01. Missouri Law Firms
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in Missouri
Mesothelioma law firms can help Missouri asbestos victims receive financial compensation from liable companies. These specialized law firms offer comprehensive legal services to mesothelioma patients and their families.
Lawyers at these firms can explain someone’s eligibility for compensation and support them throughout the entire legal process. Common avenues of compensation include mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos trust fund claims.
The following law firms offer representation to residents and workers in Missouri:
Working with experienced asbestos attorneys can help asbestos victims get the compensation they deserve. For example, they have specialized knowledge of products that have caused asbestos exposure, and the companies who manufactured, used and sold these products. This helps asbestos attorneys identify potential sources of exposure in victims’ individual cases. Patients do not always know when or where exposure may have occurred because of mesothelioma’s long latency period.
The lawyers at these firms can also decide which jurisdiction may provide the most favorable financial outcome for an asbestos case.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Filing Lawsuits in Missouri
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Missouri
Workers and residents in Missouri who develop asbestos diseases like mesothelioma may file lawsuits against asbestos companies responsible for their exposure. Mesothelioma lawsuit filings in Missouri may be high, in part, because of the large presence of industries that expose workers to asbestos, such as oil, gas and construction.
St. Louis, Missouri, has become one of the top jurisdictions for mesothelioma lawsuits. According to data from KCIC industry reports, St. Louis was in the top 10 jurisdictions for mesothelioma filings from 2016 to 2022. It was also in the top 10 jurisdictions for asbestos lung cancer lawsuits, with 97 filings in 2022.
Experienced mesothelioma law firms can help Missouri asbestos exposure victims understand their rights and filing options.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Missouri?
Missouri workers and residents diagnosed with asbestos diseases may be eligible to file personal injury lawsuits. Family members of deceased patients may also be able to file wrongful death lawsuits.
People who lived and worked in Missouri faced asbestos exposure at jobsites throughout the state. A number of prominent asbestos companies had plants in the state. For example, General Aniline and Film, otherwise known as GAF Corporation, had a large plant in Missouri.
The company manufactured construction and roofing materials with asbestos. Those exposed to these products who develop an asbestos disease may be eligible for compensation from the company.
Another company, CertainTeed Corporation, also had a plant in Missouri. CertainTeed Corporation exposed workers to asbestos through its roofing business. The company dumped dangerous asbestos waste on its property, which led to exposure of residents in surrounding areas. CertainTeed Corporation has faced thousands of lawsuits as a result of its negligent asbestos use.
Residents of Missouri living in the following towns and cities have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to seek compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos:
- Bloomfield, MO
- Bolivar, MO
- Bowling Green, MO
- Butler, MO
- Cape Girardeau, MO
- Caruthersville, MO
- Chesterfield, MO
- Deepwater, MO
- Edina, MO
- Fenton, MO
- Greenwood, MO
- Hannibal, MO
- Hermann, MO
- Hornersville, MO
- Jackson, MO
- Joplin, MO
- Kahoka, MO
- Kansas City, MO
- Lee’s Summit, MO
- Marthasville, MO
- Matthews, MO
- Maywood, MO
- Mexico, MO
- Neosho, MO
- New London, MO
- Nixa, MO
- Odessa, MO
- O’Fallon, MO
- Ozark, MO
- Park Hills, MO
- Parkville, MO
- Peculiar, MO
- Pevely, MO
- Puxico, MO
- St. Louis, MO
- Shell Knob, MO
- St. Charles, MO
- Warrensburg, MO
- Waynesville, MO
- Webb City, MO
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Missouri
People considering filing mesothelioma lawsuits in Missouri can speak to experienced mesothelioma lawyers. These lawyers are familiar with asbestos laws and regulations in the state. For example, each state has rules governing how long a person has to file a lawsuit.
These rules, found in laws called statutes of limitations, dictate how long after an incident a person is eligible to file.
People who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma may be able to file lawsuits against product manufacturers and former employers. Family members may be able to file wrongful death lawsuits if their loved ones die from mesothelioma.
Sometimes it may be the best option to file out of state. Asbestos attorneys can determine the most advantageous place to file a lawsuit. Additional options for compensation from other sources may also be available. For instance, some people may be eligible to file asbestos trust fund claims against bankrupt companies.
03. Missouri Settlements & Verdicts
Mesothelioma Settlements in Missouri
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers can help Missouri residents who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma win compensation. Compensation from settlements or verdicts can help victims of asbestos exposure pay medical bills and cover lost wages. Family members of deceased patients can use compensation to pay end-of-life expenses and outstanding medical bills.
Below are a few of the mesothelioma settlements compensating victims of asbestos exposure in Missouri:
- $6 million for a 79-year-old auto mechanic
- $5.7 million for a 42-year-old plant worker with secondary exposure
- $3.4 million for a 63-year-old foundry worker and household worker
- $3.3 million for a 61-year-old construction worker and home renovator
- $2.9 million for an 84-year-old Navy veteran (Naval Base San Diego) and painter
- $2.7 million for a 45-year-old household worker with secondary exposure
- $2.6 million for an 81-year-old Army veteran and power plant worker
- $2.5 million for a 68-year-old Army veteran and laborer
- $2.3 million for a 49-year-old HVAC worker
Mesothelioma Verdicts in Missouri
Courts in Missouri have found multiple asbestos companies liable for their role in causing mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases. These companies used and manufactured asbestos products, exposing workers and residents to the dangerous mineral.
One prominent asbestos verdict in Missouri was related to talcum powder. The case awarded more than $2 billion to 22 women across the United States. These women claim they developed ovarian cancer as a result of exposure to asbestos-contaminated talcum powder products from Johnson & Johnson. In June 2021, the Supreme Court judge rejected Johnson & Johnson’s appeal and upheld the verdict.
Other examples of mesothelioma verdicts in Missouri include:
- $20 million to an auto mechanic: In 2022, a Missouri jury awarded an auto mechanic and his wife $20 million. The company found liable at trial, Ford Motor Company, made asbestos-containing brakes that the mechanic worked with and led to his mesothelioma diagnosis.
- $11.5 million to a Navy machinist’s widow: In 2015, a Missouri jury awarded a ship machinist’s widow $11.5 million in a wrongful death lawsuit. The jury found Crane Company responsible for the machinist’s exposure to asbestos and resulting mesothelioma.
An asbestos victim can decide whether to accept a settlement offer from a company or continue pursuing a trial verdict. Attorneys negotiate settlements for their clients’ approval and argue cases at trial.
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Missouri mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in Missouri
Missouri Asbestos Laws & Regulations
Asbestos regulations in Missouri are handled by the state’s Department of Natural Resources. This department is also in charge of asbestos abatement projects in the state and enforces federal asbestos laws such as the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants.
Missouri regulations detail important requirements regarding asbestos activities, such as:
- Asbestos project notifications
- Asbestos waste disposal
- Emission control procedures
- Inspections
Other local agencies also work with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to enforce local and statewide asbestos requirements.
Asbestos Litigation Trends in Missouri
Missouri is one of a number of states considering asbestos trust transparency laws. These laws usually require asbestos victims to file trust fund claims concurrently with a lawsuit. They also require victims to disclose trust claims to the companies being sued.
Missouri lawmakers have introduced a number of asbestos trust transparency bills since 2016. So far, none have passed into law. Other recent bill proposals in 2021 would impact veterans filing asbestos lawsuits.
In 2013, Ohio became the first state to pass this type of law. Since then, many other states have passed similar laws to force asbestos litigants to file trust claims. These laws have the potential to draw out the lawsuit process. Experienced asbestos attorneys can advocate for timely resolution of litigation on behalf of victims.
Find Mesothelioma Doctors, Lawyers and Asbestos Exposure Sites Near You
