Ohio Mesothelioma Lawyers
Experienced mesothelioma law firms in Ohio have secured millions of dollars for asbestos victims. Residents and workers exposed to asbestos at work and home risk developing serious diseases, like mesothelioma. Mesothelioma patients and their loved ones may be eligible for compensation.
Connect With a Top Mesothelioma Lawyer in Ohio
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Ohio
An experienced mesothelioma law firm can help Ohio asbestos victims file mesothelioma lawsuits and claims. Compensation from asbestos companies can help to cover lost income, medical costs and travel expenses. People from more than 120 Ohio cities and towns have filed mesothelioma lawsuits.
In the early 2000s, Ohio was a popular asbestos filing jurisdiction. For example, in 2001, more than 8,000 cases were filed in Ohio’s Cuyahoga County. Cleveland is in Cuyahoga County, and many automobile manufacturers have facilities there. Asbestos litigation in the state has tapered off in the years since.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data also shows that more than 2,500 people died from mesothelioma in Ohio between 1999 and 2020. Asbestos exposure may affect people who live or work in Ohio. If they develop an asbestos-related disease, they may be eligible for compensation.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Ohio?
People who live or work in Ohio and have developed an asbestos-related disease may be eligible to file personal injury lawsuits and seek compensation from other sources. Also, family members may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit if their loved one passes away from one of these illnesses.
In the United States, asbestos is regulated but has not been fully banned. It may be found in buildings built before the 1980s, including homes and schools. Some jobs and areas in Ohio have a higher risk for asbestos exposure. For example, the manufacturing and automotive industries are two of the top sectors for asbestos use. These two sectors are currently the largest job markets in Ohio, with nearly one million employees.
One high-profile example of the dangers of asbestos in Ohio is the Tremont City Barrel Fill. At one time, businesses used the area to dump waste, including asbestos materials. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began investigating the site in 1997 and eventually designated it a Superfund site in 2011. In June 2023, the EPA announced the start of cleanup at the site.
Ohio residents in various cities and towns across the state have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to seek compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos. Mesothelioma claimants in the following Ohio cities and towns have successfully recovered compensation for their injury:
- Akron, OH
- Ashland, OH
- Bellefontaine, OH
- Brecksville, OH
- Broadview Heights, OH
- Brunswick, OH
- Canton, OH
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Cleveland Heights, OH
- Clinton, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Cuyahoga Falls, OH
- Dayton, OH
- Dublin, OH
- Lima, OH
- Lorain, OH
- Maineville, OH
- Mount Vernon, OH
- Newark, OH
- Paulding, OH
- Springfield, OH
- Strongsville, OH
- Toledo, OH
- Troy, OH
- Wadsworth, OH
- Westerville, OH
- Youngstown, OH
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Ohio
Ohioans who developed an asbestos-related disease after exposure may be eligible to file personal injury lawsuits against asbestos companies. Additionally, family members may be able to file after the death of a loved one.
There are legal deadlines for filing different types of mesothelioma lawsuits. These deadlines are defined in state-specific laws called statutes of limitations. Qualified mesothelioma lawyers can handle the legal process on behalf of their clients. Speaking to an attorney soon after a diagnosis or death helps preserve all possible options for seeking compensation.
Lawsuits must be filed within 2 years after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Lawsuits must be filed within 2 years after death from mesothelioma.
In addition to lawsuits, mesothelioma patients may be eligible to file other types of claims, such as asbestos trust fund claims or VA benefits claims. An asbestos law firm can determine the best options for each individual case.
Did You Know?
The statutes of limitations in the state you now live may not be applicable to your case.
An experienced mesothelioma attorney can determine the best state in which to file your case and what the deadline to file will be.
Filing VA Claims in Ohio
According to a 2021 report, Ohio is home to more than 600,000 veterans. Many veterans have an increased risk of asbestos exposure through the equipment they used at their base facilities. In fact, veterans make up 30% of all people diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Veterans affected by asbestos exposure and their family members may be eligible for VA benefits. An asbestos attorney can help veterans and their families file for benefits.
The government sets aside VA benefit money to assist veterans in acknowledgement of their service to the country. It is the government’s policy that it owes these benefits to any qualified veteran.
Mesothelioma lawsuits are separate actions that do not involve suing the government. When veterans file mesothelioma lawsuits, they sue asbestos companies that manufactured and distributed asbestos to the U.S. military.
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in Ohio
People who develop mesothelioma after asbestos exposure in Ohio can work with an experienced mesothelioma law firm. These firms can help patients and their families receive financial compensation.
The following law firms are available to help patients and their families in Ohio seek compensation for medical expenses and lost wages:
Mesothelioma lawyers offer free consultations to learn about individual cases. Experienced lawyers provide a thorough review of the case, and once hired, they handle litigation on behalf of their client.
Sometimes, filing a suit in another state may provide the best possible outcome. A mesothelioma attorney can use their expertise to decide the optimal filing location for a specific case.
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Mesothelioma Settlements in Ohio
Asbestos companies have paid millions of dollars in financial compensation to victims in Ohio. This compensation may come from lawsuit verdicts and from companies settling during litigation.
Mesothelioma patients can use this compensation to cover expenses related to their diagnoses, such as medical costs and lost income. Compensation from asbestos companies may also provide greater financial security for the victims’ families.
Some of the settlements compensating victims of asbestos exposure in Ohio include:
- $12.2 million for a 58-year-old pipefitter and plumber
- $4.3 million for a 58-year-old automotive plant worker
- $3.6 million for a 68-year-old sheet metal worker and home auto mechanic
- $3.5 million for a 77-year-old Navy veteran and construction worker
- $3.3 million for a 68-year-old pipe organ builder
- $3 million for a 64-year-old Navy veteran (Naval Station Norfolk) and steamfitter
- $2.7 million for a 74-year-old power plant worker
- $2.4 million for a 73-year-old Army veteran and pipefitter
Mesothelioma Verdicts in Ohio
In December 2013, a Cuyahoga County court awarded a 40-year-old man and his wife more than $27.5 million, which included $15 million for losses incurred by his wife related to his diagnosis. The man likely was exposed through secondhand exposure from his father’s clothing. His father worked for a company that manufactured asbestos brake pads.
Judges and juries may award punitive damages to victims in addition to compensation for injuries. This award is meant to punish an asbestos company for bad behavior.
In June 2021, an Ohio jury awarded the estate of an 83-year-old veteran $12 million in a mesothelioma lawsuit. The award included $6 million in punitive damages. The man worked for more than 40 years at a plant in Elyria, Ohio. During his career, he unknowingly handled asbestos-containing packing materials manufactured by John Crane Company.
In a 2018 Cuyahoga County case, a jury awarded more than $8.2 million to the estate of an electrician who died of mesothelioma. The electrician was exposed to asbestos from Georgia-Pacific’s joint compound containing Union Carbide asbestos fibers.
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Ohio mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
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Ohio Asbestos Laws & Regulations
Ohio follows and enforces federal regulations for asbestos. The state has also adopted its own laws setting standards for demolition and renovation, facility inspections, standards for asbestos waste handling and other regulations.
Ohio Laws Affecting Asbestos Litigation
Laws and judicial rulings in Ohio may affect asbestos litigation. Some Ohio asbestos litigation laws may favor asbestos companies in certain cases. Mesothelioma patients can work with lawyers to determine if they may be able to file in a different state to have a better chance at securing compensation.
Examples of laws and rulings affecting Ohio asbestos litigation include:
- Causation ruling: Despite the danger posed by any level of asbestos exposure, Ohio courts consider whether the way exposure occurred resulted in “substantial exposure.” They do not consider evidence of exposure alone enough to hold a company liable for a person’s mesothelioma.
- Medical criteria law: A 2004 Ohio law requires evidence of some illness to file an asbestos case. Non-malignant asbestos diseases are not eligible for compensation.
- Premises liability ruling: A 2010 Ohio court ruling upheld the rule that employers cannot be held responsible for secondary asbestos exposure.
- Trust transparency law: A 2013 Ohio law requires plaintiffs to file lawsuits and trust claims at the same time. Ohio was the first state to implement this type of law for asbestos cases.
Asbestos laws can change and be difficult to track. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can navigate these laws and work towards the best possible outcome for their client. An asbestos attorney can examine your case and ensure it meets all of the legal requirements in Ohio.
Sources
Alliance for Automotive Innovation. The Driving Force: Merging Innovation and Policy. 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
Cooley P. The 16 most toxic sites in Ohio, according to the EPA. Cleveland.com. January 2017.
Corbett MK, Mendoza MM, et al. Watching it Work: The Impact of Ohio’s Asbestos Trust Transparency Law on Tort Litigation in the State. Institute for Legal Reform. May 2017.
EPA to hold meeting in Clark County tonight to update clean up at Tremont City Barrel Fill. WHIO.com. June 2023.
FindLaw. Tort Reform: Asbestos and Ohio’s Impact on the National Debate. Updated March 2008.
Nass Cancelliere. $12.1 Million Verdict Awarded in Ohio Mesothelioma Lawsuit. June 2021.
Ohio Administrative Code Asbestos Emission Control § 3745-20-01 (2018).
Ohio Department of Development. Economic Overview of Ohio. January 2020.
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. Asbestos Abatement & Demolition.
The Ohio Manufacturers’ Association. 2022 Ohio Manufacturing Counts. 2022.
Sanctis M. Local officials, residents say pressure must continue to clean hazardous waste site. Dayton Daily News. October 2018.
Smith S. English Professor, Wife Win Record-Setting Asbestos Lawsuit. EHS Today. January 2014.
Statista Research Department. Number of veterans living in the United States in 2021, by state. Statista.com. June 2023.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. Superfund Site: Tremont City Barrel Fill German Township, OH Cleanup Activities.
For more than two decades, Jennifer Lucarelli has served as Legal Advisor at Mesothelioma.com. She has advocated for more than 1,000 asbestos victims, securing millions in settlements and helping them access quality medical care.
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Reviewed by
Kyle Navin
Mesothelioma Lawyer and Legal Advisor
Kyle Navin is a Legal Advisor for Mesothelioma.com. His legal practice focuses on asbestos bankruptcy claims and helping veterans access disability benefits.
