01. Minnesota Law Firms
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in Minnesota
Mesothelioma law firms can help Minnesota asbestos victims file lawsuits to receive compensation. Mesothelioma patients and family members can work with lawyers at a dedicated asbestos law firm to learn about their legal options.
Lawyers at these firms can explain individuals’ eligibility for compensation and work with them for the entire legal process. Common avenues of compensation include mesothelioma lawsuits and asbestos trust fund claims.
The following law firms can help people living in Minnesota seek compensation:
There are numerous advantages to choosing an asbestos law firm to handle a mesothelioma case. Firms have specialized knowledge of the asbestos liability landscape. The lawyers at these firms can decide which jurisdiction can provide the most favorable financial outcome for an asbestos case. Their expertise helps them build, file and resolve cases on behalf of their clients.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Filing Lawsuits in Minnesota
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Minnesota
Asbestos victims are often eligible to file for compensation. Workers and residents in Minnesota may have experienced asbestos exposure. Those who develop asbestos diseases like mesothelioma may file lawsuits against companies responsible for their exposure.
Thousands of Minnesotans have been impacted by mesothelioma. In the years 1999 and 2019, 1,454 Minnesotans were diagnosed with mesothelioma. Minnesota residents who receive a mesothelioma diagnosis may be eligible for compensation from personal injury lawsuits.
Family members of deceased mesothelioma patients may also be eligible for compensation. Between 1999 and 2020, 1,285 people died of mesothelioma in Minnesota. Families of deceased patients may file wrongful death lawsuits.
Individuals in more than 40 Minnesota cities have filed asbestos lawsuits. Experienced mesothelioma lawyers can help asbestos victims gather evidence to make a successful case for compensation. Lawyers will also build the case and fight for their clients to get them the highest compensation possible.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Minnesota?
Minnesota workers and residents diagnosed with asbestos diseases may be eligible to file personal injury lawsuits. Family members of deceased patients may also be able to file wrongful death lawsuits.
Minnesota asbestos exposure can happen in a number of ways. For example, natural asbestos deposits in northeastern Minnesota put miners at risk. Some of the state’s iron ore mines were in close proximity to asbestos deposits. As a result, the ore may have been contaminated with asbestos.
Other jobsites in the state put workers at risk of exposure. For instance, vermiculite processing plant employees in Minneapolis may have been exposed to asbestos. W.R. Grace processed vermiculite ore from a mine in Libby, Montana, for many years at this plant. Libby vermiculite is widely known to be contaminated with asbestos. It has caused the deaths of many miners and workers at 28 processing plants across the United States.
In addition to miners and plant workers, residents who lived near the W.R. Grace processing plant may have been exposed to asbestos. In 2012, researchers at the University of Minnesota revealed the results of a respiratory health study of community members who lived near the Minneapolis processing plant. According to chest X-rays, many residents developed pleural abnormalities after living near the plant, handling waste materials or playing in piles of asbestos-contaminated waste.
Minnesota residents may also have also been exposed to asbestos in construction materials inside their houses. For example, vermiculite attic insulation may have been contaminated with tremolite asbestos.
Minnesota residents living in the following towns and cities have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to seek compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos:
- Alexandria, MN
- Andover, MN
- Austin, MN
- Bemidji, MN
- Bloomington, MN
- Brainerd, MN
- Brooklyn Park, MN
- Cambridge, MN
- Cannon Falls, MN
- Cloquet, MN
- Crystal, MN
- Duluth, MN
- Emily, MN
- Foley, MN
- Fridley, MN
- Garrison, MN
- Grand Marais, MN
- Grand Rapids, MN
- Hastings, MN
- Lake Elmo, MN
- Lakeville, MN
- Lino-Lakes, MN
- Mankato, MN
- Maple Grove, MN
- Menahga, MN
- Minneapolis, MN
- Minnetonka, MN
- Motley, MN
- North Branch, MN
- Plymouth, MN
- Robbinsdale, MN
- Rosemount, MN
- Roseville, MN
- Saint Paul, MN
- Shakopee, MN
- St. Paul, MN
- Stillwater, MN
- Thief River Falls, MN
- Twin Valley, MN
- Upsala, MN
- Vadnais Heights, MN
- Watkins, MN
- Welch, MN
- White Bear Lake, MN
- Winona, MN
- Woodbury, MN
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Minnesota
People considering filing mesothelioma lawsuits can speak to experienced mesothelioma lawyers. These lawyers are familiar with Minnesota laws and regulations affecting asbestos cases. For example, each state has rules governing how long a person has to file a lawsuit.
These rules, found in laws called statutes of limitations, dictate how long after an incident a person is eligible to file.
People who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma may be able to file lawsuits against former employers, product manufacturers and other asbestos companies. Family members may be able to file wrongful death lawsuits if their loved ones die after developing mesothelioma.
Asbestos victims unable to file lawsuits in Minnesota may be able to file in other states. They may also be able to seek additional compensation from other sources. For instance, some may be eligible to file asbestos trust fund claims against bankrupt asbestos companies.
03. Minnesota Settlements & Verdicts
Mesothelioma Settlements in Minnesota
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers can help Minnesotans who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma win compensation. Compensation from settlements or other sources can help victims of asbestos exposure pay medical bills and cover lost earnings. Family members can use settlement money to pay end-of-life expenses and outstanding medical bills for their loved ones.
Below are a few of the mesothelioma settlements compensating victims of asbestos exposure in Minnesota:
- $5.5 million for a 78-year-old Navy veteran, ironworker and auto mechanic
- $4 million for an 81-year-old Air Force veteran and union millwright
- $3.7 million for a 57-year-old pipefitter, insulator and plumber
- $3.3 million for a 59-year-old laborer with secondary exposure
- $3 million for a 36-year-old hair stylist with secondary exposure
- $2.6 million for a 67-year-old Air Force veteran and engineer
- $2.4 million for a 71-year-old shipyard worker and business owner
- $1.9 million for a 63-year-old Coast Guard veteran and auto mechanic
- $1.8 million for a 55-year-old construction worker
Mesothelioma Verdicts in Minnesota
Judges and juries in Minnesota have found multiple asbestos companies liable for their role in causing mesothelioma. These companies used and manufactured asbestos products, exposing workers and residents to the dangerous mineral.
Examples of mesothelioma verdicts in Minnesota include:
- $4.6 million to a pipefitter: In 2008, a Minnesota jury awarded a pipefitter over $4.6 million. One of the defendants, John Crane Inc., made asbestos-containing pipes and other materials that the victim worked with, which led to his mesothelioma.
- $3.7 million to an iron worker’s widow: In 2016, a Minnesota jury awarded a deceased iron worker’s widow $3.7 million in a wrongful death lawsuit. The jury found Honeywell International and Foster Wheeler Corporation responsible for the worker’s exposure to asbestos and resulting mesothelioma.
A mesothelioma lawyer can inform asbestos victims about the process of pursuing a verdict.
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Minnesota mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in Minnesota
Minnesota Asbestos Laws & Regulations
Minnesota companies and workers are subject to federal asbestos regulations established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In addition, Minnesota has various state asbestos laws. These laws impact the handling of asbestos and asbestos litigation.
A number of Minnesota agencies work together to protect residents and workers from asbestos. The Minnesota Department of Health’s Asbestos Unit oversees asbestos workers’ licensing, training and certification. The state’s OSHA oversees building maintenance and construction projects, while the state’s Pollution Control Agency regulates asbestos during abatement and disposal.
Minnesota Laws Affecting Asbestos Litigation
Several Minnesota laws directly affect asbestos litigation. Minnesota courts have established a “substantial-factor causation” test to determine if a company is liable for causing a person’s mesothelioma. To show causation, victims must present evidence that they experienced high levels of asbestos exposure. This is despite the fact that any level of exposure is dangerous. As such, it is a standard that may favor companies looking to avoid liability.
Additionally, Minnesota has established a potentially smaller window of time to file a wrongful death case than other states. In most cases, the state’s three-year statute of limitations applies. However, if it has been more than six years since a patient’s diagnosis, family members may be prevented from filing a wrongful death lawsuit.
Minnesota mesothelioma law firms can determine the best strategy for filing and litigating asbestos lawsuits. Some cases may benefit from being filed in Minnesota. But other Minnesota workers and residents may benefit from seeking compensation in other states. Once filed, their lawyers can handle litigation on their behalf to secure the best outcome.
Find Mesothelioma Doctors, Lawyers and Asbestos Exposure Sites Near You
