Idaho Mesothelioma Lawyer

Filing an Asbestos Claim in Idaho

If you have mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, you may be able to work with an Idaho mesothelioma lawyer to file a personal injury lawsuit. You might also qualify to file a claim with an asbestos trust fund.

Families who lost a loved one to mesothelioma may be able to file a wrongful death claim. Your Idaho mesothelioma lawyer can guide you and your family through the legal process and help make sure your claims are filed the right way and on time.

Key Facts About Filing Asbestos Claims in Idaho

1. In Idaho, you must file a personal injury claim within 2 years after receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis. 
2. Surviving family members have 2 years from the date of the loss of their loved one to file a wrongful death claim. 
3. Idaho law sets a $250,000 limit on noneconomic damages like pain, suffering, and emotional stress in asbestos-related cases. 
4. There is no limit on economic damages in Idaho. You can still get full payment for medical bills, lost wages and funeral costs.

An experienced Idaho mesothelioma lawyer can explain the legal process and keep you informed about your case. They’ll look at the details to see if any special rules apply and help you decide what to do next. Your lawyer will handle everything from filing the lawsuit to working out a settlement or going to court, so you can focus on your health.

Why Hire an Idaho Mesothelioma Lawyer After Asbestos Exposure?

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, talk to a knowledgeable Idaho mesothelioma attorney. A lawyer who understands these cases can help you get the compensation you need. It’s important to reach out soon after your diagnosis. 

Idaho has a short deadline for filing mesothelioma claims, so acting fast helps protect your rights. The sooner you and your lawyer file, the sooner you may get help with medical bills, lost wages and other costs.

Idaho Mesothelioma Law Firms

Working with an experienced Idaho law firm can help your case. A local mesothelioma lawyer who understands the courts and knows how juries usually respond can give useful advice on how to handle your claim. 

They may also know about common asbestos job sites in Idaho and which companies caused the exposure. This knowledge can help them collect strong evidence to support your case.

If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, talk to a knowledgeable Idaho mesothelioma attorney. A lawyer who understands these cases can help you get the compensation you need. It’s important to reach out soon after your diagnosis. 

Nationwide Asbestos Law Firms Outside Idaho

Hiring a national mesothelioma lawyer can be a good choice for many people in Idaho. These lawyers have lots of experience and helpful resources like large databases of asbestos companies and job sites.

If you can’t travel, national mesothelioma lawyers will usually come to you at no cost. They often travel far to meet with clients and take depositions. If your asbestos exposure happened outside Idaho, a national law firm can figure out if you should file your case in another state. Nationwide firms can manage your case in another jurisdiction.

Asbestos Compensation in Idaho

In Idaho, many people with mesothelioma have received millions of dollars from settlements and trial verdicts. The amount of your asbestos compensation depends on several things. These include how long and how much you were exposed to asbestos, your age, and how responsible the companies are for your exposure.

Notable Idaho Settlements and Trial Verdicts

• $40.3 million: A jury awarded Nancy Cabibi this verdict in 2019  after she got mesothelioma from using Johnson & Johnson’s talcum powder. Cabibi was diagnosed in 2017 and went through surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy to treat the disease.
• $3.37 million: A former Idaho mechanic won this verdict after developing mesothelioma from asbestos in Ford vehicle parts like brakes and clutches. The jury awarded most of the amount for pain and suffering.

Mesothelioma settlements usually range from $1 million to $2 million. Across the country, the average trial verdict for mesothelioma cases is $20.7 million. Top lawyers have also helped clients get 6-figure payments from asbestos trust funds. An experienced Idaho asbestos lawyer can help you find out which trust funds you can file a claim with.

Idaho Asbestos Laws and Regulations

Both federal legislation and state laws control asbestos in Idaho. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is primarily responsible for regulating asbestos. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality oversees asbestos removal across the state. IDEQ requires asbestos removal companies to have a license and their workers to be certified to follow safety rules.

Idaho Asbestos Laws and Regulations 

• Idaho Code Title 30, Chapter 19: Addresses successor corporation asbestos-related liability.
• IDAPA 58.01.01: Rules for the Control of Air Pollution in Idaho: The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality enforces these rules that regulate air pollution control, including provisions related to asbestos emissions during demolition or renovation activities.
• IDAPA 58.01.05: Rules and Standards for Hazardous Waste: This chapter addresses hazardous waste management, encompassing the disposal of asbestos-containing materials to ensure environmental safety.
• Title 33, Section 33-3305: Appropriates funds for asbestos removal in old state buildings.

IDEQ follows national asbestos rules called the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. Idaho doesn’t give out its own asbestos licenses, but workers must have EPA-approved certifications from other states.

How Are People Exposed to Asbestos in Idaho?

People in Idaho can be exposed to asbestos through environmental exposure, putting them at risk for mesothelioma. Idaho has several natural asbestos sites, including the Kamiah mine, the only one in the state that produced asbestos. Most deposits are in the panhandle, with others in Clearwater and Adams counties. 

Workers could also experience occupational asbestos exposure because Idaho businesses used asbestos in machines, insulation and building materials. People who lived near these businesses could also be at risk of asbestos exposure.

Sites in Idaho Known for Asbestos Exposure

• Boise Cascade Corporation: Employees and users of products the company made were at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos insulated equipment throughout Boise plants. Also, Boise manufactured asbestos products, such as insulating paper, wood products, laminate flooring and boards.
• Fluor Corporation: The company’s subsidiary, Fluor Idaho, LLC is based in Idaho Falls. The company has a significant presence in the state and has been involved in projects throughout the state. The company was sued many times for working on projects that used asbestos materials. Plaintiffs say the company or its subsidiaries didn’t handle asbestos safely, which caused exposure and illnesses like mesothelioma. Fluor has fought these claims in court. Sometimes they won, but they’ve also paid large settlements and verdicts.
• Monsanto Chemical Plant & Idaho Chemical: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency listed the Monsanto Chemical Co.’s Soda Springs Plant as a Superfund site. Like many chemical companies at the time, Monsanto used asbestos in its plants for heat resistance and durability, putting workers at risk of occupational exposure. While the Soda Springs plant is specifically linked to asbestos, Monsanto also operated facilities in Filer, Nampa and Payette in Idaho that likely used asbestos.

• Union Pacific Railroad Company: Similar to other railroad companies, Union Pacific used asbestos in many components of its operations. Many asbestos-related lawsuits have been filed against the company. 
• Western Equipment Company: Also known as the Western States Equipment Company, this job site in Meridian, Idaho, exposed workers to asbestos. In 2011, a former forklift mechanic and equipment salesman sued the company. His job included cleaning and replacing brakes on forklifts, which contained asbestos. The company kept using these drum brakes even though safer options existed.
• Westvaco Mineral Production: The Bingham County company used asbestos-containing materials in its operations. The facility in Pocatello was once the world’s largest elemental phosphorus plant.

People in Idaho have been concerned about asbestos in schools for a long time. In March 2021, workers found asbestos pipe wrapping at Boise High School during an HVAC upgrade. The school moved to online classes during the cleanup to protect students and staff. Most buildings built before 1980 likely have legacy asbestos materials.

Occupations & Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure in Idaho

Many people in Idaho who came into contact with asbestos did so through their occupation. With a booming science industry, chemical plants and technology factories are major employers in Idaho. 

Higher-Risk Jobs in Idaho

• Auto mechanics
• Aviation workers
• Boiler operators
• Carpenters
• Demolition crews
• Electricians
• Factory workers 
• Farmers
• Insulation workers
• Machinists
• Maintenance workers
• Military members
• Miners
• Plumbers
• Roofers
• Welders

In Idaho, companies can be held responsible in court for secondary asbestos exposure. This happens when a worker brings home asbestos dust on their clothes, skin or hair. Family members can breathe in the tiny fibers without knowing it. People exposed this way can also get mesothelioma or other serious asbestos-related diseases.

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