Mesothelioma Attorneys in Missouri

Filing an Asbestos Claim in Missouri

When filing an asbestos lawsuit in Missouri, you must follow the state’s statute of limitations. You can file a personal injury lawsuit 5 years after the date of your diagnosis of an asbestos-related illness. A wrongful death lawsuit may be filed within 3 years of the death of a loved one. 

Key Facts About Filing in Missouri

1. State law requires all plaintiffs in asbestos lawsuits to disclose any claims they have filed with an asbestos trust before trial. 
2. Within 30 days of filing your claim, you’ll need to provide proof of a mesothelioma diagnosis or evidence of a loved one’s death from an asbestos-related disease. 
3. You’ll need to prove that the party you’re suing should be held liable. 
4. Missouri doesn’t cap economic or non-economic damages (like pain and suffering) in asbestos cases, but exceptions exist. 
5. Punitive damages are subject to limitations and require clear evidence of reckless or intentional misconduct.

St. Louis, Missouri is the No. 7 jurisdiction in the country for all types of asbestos lawsuit filings, according to KCIC’s latest industry report, Asbestos Litigation: 2024 Year in Review. It’s No. 4 for asbestos lung cancer lawsuit filings and No. 9 for mesothelioma lawsuit filings.

Anyone exposed to asbestos in Missouri has rights. Experienced asbestos attorneys in Missouri will help you receive your rightful compensation and can help you navigate the legal process. Working with your Missouri asbestos attorney is the best way to understand your options for filing a mesothelioma lawsuit.

Why Hire a Missouri Mesothelioma Lawyer After Asbestos Exposure?

Since laws and regulations differ in every state, working with a knowledgeable top Missouri attorney could benefit your case. Choose a lawyer with proven success in mesothelioma or lung cancer cases similar to yours.

Talking to a lawyer as soon as possible ensures your claim is filed on time. They’ll also be able to assess if any exceptions to statues of limitations apply to your specific case. The sooner you reach out to a law firm, the quicker you may receive compensation to help cover lost wages and pay for medical expenses. 

Missouri Mesothelioma Law Firms

There are benefits to working with experienced Missouri law firms. They’ll be familiar with state courts, having experience working with judges and court staff and be adept at navigating specific procedures. If your case qualifies, they can also guide you through filing an asbestos trust fund claim.

Missouri asbestos attorneys can help those affected secure compensation. Data shows 1,067 people in Missouri between 1999 and 2018 were diagnosed with mesothelioma and may have been eligible to file a claim.

Nationwide Asbestos Law Firms Outside Missouri 

Some of the most skilled Missouri mesothelioma lawyers work for national asbestos law firms. These firms have experience with all types of claims. Mesothelioma patients in Missouri and their families can access these dedicated firms, which can expertly navigate the legal process.

Asbestos lawyers at these firms have decades of experience fighting large corporations in court. They also have access to many resources that other firms don’t have. Attorneys at national firms can also travel to you free of charge for their initial meeting. 

Asbestos Compensation in Missouri 

There have been notable successful outcomes thanks to Missouri asbestos law firms. For example, a Missouri jury ordered Johnson & Johnson to pay $4.69 billion to 22 women in 2018. Their suit claimed asbestos in the company’s talc products caused ovarian cancer. That verdict was upheld in 2021 after J&J filed a motion to overturn the decision.

Another Missouri court awarded $5.1 million to the family of a woman diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2004. She experienced secondary asbestos exposure from her father, who worked with asbestos-containing machine parts. 

Notable Missouri Settlements and Verdicts

• $34.1 Million: In 2000, a 64-year-old Missouri roofer was awarded $34.1 million after being diagnosed with mesothelioma after working at Shell Oil Refinery for a decade. He was exposed to asbestos fibers via insulation dust, which he came into contact with while repairing and installing new refining units.
• $20 Million: In 2022, Cathy and Bill Trokey were awarded $20 million after Bill was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He came into contact with asbestos while servicing asbestos-containing brakes at his father’s automotive service stations.
• $11.5 Million: In 2015, the widow of a Navy veteran in Missouri filed a lawsuit against Crane Co. The company produced gaskets that contained asbestos, leading to the deaths of many veterans from mesothelioma. A Missouri judge awarded her $11.5 million.

Mesothelioma settlements can range between $1 million and $2 million. The national average asbestos lawsuit trial verdict is $20.7 million. Every mesothelioma case is different. Talk to your attorney about any specific factors affecting your claim.

Missouri Asbestos Laws and Regulations

State regulations and federal laws govern asbestos use in Missouri. The Missouri Department of Natural Resources sets guidelines and regulations for asbestos in Missouri with oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency. The department works with lawmakers to control the inspection, disposal and reporting of asbestos during abatement projects.

Missouri Asbestos Laws and Regulations

• Missouri Air Conservation Law Sections 643.225-643.250: Defines rules for asbestos abatement projects, standards and examinations.
• Missouri State Regulations 10 CSR 10-6.240: Defines asbestos abatement projects.
• Missouri State Regulations 10 CSR 10-6.241: Defines asbestos projects, registration, abatement, notification, inspection, demolition and performance requirements.
• Missouri State Regulations 10 CSR 10-6.250: Defines asbestos projects, certification, accreditation and business exemption requirements.

The Missouri Department of Natural Resources also collaborates with the St. Louis County Department of Public Health and The Kansas City, Missouri Health Department Air Quality Program. Together, these departments set the benchmark for asbestos safety throughout Missouri. 

Missouri also follows the National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants. This outlines requirements for emission control related to asbestos destruction and broadcasting information during abatement projects.  

How Are People Exposed to Asbestos in Missouri? 

Industrial work that used asbestos historically drove the state’s economy. Both residents and workers across Missouri faced asbestos exposure risks from multiple factories and manufacturing plants. People in Missouri may also be exposed to the toxic mineral via natural asbestos that forms along the St. Francois Mountain Range in southeastern Missouri.

In October 2024, Missouri became one of 35 states involved in a baby powder recall over possible asbestos contamination. The Dynarex Corporation recalled its baby powder products sold on or after January 18, 2024. The product was sold on Amazon and distributed for direct delivery. 

Sites in Missouri Known for Asbestos Exposure

• Carter Carburetor Site: The St. Louis facility manufactured and tested automotive parts from the 1920s until 1984. Asbestos and other harmful chemicals were found at the plant. The EPA is still working with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources to determine if the site can be used again.
• CertainTeed Corporation: The St. Louis plant manufactured asbestos-cement pipe. The facility used crocidolite asbestos, also known as blue asbestos, which is a more dangerous mineral because it has thinner fibers.
• Goodfellow Federal Center: A 2021 whistleblower report highlighted asbestos contamination at the St. Louis facility. The center was built in the 1940s as a U.S. Army ammunition plant to support World War II. Renovations turned it into an office park in the 1960s. Local officials were aware of the contamination but downplayed the risks.
• Hickory Hills School: The results of an environmental assessment at the Springfield school revealed that 35 construction materials at the facility contained asbestos. Schools built before 1980 are likely to contain some form of asbestos.
• Jackson County Courthouse: Poor asbestos management during renovations led to exposure. In November 2011, a Jackson County Courthouse employee received a $10 million settlement in a lawsuit filed over improper asbestos handling procedures.
• Paseo YMCA: In 2006, a major cleanup project was completed at the Kansas City building, which included asbestos removal. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1991. It’s now being used as part of The Negro Leagues Baseball Museum.
• Ruberoid Corporation: This St. Louis manufacturing plant produced roofing products. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health tested the facility in 1967 and 1969. They found dangerous concentrations of asbestos in air samples.
• St. Louis Lambert International Airport: In 2008, a judge ruled the airport violated asbestos abatement standards when some buildings were demolished during an expansion project.
• Weldon Spring Quarry: Asbestos and many other hazardous materials and chemicals have been found in the soil, groundwater and springs around the site located in St. Charles County.

On May 22, 2011, a tornado with winds exceeding 200 miles per hour touched down in Joplin, Missouri. The twister destroyed approximately 8,000 structures and claimed the lives of more than 150 people. The EPA was particularly concerned about asbestos exposure for any workers involved in the cleanup.

The City of Joplin ordered the demolition of 118 heavily damaged homes whose owners failed to contact the city with plans to clear out the remaining debris. Before the city condemned the houses and hired a contractor to safely raze them, certified asbestos inspectors were hired to report any asbestos found on site.

Occupations & Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure in Missouri

Missouri has a history of occupational asbestos exposure. The state’s chemical, manufacturing, automotive and mining industries used asbestos. Miners also faced considerable exposure risks while excavating or handling asbestos-contaminated mineral ore. 

Jobs in Missouri With a Higher Risk of Exposure

• Automotive worker
• Construction worker
• Electricians
• Industrial worker
• Masonry workers
• Military personnel
• Mining
• Pipefitters
• Shipbuilder
• Teacher

Veterans in Missouri may also choose to claim VA benefits for service-related mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease. They can file a claim online, via mail or in person. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer in Missouri can help veterans and their families secure compensation. 

Secondary asbestos exposure is also an issue for people in Missouri. State courts have ruled that companies can be liable if someone indirectly brings home asbestos fibers from their primary exposure, causing an asbestos-related disease.

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