Mesothelioma Attorneys in Missouri

How to File an Asbestos Legal Claim in Missouri

Many workers and residents in Missouri have died from asbestos-related diseases because of preventable exposure. A Missouri mesothelioma attorney can help workers and family members secure rightful compensation.

Assembly plant workers, construction workers and chemical industry employees are at the highest risk of asbestos exposure in Missouri. Those currently diagnosed with mesothelioma, or surviving family members of someone who passed away from mesothelioma, may be eligible to file an mesothelioma lawsuit in Missouri.

In 2020, St. Louis, Missouri, ranked fifth in the nation for asbestos claims, with nearly 200 lawsuits filed that year. About 150 of those claims were for asbestos-related lung cancer.

Those exposed to asbestos in Missouri have rights. Navigating the legal process and deadlines, such as statutes of limitations, can be daunting. Working with a Missouri asbestos attorney is the best route to understand the options for filing a mesothelioma claim.

Asbestos Exposure Risks in Missouri

Workers and residents throughout Missouri faced asbestos risks from several factories and manufacturing plants that used asbestos in their products. The automobile industry has a distinguished past in St. Louis, Missouri. However, its history of using asbestos in brakes, gaskets and other parts has led to asbestos-related illnesses in many workers.

The chemical, mining and manufacturing industries are also vital for Missouri’s economic growth. Unfortunately, these fields are closely associated with occupational asbestos exposure.

The GAF Corporation-owned Ruberoid Corporation operated a manufacturing plant in St. Louis that used asbestos to make roofing products. Also in St. Louis was the CertainTeed plant that manufactured asbestos-cement pipe and used at least two types of asbestos.

Elsewhere in Missouri, residents may encounter asbestos that forms naturally along the St. Francois Mountain Range and the nearby Iron County. Asbestos exposure is also possible in older residential and municipal buildings throughout Missouri, including asbestos reported at the Jackson County Courthouse and Hickory Hills School in Springfield.

State Departments and Missouri Asbestos Laws

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources sets guidelines and regulations for asbestos in Missouri with oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency. This department works with lawmakers to control the inspection, disposal and reporting of asbestos during abatement projects.

Mesothelioma Law Firms in Missouri

The best Missouri mesothelioma lawyers work for national asbestos law firms with experience in all types of claims. Mesothelioma patients and their families in Missouri have access to these dedicated firms that can expertly navigate the legal process.

In addition to serving clients in Missouri, national mesothelioma law firms can travel anywhere in the nation. Their accessibility also grants them the most experience with asbestos cases in every state.

Missouri asbestos lawyers at these firms have decades of experience and the resources to fight large corporations. They also know when it’s better to file a lawsuit outside your state of residence to improve your financial outcome.

Missouri Court Asbestos Verdict Awards

Asbestos exposure victims in Missouri have won millions of dollars from court verdicts and mesothelioma settlements. Because asbestos causes cancers such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, Missouri asbestos attorneys help those affected secure rightful compensation.

In 2018, a Missouri jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.69 billion to 22 women who claimed asbestos in the company’s talc products caused them to develop ovarian cancer. However, in 2019, J&J filed a motion to overturn the verdict. A Missouri judge denied the motion, which was upheld in 2021.

In 2015, the widow of a Missouri Navy veteran filed a lawsuit against Crane Co., which produced gaskets that contained asbestos, causing her husband and many other veterans to die of mesothelioma. A Missouri judge awarded her $11.5 million.

Another Missouri court awarded $5.1 million to the family of a woman diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2004. She experienced secondary asbestos exposure from her father, who worked with asbestos-containing machine parts. Secondary exposure occurs when asbestos fibers are transferred via hair, skin or clothes to another person.

Missouri Asbestos Litigation and Regulation

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources follows national laws and guidelines for asbestos inspections, removal and disposal that the Environmental Protection Agency has set. These standards protect Missouri residents and workers from unnecessary asbestos exposure and disease risk. 

Missouri also follows the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. This outlines requirements for emission control related to asbestos destruction and broadcasting information during abatement projects.  

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources also collaborates with the St. Louis County Department of Public Health and The Kansas City, Missouri Health Department Air Quality Program. Together, these departments set the benchmark for asbestos safety throughout Missouri. 

Recommended Reading