Choosing an Idaho Mesothelioma Lawyer

When hiring an Idaho mesothelioma lawyer to handle your case, choose a firm with decades of experience in asbestos litigation. Ask about their records of success in the state and their firm’s resources, such as databases of asbestos companies, job sites and past cases in Idaho. Top asbestos lawyers will  come to you for your initial consultation, giving you an opportunity to ask questions and get a feel for what working with them would be like so you and your family are comfortable moving forward with them managing your case.

National mesothelioma firms offer expertise in Idaho’s courts and jurisdictions across the country. Should you need to file out of state because, for example, your exposure happened elsewhere, they can file your mesothelioma claim and litigate in the right jurisdiction. 

Compensation has made an enormous difference for other mesothelioma survivors and families in Idaho. The state’s mesothelioma incidence rate between 2018 and 2022 was 0.80 per 100,000 and there were 84 new diagnoses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Weitz and Luxenberg
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  • $8.9 Billion Recovered
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  • Rated a Tier 1 Law Firm in 2022 by U.S. News & World Report

Asbestos Compensation in Idaho

Idaho residents exposed to asbestos secure millions in compensation, primarily through direct settlements with liable corporations. For example, Boise Cascade Corporation has been named in hundreds of asbestos lawsuits since the early 2000s and pays settlements to individuals directly through corporate and insurance funds. Mesothelioma settlements in the U.S. usually range from $1 million to $2 million. Key cases in Idaho demonstrate the complexities of the courts and jurisdictions and underscore the need for a top lawyer.

Claimants also pursue compensation through the more than 60 national asbestos trust funds. Bankrupt product manufacturers that operated in Idaho and exposed workers, like Johns Manville, Babcock & Wilcox and Federal-Mogul, created these funds after bankruptcy courts ordered them to set up funds to compensate injured individuals.

Nationally, trial verdicts generally offer the highest compensation and average from $5 million to $11 million. the national average reached $20.7 million in 2024, according to Mealey’s. The complexities of corporate jurisdiction have meant many Idaho-based plaintiffs often must file their lawsuits in out-of-state courts. 

For example, Idaho resident Nancy Cabibi’s legal team litigated her case in California because of the specific details of her case against Johnson & Johnson. Cabibi won a $40.3 million trial verdict from a Los Angeles court in 2019. The jury found asbestos-contaminated talc in J&J’s baby powder caused her mesothelioma. This outcome demonstrates national specialized legal teams can navigate complex, multi-state requirements and achieve significant financial recoveries.

How Does an Asbestos Lawyer Handle Your Claim in Idaho?

An experienced Idaho mesothelioma lawyer can explain the legal process and keep you informed about your case. The law firm will handle everything from filing your lawsuit to gathering evidence, so you can focus on your health.

Steps to a Mesothelioma Claim

  1. Free consultation to learn about your case and legal needs, often conducted in person at your location.
  2. Reviewing your mesothelioma diagnosis and asbestos exposure history.
  3. Explaining Idaho’s 2-year filing deadline and whether you qualify to file a claim.
  4. Answering your questions about the legal process and compensation options.
  5. Preparing and filing your claim, including personal injury lawsuits, wrongful death claims and asbestos trust fund claims.
  6. Gathering evidence such as medical records, employment history and witness statements from worksites like Fluor Corporation where asbestos exposure occurred.
  7. Negotiating a settlement or representing you in court if necessary.

In Idaho, many people with mesothelioma have received asbestos compensation ranging from $1 million to more than $11 million from settlements and trial verdicts. The amount of your asbestos compensation depends on several factors, such as how long you were exposed to the toxic material, where and how often, along with the level of negligence of the defendants.

Asbestos Exposure in Idaho

Some people in Idaho developed mesothelioma from contact with natural asbestos sites. For example, the Kamiah mine produced asbestos for manufacturing. Other types of ore deposits were sometimes contaminated with asbestos, including sites in the panhandle, Clearwater County and Adams County.

The most common risks of asbestos exposure in Idaho happened at work. Many commercial buildings and industrial operations in Idaho used asbestos in equipment, insulation and building materials. Families who lived near factories could be exposed to airborne asbestos fibers.

Sites in Idaho Known for Asbestos Exposure

  • Boise Cascade Corporation: Plants directly manufactured asbestos-containing products such as insulating paper, wood products, laminate flooring and boards. Workers were also exposed to asbestos dust from factory insulation.
  • Fluor Corporation: 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.
  • Union Pacific Railroad Company: Asbestos was used in many components of its operations. Countless asbestos-related lawsuits have been filed against the company. 
  • Western Equipment Company: A former forklift mechanic sued this Meridian company in 2011. His job included cleaning and replacing asbestos forklift brakes. The company continued using these drum brakes even though safer options existed.
  • Westvaco Mineral Production: This facility in Pocatello was once the world’s largest elemental phosphorus plant. It used asbestos-containing materials in its operations.

People in Idaho are concerned about asbestos in schools. Most buildings built before 1980 likely have legacy asbestos materials. And in March 2021, for example, workers found asbestos pipe wrapping at Boise High School during an HVAC upgrade. 

Monsanto Chemical Co. in Soda Springs

The Monsanto Chemical Co.’s Soda Springs Plant in Idaho is an EPA 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. The surrounding water and soil were contaminated with radioactive slag and harmful chemicals. Monsanto also operated facilities in Filer, Nampa and Payette.

Follow-up EPA studies have repeatedly found Monsanto’s cleanup operations aren’t working. During a 2017 investigation, internal documents surfaced revealing Monsanto had a close relationship with a top EPA official, who promised to kill an investigation into the giant’s main product.

Occupational 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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Asbestos Manufacturers

How Your Lawyer Supports You in Idaho’s Changing Asbestos Litigation

Idaho laws don’t require you to list asbestos trust payments, which can help you recover compensation quickly without hurting a larger lawsuit. However, the state places certain restrictions on damages that can impact your total compensation.

Idaho Legislative Changes

  • Title 6-1603: Idaho caps non-economic damages in personal injury and wrongful death claims to $250,000. The cap is per claim, not per defendant, which can severely limit your ability to recover for pain, suffering and loss of companionship. Your lawyer can get help to overcome this, proving reckless or intentional actions.
  • Title 6-1404: Idaho takes a comparative responsibility approach to product liability cases, meaning you can still recover damages even if a jury finds you partially responsible for asbestos exposure. As long as the defendant’s responsibility is greater, you recover the corresponding percentage of damages.
  • Successor Corporation Asbestos-Related Liability Fairness Act: This act caps asbestos claims when corporations buy out or merge with companies that had liability for asbestos exposure. In practice, this unfair law allows large corporations to avoid responsibility for their actions. In product liability cases, mesothelioma lawyers often file in a different state.

Respected mesothelioma law firms care about their clients. Legal teams in asbestos cases try to deliver the largest settlement or verdict possible, but they also keep in mind the importance of helping you get economic relief quickly. Compensation can help you pay for urgent medical care or provide for your family’s needs.

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