport, down to Provincetown, west to Pittsfield, and anywhere in between:
- Amherst
- Barnstable
- Boston
- Braintree
- Cambridge
- Fall River
- Gloucester
- Lowell
- New Bedford
- Northampton
- Plymouth
- Provincetown
- Quincy
- Salem
- Springfield
- Quincy
- Salem
- Springfield
Massachusetts Asbestos Regulations
Most asbestos use is restricted today, but numerous buildings, structures, and equipment in various industries still contain asbestos and continue to put workers at risk. Asbestos regulations are set and enforced by state and federal agencies to reduce asbestos exposure.
The federal agencies regulating asbestos in Massachusetts include the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the Environmental Protection Agency.
- OSHA sets standards for asbestos handling and containment in the workplace.
- The Department of Transportation regulates how asbestos is transported for disposal.
- The EPA regulates air quality and asbestos in schools.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards enforce federal regulations and set licensing requirements for professionals who inspect and remove asbestos.
Older buildings built before 1980 may still contain asbestos in nearly any building component, including the following:
- Floor tiles
- Ceiling tiles
- Cement
- Plaster
- Insulation
- Machinery
- Boiler rooms
- Plumbing pipes
If asbestos-containing products are intact and in good repair, it is often safer to leave them in place. The Department of Public Health requires commercial building owners to maintain asbestos components in good repair and to obtain an inspection before performing demolitions and renovations that could release asbestos.
Asbestos must be disposed of in a landfill with permits to accept asbestos. Building owners can be held liable for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses that stem from asbestos exposure in their buildings due to their failure to comply with these regulations.
If you have found asbestos in your home or business, you should not attempt to remove it yourself. You can find a list of licensed asbestos abatement providers through the state Asbestos Safety Program website.
Companies in Massachusetts that Exposed Workers to Asbestos
Massachusetts workers have been exposed to asbestos at the following job locations throughout the state:
- American Optical
- American Sugar
- BAE Systems
- Bath Iron Works
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Bethlehem Steel
- Bird & Son
- Boston Edison Company
- Boston Logan Airport
- Boston Naval Shipyard
- Boston University
- Charleston Navy Yard
- Diamond National
- Eastern Refractories
- Esso/Standard Oil
- Ford Motor Company
- Fore River Shipyard
- General Dynamics Electric Boat
- General Electric
- General Motors
- Gilbane Building Company
- Harvard University
- Hollingsworth & Vose
- Honeywell
- Kennedy Manufacturing
- Lockheed Martin
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Monsanto Chemical
- National Grid
- New England Insulation
- New England Power Co.
- Norton Company.
- Pilgrim Nuclear Plant
- Polaroid
- Procter & Gamble
- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
- Prudential Building
- Quincy City Hospital
- Quincy Shipyard
- Raytheon Technologies
- Revere Sugar
- Riley Stoker
- Salem Hospital
- Salem Power
- Sawyer Passway Power Plant
- Springfield Gas Light
- Springfield Armory
- Stone & Webster
- Suffolk Construction
- Turner Construction
- Tyco Healthcare Group
- University of Massachusetts
- United States Rubber
- Whitin Machine Works
- Williams College
- Worcester Gas Light
- Wyman-Gordon
- Yankee Rowe Nuclear Power Station
This is not an exhaustive list. If you or your loved one has contracted mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in these locations or anywhere else in the state, call our Massachusetts mesothelioma attorneys today at (800) 732-3216 for a free case evaluation.
Workers at Risk of Asbestos Exposure in Massachusetts
If you have worked in any of these occupations, you may have been exposed to asbestos:
Massachusetts Work Sites with High Asbestos Exposure Risks
Workers who handle asbestos directly have the highest risk of developing mesothelioma, but any asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma or other asbestos-related illnesses.
Regardless of your occupation, if you worked at any of the following job sites, you may have been exposed to asbestos:
- Public schools
- Colleges
- Construction sites
- Power plants
- Chemical plants
- Factories
- Boiler rooms
- Ships and shipyards
- Military bases
- Older office buildings
- Hospitals
Workers continue to face asbestos exposure risks at many of these locations. For example, construction workers may be exposed to asbestos during demolitions or renovations of older homes or commercial buildings. Factories that use older industrial equipment may have asbestos in machinery wiring and gaskets. Boiler insulation is a significant source of asbestos exposure.
Many Massachusetts public schools were built when asbestos use was at its peak. As flooring and other components wear down, asbestos can be released, endangering anyone working in the schools, including teachers, custodians, and administrative staff.
What Are My Legal Options If I Have Been Diagnosed with Mesothelioma?
You may be eligible to pursue mesothelioma compensation through multiple avenues. This is one of the most important reasons to choose a mesothelioma attorney in Massachusetts with experience handling mesothelioma claims. You can count on our mesothelioma lawyers in Massachusetts to leave no stone unturned in finding all sources of compensation for which you qualify.
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
In a mesothelioma lawsuit, you can pursue damages for your medical expenses, pain and suffering, and lost wages from the manufacturer or distributor that exposed you to asbestos. If the company actively concealed the dangers of asbestos, you may also be able to pursue punitive damages.
If mesothelioma caused the death of your close family member, our caring and supportive mesothelioma attorneys in Massachusetts can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit for your loved one’s pain and suffering, medical expenses, and burial costs. We can also help you pursue damages for your family’s emotional losses, such as loss of companionship.
Workers’ Compensation Claims
VA Claim
If you are a military veteran with mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure in the military, you may be eligible to file a VA claim. The Department of Veterans Affairs provides free medical care and monthly disability payments to eligible veterans with service-connected illnesses.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Claim for Mesothelioma Compensation?
According to managing attorney Sam Taylor:
“Generally, a person has three years from the date he or she is diagnosed with an asbestos-related condition to file a lawsuit. A person may also bring a lawsuit for wrongful death if the lawsuit is filed within three years from the date someone passes from an asbestos-related disease.”
Schedule Your Free Consultation
If you’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, we may be able to help you recover substantial compensation, but time is limited. Call an experienced Massachusetts mesothelioma lawyer at our law firm today at (800) 732-3216 for a free consultation.
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