Find Experienced Mesothelioma & Asbestos Law Firms in Texas

Written by Joe Lahav, Esquire | Legally Reviewed By Samuel Meirowitz | Edited By Walter Pacheco | Last Update: July 3, 2024

Filing a Claim in Texas

Texas has enacted a number of regulations aimed at managing and reducing the number of pending asbestos cases in the state. The most comprehensive reform came in 2005 when the state adopted measures such as modifying the medical criteria required to file a claim.

The state legislature created a multidistrict litigation procedure that designated specific courts to handle factually similar asbestos cases in 2003. And a law was enacted in 1997 to curb the filing of nonresident asbestos claims. Texas remains, however, one of the nation’s busiest states for asbestos litigation.

A mesothelioma lawyer can explain how these laws could impact your case, if it’s in your best interest to file in another state and what type of claim to file. Personal injury lawsuits, wrongful death lawsuits and asbestos trust fund claims can help you cover medical bills and compensate for lost income after a mesothelioma diagnosis.

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Asbestos Exposure in Texas

Texas has six naturally occurring asbestos deposits, but the vast majority of exposure in the state took place in occupational settings. Certain industries, especially ones involving high temperatures or dangerous chemicals, are known for using asbestos products.

Texas Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure

Shipbuilding
Oil refining
Power generation
Manufacturing
Chemical processing
Metal works
Insulation installation
Construction

Veterans are at particularly high risk of asbestos exposure. The U.S. armed forces used many types of asbestos products in every branch of the military.

States such as Texas may not realize the impact that their efforts to slow down asbestos case filings may have on veterans who file approximately 30% of mesothelioma lawsuits. Veterans may file a VA claim for benefits, and they have access to VA health care in Texas.

Learn More About Asbestos Exposure in Texas

Mesothelioma Law Firms Practicing in Texas

Texas residents with mesothelioma should consider a nationwide mesothelioma law firm because of their extensive experience and reach. Firms that practice nationwide know the best state in which to file your claim. Their experience and reach can’t be matched.

Meirowitz & Wasserberg

2925 Richmond Ave. Suite 1275
Houston, TX 77098

$50 Million Recovered
Serves Clients Nationwide
Rated in the Top 10 Asbestos and Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers

Nemeroff Law

Douglas Plaza 8226 Douglas Avenue Suite 740
Dallas, TX 75225

$500 Million Recovered
Serves Clients Nationwide
Rated a “Hall of Fame” law firm by The Legal 500

Galiher DeRobertis & Waxman

3141 Hood Street Suite 700
Dallas, TX 75219

$600 Million Recovered
Serves Clients Nationwide
30+ Years Experience

Weitz & Luxenberg

700 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

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

Simmons Hanly Conroy

1 Court St
Alton, IL 62002

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

Cooney-Conway

120 N Lasalle Street Suite 3000
Chicago, IL 60602

$7 Billion Recovered
Serves Clients Nationwide
Rated a National Tier 1 Firm by U.S. News & World Report in 2022

Texas is among the states where the vast majority of mesothelioma plaintiffs file out-of-state, according to a KCIC industry report. That’s because Texas courts tend to favor asbestos defendants more often than mesothelioma plaintiffs.

Two nationwide asbestos law firms have office locations in or near Texas:

Cooney & Conway has offices in San Antonio, Houston and Dallas.
Nemeroff Law has offices in Houston and Dallas.

One of the benefits of hiring a nationwide firm is that they regularly travel throughout the country to meet with clients, and likely will not charge you for their travel expenses to meet with you.

Major Texas cities with Asbestos Law Firms:

Austin
Dallas
El Paso
Fort Worth
Houston
San Antonio
Arlington
Corpus Christi
Plano
Laredo

Connect with a Mesothelioma Law Firm

Asbestos Verdicts Awarded to Texas Workers

In 2022, Weitz & Luxenburg secured $43 million for a mesothelioma patient after a jury found Algoma Hardwoods, Inc. responsible for asbestos exposure.

$11 Million in 2013: A Dallas jury awarded $11 million to a painter who developed mesothelioma after working with asbestos products during the construction of malls, skyscrapers and homes.
$8.4 Million in 2012: A Dallas County jury awarded $8.4 million to the estate of a Dow Chemical refinery worker who developed mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos-containing pipes.
$9 Million in 2011: A Dallas jury awarded $9 million to the widow of a refinery worker who developed mesothelioma after working with asbestos insulation as a contract employee for Dow Chemical.
$11.6 Million in 2002: A Texas jury awarded $11.6 million to a man who developed mesothelioma after working with Georgia-Pacific drywall joint compound during his employment at Knox Glass Company.
$130 Million in 2001: A jury in Orange, Texas, awarded $130 million to five plaintiffs who developed asbestos-related diseases after exposure to asbestos products made by NARCO and Dresser. All five plaintiffs were exposed during their employment at a U.S. Pipe plant in Birmingham, Alabama.

In addition to jury verdict, nationwide asbestos firms are known to get asbestos settlements worth more than $1 million dollars for their clients. They can also secure six-figure payouts from asbestos trust funds.

Proposed Settlement Against J&J in Texas

Johnson & Johnson in June 2024 proposed a $700 million settlement in 42 U.S. states, including Texas, and Washington, D.C. The settlement would end an investigation into the company’s alleged efforts to mislead the public about the marketing of its baby powder and other talc-based products claiming the products were safe.

If approved, the settlement will resolve accusations. J&J admits no wrongdoing and denies violating the law.

Johnson & Johnson faces more than 60,000 lawsuits with claims that its talc-based products cause ovarian cancer and mesothelioma as a result of asbestos contamination.

Texas Asbestos Laws and Regulations

Texas has a mix of federal and state laws that regulate asbestos.

Regulations Governing Asbestos in Texas

Texas Occupations Code Section 1954.001: Summarizes the Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act.

State Departments Overseeing Texas’ Asbestos Laws

Texas Department of State Health Services — Asbestos Program: Oversees maintenance, renovation and demolition of buildings containing asbestos.

Texas Laws Affecting Asbestos Lawsuits

Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Section 16.003(a): Defines the statute of limitations for personal injury lawsuits in Texas.
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Section 16.003(b): Defines the statute of limitations for wrongful death lawsuits in Texas.
Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code Section 41.001: Defines Texas’ negligence laws.

If your family is facing a mesothelioma diagnosis, it’s in your best interest to work with a top mesothelioma attorney who understands the complexities of state laws and regulations and who can secure the maximum value of your case.

Asbestos Litigation Trends in Texas

Texas courts have created the following procedures to manage asbestos litigation within the state.

Case Scheduling: Texas authorizes its trial courts to give scheduling preference to hearings and trials involving claimants with malignant mesothelioma or other asbestos-related cancers.
Joinder of Claimants: Some U.S. courts have tried to move cases along faster by joining dissimilar claims, such as mesothelioma claims and claims by people with no impairments, for trial. Texas requires all parties to consent to the joining of multiple claims for a single trial.
Medical Criteria: Texas law now limits claims by plaintiffs who do not yet have physical or functional impairments. The law requires claimants to satisfy detailed minimum medical criteria in order to proceed with their lawsuits.
Successor Liability: Texas law also limits the liability of a company that buys or merges with — and assumes the asbestos liabilities of — another company.

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