Detroit Mesothelioma Lawyer
Detroit workers have faced high levels of asbestos exposure in the construction, manufacturing, and power generation industries, among others. If you or a close family member has developed mesothelioma, our award-winning Detroit mesothelioma lawyers can help you pursue substantial compensation.
Legally Reviewed By: Sam E. Taylor
Managing Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- April 19, 2024
Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with a devastating prognosis. Asbestos exposure is the only proven cause. If you or your loved one has contracted mesothelioma, the companies that manufactured asbestos-containing materials may be liable. Call us today at 1 (800) 723-3216 to schedule a free consultation with a nationally recognized Detroit mesothelioma attorney.
Why the Lanier Law Firm Is the Top Choice To Handle Your Detroit Mesothelioma Case
Mesothelioma claims are complex cases against wealthy asbestos manufacturers with significant resources to invest in fighting your claim. Holding them accountable requires special knowledge about asbestos exposure and how mesothelioma progresses.
We have been helping mesothelioma victims win significant financial compensation for over 25 years. We were one of the first law firms to stand up to asbestos product manufacturers, making us one of the world’s most experienced mesothelioma law firms.
We have won more than $20 billion in financial compensation for our clients. Our Detroit mesothelioma lawyers are accomplished trial lawyers known for their creative and sometimes unconventional approaches in the courtroom. Most of our cases settle for remarkably high amounts because our adversaries fear facing us in court.
You can count on our dedicated mesothelioma attorneys in Detroit to provide personalized attention and compassionate support. You will never feel like you are just a case number when working with our caring lawyers, and you will always be able to research us.
Our Case Results Speak Volumes
Below are just a few examples of our outstanding case results:
Where Were Workers Exposed to Asbestos in Detroit?
Asbestos exposure is known to have occurred at the following companies in the Greater Detroit Metro area:
- A.P Greene Fire Brick Company of Michigan
- A.P. Greene Refractories Company of Michigan
- A.P. Green of Michigan
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
- Ford Motor Co. – Michigan Casting Center
- Great Lakes Steel Company
- Michigan Alkali Company
- Michigan Bell Telephone – Oakman Boulevard
- Michigan Bell Telephone Company -Northwestern Highway
- Michigan Boiler
- Michigan Brass and Iron Works
- Michigan Carbon Works
- Michigan Center High School
- Michigan Central Railroad
- Michigan Consolidated Gas Building on Woodward Avenue
- Michigan Consolidated Gas Company – Station J
- Michigan Grape Sugar Company
- Michigan Lumber Company
- Michigan Rivet Company
- Michigan Shortening Company
- Michigan Silica Company
- Michigan Stamping Company
- Michigan Steel Corporation – Ecorse Plant
- Michigan Steel Foundry
- Michigan Steel Tube
- Michigan Stores Division
- Michigan Theatre Building
- New York Central System – Michigan Central
- Oakland University (Michigan State University)
- State of Michigan Building
- Village Plaza on Michigan Avenue and Outer Drive
Asbestos Exposure in Detroit
As a major worldwide hub of the automotive industry and a center for metalworking and manufacturing, the Motor City has a long history of asbestos exposure.
The Automotive Industry
In the automotive industry, brakes, brake linings, and clutches were manufactured with asbestos to prevent fire from friction. Workers were exposed to asbestos in brake dust during the manufacture or maintenance of brakes.
Asbestos use in automobiles was not limited only to friction parts. The following components contained the substance:
- Gaskets in manifolds, carburetors, transmissions, exhaust systems, and engine heads
- Seam sealants and concrete-based undercoatings
The EPA banned asbestos in auto parts in 1989, but courts reversed the ban in 1991 under heavy pressure from the asbestos industry. From 1996 through 2006, asbestos brake imports increased by 83 percent. Asbestos use in brakes was only curtailed in 2015 after several well-known automotive trade associations signed the Copper-Free Brakes Initiative, voluntarily banning the substance.
Metal Workers
Metalworking and steel manufacturing require intense heat for molding and purifying metals. Steel manufacturers applied spray-on asbestos to metal beams used to construct commercial buildings. It was also common for protective clothing, such as aprons and gloves, to be laced with asbestos due to its fire-retardant properties.
Railroads
As a manufacturing city, Detroit relied heavily on all forms of transportation to ship goods worldwide, and railroads were the most efficient means of transport.
By 1919, more than 9,000 miles of railroads were in use throughout Michigan. As of 2019, railroads in Michigan had shrunk to 3,634 miles, a still-significant amount. Railroad workers faced asbestos exposure through engine parts, brakes, railroad ties, and even cargo areas where asbestos products were transported.
Passenger rail travel also became popular with the establishment of Amtrak in 1971, and Detroit was one of the early cities with an Amtrak station. Asbestos was still heavily used in 1971, meaning Amtrak workers faced asbestos exposure through many of the same components as freight trains.
Asbestos in Detroit Schools
While occupational asbestos exposure is the most common source of exposure, it is not the only source. Asbestos was widely used in building construction from the 1930s until around 1980. The average Detroit public school building is over 60 years old and thus built well before asbestos use fell out of favor.
The EPA requires school districts to perform periodic inspections of asbestos in schools and prepare a publicly available plan of action to abate asbestos when materials containing the substance become damaged. When asbestos is damaged, it can release tiny fibers into the air, threatening public health.
Detroit Area Schools with Known Asbestos Problems
As recently as 2000, the EPA fined Detroit Public Schools $1.408 million after finding that 256 of the district’s 263 school buildings were out of compliance with EPA regulations. Thus, students, teachers, and other school staff are at risk of developing mesothelioma later in life.
In 2012, a custodian filed a complaint against Dearborn Heights District No. 7 schools, alleging the district penalized her for reporting asbestos concerns to federal and state authorities. She had also allegedly warned staff of health dangers when the school ordered them to sand wax off asbestos-laden floor tiles.
The Occupational Health & Safety Administration ordered the district to pay the custodian $193,000 in 2016. This was not the first time the district had been cited. Michigan OSHA previously fined the district $27,000 for improper handling of asbestos in the same floor tiles.
The following school districts have sought bids for asbestos abatement in recent years:
- Henderson Upper Academy
- Mann Elementary School
- Bates Academy
This problem of asbestos in schools is so severe and widespread that teachers are more than twice as likely as the general population to die from mesothelioma.
What Types of Compensation Can I Receive If I Have Mesothelioma in Detroit?
You may have multiple legal options for recovering mesothelioma compensation.
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
The highest compensation is generally recoverable through mesothelioma lawsuits against the companies that manufactured and sold asbestos-containing products. Damages in a mesothelioma lawsuit may include compensation for your pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages.
Michigan limits damages for non-economic losses, such as pain and suffering, to $537,900 in most cases as of 2023. The limit is $960,500 if you have suffered the loss of a major bodily function. The limit is adjusted annually. However, these limits do not apply if the defendant knew the product was harmful.
This exception to the damage limit may apply if your case involves any of the large asbestos companies that willfully engaged in an active coverup about the dangers of asbestos. Exemplary damages compensating for extreme emotional distress may also be available in such cases.
It is common for multiple parties to be responsible for asbestos exposure. Our thorough and resourceful Michigan mesothelioma attorneys can help you identify and file claims against all the responsible companies.
Compensation in Wrongful Death Claims
If mesothelioma has cost you the life of your loved one, you are entitled to file a mesothelioma lawsuit for the following:
- Your family’s grief and suffering
- Loss of your loved one’s companionship
- Your loved one’s final expenses
- Loss of financial support
- Your loved one’s pain and suffering
- Your loved one’s medical bills
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Many large asbestos companies filed for bankruptcy protection because of the large number of mesothelioma claims filed against them after the dangers of asbestos became public. Courts required these companies to establish trust funds to benefit asbestos exposure victims.
Approximately $30 billion is available in the asbestos trust funds. Two Detroit companies are among the bankrupt companies that have established trust funds—A.P. Green Fire Brick and A.P. Green Refractories. However, many companies outside the Detroit area supplied asbestos and could be responsible for your exposure. You are not limited to filing claims against local companies.
Trust fund claims have a faster process for obtaining compensation compared to lawsuits. You can pursue economic and non-economic damages in a trust fund claim. Death benefits are also available if you are the spouse or next-of-kin of a deceased mesothelioma victim.
Qualifying for both an asbestos trust fund claim and a mesothelioma lawsuit is not unusual. In fact, the Asbestos Trust Fund Claims Transparency Act allows courts to require all trust fund claims to be filed and the settlement amounts to be disclosed before trials begin.
VA Claims
If you were exposed to asbestos during military service and later developed mesothelioma, you may qualify for VA benefits, including the following:
- Monthly disability compensation
- Free medical care for your mesothelioma
- Death benefits for families of deceased veterans
To receive these benefits, you must file a VA claim with the required documentation proving you developed mesothelioma from asbestos exposure during active duty.
Workers’ Compensation Claims
If you have been forced to quit a job because of a mesothelioma diagnosis resulting from asbestos exposure at work, you may qualify for a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance program that provides injured workers free medical care and wage replacement of up to 80 percent of their average weekly wage.
You cannot file a lawsuit against an employer covered by workers’ compensation. However, you can file a claim against each asbestos product manufacturer that supplied asbestos products to your employer.
How Much Time Do I Have to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Detroit?
The Michigan statute of limitations gives you up to three years to file a claim after your diagnosis or a loved one’s death from mesothelioma. However, you should contact a skilled mesothelioma attorney in Detroit as soon as possible. Investigating and preparing a strong mesothelioma case takes time. This work must be done before you file your case.
If you miss this deadline, you will lose the right to file a claim against the companies that wrongfully exposed you to the harmful substance. Don’t put your compensation in jeopardy. Contact us now to protect your claim.
Start Your Detroit Mesothelioma Claim Today
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have already paid a heavy price for the negligence and wrongful conduct of a wealthy company. You should not have to bear the financial burden alone, and you deserve compensation for your pain and suffering.
Our compassionate and experienced Detroit mesothelioma lawyers can help you recover the highest compensation available. There are no upfront costs to hire our mesothelioma lawyers in Detroit, and you only pay if we win. Contact us today for a free consultation.
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