01. South Carolina Law Firms
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in South Carolina
Mesothelioma law firms can help eligible South Carolinians file lawsuits. Their lawyers have experience building successful cases against asbestos companies. Many South Carolina mesothelioma lawsuits have resulted in compensation. Lawyers at these firms can explain lawsuit eligibility and other available options.
The following law firms can help people living in South Carolina seek compensation:
Mesothelioma lawyers work to make the entire litigation process as easy as possible for clients. Experienced attorneys at asbestos law firms often travel to clients. They manage all the details of cases, including filing.
These law firms have successfully represented asbestos victims for years. Their lawyers are knowledgeable about asbestos laws and have access to many resources for building cases. They know how to pursue the most favorable financial outcomes.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Filing Lawsuits in South Carolina
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in South Carolina
Those diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses may be eligible to file lawsuits. Family members of loved ones who have passed away from these diseases may also be eligible. As of 2017, nearly 4,000 people in South Carolina passed away from asbestos-related diseases.
Mesothelioma accounts for hundreds of asbestos illnesses and deaths in South Carolina. Between 1999 and 2019, around 889 residents were diagnosed with mesothelioma. From 1999 to 2020, there were about 743 South Carolina mesothelioma deaths.
Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones have legal rights. By filing lawsuits, they may hold responsible parties liable for their wrongdoings. Mesothelioma lawyers can explain which options clients can pursue.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in South Carolina?
Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones may be able to file lawsuits in South Carolina. Qualifying criteria for these lawsuits include diagnosis of an asbestos exposure illness. People at risk for exposure in South Carolina include homeowners and workers.
Many mesothelioma diagnoses in South Carolina stem from occupational asbestos exposure. Workers may experience this at asbestos jobsites or when handling asbestos products. Notable sources of asbestos exposure in South Carolina include:
- Military sites: Before the 1980s, the military commonly used asbestos in airplanes, ships, barracks and other buildings. Many veterans faced asbestos exposure risks through these and other sources. South Carolina military exposure sites include Charleston Naval Base, among others.
- Textile plants: Many asbestos textile manufacturing workers experienced high levels of asbestos exposure. One 1997 study found elevated rates of asbestos-related illnesses among Charleston, South Carolina, textile workers compared to the rest of the population.
Residents of these South Carolina cities and towns have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against asbestos companies:
- Aiken, SC
- Anderson, SC
- Beaufort, SC
- Belton, SC
- Bluffton, SC
- Campobello, SC
- Central, SC
- Charleston, SC
- Columbia, SC
- Conway, SC
- Florence, SC
- Fort Mill, SC
- Gaffney, SC
- Great Falls, SC
- Greenville, SC
- Greenwood, SC
- Greer, SC
- Hilton Head, SC
- Johnsonville, SC
- Little River, SC
- Longs, SC
- Maudlin, SC
- Mount Pleasant, SC
- Murrells Inlet, SC
- Myrtle Beach, SC
- North Myrtle Beach, SC
- Parksville, SC
- Pawleys Island, SC
- Rock Hill, SC
- Saint Helena Island, SC
- Simpsonville, SC
- Summerton, SC
- Summerville, SC
- Sumter, SC
- Surfside Beach, SC
- Wagener, SC
- West Columbia, SC
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in South Carolina
South Carolina has various laws that apply to the asbestos litigation process. These laws specify the mesothelioma lawsuit deadline for filing within specific time frames. Asbestos lawyers understand how these laws will impact cases and can explain them to clients.
Asbestos victims may also be able to seek compensation from bankruptcy trust funds. Asbestos companies set up these trust funds to compensate current and future victims. Mesothelioma lawyers can help asbestos victims understand all their options for compensation.
Filing VA Claims in South Carolina
Veteran asbestos exposure occurred at military sites throughout South Carolina. Known exposure sites include Fort Jackson and Parris Island Marine Base. Shipyard asbestos use also led to frequent exposures, including at Carolina Shipping Company and Charleston Naval Base. In 2021, more than 350,000 veterans were living in South Carolina. They may have been exposed to asbestos at these or many other sites.
Veterans have benefits available to them through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits include compensation for asbestos-related illnesses. Mesothelioma lawyers can help veterans access the assistance they are entitled to for their service.
03. South Carolina Settlements & Verdicts
Mesothelioma Settlements in South Carolina
Many people have filed mesothelioma lawsuits in South Carolina. Successful lawsuits may result in compensation from mesothelioma settlements or verdicts. Mesothelioma compensation can help cover medical bills, loss of wages and other expenses.
Settlements are private agreements between parties to end a lawsuit in exchange for compensation. The average mesothelioma settlement is about $1 million – $1.4 million. But some South Carolina settlements have exceeded this.
Examples of settlements for South Carolina mesothelioma lawsuits include:
- $5.4 million for a 72-year-old Navy veteran and plant worker
- $4.8 million for a 73-year-old Army veteran and millwright
- $3.8 million for a 66-year-old mechanical engineer and business owner
- $3.3 million for a 67-year-old Navy veteran and automotive mechanic
- $3 million for a 70-year-old Navy veteran and steel worker
- $2.2 million for an 81-year-old Navy veteran and at-home mechanic
- $2.1 million for a 74-year-old shipyard rigger and construction worker
- $1.8 million for a 77-year-old steel worker and painter (General Motors)
- $1.7 million for a 68-year-old Navy and Air Force veteran
Mesothelioma Verdicts in South Carolina
Juries and judges grant verdicts at the end of trials. A verdict award compensates a victim for expenses related to an asbestos illness. A verdict may also include additional money given to a victim to punish a company for excessive wrongdoing. This type of compensation is called punitive damages. South Carolina has had various notable mesothelioma verdicts, including:
- A $29 million verdict in 2023 was awarded to a pleural mesothelioma patient. The lawsuit alleged she unknowingly used asbestos-contaminated talc products for years. A jury found the talc supplier (Whittaker, Clark & Daniels) responsible for her exposure and related diagnosis.
- A $14 million verdict in 2015 was awarded to a mesothelioma patient’s family. The patient worked as a maintenance and repair worker at Hystron Fibers Inc. For years, he experienced asbestos exposure while working at the plant in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable South Carolina mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in South Carolina
South Carolina Asbestos Laws & Regulations
South Carolina has several laws that relate to asbestos management. Two state bodies oversee the enforcement of state and federal asbestos laws:
- The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
- The South Carolina Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
Various sections of South Carolina code set guidelines for asbestos projects. These guidelines involve asbestos inspections, abatement training and contractor licensing. They also outline how to safely handle, store and dispose of asbestos. There may be penalties for failure to follow these guidelines.
South Carolina Laws Affecting Asbestos Litigation
Other South Carolina laws establish rules for asbestos cases. One such law is the Asbestos and Silica Claims Procedure Act of 2006. The law covers different aspects of asbestos litigation, including trial scheduling and filing requirements.
This law establishes medical requirements for asbestos-related diseases when filing claims. It also establishes a “two disease” rule for asbestos cases. This means that a lawsuit arising from a non-malignant asbestos disease does not prevent a person from filing another lawsuit if they later develop an asbestos cancer.
The 2006 law also creates a mechanism for expediting trials for mesothelioma patients. Courts are allowed to speed up the litigation process for asbestos victims at their discretion.
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers are knowledgeable about South Carolina asbestos laws. They work to ensure their clients’ cases follow all relevant regulations.
Find Mesothelioma Doctors, Lawyers and Asbestos Exposure Sites Near You
