Illinois Mesothelioma Lawyers

How to Find and Choose an Illinois Mesothelioma Lawyer

While choosing an attorney with local expertise matters everywhere, it’s particularly crucial here. Illinois stands apart from most states when it comes to mesothelioma litigation. Illinois ranks among the nation’s leading states for mesothelioma lawsuits, with Madison and St. Clair counties reporting the highest asbestos case filings in the U.S.

Each year, hundreds of families in Illinois seek legal help with mesothelioma lawsuits, pursuing financial assistance for medical bills and lost income. Illinois ranks 7th nationally for mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths, according to CDC data.​ With unique procedures for case management and a history of large settlements, working with an experienced Illinois mesothelioma lawyer gives mesothelioma survivors and their families the best chance of success.​

Illinois Jurisdiction Spotlight

• Madison County is the No. 1 jurisdiction in the nation for mesothelioma filings in 2024, according to KCIC’s 2025 report. 
• More than 50% of all U.S. asbestos lawsuits were filed in Illinois courts from 2018 to 2022.​
• St. Clair County is the nation’s No. 1 jurisdiction for asbestos-related lung cancer and talc case filings.
• The largest settlement in Illinois history was $200 million, which Cooney & Conway secured in a consolidated asbestos case.

Choosing a law firm with deep Illinois experience means your lawyers understand the unique statutes, deadlines and local trends that shape asbestos claims. Local law firms such as Simmons Hanly Conroy, Cooney & Conway and Meirowitz & Wasserberg are known for securing multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements. Simmons Hanly Conroy, for example, boasts more than $11 billion secured in asbestos verdicts and settlements for clients nationally.

Illinois asbestos attorneys investigate exposure sites, such as factories, military bases and refineries, building strong cases against responsible companies. Illinois residents benefit from homegrown firms that treat every client with personal attention and know how to pursue maximum compensation.

Nationwide Asbestos Law Firms Helping Clients in Illinois

Many nationwide asbestos law firms provide convenient local support to Illinois residents, visiting clients at home. They match this convenience with the power of leveraging national resources to fight large asbestos corporations for you. 

For example, Weitz & Luxenberg, which U.S. News & World Report named a Tier 1 law firm in 2022, has recovered billions in asbestos compensation nationwide. Their Illinois clients have benefited from aggressive litigation strategies and personalized case management.

National firms work closely with local attorneys to investigate exposure sites, identify liable companies and pursue maximum compensation. In addition to litigation, they assist with asbestos trust fund claims when companies have declared bankruptcy, ensuring clients can access every potential source of financial assistance.

Compensation From Asbestos Filings in Illinois

Illinois residents with asbestos-related diseases have recovered substantial financial compensation through lawsuits, verdicts and trust fund claims. Settlements for mesothelioma cases typically range from $1 million to $2 million, with trial verdicts often significantly higher. Some cases have resulted in multi-million dollar awards, helping families cover medical costs and lost income.

Notable Illinois Settlements, Verdicts and Trust Fund Payouts

• $200 Million: Cooney & Conway secured this amount, which is the largest consolidated asbestos case settlement in Illinois history.
• $40.75 Million: An Illinois jury awarded these damages in 2023 to mesothelioma patient Bruce Torgerson. He was exposed to asbestos in John Crane-manufactured gaskets and packing while working as a pump man.
• $30 Million: A Cook County Circuit Court jury ordered Bridgestone Firestone Tires to pay these damages to Thomas Jackson’s spouse in 2023. Jackson died of mesothelioma from asbestos-contaminated talc his father brought home on his clothes while working at the company’s Decatur facility.
• $23 Million: A Cook County jury ordered Qualitex Co. to pay these damages in 2021 to Cynthia Cowger, who developed pleural mesothelioma from exposure to Qualitex’s asbestos-containing press pads while working at a dry-cleaning company.
• $16 Million: A Madison County Circuit Court jury ordered Armstrong Contracting and Supply Company in 2021 to pay these damages to James Crawford and his wife. Crawford developed mesothelioma after exposure to the company’s asbestos-containing insulation products at an Owens-Illinois glass plant.

Compensation amounts for mesothelioma vary depending on disease severity, exposure history and the number of defendants involved. Most people obtain settlements without going to trial, and trust fund claims provide additional financial recovery opportunities. Experienced Illinois mesothelioma attorneys help maximize each client’s compensation, pursuing all available legal avenues and trust claims.

How Does an Asbestos Lawyer Handle Your Claim in Illinois? 

When you hire an asbestos lawyer in Illinois, they guide you through every step of the legal process to secure compensation. Throughout settlement negotiations, they advocate for fair compensation but are prepared to take your case to trial if necessary.

Steps to a Mesothelioma Claim

1. Case investigation: Gathering evidence of asbestos exposure at sites like the Chanute Air Force Base and medical documentation of your diagnosis.
2. Filing the claim: Submitting paperwork within the state’s 2-year statute of limitations for filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
3. Discovery: Collecting testimony and expert opinions.
4. Settlement negotiations: Seeking a fair payout without trial.
5. Trial preparation: Representing you in court if your case proceeds without a settlement agreement.

Experienced Illinois lawyers manage these steps to reduce your stress while maximizing your recovery. They’ll communicate throughout each step, helping you and your family make informed decisions about your case.

Asbestos Exposure in Illinois 

About 97 new cases of mesothelioma were reported in Illinois in 2022, which is the most recent data available from the CDC. The state ranks No. 7 in the U.S. for mesothelioma deaths because of its extensive industrial history in cities such as Chicago, Peoria and Alton. 

Sites in Illinois Known for Asbestos Exposure

• A.E. Staley Manufacturing Company’s facility: The local union requested an evaluation of asbestos hazards at Workers at the facility in Decatur, Illinois in 1989. The Health and Hazard Evaluation report found excess cases of related diseases.
• Chanute Air Force Base: Veterans were exposed at this base in Rantoul, Illinois. An asbestos removal project abated the mineral from 17 facilities on the base in 2015.
• Illinois Beach State Park: Johns-Manville’s Superfund Site in Waukegan, Illinois is 150-acres with approximately 3 million cubic yards of wastewater sludge containing asbestos and other toxins. Lake Michigan and Illinois Beach State Park border the site. 
• Power plants: Exposure occurred at Zion Nuclear Power Station, Powerton Powerhouse, Dresden Generating Station and Quad Cities Station. Power generation plants used asbestos primarily for insulating capabilities. 
• Schools: Many of Illinois’s schools and administrative buildings were constructed with asbestos. Disease risk depends on when the asbestos was discovered and how each facility handled the problem.
• Vermiculite Processing: Illinois is also home to 30 locations that received at least 372,776 tons of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana. Chicago, Girard, Peoria, Quincy, Buda and Calumet City had processing sites. The soil around these facilities has tested positive for asbestos.

Shipbuilding, manufacturing and construction in Illinois heavily used asbestos. Military bases also used a lot of asbestos products. Asbestos exposure in Illinois also occurred during insulation installation, oil refining, farming, food production and power generation.

Exposure today tends to occur because of legacy asbestos in old buildings. The Chicago Nuclear Powerhouse, Illinois Central Railroad in Peoria and Kentile Floors plant in Chicago were all known asbestos exposure sites in the state. 

Johns Manville Facility in Waukegan

One of the most notorious asbestos exposure sites in Illinois is the Johns Manville facility in Waukegan. Spanning approximately 150 acres, this site operated as a disposal location for asbestos-contaminated waste and produced asbestos products for several decades. It’s now classified as a major Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Site because of its extensive contamination.

For years, the Johns Manville site released asbestos fibers into the surrounding environment, including Lake Michigan. Studies have documented that asbestos waste from the site leached into the lake, spreading toxic fibers along the shoreline and posing health risks to anyone living near or recreating along these beaches. Despite cleanup efforts, asbestos contamination persists in nearby residential areas and public parks, affecting the health and safety of thousands of Illinois residents.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure in Illinois 

Higher-risk asbestos industries in Illinois include manufacturing, power generation and oil refining. Illinois workers were exposed in factories, plants, refineries, farmhouses, schools and public buildings. Secondhand exposure among family members happened when workers brought fibers home.

Jobs With Higher Risks of Asbestos Exposure

• Factory workers
• Farmworkers
• Manufacturing workers
• Military veterans
• Oil refinery workers
• Power generation workers
• Railway workers
• Teachers

While asbestos products were used in many industries in Illinois, workers at the state’s oil refineries and power plants had some of the highest risks of exposure. Major oil companies such as Amoco, CITGO, Mobil, Shell and Standard operated oil refineries in Illinois. They have been named defendants in asbestos-related lawsuits.

How Your Lawyer Supports You in Illinois’ Changing Asbestos Litigation

Asbestos litigation in Illinois continues to evolve amid shifting legal trends, rising filing numbers and significant jury verdicts. Experienced lawyers are crucial in navigating complexities to protect your rights and pursue maximum compensation. They monitor legislative changes and court rulings that may affect filing deadlines, evidence standards and case strategy.

Illinois Legislative Changes

• Asbestos abatement regulations: The Illinois EPA is pushing for stricter rules to enforce asbestos hazards, which include high-profile cleanup actions. This can affect legal cases, reinforcing public awareness and regulatory compliance.
• Illinois Senate Bill 328: Expands personal jurisdiction statewide to include out-of-state corporations registered to do business in the state. Now, plaintiffs can sue foreign corporations in Illinois courts for toxic exposure outside the state.
• Illinois Supreme Court ruling in Martin v. Goodrich Corp.: On January 24, 2025, the Illinois Supreme Court upheld the 2019 Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act legislative amendment. The ruling allows employees to sue employers for occupational diseases like mesothelioma, even if the disease develops more than 25 years after the initial exposure.

Your knowledgeable Illinois lawyer ensures deadlines are met, evidence is meticulously gathered and appropriate jurisdictions are chosen for your case. This expert guidance enhances your chances for a favorable claim resolution amid an aggressive litigation environment.

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