Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyer: Get the Justice You Deserve
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure in Louisiana, you deserve experienced legal representation to fight for the compensation you are entitled to. Mesothelioma is a devastating disease caused by exposure to asbestos, often through negligence by employers or manufacturers. Our dedicated Louisiana mesothelioma lawyers are here to help you navigate the legal process, secure financial relief, and hold responsible parties accountable.
Why You Need a Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyer
Mesothelioma lawsuits are highly complex, involving specialized knowledge of asbestos exposure, medical evidence, and Louisiana's legal system. Here's why hiring a local, experienced mesothelioma lawyer is crucial:
- Proven Expertise: Our lawyers have successfully handled numerous mesothelioma and asbestos-related cases, achieving significant compensation for clients well over $100,000,000 million dollars.
- Knowledge of Louisiana Laws: Each state has unique laws governing asbestos claims. We understand Louisiana's specific statutes of limitations and liability rules. Louisiana has unique asbestos laws that require a knowledgeable Louisiana mesothelioma lawyer to navigate the complexities of its laws and applications.
- Maximizing Compensation: From medical bills to lost wages and pain and suffering, we fight to ensure you and your family receive the full compensation you deserve.
Who is at Risk of Asbestos Exposure in Louisiana?
Louisiana's industrial history has left many residents and workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Common sources include:
- Oil Refineries: Louisiana's oil and gas industry heavily relied on asbestos for insulation in refineries and pipelines.
- Shipyards: Shipbuilding and repairs, especially in New Orleans, Thibodeaux and Baton Rouge, often involved asbestos-containing materials.
- Construction Sites: Asbestos was widely used in roofing, insulation, and cement in older buildings.
- Power Plants: Many power plants used asbestos to insulate boilers and turbines.
- Schools and Public Buildings: Older structures throughout Louisiana may still contain asbestos in insulation, tiles, and walls.
- Chemical Plants: Many chemical plants up and down the Mississippi river from New Orleans to Baton Rouge contain substantial amounts of asbestos.
What Compensation Can You Receive?
If you've been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be entitled to financial compensation to cover:
- Medical Expenses: Treatments, hospital stays, medications, and surgeries.
- Lost Wages: Compensation for income lost due to illness and inability to work.
- Pain and Suffering: Emotional distress and reduced quality of life. Our Louisiana Mesothelioma lawyers have seen firsthand the devastation that is caused by mesothelioma.
- Wrongful Death: For families who have lost a loved one to mesothelioma, damages can include funeral costs and loss of companionship.
Why Choose Us as Your Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyers?
- Decades of Experience: We've helped numerous clients in Louisiana secure multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts.
- Compassionate Representation: We understand the emotional and financial toll mesothelioma takes on families. We're here to support you every step of the way.
- No Upfront Costs: We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don't pay unless we win your case.
- Access to Resources: We work with medical and industry experts to build a strong case for maximum compensation.
The Mesothelioma Lawsuit Process in Louisiana
- Free Case Evaluation: Contact us to discuss your case and determine eligibility for a lawsuit.
- Investigation: We'll gather evidence, including work history, medical records, and expert opinions.
- Filing the Claim: We'll file your mesothelioma lawsuit in Louisiana, adhering to state-specific deadlines.
- Negotiation or Trial: Many cases are resolved through settlements, but we're prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.
Louisiana Asbestos Statistics
- Louisiana ranks among the top 10 states in the U.S. for asbestos-related deaths.
- Thousands of workers in Louisiana industries such as shipbuilding, oil refining, and construction have been exposed to asbestos over the decades.
- Despite regulations, asbestos exposure risks remain in older buildings and industrial sites.
FAQs About Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Louisiana
1. How long do I have to file a mesothelioma lawsuit in Louisiana?
Louisiana has recently moved to a two-year statute of limitations, but this only occurred last fall and for many people recently diagnosed the one year statute of limitations is still in effect for filing personal injury or wrongful death claims related to asbestos exposure. Acting quickly is crucial to preserving your legal rights.
2. What if I don't know where I was exposed to asbestos?
Our experienced attorneys will investigate your work history and other potential sources of exposure to build a strong case. Often times clients who develop mesothelioma in Louisiana are unsure of where or how they might have been exposed to asbestos as these exposures often occurred decades ago. Unfortunately in the Westbank of New Orleans, including Marrero, Bridge City, Algiers and Harvey many asbestos plants spewed asbestos into the neighborhood where individuals lived, causing one of the highest incidents of mesothelioma in the world. If you or a loved one lived in Marrero, Bridge City, Algiers or Harvey and developed mesothelioma we are here to help and have navigated these complicated cases numerous times.
3. Can family members file a lawsuit for a deceased loved one?
Yes, Louisiana allows families to file wrongful death lawsuits on behalf of a loved one who has passed away from mesothelioma.
Contact a Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyer Today
Time is critical in mesothelioma cases, and the sooner you act, the better your chances of securing compensation. Our experienced Louisiana mesothelioma lawyers are here to fight for justice and help you focus on what matters most: your health and your family.
Call us today at 504-569-5904 or fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation. Let us help you get the justice you deserve.
Louisiana Mesothelioma and Asbestos Statistics
Anyone who lives, works, or visits Louisiana may be at risk of asbestos exposure at their workplace, in public buildings, or even in their homes.
- From 1999-2015, 769 Louisiana residents died from mesothelioma
- Louisiana has a significantly above average mesothelioma death rate of about 10 people per million annually (Source: CDC)
- There are no known asbestos deposits that occur in Louisiana (Source: USGS)
- Mesothelioma incidence is high throughout Louisiana, with the highest rates occurring in the central and northern parishes (Source: Journal of the American Medical Association)
Asbestos Use in Louisiana Work Environments
Located on the Gulf Coast, much of Louisiana's culture and livelihood is rooted in the state's proximity to the ocean and the endpoint of the country's largest river.
Oil Industry:
Louisiana has a long history with offshore oil drilling and oil refineries, both of which have historically contained a lot of asbestos to prevent and contain any possible fires that might break out. Some of the biggest oil companies in the world have maintained facilities in Louisiana, including BP Amoco, Citgo, Shell Oil, Exxon, Tenneco, Murphy, ConocoPhillips, Entergy, and Texaco, each of which has contributed to asbestos exposure for their employees.
Shipbuilding:
Louisiana is naturally a great location for the construction of shipyards, and throughout U.S. history the state has certainly seen its fair share of boat construction and repair. Perhaps the most notable shipbuilding companies in the state is Avondale Shipyards, which was home to multiple locations throughout Louisiana, including, Westwego, Bayou Black, Algiers, and New Orleans. Other Louisiana ship manufacturers that have been known to expose their workers to asbestos include Bollinger Shipyard, Higgins Industries, Equitable Shipyard, Trinity Industries and Todd Shipyard.
Cement Plants:
In 1987, a research study on cement plants in Louisiana showed elevated rates of cancer among workers in those facilities. In particular, some of these cement companies used amphibole asbestos, while others used “white” chrysotile asbestos as their primary ingredient. Most manufacturers of asbestos cement switched to the latter after 1960, but since both types of asbestos can lead to the development of mesothelioma, this switch still led to many employees being exposed to the deadly substance.
Sugar:
Sugar has been a staple of Louisiana for at least 200 years, but sadly the production of this important crop has also led to asbestos exposure for many individuals, given the amount of the deadly material used in harvesting it and producing sugar products. Companies like the Domino Sugar plant in Chalmette, Colonial Sugar in Gramercy, and Imperial Sugar, and Alma Plantation all have verified asbestos exposure cases.
Power Plants:
Louisiana power plants have contained lots of asbestos to insulate against the heat and electricity created by power generators. Entergy and their affiliates, The Central Louisiana Electric Company, Southwestern Gas and Electric Company, and Louisiana Electric Co-Op are just a few of the power companies that have exposed their workers to the dangers of asbestos during their decades of operation.
SHIPYARD SITES
Asbestos Shipyards in Louisiana
Given its premier location as a coastal state on the Gulf of Mexico, Louisiana has been home to many shipyards over the centuries where shipbuilders and workers have been exposed to asbestos.
Avondale Shipyards
The home shipyard is located in Avondale, LA, with enormous wharves, launch ways, and even a 900-foot floating dry dock/launch platform where the company has built and repaired a variety of ocean-going vessels since it was first opened in 1938. An innovator in ship design, Avondale was one of the first companies to successfully develop a modular design technique to rival Japanese shipbuilders, and throughout the mid-20th century, the company built a broad range of both commercial and naval ships in its home facility as well as locations near Algiers, Bayou Black, New Orleans, Westwego and Avondale. Unfortunately, during this period many (if not all) ships used asbestos in heavy amounts to stop shipboard fires from spreading, exposing many shipwrights, insulators, tackers, pipefitters, welders, laborers and repair workers to the dangerous material.
Bollinger Shipyard
This family-owned shipyard started with a single facility at Lockport in 1946, eventually growing to encompass eight sites across Southern Louisiana. These shipbuilding sites focus mostly on mid-size and inland boats, although it has also built some larger vessels, such as the U.S. Army Barge Derrick. While these smaller boats might contain less asbestos than larger ships, there is no safe level of exposure, and many workers who built and repaired the vessels are at a high risk of developing mesothelioma as a result. The Bollinger family also owns a number of related businesses which may have exposed workers to asbestos, including the Bollinger Electric Shop (New Orleans), Bollinger Fourchon (Port Fourchon), and Bollinger Marine Fabricators (Amelia).
Higgins Industries
The company's biggest claim to fame is its development of the “Higgins boat,” an amphibious vessel that was used heavily on D-Day to help Allied forces land in Normandy, France. Higgins built many other naval boats, including PT boats, an airborne lifeboat, and the A-1 lifeboat, among others. The shipbuilder's involvement in the war effort of World War II jumpstarted it from being a small producer of draft boats designed for the shallow marshes of Louisiana to becoming a major employer with more than 20,000 employees by 1943 when the U.S. ramped up its involvement in the worldwide conflict. Sadly, most of those employees were exposed to asbestos during the course of their work, as the material was heavily used in wartime ship insulation and components.
Delta Shipbuilding Co.
Delta Shipbuilding Company was one of the original nine emergency yards, built in 1941 with 6 ways, with $13mm from the USMC. It employed thousands of people during World War II. Its 6 ways were increased to 8 in the third wave of shipbuilding expansion. The shipyard site is on the west bank of the Industrial Canal in New Orleans, extending from Gentilly Road to Florida Avenue. During the corporation's most rapid period of growth, it was responsible for the asbestos exposure of potentially hundreds of thousands of employees.
EXPOSURE IN CITIES
Westbank of New Orleans Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos contamination threatened the health of residents in neighborhoods throughout the Westbank area. To remove the threat, the EPA investigated more than 2,000 locations suspected of containing asbestos. The project cost about $17.5 million. Environmental Protection Agency Westbank Cleanup
EPA's community outreach and education about the contamination generated outstanding public response. The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality assisted with informing the public and gaining access to several properties.
Asbestos containing material was found at 1,378 sites in Bridge City, Westwego, Marrero, Harvey, Gretna and Algiers. Cleanup and restoration has been completed at 1,267 sites.
During the 1940s, 50's and ‘60s, the Johns-Manville plant in Marrero, La., disposed of some production waste by providing asbestos containing material to area residents, who used the material to construct driveways and sidewalks at their homes, as well as for fill material.
Over the years, ordinary activities such as walking, driving, lawn maintenance and natural weathering caused the material to deteriorate. Deterioration can cause ACM to turn into powder, allowing asbestos fibers to become airborne.
A number of schools, daycare facilities and even a drive in movie theatre in Gretna, Marrero and Harvey were identified as containing asbestos. Hundreds of Westbank residents have contracted mesothelioma, asbestos related lung cancer, and asbestosis due to this.
For more information on filing a claim or accessing resources, contact an experienced Louisiana mesothelioma attorney today. Time is critical, as statutes of limitations may apply to your case. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact Boling Law Firm right away. They can help you get compensated for your medical expenses, lost wages and other damages associated with this deadly disease. Call us at 504-569-5904