Montana Mesothelioma Lawyer
Asbestos contamination at the vermiculite mine and the BNSF Railway Yard in Libby, Montana, devastated the entire community and is largely to blame for the prevalence of mesothelioma in the state. If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our Montana mesothelioma lawyers can help. Call us today at (800) 723-3216 to schedule a free consultation.
Legally Reviewed By: Sam E. Taylor
Managing Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos in Houston
- Page Last Updated:
- November 14, 2024
Legally Reviewed By: Sam E. Taylor
Managing Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos in Houston
- Page Last Updated:
- November 14, 2024
Why Trust the Lanier Law Firm to Handle Your Montana Mesothelioma Claim
Our Landmark Libby Community Exposure Verdict
Our Featured Montana Mesothelioma Attorneys
Montana Industries and Occupations that Exposed Workers to Asbestos
Compensation for Asbestos Exposure in Montana
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Mesothelioma Claim?
Mesothelioma Treatment in Montana
Why Trust the Lanier Law Firm to Handle Your Montana Mesothelioma Claim
Mesothelioma claims are complex cases requiring special knowledge about Montana’s asbestos industry and mesothelioma litigation. Asbestos product manufacturers are large, powerful companies that typically fight mesothelioma victims’ claims. To prevail against them, you will need a Montana mesothelioma attorney with significant financial resources, stamina, and successful trial experience.
Our knowledgeable Montana mesothelioma attorneys have been standing up to the asbestos industry for more than 34 years, and we have won more than $20 billion in settlements and verdicts for people with mesothelioma and other illnesses brought on by asbestos exposure.
Our Mesothelioma Case Results
We have won numerous verdicts and settlements in the millions for our asbestos-exposure clients, including the following:
- $4.69 billion verdict on behalf of 22 women who developed ovarian cancer from asbestos in baby powder
- $115 million verdict on behalf of 21 steelworkers who contracted asbestos-related illnesses from a grinding wheel at a steel mill
- $8 million jury verdict for two families whose loved ones died from mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure from the BNSF Railyard in downtown Libby, Montana
- $4.5 million for a man who contracted mesothelioma from two years of exposure to asbestos in joint compound
- $2.577 million settlement for a man exposed to asbestos on oil rigs and in the automotive brake industry
- $2 million for the family of a woman who died from mesothelioma caused by asbestos-laced industrial talc on her husband’s work clothes
Our mission is to provide personalized service to injured clients who need sound and serious representation. We call this legal care. We will go to whatever lengths are necessary to get you the compensation you deserve, using creative and sometimes untraditional solutions.
A Reputation You Can Trust
Our approach works. Our peers in the legal community and numerous respected news outlets throughout the country have recognized us for our successful case results and dedication to our clients. Our Montana mesothelioma attorneys’ honors and awards include the following:
- Best Law Firms by U.S. News & World Reports
- Trial Lawyer of the Year by National Trial Lawyers
- Most Impressive Plaintiff Verdict by Courtroom View Network
- Best Lawyers in America
- Super Lawyers
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you can count on our trusted mesothelioma attorneys in Montana to recover the highest award available for your claim. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
Our Landmark Libby Community Exposure Verdict
On April 22, 2024, our attorneys won a historic $8 million jury verdict against BNSF Railroad on behalf of two families whose loved ones died of mesothelioma. From the 1930s until 1990, BNSF Railroad carried asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from the mine to the railyard in downtown Libby. During each 4.5-mile trip from Vermiculite Mountain, clouds of toxic asbestos dust flew off of the train, contaminating the air and soil in and around Libby.
The most serious contamination occurred at the BNSF Railyard, where railcars filled with asbestos-contaminated vermiculite stopped for a day or two before continuing their journeys to other locations that would receive the toxic product. Children played in the piles of vermiculite left behind. Every time the wind blew, the toxic dust would blow into nearby residences, businesses, and recreational areas, including Legion Field and the swimming pool. No one in Libby was safe. Our clients’ loved ones lived near the BNSF Railyard.
We Proved that BNSF Railroad Is Liable for Asbestos-Related Illnesses in Libby
During the trial, we proved the following:
- BNSF Railroad knew the vermiculite it hauled from Vermiculite Mountain was contaminated with asbestos.
- BNSF Railroad knew asbestos was a toxic substance that causes deadly diseases in humans.
- BNSF Railroad created an abnormally dangerous condition in Libby.
- Our clients’ loved ones were diagnosed with mesothelioma and subsequently died of the disease as a result of their exposure to the asbestos BNSF Railroad spread throughout the community.
The landmark verdict is important because this is the first case to be tried against BNSF Railroad over community asbestos exposure. Our clients’ loved ones had never worked for the mine or the railroad. Their sole source of asbestos exposure occurred through the community. The verdict opens the door for other victims of asbestos exposure to hold BNSF Railroad accountable, and we will continue to take cases to trial for as long as BNSF Railroad refuses to take responsibility.
What Our Clients Say
We regularly receive unsolicited client feedback from our satisfied mesothelioma clients, such as the following:
My contact at Lanier, Elizabeth Jatzlau, has been very helpful in sorting out my father’s mesothelioma case. Though my father lost his battle with the disease, Lanier made sure our family won what we were due from the asbestos-using companies that shortened his life.
– Ariel S.
The Lanier Law firm has been such a blessing for our family. My mother passed away from mesothelioma. The many settlements my father received allowed him to live comfortably until he passed away at 95. The Lanier law firm was very professional and always answered our questions promptly. I am very grateful for all of their guidance. I would recommend using their services if one of your loved ones is in this same situation.
– Nancy K.
My mother, my two sisters, and myself have benefitted, and continue to benefit, greatly from Lanier Law Firm’s tenacious quest to seek justice from negligent entities responsible for my father’s illness and untimely death from mesothelioma.
– Mike M.
We were immediately greeted with kindness and help. My father was treated with great dignity, honesty, and compassion. Because of his illness, we weren’t able to travel, but that was no problem because they came to us. Quickly. I have never been made to feel like a bother or nuisance when I call with questions. I am always treated with the same kindness and respect that my father received. Lanier Law Firm has gone above and beyond to research every company that had a hand in this horrible cancer! They are making sure that the ones who caused his illness and, ultimately, his death have had to pay for their crimes. There aren’t enough stars to rate this law firm! I highly recommend them to anyone who is going through what we’ve had to suffer! If you are apprehensive and have questions, like I did, just give them a call. You will be glad that you did!
– Kristy B.
Our Featured Montana Mesothelioma Attorneys
Mark Lanier
Mark Lanier is our founder and one of the most accomplished civil trial lawyers in the United States. He is known for his passion, creativity, and fearless advocacy for individuals against large corporations.
Sam Taylor
Sam Taylor is the managing attorney of the asbestos litigation section of our law firm. He has over 35 years of civil litigation experience and an outstanding record of success in mesothelioma cases.
Mesothelioma in Montana
Montana is in the top ten states for mesothelioma diagnosis and death rates. From 2016 to 2020, 82 people in Montana were diagnosed with mesothelioma, and 66 died—a rate of 0.9 for every 100,000 people.
Montana Industries and Occupations that
Exposed Workers to Asbestos
Montana is a beautiful state with abundant natural resources, including minerals, fertile land, forests, and open spaces. Not surprisingly, the largest industries in Montana include the following:
- Mining
- Timber
- Construction
- Energy production
- Agriculture
- Railroads
All these industries sprung up while asbestos was commonly used in construction, machinery, electrical wiring, and automotive brakes.
The asbestos industry continued manufacturing and marketing products that contained asbestos long after it knew asbestos caused deadly diseases. As a result, workers and their families experienced significant asbestos exposure for decades while asbestos producers profited.
Libby Vermiculite
The Libby vermiculite mine was the world’s largest supplier of vermiculite. At its peak, it provided 80 percent of the world’s vermiculite. However, that vermiculite was heavily contaminated with asbestos. The material created dust that covered workers, equipment, and the trains that transported it to town.
Thousands of Libby residents developed mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses, and many have died from asbestos exposure caused by BNSF trains parked at their downtown railyard. Yet the effects of Libby asbestos extend throughout the state.
Coal Mines
The Powder River Basin southeast of Billings is home to most of Montana’s coal industry. Coal miners may be exposed to asbestos through older buildings at the mine sites, heat insulation, protective clothing, hydraulic equipment, heavy machinery, electrical wiring, and pipe insulation.
According to the Mine Safety and Health Administration, as many as 15 percent of coal mines may be contaminated with asbestos.
Railroads
The railroad industry is important in Montana due to the extensive miles of rural space between natural resources and communities. Approximately 3,300 miles of railroad tracks remain in active use throughout the state. BNSF Railways owns the largest amount of these tracks, followed by Montana Rail Link and numerous short lines.
National passenger train operator Amtrak was founded in 1971 and has offered a route traversing the Big Sky state since then. Amtrak and other Montana railways were active while asbestos was in popular use, and the material was extensively used on railroads and trains in brakes, engines, rail ties, and insulation.
Cargo trains also hauled products that contained asbestos, resulting in residual asbestos sometimes being left behind. The EPA cleaned up asbestos along 42 miles of BNSF’s railways as part of the Libby asbestos cleanup program. Railroad workers in the following occupations in Montana experienced asbestos exposure:
- Engineers
- Railroad mechanics
- Brakemen
- Yardmasters
- Locomotive electricians
The Timber Industry
When BNSF rail cars spilled asbestos dust throughout the countryside while hauling Libby vermiculite, the dust made its way into tree bark in the forests. Workers in the timber industry unknowingly disturbed this asbestos while cutting down the trees and removing the bark. When asbestos is disturbed, it becomes airborne, allowing workers to inhale it.
Timber workers also experienced asbestos exposure through hydraulic equipment, vehicle brakes, thermal insulation, and power equipment. Occupations in the timber industry with a history of asbestos exposure include the following:
- Loggers
- Material handlers
- Logging equipment operators
- Logging vehicle mechanics
Power Plants
Montana power plant workers may be exposed to significant levels of asbestos on the job. Power plants generate high heat in numerous applications, and asbestos provides fire-resistance and insulating properties, resulting in its liberal use in power plants.
Asbestos was used in machinery, pipes, boilers, turbines, electrical wiring, and virtually every building component, from the ceilings to the floors.
Construction
Asbestos was highly valued in the building industry from the 1930s until the late 1980s for its insulating properties and ability to prevent fires. It also strengthened and improved paint, joint compounds, adhesives, concrete, and similar materials. It was widely used in roofing tiles, roof shingles, flooring, walls, ceilings, water pipes, pipe insulation, and more. Construction workers experienced heavy exposure while installing or using these products.
Although asbestos is no longer used in building construction, most of these buildings are still standing. Thus, construction workers are still at risk of asbestos exposure during renovations and demolitions. Construction occupations with a history of heavy asbestos exposure include the following:
- Bricklayers
- Building inspectors
- Carpenters
- Demolition workers
- Drywall installers
- Electricians
- Flooring installers
- Insulation workers
Agriculture
Agriculture is one of the oldest occupations in the state, and it remains Montana’s number one industry. Many farmers still use older buildings and equipment constructed during the mid to late 1900s when asbestos was still widely used.
They may experience asbestos exposure while making equipment repairs, cutting into or puncturing walls, or performing daily duties if asbestos is already disturbed. In some areas, such as the area near Libby, the soil where they work daily may be contaminated with asbestos.
Compensation for Asbestos Exposure in Montana
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be eligible to recover damages for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and more. Our knowledgeable Montana mesothelioma attorneys can pursue these damages through a mesothelioma lawsuit, an asbestos trust fund claim, or both.
We can also help you pursue a wrongful death lawsuit in the tragic event that your loved one died of mesothelioma.
When you file a mesothelioma lawsuit for yourself or your lost loved one, you may qualify for punitive damages. In Montana, you can recover punitive damages of up to $10 million or three percent of the defendant’s net worth, whichever is less, for your mesothelioma claim. Punitive damages are available when the defendant engaged in fraud or malice.
We have a large repository of company documents for nearly every asbestos defendant, which will allow us to prove when a company engaged in a fraudulent coverup of the presence or dangers of asbestos.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Mesothelioma Claim?
The mesothelioma statute of limitations in Montana is three years after your diagnosis. However, you shouldn’t wait to file a Montana mesothelioma claim. Investigating an asbestos-exposure case requires significant time and must be completed before you file your case. If you miss the deadline, you will lose your right to pursue compensation for mesothelioma forever.
Montana Asbestos Regulations
The Department of Environmental Quality, or DEQ, regulates the handling of asbestos materials in Montana in cooperation with federal regulatory agencies. Due to the high risk of exposure to asbestos in older buildings, the DEQ requires all contractors to obtain an asbestos inspection by a state-certified inspector before performing any renovation or demolition of a commercial structure, regardless of its age.
If the asbestos inspector finds more than 10 square feet, three linear feet, or three cubic feet of asbestos in the area to be renovated or demolished, the project is designated an asbestos project. This designation requires the owner to hire a state-certified asbestos contractor to remove the asbestos before beginning the renovation or demolition.
While these requirements do not apply to residences, the DEQ encourages homeowners to take similar steps when considering renovations or demolitions on their own properties. You can find licensed inspectors and asbestos abatement contractors on the DEQ website.
Asbestos disposal is only permitted at state-approved Class II or Class IV landfills.
Legal Help for a Mesothelioma Diagnosis in Montana
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you shouldn’t have to bear the financial cost alone. The companies that exposed you to asbestos knowingly exposed you or your loved one to a harmful substance so they could enrich themselves. Don’t let them get away with it.
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