Massachusetts Mesothelioma Lawyers

Filing an Asbestos Claim in Massachusetts 

Those with an asbestos-related diagnosis may be able to file an asbestos lawsuit. Surviving family members may also be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Massachusetts courts have a history of favoring mesothelioma patients when there is evidence of asbestos negligence. 

Massachusetts has a statute of limitations for filing. Other complex laws may also complicate the process. A Massachusetts mesothelioma attorney can help navigate these procedures. They’ll also be able to assess if there are any exceptions to these statutes in your specific case.  

Key Facts About Filing in Massachusetts 

1. People must file a personal injury claim within 3 years after receiving their mesothelioma diagnosis. 
2. Surviving family members have 3 years from the date of the loss of their loved one to file a wrongful death claim. 
3. Massachusetts law states noneconomic damages (such as pain, distress or loss of consortium) for asbestos exposure can’t exceed $500,000. 
4. State law allows cases to be put on an inactive docket if a person’s health status isn’t severe; it becomes active if their condition worsens. 

Your lawyer may also determine you should file your mesothelioma claim in a different state. While you may live in Massachusetts, if your exposure happened in a different state, it may be best to file there. This may also be the case if the company responsible for your asbestos exposure is headquartered in another state.

An experienced Massachusetts asbestos attorney can help you and your family understand the best options for filing your individual claim. Talk to your attorney as soon as possible. The sooner you file, the sooner you may receive compensation.

Why Hire a Massachusetts Mesothelioma Lawyer After Asbestos Exposure?

Hiring a top Massachusetts mesothelioma attorney means you’ll have legal guidance from someone experienced in the state’s complex asbestos litigation rules and procedures. Expert legal representation can significantly affect your mesothelioma compensation.

Ask any mesothelioma law firm you’re considering working with about their track record of success in similar cases. How many mesothelioma cases have they handled? Have them discuss prior settlements and verdicts they’ve secured. This will give you a sense of their ability to secure favorable client outcomes. 

Massachusetts Mesothelioma Law Firms

Working with an experienced Massachusetts law firm can benefit your case. An asbestos law firm familiar with judges and potential jury pools may have unique insights into how best to approach your case. 

They may also be acquainted with asbestos sites across Massachusetts and the companies responsible for exposure. This can help them more effectively build evidence for your claim.

An example of success in Massachusetts, Simmons Hanly Conroy helped an engineer in Manchester obtain $5.72 million. The firm also secured $4 million for a U.S. Navy veteran in Marshfield, Massachusetts.

Nationwide Asbestos Law Firms Outside Massachusetts

National asbestos law firms may be the best option for many plaintiffs. These firms have decades of experience and resources, such as extensive asbestos databases to fight large corporations.

They’ll have experienced investigators who gather evidence to document your past asbestos exposure and medical experts to explain how asbestos caused your mesothelioma.

National mesothelioma law firms can travel to Boston or anywhere else in the nation free of charge. Their flexibility and expertise help them manage your case while you focus on treatment. 

Asbestos Compensation in Massachusetts 

Massachusetts plaintiffs have received millions of dollars in mesothelioma compensation from verdicts and settlements. Asbestos-related cancers, such as mesothelioma and lung cancer, are preventable. Your Massachusetts asbestos attorney can help you secure your rightful compensation.

Notable Massachusetts Settlements and Verdicts

• $39 Million: In 2024, a Boston jury awarded $39 million to Bryce Zundel’s family over asbestos-contaminated talc used in a medical procedure. He underwent his procedure in 2014 and was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2021.
• $14.4 Million: The Boston Superior Court awarded $14.4 million to 2 Massachusetts families in 2017. The court found New England Insulation guilty of negligence after 2 workers became ill because of asbestos insulation products.
• $9.3 Million: Katherine Lydon was awarded $9.3 million in a wrongful death suit against T&N, formerly Turner & Newell, in 2014. Her husband John was a construction supervisor. He’d worked with an asbestos insulation spray for years and developed mesothelioma.

Every mesothelioma case is different. Mesothelioma settlements can range from $1 million to $2 million. Mesothelioma verdicts usually average more, between $5 million and $11.4 million. Several factors can affect your verdict or settlement amount. Talk to your attorney about any important factors that could affect your claim. 

Massachusetts Asbestos Laws and Regulations

Massachusetts has state regulations and federal laws governing asbestos use. The Massachusetts Department of Labor Standards works with lawmakers and regulatory agencies to control asbestos handling and disposal statewide. Legislators have established rules for abatement projects and licensure for asbestos removal professionals.

Massachusetts Asbestos Laws and Regulations

• 105 CMR, 410.250: Requires owners to keep asbestos-containing materials in good condition and free of defects that could release asbestos dust. 
• 310 CMR 7.15: Contractors and property owners of all built structures must notify the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection at least 10 working days before disturbing asbestos.
• 454 CMR 28.00: Covers the removal, containment, maintenance or encapsulation of asbestos.

The Massachusetts Asbestos Safety Program coordinates with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, the Environmental Protection Agency and multistate regulatory authorities. Its goal is to protect the public from long-term damage from excessive asbestos exposure.

How Are People Exposed to Asbestos in Massachusetts?

Asbestos has a long history in Massachusetts. Residents were exposed to asbestos in textile mills, power plants and auto parts factories. The state’s shipbuilding industry also led to asbestos exposure, which caused many shipyard workers to become ill.

Massachusetts Sites Known for Asbestos Exposure 

• Blackburn & Union Privileges Superfund Site: W.R. Grace manufactured asbestos automotive parts at the site. Other companies also contaminated the site with chemicals over the years. The US Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Justice and Interior and the State Attorney General’s office obtained  more than $14 million in 2 separate settlements for cleanup.
• Boston Naval Shipyard: One of the country’s most vital shipbuilding facilities, the shipyard employed nearly 50,000 workers to build U.S. Navy ships to serve in World War II.
• Charlestown Navy Yard: Considered a significant source of asbestos exposure, the yard used asbestos for its fireproofing and insulating properties. 
• Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant: In 2024, the state sued the owner of the shuttered facility in Plymouth for violations concerning the handling, shipping, storing and disposal of asbestos-containing materials.

Asbestos mines once operated in Berkshire County, Salem and Pelham. Older buildings are also a potential source of asbestos exposure. Many were constructed with asbestos-containing products and building materials. All schools built before the 1980s likely contain legacy asbestos. 

Occupations & Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure in Massachusetts 

Commercial and industrial job sites in Massachusetts used asbestos-containing materials to prevent fires, control heat and limit chemical corrosion. Workers who handled or made asbestos-containing products are at risk of developing related diseases much later in life. Certain occupations are considered high-risk for asbestos exposure.

High-Risk Jobs in Massachusetts 

• Asbestos product manufacturing
• Automotive manufacturing
• Chemical production
• Construction
• General manufacturing
• Insulation installation
• Power generation
• Shipbuilding
• Textile mills

Veterans were also exposed to asbestos in the state, including those who worked in the Navy, on Air Force bases and at the Edith Nourse Rogers Memorial Veterans Hospital in Bedford. Management at the VA hospital was aware of asbestos contamination at the facility for years, but nothing was done to correct the problem, putting veterans and employees at risk.

Massachusetts will hold companies responsible for secondhand asbestos exposure. Sometimes referred to as “take-home duty,” secondhand exposure can happen when a person who works with asbestos carries home toxic fibers on their clothing, skin or hair. Like primary exposure, secondary exposure can also cause mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. 

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