New Orleans Mesothelioma Law Firms

New Orleans has a long industrial history tied to the Gulf Coast, and local mesothelioma law firms know it well. Attorneys at firms like Nemeroff Law Firm understand the shipyards, oil refineries and chemical plants where so many Louisiana workers encountered asbestos, and they know how to translate that history into a compelling legal case.

Working with a local firm also means having someone close by when you need them. These attorneys can sit down with you and your family, explain the process in plain terms and move quickly when your case requires it. They bring established relationships with local courts, medical experts and investigators that can strengthen your claim and help you pursue compensation for medical costs, lost income and other hardships your diagnosis has created.

Nemeroff Law Firm Logo
201 St Charles Ave Suite 2500
New Orleans, LA 70170
  • $500 Million Recovered
  • Serves Clients Nationwide
  • Rated a “Hall of Fame” law firm by The Legal 500

Nationwide Asbestos Law Firms Serving New Orleans

For some New Orleans residents, a national asbestos law firm may be the better fit. Louisiana’s petrochemical and maritime industries drew workers from across the country, and many people now living in the area were exposed to asbestos while working in other states earlier in their careers. National firms can pursue claims wherever that exposure took place, which can be critical to recovering the full compensation you’re entitled to.

These firms also bring extensive resources and experience handling complex cases involving multiple defendants, worksites or states. If your work history is complicated or your exposure occurred in more than one location, a national firm’s breadth of experience can make a meaningful difference in how your case is built and pursued.

Weitz and Luxenberg
  • $8.5 Billion Recovered
  • Serves Clients Nationwide
  • Rated #1 by U.S. News & World Report for 2022
Simmons Hanly Conroy Logo
  • $8.9 Billion Recovered
  • Serves Clients Nationwide
  • Rated a Tier 1 Law Firm in 2022 by U.S. News & World Report
$30B+ IN TRUST FUNDS AVAILABLE
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New Orleans Asbestos Exposure

Exposure to asbestos in Louisiana occurs most frequently in shipyards and oil refineries. Although the state has no known natural asbestos deposits, some areas have contaminated soil and groundwater as a result of companies dumping waste.

New Orleans Asbestos Exposure Sites
  • Cargill’s Breaux Bridge Salt Mine: Workers experienced exposure to asbestos used in the salt purification process. 
  • Jefferson Parish Subdivision: The area, a potential home for more than 100 families, was a known asbestos dumping ground for years. Efforts involving testing and remediation continue to ensure the site is safe. 
  • Lafayette Academy and Rosenwald Collegiate Academy: These two charter schools in New Orleans closed down temporarily for asbestos remediation. Claims of mishandled asbestos removal point out that Lafayette went through multiple closures to attempt to remove asbestos, making parents skeptical of its safety. 
  • Plaza Tower: This abandoned building underwent remediation 20 years ago, but discussions of tearing it down raised concerns about exposure to lingering asbestos. 
  • W.R. Grace Plant: This New Orleans vermiculite exfoliation facility processed 148,000 tons of asbestos-containing materials.

The Gulf of Mexico provides a rich source of oil. Those who work in the oil refineries are just one example of on-the-job asbestos exposure in certain industries. First responders like firefighters, police and volunteers also can be exposed during efforts to assist after natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina. 

The John Mansville plant, founded in 1858, was one of the state’s first companies that used asbestos and made an effort to hide the risks of exposure. After decades of fighting legal claims, the company created a trust in 1988 worth $2.5 billion in compensation. 

Common Mesothelioma Cases in Louisiana

Expert Take

Carl Money: Common Mesothelioma Cases in Louisiana

Louisiana is not a big state, but has a lot of industry. The whole Mississippi River you have petrochemical plants, chemical plants, refineries, you’ve got power plants.


Up north in Louisiana, got paper mills, snail mills around Shreveport, where my wife’s from. And then you got, you know, in the Gulf. You got the whale rigs. You got all kinds of different exposures and then, you know, your traditional ones with carpenters and so forth in the building industry. As a firm that handles most occasion and national trial firm, we know every We know every asbestos defendant in Louisiana. We know the products they made.


We know how and the best places to file, the best jurisdiction to file. Those are the types of cases that we generally have are chemical plants and the refineries and, oh, and the shipyards. That big shipyard industry down there have a lot of shipyard cases. Louisiana is very unique in that has a one year statute of limitations. Right? And so you’ve got to make sure if you’re a mesothelioma patient or family member, that you find a law firm and have that firm file it as soon as possible because that happens a lot, you know. They’re worried, you know, you got a bunch of siblings and nobody knows what to do.


So you need to get together and figure that out. That’s one thing.


Doctor.

New Orleans Occupations & Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure

Cases of asbestos-related illnesses in New Orleans are primarily from occupational exposure. New Orleans is home to many industries that employ large numbers of workers, any of whom may come into contact with asbestos during their jobs. 

Employers with a High Risk of Asbestos Exposure
  • Industrial plants
  • Oil refineries
  • Power plants
  • Salt mines
  • Schools
  • Shipyards

While many industries use asbestos, these have the most elevated level of danger of asbestos exposure for workers. People who work around asbestos are at high risk of developing mesothelioma and other cancers and pulmonary diseases. The U.S. currently regulates the use of asbestos but has not banned it. 

Secondary Asbestos Exposure

Secondary exposure to asbestos is as serious as primary exposure, potentially leading to mesothelioma and other diseases. Workers in several industries, including port laborers, exposed their families to take-home asbestos that traveled into their homes via their clothing.

Family members may have come into contact with asbestos fibers when handling unwashed work clothes, touching furniture after the worker spread asbestos fibers to the surface and even through hugging. Regulations put in place during the 1970s helped to reduce, but not eliminate secondary asbestos exposure. 

The right New Orleans asbestos lawyer shows compassion and empathy to you and your family while fighting hard to reach a settlement in your favor. Ideally, you should look for a firm that offers a network of attorneys with high success rates. National law firms are excellent choices and have access to essential resources that can make a big difference in the outcome of your case.

What Is It Like to Work With a New Orleans Mesothelioma Lawyer? 

Your mesothelioma lawyer will gather the necessary medical and occupational evidence to build your case and pursue substantial compensation. Working with an experienced lawyer ensures you follow the proper legal process and maximize your chances of a successful outcome.

Asbestos Litigation Steps
  1. Consultation: Speak with a lawyer through a free consultation to discuss your options and get advice about your case.
  2. Eligibility Confirmation: Present documentation of your diagnosis and exposure history to determine your eligibility to file a claim.
  3. Claim Filing: Your attorney will file your claim in the relevant court.
  4. Discovery: The discovery process involves collecting evidence through research, interviews and dispositions. This data comes together to support your case.
  5. Resolution: Most cases reach a settlement to resolve the claim. In rare cases, you may go to trial and receive a verdict to determine the case’s resolution.

The claims process for mesothelioma claims involves complex legal steps and a lot of hard work. Your lawyer will handle everything for you, so you can put your time and energy into your treatment. 

How Do I Know If I’m Eligible for Mesothelioma Compensation?

If you have a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, an experienced attorney can help determine if you qualify for compensation. Your lawyer should understand the physical and emotional toll of treatment and work on your behalf to file the claim, gather evidence and assess your eligibility.

Your New Orleans asbestos attorney will conduct a consultation to obtain your work and health history, asbestos exposure and cancer diagnosis and then gather the necessary documentation to prove your case. While the litigation process can seem complex, your lawyer will provide guidance and fight for financial compensation on your behalf so you can focus on your treatment.

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