01. Illinois Law Firms
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in Illinois
Illinois residents and workers may be eligible for asbestos disease compensation. Asbestos victims can contact mesothelioma law firms for help with their cases. These firms have mesothelioma lawyers dedicated to helping victims and their families get financial compensation.
The following law firms can help people living in Illinois file their cases:
These lawyers have extensive experience litigating mesothelioma cases against large asbestos companies and holding them responsible for victims’ asbestos exposures. They understand the legal implications of filing in different states. For example, Illinois can be an advantageous state for filing mesothelioma lawsuits. Experienced lawyers can work with victims to help them understand their options and decide where to file a lawsuit.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Filing Lawsuits in Illinois
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Illinois
Thousands of people have filed Illinois mesothelioma lawsuits. Illinois has long been home to many factories, plants and heavy industries that used asbestos. As a result, workers and residents throughout the state have faced asbestos exposure and related diseases.
Asbestos victims may have been exposed to the mineral at home as well as on the job. Exposure to asbestos fibers can lead to serious illnesses like mesothelioma. From 1999 to 2020, Illinois ranked seventh highest in the country for mesothelioma deaths. The state has a higher mesothelioma death rate than the national average.
Illinois also has a high rate of asbestos-related filings. Madison, St. Clair and Cook Counties all consistently have some of the highest numbers of asbestos lawsuits in the country. These include mesothelioma lawsuits and lawsuits for other asbestos diseases like lung cancer.
- Madison County: This was the top filing jurisdiction in the country in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In 2022, asbestos victims filed 964 lawsuits in Madison County.
- St. Clair County: This was the second highest filing jurisdiction in the country in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In 2022, asbestos victims filed 443 lawsuits in St. Clair County.
- Cook County: This was the seventh highest filing jurisdiction in the country in 2021 and 2022. In 2022, asbestos victims filed 106 lawsuits in Cook County.
Many affected workers in Illinois have successfully pursued compensation. This has resulted in billions of dollars paid to asbestos victims throughout the state. Mesothelioma verdict awards and settlements can help victims pay for medical expenses, lost wages and other expenses.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Illinois?
Individuals who have worked or lived in Illinois and have developed asbestos-related diseases may be eligible to file in the state. A patient’s work history, the location of the responsible asbestos company and other factors can make them eligible to file in Illinois. Those who have lost family members to asbestos-related illnesses may also be eligible.
Workers in many industries have risked asbestos exposure in Illinois. For instance, manufacturing workers are among those at risk for developing mesothelioma. Large asbestos companies, like Johns-Manville Corporation, operated manufacturing plants in Illinois. Johns-Manville’s Waukegan, Illinois, facility exposed workers to asbestos starting in 1928. Though it closed in 1998, the site is marked for asbestos cleanup as an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site.
Other prominent industries in Illinois also used asbestos products. Workers in industries such as construction, oil refining and zinc smelting may have been exposed.
Illinois residents in the following towns and cities have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to seek compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos:
- Albion, IL
- Alton, IL
- Antioch, IL
- Arlington Heights, IL
- Aurora, IL
- Bartonville, IL
- Batavia, IL
- Bloomingdale, IL
- Bloomington, IL
- Bolingbrook, IL
- Bourbonnais, IL
- Buffalo Grove, IL
- Burbank, IL
- Champaign, IL
- Chicago, IL
- Country Club Hills, IL
- Cullom, IL
- Dallas City, IL
- Decatur, IL
- Des Plaines, IL
- East Moline, IL
- East Peoria, IL
- East Saint Louis, IL
- Elgin, IL
- Elmwood Park, IL
- Evanston, IL
- Genoa, IL
- German Valley, IL
- Granite City, IL
- Great Lakes, IL
- Hanna City, IL
- Hawthorn Woods, IL
- Highwood, IL
- Hillsdale, IL
- Homer Glen, IL
- Huntley, IL
- Johnsburg, IL
- Joliet, IL
- Keyesport, IL
- Lake Villa, IL
- Libertyville, IL
- Lombard, IL
- Loves Park, IL
- Lyons, IL
- Manteno, IL
- Mattoon, IL
- Morton, IL
- Murphysboro, IL
- Murrayville, IL
- Naperville, IL
- New Lenox, IL
- Norridge, IL
- Oak Lawn, IL
- O’Fallon, IL
- Oglesby, IL
- Orland Park, IL
- Ottawa, IL
- Park Ridge, IL
- Peoria, IL
- Plainfield, IL
- Rockford, IL
- Salem, IL
- Sauget, IL
- Sherman, IL
- South Holland, IL
- Sparland, IL
- Stockton, IL
- Sugar Grove, IL
- Troy, IL
- Villa Park, IL
- Wadsworth, IL
- Washington, IL
- Waukegan, IL
- West Dundee, IL
- Wheaton, IL
- Woodridge, IL
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Illinois
Individuals can contact Illinois mesothelioma lawyers for help. An experienced lawyer can explain filing options and help gather needed documentation. After filing, lawyers can handle every aspect of litigating the case on behalf of their clients.
It’s important that cases are filed on time. Each state has its own filing deadlines set by laws called statutes of limitations. These deadlines apply to personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits related to asbestos exposure.
Individuals who miss these deadlines may still have other options for compensation. For example, they may be able to file a lawsuit in a different state. They may also be eligible to file claims with asbestos trust funds.
Filing VA Claims in Illinois
Illinois has a large veteran population. Veterans often experienced asbestos exposure from military equipment and in barracks. As a result of this exposure, many veterans with asbestos diseases choose to pursue compensation, such as lawsuits.
Veterans affected by asbestos may also be eligible for compensation from other sources. For example, veterans with mesothelioma may be eligible for around $3,000 in monthly support from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). VA benefits can help veterans cover their medical expenses and lost wages due to disability.
03. Illinois Settlements & Verdicts
Mesothelioma Settlements in Illinois
Many Illinois mesothelioma patients and others impacted by asbestos illnesses have received compensation from settlements. Compensation may be awarded to help cover medical bills, lost income and the pain and suffering of victims and their families.
Mesothelioma settlements are agreed upon outside of court. These deals may be reached before, during or after trial.
We have listed below a few settlements compensating victims of asbestos exposure in Illinois:
- $5 million for a 57-year-old Navy veteran and mechanic
- $4.2 million for a 58-year-old Army veteran and industrial engineer
- $3.5 million for a 71-year-old Army veteran and maintenance mechanic
- $3.4 million for a 79-year-old HVAC worker and sheet metal worker
- $3.1 million for a 60-year-old electrician and maintenance foreman
- $3.1 million for an 81-year-old pipefitter, construction worker and Naval Reservist
- $2.9 million for a 64-year-old machinist (Borg-Warner Automotive Inc.)
- $2.8 million for a 65-year-old maintenance worker and powerhouse worker (Commonwealth Edison)
- $2.7 million for a 74-year-old Navy veteran and pipefitter
- $2.6 million for a 79-year-old engineer (United States Steel) and laborer
Mesothelioma Verdicts in Illinois
Mesothelioma lawsuits may be settled out of court or decided in court by judges and juries. Illinois courts have awarded victims large asbestos verdicts.
For example, a husband and wife filed a mesothelioma lawsuit against insulation company Armstrong Contracting and Supply (ACandS). The husband was exposed to asbestos insulation while working as a forklift driver and later developed mesothelioma.
The jury found ACandS liable and awarded $16 million to the couple. The award consisted of:
- $8 million to the husband, for lost wages and medical expenses
- $7 million in punitive damages for willful misconduct by ACandS
- $1 million to the wife, for losses related to her husband’s diagnosis
Another successful Illinois lawsuit concerned the wife of a deceased union pipefitter who filed a lawsuit against John Crane Inc. Her husband was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma as a result of occupational asbestos exposure. The jury found that his career exposure to John Crane valves using asbestos packing and gaskets led to his illness. The courts ruled in the wife’s favor, eventually awarding his estate $4.88 million.
John Crane attempted to reverse this decision on appeal but was denied.
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Illinois mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in Illinois
Illinois Asbestos Laws & Regulations
In Illinois, asbestos use and abatement are strictly regulated by state code and federal laws. This ensures the safety of workers and residents around asbestos-containing materials that may pose a health risk.
Two state departments are responsible for overseeing and enforcing asbestos regulations:
- Illinois Department of Public Health
- Illinois EPA Asbestos Unit
In addition to state law, the City of Chicago and Cook County have their own regulations in place, providing further guidelines for workers who risk exposure to asbestos.
The Illinois Administrative Code outlines regulations for asbestos removal. The code covers specialized asbestos abatement procedures in schools, commercial buildings, public buildings and multifamily residential properties with more than four units.
Illinois Laws Affecting Asbestos Litigation
Illinois has established specific procedures to manage asbestos litigation. For example, one Illinois statute allows for preferential trial dates. This specialized track, called the “rocket docket,” can allow mesothelioma cases to reach trial more quickly.
A mesothelioma attorney can help individuals understand these and other laws and how they may impact cases.
Asbestos Litigation Trends in Illinois
Illinois has a robust history of asbestos litigation and continues to be a top state to file asbestos cases.
In 2022, Madison County, Illinois, alone made up over 27% of total asbestos filings in the United States. Asbestos filings can refer to cases relating to asbestos lung cancer, mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases.
- Asbestos lung cancer filings: St. Clair County, Illinois, is a top jurisdiction for asbestos lung cancer. These filings have increased in recent years from 27% of all lung cancer filings in 2020 to 34% in 2022.
- Mesothelioma filings: In 2022, 45% of all mesothelioma cases filed in the country were in Madison County.
Illinois is also home to unique litigation trends, including high numbers of people filing out of their state of residency, talc exposure cases and defendants per case.
- Average defendants per case: 2022 data shows St. Clair County had the fourth highest number of average defendants per filing. This refers to the average number of allegedly negligent parties named in a lawsuit. St. Clair’s 2022 average was 96 defendants per filing.
- Non-resident filings: Asbestos victims may be able to file their cases in areas they do not live in. Madison County is a top jurisdiction for non-resident filings. In 2022, 94% of Madison County filings were not filed by Illinois residents.
- Talc-related filings: Madison County is also the nation’s leader in talc-related cases. In 2022, 93 talc cases were filed in Madison County, which was an increase over 2021 talc filings.
Experienced mesothelioma attorneys stay informed about asbestos filing trends. They can help victims file their cases in the most advantageous places to receive the best possible outcome.
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