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Asbestos & Mesothelioma Lawsuits FAQ

Asbestos FAQ
What is asbestos?
Must asbestos be removed and who should remove it?
What diseases are caused by asbestos exposure?
What is asbestosis?
What is mesothelioma?
Who is at risk for asbestos-related disease?
What should I do if I think I have been exposed to asbestos fibers?
What is the government doing about asbestos use?

Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuits FAQ
Do I have an asbestos-related lawsuit?
How do I file a lawsuit for my asbestos-related disease?
Who is responsible for asbestos exposure?
If I file an asbestos claim, will it be an individual or class action lawsuit?
How long do I wait before my case comes to trial?
What will an asbestos lawsuit cost me?

Asbestos FAQ

What is asbestos?

Asbestos is a highly fibrous mineral that is found nearly worldwide. The most common forms of asbestos are Chrysotile (white), Amosite (brown) and Crocidolite (blue). Its heat-resistant and fire-retardant properties, along with its binding qualities, versitality and cost-effectiveness, made it popular in insulation, drywall tape, gaskets, brake shoes, certain household products, numerous other products.

Must asbestos be removed and who should remove it?

If properly managed, asbestos can remain in its original place. The danger occurs when asbestos is not properly removed or the materials become damaged. Microscopic asbestos particles can then become airborne and the fibers inhaled into the respiratory system, which can cause serious health problems. Only a licensed asbestos removal contractor should remove asbestos materials. Typically, when asbestos is in the process of being removed, it is referred to as "asbestos abatement" or simply "abatement".

What diseases are caused by asbestos exposure?

Once asbestos fibers accumulate in the lungs, several diseases may occur. Asbestos disease falls into two basic categories:

• Cancerous: Some diseases are malignant (or cancerous), such as mesothelioma and lung cancer.
• Non-Cancerous: Others are benign (non-malignant or non-cancerous), such as asbestosis, pleural plaques, diffuse pleural fibrosis, and benign pleural effusions. Asbestosis and mesothelioma often exist without any symptoms, and are only detected when x-rays and CT scans reveal scarring and thickening of lung tissue. Both diseases are life-threatening and incurable. According to the National Cancer Institute, it can take 10 to 40 years or more for symptoms of asbestos disease to appear.

What is asbestosis?

Asbestosis develops over time as asbestos fibers begin to cause inflammation in the lungs, which leads to the development of scar tissue (fibrosis). The most common symptom of asbestosis is shortness of breath or a feeling of breathlessness. Asbestosis disease causes scarring of the parenchymal tissue of the lung; it decreases the lung's ability to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood through a reduction in total lung capacity. It is a slowly progressive disease. The latency period (i.e. the time between initial exposure and the onset of the disease) of 15 to 30 years.

What is mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a cancer in which cells in the lining of the chest or abdominal cavities divide without control or order, invading and damaging nearby tissues and organs. Cancer cells can also spread from their original site to other parts of the body. Mesothelioma is almost always fatal. Victims typically die within one or two years of diagnosis. It has a long latency period of 30 to 40 years.

Who is at risk for asbestos-related disease?

Those most likely to be exposed to asbestos are people who work in building and maintenance trades, and, to a lesser extent, those involved in asbestos removal (where risks exist unless rigorous precautions are taken). Because asbestos was so widely used until the 1970s in so many applications, it can still be found in products and buildings. Workers who renovate buildings with asbestos can inhale the fibers, and their families can be exposed to fibers on their work clothing. Residents in high-risk areas are also at risk. A number of sites in the US, such as Portland Harbor, Libby Mine and Hanford Mine, have been designated as Superfund sites because the surrounding environment contains high levels of dangerous contaminants. A Superfund site puts area residents at risk for disease as well as loss of property value due to environmental damage.

What should I do if I think I have been exposed to asbestos fibers?

First and foremost, contact your doctor and demand a lung function test and high resolution CT scan, which can detect changes in the lungs caused by asbestos. Unfortunately these changes usually are not detectable until years after exposure. A chest x-ray can detect early signs of certain lung diseases, but it cannot show asbestos fibers.

If you are concerned about asbestos in your home, call a licensed asbestos removal company to test your air quality. A licensed asbestos removal company can also advise you on whether it is best to have the asbestos professionally removed or to leave it in place untouched. Because the risk of asbestos exposure is highest when the asbestos particles are disturbed or airborne, it is sometimes best not to remove them. Call an experienced asbestos attorney: the laws regarding asbestos exposure and mesothelioma claims are complex and differ state-to-state.

What is the government doing about asbestos use?

Although the US has never officially banned asbestos, there are a number of regulations are in place.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has three standards to protect workers from exposure to asbestos in the workplace: one regulates construction work, including alteration, repair, renovation, and demolition of structures containing asbestos; another covers asbestos exposure during work in shipyards; and the third applies to asbestos exposure in general industry, such as exposure during brake and clutch repair, custodial work, and manufacture of asbestos-containing products. If OSHA doesn't apply in your workplace, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has standards set in "The Worker Protection Rule," which covers medical examinations, air monitoring and reporting, protective equipment, work practices, and record keeping. Many state and local agencies also have more stringent standards than those required by the federal government.

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Asbestos Mesothelioma Lawsuits FAQ

Do I have an asbestos-related lawsuit?

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have an asbestos-related lawsuit. If you have been diagnosed with lung cancer or asbestosis and you work or used to work around asbestos, your disease was probably caused by exposure to asbestos.

A few states also accept asbestos lawsuits filed by people who reasonably expect to develop asbestos-related illnesses.

How do I file a lawsuit for my asbestos-related disease?

First, obtain medical proof of your illness and then look for an experienced lawyer. Attorneys experienced in mesothelioma and asbestos litigation will first determine who was responsible for the asbestos exposure at different places and at different times by obtaining relevant information about your work history, medical reports, co-worker interviews, etc. Keep in mind that there is a statute of limitations that varies from state to state. Your attorney can advise you, so act sooner than later. A family member should get in touch with a lawyer if they suspect cancer fatality was related to asbestos exposure. The attorney will then contact a pathologist to review a biopsy of the decedent’s lung tissue in order to make a diagnosis that the death was essentially caused by asbestos exposure.

Without the lung tissue or cytology (which is fluid drawn from the lungs), it is very difficult to make a post-mortem diagnosis of mesothelioma. If someone is diagnosed with lung cancer, however, a B Reader x-ray makes it possible to determine whether a person had underlying asbestosis. And typically if you have lung cancer combined with underlying asbestosis, that is compensable.

Who is responsible for asbestos exposure?

Although the dangers of asbestos did not become widely known until the 1980s, many companies and manufacturers knew about these dangers and risks, yet neglected to warn their workers and supplied them with little or no protection.

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will typically go after 20-30 manufactures. For example, drywall joint compound contains asbestos, so an asbestos lawyer may go after the manufacturer if the victim had been exposed to asbestos in that manner. Many different exposures can contribute to asbestosis. Those targeted in asbestos lawsuits can include:

• Asbestos manufacturers
• Asbestos installers
• Employers, including contractors whose workers used asbestos products, the general contractor (the company or person in charge of construction and safety at a building site), and/or the owner(s) of the sites where exposure occurred
• Landlords
• Leasing agents
• Owners of building that contained asbestos
• Railroads
• Ship owners

If I file an asbestos claim, will it be an individual or class action lawsuit?

Your mesothelioma case will be filed as your own individual legal claim. Some of the companies that produced asbestos-containing products have been granted protection by the courts against individual lawsuits, and your claims against those companies will be subject to the rules these courts have developed. Attorneys from our office would represent you in both types of claims. If you or a loved one is a victim of mesothelioma, you are entitled to financial compensation and we can help.


Settling a claim can often be advantageous by allowing compensation sooner, rather than going to a lengthy trial.

How long do I wait before my case comes to trial?

Typically, living mesothelioma victims are able to obtain a trial date within six months of filing their basic information with the court.

What will an asbestos lawsuit cost me?

Mesothelioma lawyers generally work on a contingency fee basis, so you won’t have to pay for the consultation, and if you do decide to file a mesothelioma lawsuit, you won’t have to pay any fees unless you are successful in your claim for compensation. If there is no settlement, you pay nothing.

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