Boston Mesothelioma Lawyer
Legally Reviewed By: - Page Last Updated:
- March 20, 2024
Legally Reviewed By: Darron Berquist
Managing Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- March 20, 2024
As a major manufacturing hub with a rich history in shipbuilding, fishing, and education, Boston is filled with job sites containing asbestos. Workers exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer with a devastating prognosis.
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact us today to schedule a free consultation with one of our experienced Boston mesothelioma attorneys. You may be eligible to recover substantial compensation.
Why Should You Trust the Lanier Law Firm to Handle Your Mesothelioma Claim?
When you need a mesothelioma lawyer in Boston, you need a law firm with experience handling mesothelioma cases and significant financial resources to fight wealthy asbestos companies and win. We have been helping asbestos-exposure victims recover significant financial compensation for over 30 years.
During that time, we have won historical verdicts against large corporations that thought they could use their wealth to get away with harming the very workers that helped them become wealthy.
What Sets Us Apart
Founder Mark Lanier is well-known for his unconventional use of props in the courtroom and his uncanny ability to connect with juries. His effective approach and dedication to each client give our law firm powerful leverage in settlement discussions with even the most reluctant asbestos companies.
Under his leadership, our staff of over 60 attorneys displays the same level of determination and resourcefulness, which is why our clients win big. Mark, our firm, and our team of talented mesothelioma lawyers have been honored with the following awards and recognitions by our peers:
- Most Feared Plaintiffs Law Firm
- U.S. News Best Law Firms, Tier I Rating
- Best Lawyers in America
- Super Lawyers
- Trial Lawyer of the Year
- Most Impressive Plaintiff’s Verdict
More than $20 Billion Recovered
Our mesothelioma settlements and verdicts include the following historic wins:
- $4.69 billion groundbreaking verdict against Johnson & Johnson for 22 women exposed to asbestos in baby powder
- $3.859 million settlement for the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure through her husband’s work clothes
- $2.577 million settlement for a man exposed to asbestos on oil rigs and in the automotive industry
- $2 million settlement for a former shipyard worker who developed pleural mesothelioma
- 1.6 million for the family of a deceased industrial worker exposed to asbestos at work
Client Testimonials
Below are just a few examples of the client testimonials we regularly receive from our mesothelioma clients:
It has been a pleasure working with Darron and the Lanier Law Firm on a matter that is not pleasant at all. I feel that Darron really cares about his clients. I would recommend the Lanier Law Firm.
They are the very best! Helped me through a very difficult lawsuit regarding my beloved dad. Walked me through and supported me every inch of the way. Everyone worked their hardest to acquire the highest settlement and still is…A professional firm; I love them all. Don’t think twice–they are sincere and professional, [and they] take a personal interest.
The Lanier Law Firm came into our lives after we learned that Mom had mesothelioma. Darron Berquist, our attorney at Lanier, called and wanted to meet with us to talk about our options…spent several hours explaining everything to us and answering all our questions. Darron and the Lanier team stayed in touch with us through every step of the process…we'll always think of Darron as part of the family. Everyone we worked with at Lanier was personable, caring, and professional. I highly recommend the Lanier Law Firm.
What Businesses in the Boston Metropolitan Area Have Exposed People to Asbestos?
The following Boston-area businesses have been found liable for asbestos exposure:
- American Optical
- American Sugar
- Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Boston Edison Company
- Boston Logan Airport
- Boston University
- Boston Naval Shipyard/Charleston Navy Yard
- General Electric
- Gilbane Building Company
- Harvard University
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- National Grid
- New England Insulation
- Polaroid
- Procter & Gamble
- Prudential Building
- Revere Sugar
- Suffolk ConstructionTurner Construction
These are not the only businesses in the Boston area where asbestos exposure has occurred. If you or your loved one has developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos in and around Boston at any worksite, contact our skilled mesothelioma attorneys in Boston immediately.
Asbestos Exposure in Boston
Occupational asbestos exposure was more common before 1980. During the 1970s, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Consumer Products Safety Commission restricted most uses of asbestos in building components and added additional limits throughout the 1980s. By this time, the public was aware that asbestos was dangerous.
Before the 1980s, construction workers, millwrights, insulation workers, boiler workers, floor installers, drywallers, and many others handled asbestos directly, resulting in a high level of exposure over an extended period. These workers had the highest risks of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses, including lung cancer and asbestosis.
Many buildings, factories, and structures built from the early 1900s until 1980 still stand today, and asbestos remains in many of them. As a result, workers and patrons may be exposed to asbestos if the components that contain asbestos become worn or damaged.
Even if asbestos is no longer a threat at your workplace, mesothelioma is a latent illness, meaning it can develop decades after exposure. Workers in shipyards, textile mills, and factories may still develop mesothelioma.
The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and the State Department of Health enforce EPA asbestos guidelines and regulate the containment, handling, and disposal of asbestos in commercial buildings today.
Asbestos in Boston Area Colleges and Schools
The Boston area is home to many elite schools built centuries ago. Asbestos has been found in many school buildings, including at Tufts University, MIT, and Harvard University. Asbestos was also discovered at Boston College, which was built in 1964 when asbestos use was still common.
Asbestos is also a significant concern in Boston Public Schools. The average school in Boston is 80 years old, which means asbestos is lurking in the average Boston public school building. Schools may contain asbestos in the following building components:
- Pipe insulation
- Flooring
- Ceiling tile
- Drywall
- Building insulation
- Boiler rooms
Floor tiles that contain asbestos are especially dangerous because they are susceptible to excess wear due to heavy foot traffic. The Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act, or AHERA, requires schools to inspect for asbestos, disclose findings to the public, and develop an abatement plan. The EPA enforces AHERA.
You can obtain information about the school where you teach, work, or send your child by contacting the main office of your school. The AHERA-designated contact person for Boston Public Schools is Jeffrey P. Lane.
Boston Area Businesses Fined for Exposing Workers to Asbestos
Businesses are legally obligated to protect workers and the public from asbestos exposure. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulates workplace asbestos. OSHA imposes limits on how much asbestos can be airborne at any one time and how asbestos must be contained and handled throughout the workplace.
As recently as November of 2022, OSHA recommended that Suffolk Construction and NorthStar Contracting Group pay nearly $700,000 in penalties for failure to properly oversee and inspect an asbestos containment area and for not requiring workers to wear personal protective equipment properly.
This isn’t the first time this has happened in Boston. William A. Berry & Son, an asbestos abatement company from Danvers, faced a $136,000 fine in 2010 for 19 violations related to improper asbestos removal at Beth Israel Hospital in Boston. Violations included failures to provide protective clothing, establish a decontamination area, and use HEPA vacuums to collect debris.
You May Be Entitled to Significant Financial Compensation
If you have received a mesothelioma diagnosis, you may be eligible to recover economic, non-economic, and punitive damages for your pain, suffering, medical expenses, lost wages, and other financial and emotional losses. Compensation is available through the following routes:
- A mesothelioma lawsuit against the manufacturer or distributor of materials containing asbestos
- An asbestos trust fund claim against asbestos product manufacturers or distributors that declared bankruptcy
- A VA claim for asbestos exposure during military service
- A workers’ compensation claim against an employer for workplace exposure to asbestos
Medical Treatment for Bostonians Diagnosed with Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer, and most oncologists and general practitioners have little or no experience treating it. Mesothelioma patients throughout the United States often must travel for treatment due to a lack of local providers with experience.
Boston is unique because it is home to multiple mesothelioma treatment centers, including the International Mesothelioma Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, where mesothelioma patients come from around the world seeking the latest innovations in mesothelioma treatment.
You can receive access to clinical trials, innovative treatment, and the most advanced treatment techniques available for mesothelioma at the following locations in Boston:
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75 Francis St
Boston, MA 02115 - (617) 732-5500
Brigham and Women’s Hospital provides collaborative care offered by more than 80 caregivers, scientists, and support staff who offer compassionate care, the most advanced mesothelioma treatment, and access to clinical trials.
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450 Brookline Ave
Boston, MA 02215 - (877) 442-3324
The Lowe Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute partners with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is a U.S. News Best Hospital for Cancer, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital, and a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center.
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55 Fruit St
Boston, MA 02114 - (617) 726-2000
The Center for Thoracic Cancers provides a collaborative, caring approach with the most advanced and innovative mesothelioma treatments available.
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330 Brookline Ave
Boston, MA 02215 - (617) 667-2100
This hospital collaborates with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.
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800 Washington St
Boston, MA 02111 - (617) 636-5000
This is the teaching hospital for Tufts School of Medicine. It has a thoracic cancer program where doctors specialize in compassionate treatment for mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other cancers of the chest.
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150 South Huntington Ave
Boston, MA 02130-4817 - (617) 232-9500
The VA Boston Healthcare System is a designated Comprehensive Cancer Treatment Center that maintains affiliations with Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Tufts Medical Center. It is one of the top VA systems in the country for people with mesothelioma.
When Should I Contact a Boston Mesothelioma Lawyer?
It is important to contact a reputable Boston mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after you receive your diagnosis. State law gives you three years from the date of your diagnosis or after your family member has died from mesothelioma to file a mesothelioma claim.
If you do not file your claim before the statute of limitations expires, you are forever time-barred from pursuing financial compensation for your illness or your loved one’s death. A Massachusetts mesothelioma lawyer will need as much time as possible to gather evidence, identify the liable parties, and prepare an effective claim against those who exposed you to asbestos.
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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