Our asbestos attorneys are experienced in helping current and former Mississippi workers and residents file claims against companies responsible for the wrongful exposure of asbestos. While Mississippi isn’t really known for asbestos exposure, thousands of lawsuits have been filed in the state and a resident of the state was awarded the largest asbestos verdict in U.S. history ($322 million).
Most of the asbestos claims filed in the state have been on behalf of former shipbuilding workers and oil refinery workers. The mass destruction caused by Hurricane Katrina is also believed to have been responsible for blanketing the town with toxic asbestos fibers.
Mesothelioma Lawyers Mississippi
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos illness, you should contact us for help. We know the laws specifically governing exposure in your state and can help you pursue compensation from those responsible for your suffering. There are several courses of legal action that may be available to you, and we will help you determine what is right for you and your family.
To learn more and to start your road to financial recovery, please contact our mesothelioma attorneys today.
Mississippi Workers at Risk for Asbestos Exposure
Because Mississippi borders the Gulf of Mexico, many residents have found successful employment as oil refinery or shipyard workers. Both of these industries have been known to expose workers to asbestos, since they both heavily relied on the material because of its resistance to heat and friction.
Hundreds of products found in shipyards (made from the 1930s-1970s) contained asbestos. Shipyard workers responsible for the construction, maintenance or repair of these products were at great risk for exposure. Examples include:
- Pipes
- Gaskets
- Sealing compounds to bond gaskets and valves
- Boilers
Oil refinery workers such as millwrights and welders, pipefitters, boiler makers, electricians and engineers were also put at risk for asbestos exposure since it can be found in products such as:
- Thermal insulation in products such as pipelines, oil tanks, boilers, ovens, furnaces, reactors, driers, heat exchanges and pumps
- Construction products such as protective screens around on-site welding operations, insulation in floor and ceiling tiles, walls and work surfaces
- Refinery equipment such as sealants and sheet, spiral wound and metal –jacketed gaskets
- Protective clothing and equipment meant to protect workers from fires and burn injuries in the oil refineries
Other occupations that may have endangered workers include:
- Boiler operators
- Carpenters
- Chemical plant workers
- Electrical plant workers
- Electricians
- Gas fitters
- Dock workers
- Plumbers
- Welders
- Demolition workers
Jobsites with Asbestos Exposure Problems in Mississippi
The Armstrong Cork Company, which is based in PA, is a large, international designer and maker of ceilings, floorings and cabinets. It has a floor manufacturing facility in Jackson MS that has been on a federal watch list for mesothelioma cases. That firm went bankrupt in 2000 when it became clear that its asbestos related liabilities were increasing and would be worth more than the company. The company came out of bankruptcy protection in 2006 and it established a trust as part of the new company to deal with asbestos related claims.
Hurricane Katrina and Asbestos Exposure
Mississippi was one of the biggest states affected by Hurricane Katrina (Louisiana being the other). The Category 3 hurricane devastated the coastal cities of Biloxi and others. Flood waters wiped out entire homes and businesses and thousands were damaged.
Due to the age of many of the buildings, asbestos contamination was a major worry during cleanup operations. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) carefully monitored asbestos levels that were found in some of the debris and dust after the hurricane. While the levels were found to be less than hazardous, anyone who experienced this disaster first hand should be checked for asbestos related illnesses regularly in the coming years.
Asbestos Lawsuits in Mississippi
This state was once a popular place to file asbestos litigation; in 2002, almost 20% of the asbestos claims in the country were filed here. However, the political climate has changed and fewer cases are currently pending.
Still, this state is favorable to file asbestos lawsuits; there are no limits on punitive damage awards, which can result in a higher pay out.
Mississippi was the home of the biggest jury award ever in an asbestos lawsuit: $322 million, which it gave in the case of Tony Brown from Brookhaven MS. He worked as a roughneck on oil drilling rigs in the 1970s and 1980s. From that work, he claimed that he inhaled high levels of asbestos dust while he was mixing mud that was made by Union Carbide. At age 30, the man got asbestosis and his lungs were so scarred that he had to breath with an oxygen tank constantly. In the end however, that huge verdict was thrown out and a new trial ruled in favor of Union Carbide.
Another case was filed against Ingalls Shipbuilding on behalf of James Jackson, who won more than $1 million in damages.
The Effects of Asbestos
Years of asbestos exposure can cause significant lung damage and, eventually, incurable conditions, such as asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma. In most cases, victims of mesothelioma will only live about 18 months after their diagnosis. Since the effects of asbestos are devastating, yet preventable, persons diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-caused cancers are generally entitled to compensation for their losses.
Do You Qualify for Compensation?
To find out if you qualify for an asbestos settlement or award, please contact our attorneys today. Our mesothelioma attorneys in Mississippi know the laws of the state and are familiar with the major companies responsible for exposure in the state. We can help you determine the best course of legal action and can help you and your family a significant amount of compensation.
