Maine Mesothelioma Lawyers

How to Find and Choose a Maine Mesothelioma Lawyer

When you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis, it’s important to choose a law firm that has extensive experience with asbestos cases, a history of trial victories or fair settlements for clients and knowledge of Maine filing requirements. For many mesothelioma patients, nationwide law firms provide the right balance of expertise, resources and legal experience in Maine.

According to CDC data, from 2018 to 2022 the mesothelioma incidence rate in Maine was 1.2 per 100,000 people and 120 new mesothelioma diagnoses were reported. Lawyers who understand the scope of exposure and how it caused this aggressive cancer can not only help you build a successful case, but understand what you and your family are experiencing. Choosing a compassionate legal team can help you feel comfortable during the legal process.

Top national law firms have helped many mesothelioma patients in Maine. They have the ability to help you in Maine or any other jurisdiction appropriate for your specific case. For example, if your exposure happened in another state, or the company responsible is headquartered elsewhere, filing in another jurisdiction may be the right course of action for you.

Weitz & Luxenberg

• $8.5 Billion Recovered
• Serves Clients Nationwide
• Rated #1 by U.S. News & World Report for 2022

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Simmons Hanly Conroy

• $8.9 Billion Recovered
• Serves Clients Nationwide
• Rated a Tier 1 Law Firm in 2022 by U.S. News & World Report

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Meirowitz & Wasserberg

• $200 Million Recovered
• Serves Clients Nationwide
• Rated in the Top 10 Asbestos and Mesothelioma Trial Lawyers

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Compensation From Asbestos Filings in Maine

Maine residents have received significant mesothelioma compensation through legal action. Most cases settle confidentially. In one historic case, Margaret Austin sued asbestos manufacturers after her husband Blaine died from mesothelioma in 1977 following decades of asbestos exposure as a painter at Bath Iron Works. The case proceeded to trial in 1981, went through appeals to the Maine Supreme Court on important legal questions about liability, and was remanded for retrial before ultimately resolving.

Leading mesothelioma law firms report substantial settlements and verdicts for their Maine clients. Among their reported successes are $7.78 million for a marine engineer, $3.5 million for a paper company worker and $2.77 million for a U.S. veteran and equipment operator. National firm Simmons Hanly Conroy, for example, has recovered more than $60 million in asbestos compensation for Mainers.

Nationally,  mesothelioma settlements typically range from $1 million to $1.4 million, according to Mealey’s Litigation Report. Individual settlement amounts vary based on factors like exposure history, number of defendants and severity of illness. Maine residents have also filed claims with asbestos bankruptcy trust funds. An experienced Maine mesothelioma attorney can help you pursue compensation.

How Does an Asbestos Lawyer Handle Your Claim in Maine?

Mesothelioma attorneys evaluate your case to determine the right legal path. For example, U.S. Navy Veterans can’t file lawsuits directly against Maine military bases, but they can hold product manufacturers accountable for parts containing asbestos. Asbestos law firms know how to navigate complex jurisdiction laws.

Steps to a Mesothelioma Claim

1. Collect medical records: Your asbestos lawyer collects paperwork that confirms your mesothelioma diagnosis and links it to asbestos exposure.
2. Investigate your exposure history: Your legal team investigates the products and exposure sites in Maine responsible for your diagnosis, such as Bath Iron Works shipyard, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, paper mills, or sites like Forster Manufacturing’s Wilton factory where demolition was postponed in 2011 after tests confirmed high levels of asbestos in the air.
3. Consult with experts: Your legal team consults medical and occupational experts to strengthen evidence and build the strongest possible case.
4. File your claim: Your mesothelioma attorney files claims with asbestos trust funds and personal injury lawsuits in Maine courts, adhering to the state’s 6-year statute of limitations from diagnosis for personal injury or 3 years from death for wrongful death claims.
5. Handle legal process: Your asbestos lawyer handles all paperwork, court filings, procedural requirements and your testimony throughout your case.
6. Negotiate or litigate: Your mesothelioma attorney negotiates settlements with defendants or prepares for trial if needed to maximize your compensation.

Most mesothelioma claims settle within 12 to 18 months. Throughout the case, your attorney maintains regular communication about developments and next steps, ensuring you understand the process without being overwhelmed with legal technicalities.

Unsure About Your Legal Options?

Over $30 billion has been set aside to support those diagnosed with mesothelioma. We’ll help you explore your options and introduce you to the nation’s leading mesothelioma law firms.

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Asbestos Exposure in Maine

Shipbuilding is one of Maine’s oldest and most dangerous industries because of extensive asbestos use. Workers building clipper ships, World War II destroyers and custom yachts were exposed to materials containing asbestos, such as heat-resistant panels and insulation. Maine was also home to chemical plants and paper mills that used asbestos materials during production.

Maine Sites in Maine Known for Asbestos Exposure

• Brunswick Naval Air Station: This facility is one of 14 industrial and military sites in Maine on the EPA’s National Priorities List.
• Forster Manufacturing Company: Demolition in the company’s Wilton factory was postponed in 2011 when tests confirmed high levels of asbestos in the air. 
• Oxford Paper Company: Several lawsuits claim that former workers developed asbestos-related illnesses from exposure at the Rumford mill.
• Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: Kittery shipyard workers were often exposed to asbestos in insulation, boilers, water pipes and “protective” gear.
• Sanford Textile Mill: This mill manufactured fabrics, light bulbs and plastic products. Contaminants found at the site include cancer-causing substances, lead paint and asbestos.
• Union Chemicals Company: The state closed the South Hope site in 1984 after multiple safety citations. The factory produced caustic chemicals during the 1960s and 1970s, such as paint and coating removers.
• Yankee Nuclear Power Plant: After 25 years of operation, the Wiscasset plant was dismantled in 1997. Asbestos was removed in 1998, but some nuclear waste is still stored there. 

Many older buildings in Maine used asbestos products and construction materials, from insulation to ceiling tiles. Asbestos in schools remains an issue in Maine and nationally, potentially putting teachers, students and maintenance staff at risk.

Bath Iron Works

For more than 100 years, Bath Iron Works has built hundreds of ships in Maine. During World War II, the company had more than 15,000 workers. Laborers were exposed to asbestos pipe insulation, boiler coatings and gaskets at the company’s shipbuilding sites.

In 1944, the U.S. government issued a “Report on Investigation of Asbestosis from Amosite Pipe Covering at Bath Iron Works,” which included safety recommendations. A list of asbestos safety precautions was also sent in 1971. Despite this, Bath Iron Works kept using asbestos products until the late 1980s. In 1987, OSHA fined the company for ongoing unsafe asbestos practices, including a lack of protective equipment.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure in Maine

Some Maine industries and occupations had historically higher risks of occupational asbestos exposure. For example, Air Force bases and air stations across Maine put veterans at risk of asbestos exposure. Asbestos was widely used in base construction materials, older military vehicles and aircraft parts.

Jobs at Higher Risk in Maine

• Iron foundry worker
• Military personnel
• Paper mill worker
• Power plant worker
• Shipyard worker

Asbestos was never actively mined in Maine, but there is an asbestos mining prospect in the western part of the state. The area has a high rate of illnesses linked to asbestos.

Loved ones of people who worked with asbestos sometimes faced secondhand exposure to toxic fibers carried home on hair, clothes or skin. This “take-home exposure” has caused mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

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

Maine laws are relatively friendly to mesothelioma patients, but the state’s evidence requirements are difficult to meet without an experienced Maine asbestos lawyer. In court, law firms often need to find witnesses who can testify to your exposure.

Maine Legislative Changes

• LD934: This 2023 bill changed Maine’s caps on wrongful death compensation and inflation adjustments. The maximum amount for emotional distress or loss of companionship is $1 million and punitive damages can’t exceed $500,000.
• Patricia Grant v. Foster Wheeler: This Maine Supreme Court decision in 2016 reaffirmed Maine’s high standards for proving asbestos exposure in product cases. Mesothelioma claims must show a specific manufacturer’s products were present in the area where the person worked, not just asbestos-containing gaskets or brake pads in general.

Lawmakers frequently update Maine’s asbestos laws, and recent rulings reinforce strict evidence requirements. Your lawyer stays ahead of these changes, crafts a focused legal strategy, and manages all complexities so you can concentrate on your recovery while pursuing maximum compensation.