Connecticut Mesothelioma Lawyers

How To Find and Choose a Connecticut Mesothelioma Lawyer

When choosing a Connecticut mesothelioma lawyer, ask them about their records of success with cases similar to yours. Working with a lawyer who has experience in mesothelioma cases is important because state courts require strong proof of asbestos exposure, timelines and employer or product liability.

Your Connecticut asbestos attorney should understand the effects of asbestos exposure in the state and complexities of mesothelioma. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2018 to 2022 the mesothelioma incidence rate was 0.70 per 100,000 people and 171 new diagnoses were reported.

Top law firms have secured some significant victories for families and mesothelioma survivors in Connecticut, including favorable settlements and large trial verdicts. National law firms dedicated to asbestos and mesothelioma cases often have an advantage in asbestos litigation because of their extensive experience and resources. Of the nearly 4,000 asbestos lawsuits filed in the U.S. each year, a few top firms handle the vast majority.

Weitz & Luxenberg

• $8.5 Billion Recovered
• Serves Clients Nationwide
• Rated #1 by U.S. News & World Report for 2022

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Simmons Hanly Conroy

• $8.9 Billion Recovered
• Serves Clients Nationwide
• Rated a Tier 1 Law Firm in 2022 by U.S. News & World Report

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Meirowitz & Wasserberg

• $200 Million Recovered
• Serves Clients Nationwide
• Rated in the Top 10 Asbestos and Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers

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Compensation From Asbestos Filings in Connecticut

Asbestos lawsuits in Connecticut reflect its history as a shipping hub and home to many naval yards. Millions in mesothelioma compensation have been secured. 

Notable Connecticut Settlements and Verdicts

• $20 million: John Peckham was exposed to asbestos while removing factory window panes, coatings and sealants for several months in the 1960s. After he passed away, his wife filed a wrongful death suit against Vanderbilt Minerals in Norwalk and DAP Inc. of Baltimore. The jury awarded her this amount after the 6-week trial in 2023.
• $15 million: Evan Plotkin developed mesothelioma after nearly 50 years of exposure to Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder. In 2024, a Connecticut jury found J&J guilty and ordered the company to pay this trial verdict, along with punitive damages.
• $15 million: After Nicolas Barone died of mesothelioma in 2023 from exposure to contaminated talc, his spouse sued International Talc Company and Vanderbilt Minerals. The trial only lasted 4 weeks and the jury awarded this compensation amount plus punitive damages.
• $2.4 million: Hannibal Saldibar worked as a tile setter for 30 years, using mortar that contained asbestos. He developed mesothelioma in 2010 and died 9 months later. His family filed a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit and a Connecticut Superior Court jury awarded these damages in 2012.

Settlements in mesothelioma cases often range from $1 million to $2 million. Mesothelioma verdicts in Connecticut are often higher. The size of a verdict, settlement or trust fund payment depends on the circumstances of the case. 

How Does an Asbestos Lawyer Handle Your Claim in Connecticut?

Renowned lawyers will provide you with personal support throughout the legal process.. You can expect attorneys to make this process as easy and comfortable for you and your family as possible.

Steps to a Mesothelioma Claim

1. Personal visit: A mesothelioma lawyer will visit you personally for an initial consultation. This provides an opportunity for you to get to know them and their communication style, getting a sense of how comfortable you’ll feel working with them.
2. Next steps: After reviewing the details of your case, the attorney will assess eligibility, the type of compensation to pursue such as a personal injury lawsuit or asbestos trust fund claim.
3. Evidence gathering: Your lawyer will begin gathering evidence to build a strong case before filing and continue gathering evidence once the claim is filed. Documents that prove your exposure like employment records and diagnosis like medical records are key.
4. Filing: Your attorney will manage the filing process, ensuring your claim is filed within Connecticut’s 3-year statute of limitations for personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
5. Discovery: Evidence gathering happens throughout your case as your lawyer builds support for your claim. Discovery is the formal pre-trial period where your lawyer and the defendant’s lawyer must exchange evidence through legal procedures like depositions.
6. Settlement or trial: Some companies choose to settle quickly. Others opt to go to court. Your lawyer will be prepared to negotiate and litigate in order to secure compensation for you. 

Sometimes people file their legal claims in jurisdictions outside of the state where they live. This can happen because of factors such as asbestos exposure that happened elsewhere or a defendant is headquartered in another state. A national law firm will be able to assess this necessity and manage your case in the right jurisdiction.

Unsure About Your Legal Options?

Over $30 billion has been set aside to support those diagnosed with mesothelioma. We’ll help you explore your options and introduce you to the nation’s leading mesothelioma law firms.

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Asbestos Exposure in Connecticut

Asbestos exposure in Connecticut most often happens at work. Employees at aircraft manufacturers, steel mills, chemical plants and power plants faced a higher risk. Factories often used asbestos insulation for machinery. It was also heavily used in construction.

Sites in Connecticut Known for Asbestos Exposure

• Berlin Town Hall
• Bethel Church
• Bradley Air National Guard Base
• Connecticut Asbestos Mine
• Hersey Metals Company
• New Haven Coast Guard
• New London Naval Submarine Base
• Quinebaug Mill
• Sikorsky Aircraft
• Simpkins Industries Paper Mill

People in Connecticut also have a risk of environmental exposure. A former anthophyllite mine in Litchfield County exposed workers and nearby residents to airborne asbestos fibers. Asbestos fibers in schools, historic buildings and older homes pose a danger in the state.

Raymark Industries 

From 1919 to 1989, Raymark Industries in Stratford manufactured automotive parts that contained asbestos, such as brakes and clutch components. The company’s operations exposed plant workers and nearby residents in danger. The entire area became an EPA Superfund Site in the 1990s.

Raymark dumped asbestos, lead and other toxic chemicals on the land around its factory and on surrounding properties, including at least 46 homes. When the U.S. government sued Raymark over cleanup costs estimated at $200 million, the company tried to sue the contaminated homeowners to avoid paying. The EPA and Connecticut state government worked together to finalize a 1998 settlement that protected homeowners from liability. Under federal Superfund law, the symbolic $1 payment to each government created an official settlement that legally blocked Raymark’s attempt to shift blame.

Occupations & Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure in Connecticut 

Asbestos exposure at work was common in many commercial and industrial locations in Connecticut. Cities with high exposure rates include Bridgeport, Granby, Hartford, New Haven and New London.

Some veterans were exposed to the toxic material at bases and Navy shipyards in Connecticut. Insulation and parts containing asbestos were common on ships and submarines during WWII and until the 1980s.

Higher-Risk Jobs in Connecticut 

• Asbestos mining
• Chemical production
• Farming
• Manufacturing
• Metalworks
• Paper milling
• Power generation
• Shipbuilding
• Textile milling
• Military service

Companies in Connecticut can also be held responsible for secondary asbestos exposure. This type of exposure happens when a worker unintentionally brings asbestos fibers home on their clothes, hair, skin or shoes from the jobsite, exposing their loved ones. The state requires companies to take reasonable steps to prevent exposure when the risks are well-known in the industry.

How Your Lawyer Supports You in Connecticut’s Changing Asbestos Litigation

Many laws in Connecticut are friendly to mesothelioma patients and their families. But the state also sets a high bar for all types of proof, which makes the process more complicated. These complexities highlight the importance of working with an experienced lawyer with a solid track record in the state.

Connecticut Legislative Changes

• Debra Bray, et al., v. Ingersoll Rand Co., et al.: The court ruled that in Connecticut, it’s not enough to show you worked at a location that used parts containing asbestos. Plaintiffs must prove they were exposed to a specific product repeatedly.
• Herman v. Am. Honda Motor Co.: The court established that when filing a lawsuit against foreign corporations, plaintiffs must prove Connecticut has jurisdiction over the defendant. This requires showing that the company sold its products or operated in Connecticut.
• Sec. 52-240b: Asbestos personal injury cases in Connecticut allow for punitive damages. The judge decides the size of the punishment based on reckless, malicious, purposely hidden or profit-seeking actions.
• Section 52-594: Connecticut laws add 1 year to the mesothelioma statute of limitations if a patient dies before starting a personal injury lawsuit. This gives the spouse or estate executor time to file a wrongful death lawsuit.

Talc-related lawsuits are also shaping Connecticut’s litigation landscape. In 2024, a Connecticut jury awarded Evan Plotkin $15 million after he developed mesothelioma from decades of using Johnson & Johnson’s talc-based baby powder. A judge later increased the award to $25 million, adding $10 million in punitive damages. 

Plotkin’s case demonstrated asbestos exposure from cosmetic talc products can lead to mesothelioma, expanding the types of exposure claims recognized in Connecticut courts. Johnson & Johnson has announced plans to appeal the verdict.