Minnesota Mesothelioma & Asbestos Lawyer
The asbestos industry has a history of actively concealing the harmful effects of asbestos exposure. By the time this became known, the asbestos industry had already vastly profited from asbestos. An experienced Minnesota mesothelioma lawyer can ensure they are held accountable. Contact The Lanier Law Firm today at 800-723-3216.
Legally Reviewed By: Kevin LaMarca
Senior Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- December 13, 2024
Legally Reviewed By: Kevin LaMarca
Senior Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- December 13, 2024
Why choose The Lanier Law Firm?
How much compensation can I recover in Minnesota if I have developed an asbestos-related illness?
Which occupations in Minnesota carry asbestos-exposure risks?
Minnesota Companies That Exposed Workers to Asbestos
Are workers still exposed to asbestos today?
What government regulations protect Minnesota workers?
What should I do if I suspect I have been exposed to asbestos in Minnesota?
Where can I seek treatment if I develop an asbestos-related illness?
When should I contact a Minnesota attorney?
How can The Lanier Law Firm help me if I have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness?
Approximately 171 Minnesotans died from mesothelioma in 2020. This deadly condition is almost always caused by exposure to asbestos.
The asbestos companies knew at least as early as the 1930s that asbestos causes deadly illnesses. Still, they continued to manufacture and use asbestos products without warning their workers or the public.
The general public did not become aware of the dangers of asbestos until the late 1970s. By this time, millions of people had been exposed, and asbestos could be found in public buildings, homes, schools, and thousands of consumer products.
The Lanier Law Firm is committed to holding asbestos companies accountable for the resulting harm.
Why choose The Lanier Law Firm?
The Lanier Law Firm will devote the necessary resources to bring these companies to justice. Our skilled trial lawyers have vast experience with asbestos cases and the ability to neutralize these companies in court effectively.
Our mesothelioma attorneys have successfully handled and resolved Minnesota asbestos-exposure cases involving respiratory products, construction products, and automotive products, including the following:
- $1.626 million for the family of a deceased construction worker who was exposed to
asbestos at work - $520,000 for the family of a deceased woman exposed to cosmetic talc
- A confidential settlement for the family of a deceased woman who was exposed to
asbestos
These verdicts and settlements are only a few examples of how we have made a difference in the lives of our worthy clients.
Our Featured Minnesota Asbestos &
Mesothelioma Attorneys
Kevin LaMarca
Kevin LaMarca has won tens of millions of dollars for clients in toxic torts and product liability cases. He is recognized by the National Trial Lawyers’ Association’s Top 40 under 40. Kevin has represented clients in both state and federal courtrooms throughout the country, including Minnesota, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania.
Mark Linder
Mark Linder is a toxic tort, product liability, and personal injury litigation attorney who has represented clients in state and federal courts across the country. He has represented persons exposed to asbestos as shipyard workers, auto mechanics, electricians, and railroad workers. Mark has also represented numerous clients with unorthodox exposure histories, including spouses, children, and siblings suffering asbestos-related injuries as a result of asbestos fibers unknowingly brought home on the work clothes of family members.
How much compensation can I recover in Minnesota if I have developed an asbestos-related illness?
The compensation available in an asbestos-exposure case is determined by numerous factors:
- The sources of your asbestos exposure
- Your age and life expectancy
- The effects of your diagnosis on you and your family
- The financial losses attributable to your diagnosis
- The type of case you can file
- The number of mesothelioma claims you are eligible to file
If you are unsure of how you were exposed to asbestos, The Lanier Law Firm can help. We have developed a resource library containing information to identify the sources of your exposure, including:
- A detailed listing of products that contain asbestos
- Pictures of products containing asbestos
- A comprehensive list of companies in Minnesota and throughout the nation that have handled asbestos
Our Minnesota mesothelioma attorneys will spend extensive time compiling your life history to identify as many exposure sources as possible. As soon as your sources of exposure have been identified, we can get to work filing your claim.
Mesothelioma Lawsuits
If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness and can identify the source of your exposure, you may qualify to file an asbestos-exposure lawsuit for the following damages:
- Economic damages: including medical expenses and lost income
- Noneconomic damages: including pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and loss of society
- Punitive damages: awarded as a punishment against Minnesota defendants who displayed a deliberate disregard for the safety of others and as a deterrent to others from engaging in similar conduct
Many companies that handled asbestos knew for decades that it was a harmful product and took active steps to conceal this information. This conduct provides grounds for punitive damages.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits
If your family member passed away as a result of an asbestos-related illness before a case could be filed, you have the right to seek damages related to your family’s loss by filing a wrongful death lawsuit. These damages may include the following:
- Economic damages: including funeral and burial expenses, loss of the decedent’s income, and the value of service provided by the deceased
- Noneconomic damages: including pain and suffering of the family and the deceased, loss of guidance, and loss of support
- Punitive damages
If your family member filed a lawsuit but passed away before its resolution, the family may continue the case in what is known as a survival action, in addition to the wrongful death lawsuit.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
As an increasing number of workers developed deadly asbestos-related illnesses, the public became aware of the connection between these illnesses and exposure to asbestos.
The industry faced an ever-rising tide of asbestos lawsuits, and companies began seeking refuge in bankruptcy protection.
Section 524(g) of the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Code requires bankrupt companies to establish asbestos trust funds for present and future victims of asbestos exposure. These trust funds currently have approximately $30 billion available to pay claims.
Trust fund claims offer a process that is typically faster than filing a civil lawsuit. Bankrupt companies are exempt from mesothelioma lawsuits.
If you were exposed to asbestos by a bankrupt company, you may qualify to file a trust fund claim. Trust fund claims are also available to the family members of asbestos-exposure victims who have passed away.
VA Claims
If your asbestos exposure occurred during active duty in the military, you may be entitled to VA benefits, which include monthly disability compensation and free medical care. You may also have grounds for a lawsuit against companies that supplied asbestos to the military.
Workers’ Compensation Claims
If your exposure occurred while on the job, you may be eligible to file a workers’ compensation claim. Workers’ compensation in Minnesota provides partial wage replacement, free medical care for asbestos-related illnesses, and death benefits.
Some workers do not qualify for workers’ compensation and can sue the employer responsible. Workers who do qualify for workers’ compensation are prohibited from filing a lawsuit against an employer. However, it is often possible to file a lawsuit against a party that supplied asbestos to an employer.
Which occupations in Minnesota carry
asbestos-exposure risks?
Asbestos exposure occurred in occupations where asbestos was mined, processed, or used in products. It was used most extensively in applications that require fireproof materials or insulation. It was also used as a reinforcement in cement and adhesives.
When asbestos is disturbed, it can become airborne, allowing workers to inhale its microscopic fibers. This can occur when asbestos is used in manufacturing or when products containing asbestos are repaired or destroyed. Workers with the highest levels of asbestos exposure include the following:
- Asbestos miners
- Taconite miners
- Talc miners
- Plumbers
- Electricians
- Flooring installers
- Construction workers
- Roofers
- Fireplace and chimney repair and maintenance workers
- Boiler workers
- Firefighters
- Navy veterans
- Coast Guard veterans
- Shipyard workers
- Insulation workers
- Factory workers
- Steelworkers
Minnesota Companies That Exposed Workers to Asbestos
The following companies in Minnesota have proven to allow workers to face asbestos exposure:
- 3M facilities in Fairmont, Hutchinson, Minneapolis, New Ulm, St. Paul, and Maplewood
- 3M Chemolite in Cottage Grove
- American Crystal Sugar in Crookston, East Grand Forks, and Moorhead
- American Steel & Wire in Duluth and Steelton
- Anheuser-Busch in Moorhead
- Aurora Steam Electric Station in Aurora
- Bell Telephone in Brooklyn Center, Coon Rapids, New Hope, Rochester, St. Paul, Stillwater, and White Bear Lake
- Boise Cascade in International Falls
- Burlington Northern Railroad in Duluth, St. Paul, Minneapolis, and Proctor
- Cargill in Minneapolis and Savage
- Del Monte in Sleepy Eye
- Dow Chemical in Aurora
- DuPont in Rosemount
- Erie Mining Company in Aurora and Taconite Harbor
- Eveleth Taconite Company in Fairlane and Forbes
- Ford Motor Company in St. Paul
- General Electric in Minneapolis and Monticello
- General Mills in Minneapolis
- Great Northern Oil in Pine Bend, Rosemount, Rose Port, and St. Paul
- HarbisonWalker Refractories in St. Paul
- Honeywell in Golden Valley, New Hope, Ridgeway, St. Louis Park, and Stinson plant
- International Refineries in Wrenshall
- Interstate Power Company in Bemidji, Albert Lea, and Sherburn
- Johnston Manufacturing Company in Minneapolis
- Koch Industries in Hastings, Rosemount, and Pine Bend
- Kraft Food Company in Melrose, New Ulm, and Hutchinson
- Linde Air Products Company (Union Carbide & Carbon Corp.) in Aurora, Babbitt, Duluth, and Emco
- MacArthur Company in St. Paul
- Midwestern Gas Transmission in Humboldt and Staples
- Minnesota and Ontario Paper Company in International Falls
- Minnesota Power & Light in Aurora, Duluth, Cohasset, Eveleth
- Minnesota Steel Company in Duluth and Steelton
- National Steel Pallet in Keewatin
- Northern Pacific Railway in Brainerd, Duluth, St. Paul, and Staples
- Northern States Power in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Monticello, Red Wing, Burnsville, Granite Falls, Becker, St. Cloud, Mankato, Bayport, Nichols, Black Dog, and Stillwater
- Northwest Paper Company in Cloquet, Brainerd, and Duluth
- Otter Tail Power in Fergus Falls, Crookston, Minneapolis, and Ortonville
- Paul W. Abbott Company in St. Paul, White Bear Lake, and Duluth
- Pillsbury in Minneapolis
- Reserve Mining Company in Duluth and Silver Bay
- Sartell Paper Company in Sartell
- Smith-Sharpe Company in Minneapolis
- Swift & Company in Detroit Lakes, St. Paul, and Winona
- Taconite Plant in Eveleth, Fairlane, Mountain Iron
- US Steel in Virginia, Mountain Iron, Duluth, Hibbing, and Coleraine
- W.R. Grace in Minneapolis
- Waldorf Paper in St. Paul
- Weyerhaeuser in Cloquet
- Xcel Energy in Burnsville, St. Paul, and Nichols
Are workers still exposed to asbestos today?
Although most asbestos use has been banned, workers still face the risk of asbestos exposure in many industries. This is because asbestos was used in more than 3,000 applications, and most older buildings contain it.
Firefighters
Nearly all buildings that were constructed before 1986 contain asbestos. Buildings that contain vermiculite insulation installed until as recently as 1990 may also be contaminated. The fire destruction of asbestos materials results in asbestos fibers becoming airborne, exposing firefighters and bystanders.
Construction Workers
Construction workers involved in renovations or demolitions of older buildings risk disturbing asbestos and making it airborne.
Military Personnel
Military members serving overseas may be exposed to asbestos through explosions in older buildings and controlled demolitions.
Auto Workers
Auto mechanics who change or repair brakes or clutches on older cars may be exposed to asbestos.
Homeowners
Homeowners who perform their own repairs may unwittingly damage asbestos. In addition, asbestos fibers could be released through normal wear and tear.
The Minnesota Department of Health provides guidelines for homeowners who encounter asbestos or suspect its presence in their homes. If your home was built before 1986, your home may contain asbestos in the following areas:
- Floor tiles
- Roofing
- Siding
- Fireproof products
To confirm if your home contains asbestos, you need to have the material tested by a licensed asbestos inspection company. If you confirm the presence of asbestos, do not attempt to remove it yourself. An asbestos inspector can advise you on the best course of action, which may or may not entail removal.
If asbestos removal is recommended or desired, do not attempt to remove it yourself. Doing so can contaminate your home with asbestos fibers. A licensed asbestos abatement contractor can provide the safest means of removing asbestos from your home.
What government regulations protect Minnesota workers?
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and the Department of Health regulate asbestos materials in the state to protect workers and the public from the release of asbestos fibers. It accomplishes this by enforcing the following:
- Asbestos removal contractors must be licensed by the state.
- Asbestos and other hazardous materials must be removed from structures before initiating renovation or demolition, including homes, offices, agricultural, and industrial buildings.
- Contractors must notify the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency at least ten days before demolition.
- Contractors must complete a pre-demolition checklist.
- Removed asbestos must be disposed of properly.
What should I do if I suspect I have been exposed to
asbestos in Minnesota?
While exposure to asbestos increases your risk of contracting mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses, it does not guarantee you will develop these conditions.
Asbestos-related conditions typically take decades to develop. While no prescreening tests exist to determine whether you might contract mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you can take proactive steps to detect it as early as possible should one emerge.
Notify Your Doctor
Mesothelioma is often diagnosed in the later stages because the symptoms are nonspecific and often mimic more common, less serious conditions. Advising your primary care provider that you have been exposed to asbestos could alert them to consider mesothelioma if symptoms appear.
Monitor Your Health
Annual lung function tests and imaging tests may help you detect asbestos-related conditions in their early stages. In addition, educate yourself about the types of mesothelioma, the symptoms of each type, and the other asbestos-related illnesses, including the following:
- Asbestosis
- Lung cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Ovarian cancer
The types of mesothelioma include:
- Pleural mesothelioma
- Peritoneal mesothelioma
- Pericardial mesothelioma
- Testicular mesothelioma
Where can I seek treatment if I develop an asbestos-related illness?
Minnesota is home to several world-renowned treatment centers for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses, including the following:
- Mayo Clinic – Rochester, MN
- Masonic Cancer Center at University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, MN
- Abbott Northwestern Hospital – Minneapolis, MN
- Mercy Hospital – Coons Rapids, MN
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer, and relatively few oncologists have experience treating it. For this reason, treatment should be pursued at a center that specializes in mesothelioma. Mesothelioma treatment centers often participate in clinical trials, which increase your treatment options.
When should I contact a Minnesota asbestos claim attorney?
It is important to contact an attorney as soon as possible after you have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness. State law limits how long you have to file a case, and your attorney will need time to investigate and prepare your case prior to filing.
“Generally, the time frames within which one must file a claim for asbestos exposure in Minnesota are:
- 4 years from the date of diagnosis for personal injury claims
- 3 years from the date of death for wrongful death claims
Because some claims involve longer or shorter filing periods, it is important to assess the statute of limitations timeline when filing a case. Please discuss the specifics of your case with an attorney.” — Attorney Kevin Lamarca
How can The Lanier Law Firm help me if I have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness?
The Minnesota mesothelioma lawyers at The Lanier Law Firm provide compassionate, personalized advocacy to individuals in need of serious representation.
Our attorneys will go to whatever lengths necessary to hold asbestos companies accountable. We will travel to you anywhere in Minnesota, and we will file your case in the venue most beneficial to you. We provide free case evaluations and do not charge mesothelioma clients upfront fees.
Don’t let the clock run out on the statute of limitations. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Minnesota mesothelioma lawyer.
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