Wisconsin Mesothelioma Lawyer
Legally Reviewed By: Darron E. Berquist
Managing Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- April 10, 2025
Legally Reviewed By: Darron Berquist
Managing Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- April 10, 2025
Wisconsin has one of the highest mesothelioma rates in the nation, with one in every 100,000 residents diagnosed as of 2021. Between 1999 and 2020, 1,739 Wisconsinites were diagnosed with this aggressive cancer, which only has one known cause—asbestos exposure. Industries such as construction, manufacturing, and extraction have historically placed workers at the greatest risk of occupational exposure to asbestos fibers.
The Lanier Law Firm’s experienced Wisconsin mesothelioma lawyers are committed to helping asbestos exposure victims and their families seek justice. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, our attorneys can pursue a mesothelioma claim for you and fight for the compensation you deserve.
Why Choose The Lanier Law Firm?
At the Lanier Law Firm, we focus on results. With a proven track record of securing major verdicts and settlements for mesothelioma victims, we are known for taking on large corporations and asbestos manufacturers—and winning. Unlike firms that settle quickly, we’re ready to take your case to trial to fight for the compensation you deserve.
For over 30 years, we’ve provided strong, ethical legal representation with a commitment to maximizing compensation. From the start, we offer personalized attention and handle every aspect of your claim so you can focus on your health and family. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, trust a mesothelioma law firm with the experience and determination to hold corporations accountable.
Mesothelioma Settlements in Wisconsin
- $7 million in settlements for a career mechanic and truck driver with pleural mesothelioma
- $4.9 million for the family of a career plumber and pipefitter exposed to asbestos on the job
- $4.4 million in pretrial settlements for a carpenter diagnosed with mesothelioma
- $2.3 million in settlements for an electrician who developed mesothelioma after working with and around asbestos at a naval shipyard
Client Testimonials
Every mesothelioma case we handle is personal to us. With a proven track record of success nationwide, our dedicated team has the experience and resources to fight for you after a mesothelioma diagnosis. But don’t just take our word for it—hear from our clients.
Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred in Wisconsin
Many workers across Wisconsin were exposed to asbestos at job sites throughout the state, resulting in devastating health consequences.
Ashland County
- Ashland Light, Power, and Street Railway Company
Brown County (Green Bay Area)
- Badger Paper Company
- Badger Paper Mills
- Charmin Paper Co.
- City Lumber & Supply
- Crestline Company
- Foremost Dairies
- Forsberg Paper
- Fort Howard Paper Company
- Georgia Pacific
- Green Bay Gas and Electric Light Company
- Green Bay Packaging, Incorporated
- Hoberg Paper Mills, Incorporated
- Northern Petro Chemical
- Valley Iron Works
- Wesley Steel
Chippewa County
- Cornell Wood Products Company
Dane County (Madison Area)
- Baker Laboratories
- Industrial Towel & Uniform, Incorporated
- James Manufacturing Company
- Kaiser Building
- Madison Gas and Electric
- Oscar Mayer & Co.
Dodge County
- Aunt Nellie’s Foods
La Crosse
- Heileman Brewing Company
Marathon County (Wausau Area)
- Falls Paper & Power Company
- Mosinee Paper Mills
- Wausau Paper Mills
Marinette County
- Marinette Paper Company
Manitowoc County
- Aluminum Refining
- Brillion Iron Works
Outagamie County (Appleton Area)
- Alton Box Board Company
- Appleton Paper Mill
- Combined Locks Paper Company
- Oconto Falls Paper Co.
- Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company
- St. Regis Paper Company
- Thilmany Pulp and Paper Company
Racine County
- Aluminium Company of America (ALCOA)
- Belle City Malleable Iron
- Belle City Street Railway Company
- Fred Rueping Leather Company
- S.C. Johnson and Son, Incorporated
Rock County (Beloit, Janesville Area)
- Baker Manufacturing Company
- Beebe Manufacturing Company
- Beloit Iron Works
- Fairbanks Morse & Company
- Highway Trailer Industries, Incorporated
Rusk County
- Weyerhauser Co.
Shanawo
- Hardwood Products Corporation
Sheboygan County
- Acme Die Casting Co.
- Reedsburg Foods
Waukesha County
- Waukesha Foundry
Milwaukee County
- A. Trostel
- A.C. & S
- Ajax Rubber Company, Incorporated
- Allis Chalmers
- Allied Smelting
- American Motors
- AO Smith
- A.P. Green Fire Brick Company of Wisconsin
- Armstrong Contracting & Supply
- Armstrong Cork Company
- Atlantic Refining Company
- Badge Brass
- Badger Brass & Aluminum
- Barclay Foundry
- Bartelt Asbestos & Cork Co.
- Bausch Manufacturing
- Bendix Corporation
- Borden Food Company
- Briggs & Stratton
- Building Service Industrial Sales
- Bucyrus Erie Company
- California Packing Corporation
- Carbon Engineering
- Carbonite Metal
- Carnation Company
- Chain Belt Company
- Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul, and Pacific Railroad Company
- Eaton Yale
- E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company
- E.R. Wagner Manufacturing Company
- Evinrude Motors
- Federal Malleable Company
- Gettelman Brewing
- Gisholt Machine Company
- Goodman Division of Calumet & Helga, Incorporated
- Grede Foundries
- Hotpoint Division
- Industrial Plant
- International Harvester Company
- James Foundry Corporation
- Joseph Schlitz Brewing Co.
- Kirach Foundry
- Kraft Foods
- Ladish Company
- Land and River Improvement Company
- Milwaukee Electric Ry & Light
- Milwaukee Electric Tool
- Milwaukee Solvay Coke
- Motor Castings Company
- Mobil Oil Company
- Normington Laundry
- Oak Creek Powerhouse
- Owens Illinois
- Swift & Co.
Unit Crane & Shovel - Vilter Manufacturing Corporation
- Washington Power & Light
Wood County
- AP Green Fire Brick Company
- Consolidated Paper
- Nekoosa Edwards Paper Co.
Statewide
- Babcock & Wilcox Company
- Badger Ordnance Works
- Consolidated Water & Paper Company
- Dairyland Power Cooperative
- General Motors Corporation
- Kimberly-Clark Corporation
- Owens Corning Fiberglas Corporation
- Packaging Corp. of America
- Proctor & Gamble
- Scott Paper Company
- U.S. Steel Corporation
- Wisconsin Acoustic & Fireproof
- Wisconsin Electric Power
- Wisconsin Power & Light
- Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
- YMCA
Winnebago County (Oshkosh, Neenah, Menasha Area)
- Bergstrom Paper
- Fox River Valley Lumber Company
- Kimberly & Clark Company
- Speed Queen
- Western Printing
Superfund Sites
The Mid-State Disposal Inc. Landfill site in Marathon County is a designated Superfund site due to its contamination with hazardous materials. The landfill operated from 1970 to 1979, collecting various waste products, including paper mill sludge, asbestos dust, solvents, pesticides, and metals. The facility’s operations contaminated groundwater with hazardous chemicals. Cleanup efforts have been completed, and ongoing operation, maintenance, and monitoring continue to manage the site’s environmental impact.
Learn More About
Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
- Are you eligible?
- What is the average settlement?
- How long will it take?
Why Should You Trust the Lanier Law Firm to Handle your Mesothelioma Case?
Occupations at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure remains a significant concern for individuals working in various industries across Wisconsin. Below are some occupations that have historically placed workers at high risk for developing asbestos-related diseases:
The automotive manufacturing industry has been prominent in Wisconsin for many years. Workers in this industry could be exposed to asbestos-containing materials, putting them at risk for mesothelioma and other respiratory diseases. For example, Four Wheel Drive Corp. in Clintonville was known to have used asbestos in its operations.
Metalworking is also a vital industry in Wisconsin. Due to its high heat resistance, asbestos was frequently used in metal manufacturing. Workers in this field who performed tasks such as welding, cutting, and machining metal parts were often exposed to harmful asbestos dust, increasing their likelihood of developing asbestos-related illnesses.
Wisconsin is home to several large paper mills, such as Kimberly-Clark, Georgia-Pacific, Consolidated Papers in Wisconsin Rapids, International Paper Company in Fond Du Lac, and Green Bay Paper and Pulp Company. Asbestos was used in drying felts and adhesives in these mills, exposing workers to asbestos fibers. Paper mill workers involved in the manufacturing and maintenance processes were at an elevated risk of asbestos exposure, leading to potential long-term health risks.
Power companies extensively used asbestos to insulate machinery, piping, and wiring from heat and electricity. Thus, workers at power plants operated by Madison Gas & Electric Company, Milwaukee Central Power Station, and Eastern Wisconsin Electric Company were likely exposed to asbestos on the job.
Wisconsin’s shipbuilding industry has a long history. Companies like Fincantieri Bay Shipbuilding in Sturgeon Bay and Marinette Marine used asbestos extensively in ship construction, especially for insulation and fireproofing. Workers at shipyards, particularly during World War II and the 1950s-60s, are at high risk for developing asbestos-related diseases. Fraser Shipyards, established in 1889, also exposed workers to asbestos. In 2016, OSHA cited it for failing to protect employees, resulting in significant penalties.
Options for Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Compensation in Wisconsin
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure in Wisconsin, there are several compensation options available to help cover medical expenses and provide financial support for your family.
The primary way for victims to seek mesothelioma compensation is by filing a lawsuit against the companies responsible for their asbestos exposure. A successful claim can help cover medical costs, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Most mesothelioma lawsuits are settled out of court, allowing victims to receive compensation without the need for a lengthy trial.
Many asbestos companies filed for bankruptcy to shield themselves from liability, and the courts required them to establish asbestos trust funds to compensate victims. These trust funds still hold billions of dollars and offer a faster and simpler way to receive financial support. Notable trust funds available for Wisconsin residents include:
- A.C. & S Asbestos Trust Fund
- A.P. Green Refractories Asbestos Trust Fund
- Owens Corning Asbestos Trust Fund
- Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Trust Fund
- Armstrong Cork Asbestos Trust Fund
Veterans exposed to asbestos during military service may qualify for VA disability benefits. Mesothelioma is rated at 100 percent disabling, entitling veterans to free medical care and over $3,800 in monthly compensation.
Asbestos Laws and Regulations in Wisconsin
Wisconsin Statutes § 893.54 states that personal injury lawsuits for mesothelioma must be filed within three years of diagnosis, and wrongful death lawsuits must be filed within three years of death.
However, the state also has a statute of repose bars claims brought more than seven years after “substantial completion of an improvement to real property.” Thus, those exposed to asbestos on construction jobs have a shorter timeframe to file suit.
Meanwhile, under the state’s “two-disease rule,” individuals diagnosed with a non-malignant asbestos-related condition can take legal action and file another action later if they are eventually diagnosed with mesothelioma.
If mesothelioma results from workplace exposure, Wisconsin patients can only pursue workers’ compensation claims against their employer. However, they may also file lawsuits against the companies that supplied asbestos-containing products to their employer.
Several agencies enforce asbestos laws and regulations in Wisconsin, including the state’s Department of Health Services, which manages certification and training for asbestos activities, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, which regulates waste disposal. The Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services enforces state safety standards. Meanwhile, the Environmental Protection Agency and Occupational Safety and Health Administration enforce federal regulations.
Asbestos-related work requires DHS certification, and companies must notify DHS before beginning removal. Asbestos waste must be disposed of at licensed sites approved by the DNR.
Contact The Lanier Law Firm
An asbestos-related mesothelioma diagnosis can be taxing for you and your family, but our compassionate, dedicated Wisconsin mesothelioma lawyers will help fight for the compensation and justice you deserve.
Contact us online to schedule a free case evaluation.
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