01. Montana Law Firms
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in Montana
Asbestos law firms can help Montana mesothelioma patients and their families file lawsuits. These lawsuits may result in compensation for asbestos victims. Lawyers at specialized asbestos law firms are experienced in this type of litigation and have filed thousands of successful mesothelioma lawsuits. They can handle the litigation process for their clients from start to finish.
The following law firms can help people seek mesothelioma compensation in Montana:
Mesothelioma law firms have a long history of asbestos litigation. Their knowledgeable lawyers have extensive experience, often filing cases against large asbestos companies. They have secured multimillion-dollar settlements and verdicts for many clients.
Mesothelioma lawyers have access to many resources for building successful cases. They can also use their expertise to recommend the best state for a client to file in.
These lawyers work to make the filing process as easy as possible. For instance, they regularly travel to clients, help gather documentation and finalize the lawsuits. They can handle all legal proceedings and negotiate the best financial outcomes. Mesothelioma lawyers are dedicated to helping their clients throughout the entire process.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Filing Lawsuits in Montana
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Montana
Many people in Montana have developed diseases from asbestos exposure. From 1999 to 2020, approximately 309 Montana residents were diagnosed with mesothelioma. Over the same time period, there were about 256 mesothelioma deaths in the state. Many of these patients have filed lawsuits in Montana against asbestos companies for their exposure.
Certain companies and industries contributed to widespread asbestos use in Montana. Before the 1980s, various prominent Montana industries commonly used the mineral. This led many workers to experience occupational asbestos exposure. Types of Montana jobsites where workers commonly faced exposure risks include:
- Construction sites
- Manufacturing plants
- Mines
- Oil refineries
- Paper mills
Workers who develop asbestos illnesses may file lawsuits against companies responsible for their Montana asbestos exposure. People who were exposed through non-occupational sources, like homes and schools, may be able to seek compensation from manufacturers and other parties.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Montana?
Montana residents who develop mesothelioma may be eligible to file personal injury lawsuits. Family members of mesothelioma patients may also be able to file wrongful death lawsuits.
Many Montana asbestos lawsuits are related to a vermiculite mine in Libby, Montana. The mine was contaminated with asbestos and was a source of exposure beginning in the 1920s.
In 1963, a company called W.R. Grace began operating the mine. The company was aware of the dangers of asbestos to their workers but continued operating the mine until 1990. In 2002, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) named Libby a Superfund site. These are hazardous waste sites requiring significant decontamination efforts.
Miners, other workers and residents impacted by asbestos from the Libby mines may be eligible for compensation from various sources. For instance, they may file bankruptcy trust fund claims against W.R. Grace. The company established this trust fund to compensate its high number of asbestos victims.
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers can explain which legal options are available to clients.
Residents of Montana in the following cities and towns have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to seek compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos:
- Big Timber, MT
- Billings, MT
- Culbertson, MT
- Kalispell, MT
- Libby, MT
- Missoula, MT
- Ronan, MT
- Victor, MT
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Montana
State and federal laws set various guidelines for filing mesothelioma lawsuits. For instance, state statutes of limitations outline filing windows for each lawsuit type. Mesothelioma attorneys can explain how these, and other laws, may impact individual cases.
Beyond lawsuits, other legal claims Montana asbestos victims may qualify for include:
Asbestos trust funds help ensure current and future asbestos victims receive compensation. Many asbestos companies, like W.R. Grace, established these funds during bankruptcy proceedings. Asbestos attorneys can review their clients’ case details and determine if filing against asbestos trust funds is an option.
Veterans with mesothelioma also have benefits readily available to them. Accessing these benefits does not involve suing the government. Rather, the government sets aside these funds to assist veterans in acknowledgement of their service to the country. Mesothelioma lawyers can help veterans in Montana apply for the financial aid they are due.
03. Montana Settlements & Verdicts
Mesothelioma Settlements in Montana
Successful lawsuits may result in financial compensation from mesothelioma settlements or verdicts. Compensation may help with mesothelioma treatment costs, travel expenses and lost wages.
Settlements are negotiated between both parties outside of court. The average mesothelioma settlement is between $1 million and $1.4 million. But some settlements in Montana have exceeded the average amount.
Two significant Montana settlements compensated thousands of Libby asbestos victims:
- In 2011, a $43 million settlement was reached for about 1,300 plaintiffs (victims). The victims developed asbestos illnesses connected to the Libby vermiculite mine.
- In 2017, a $25 million settlement was reached for more than 1,000 asbestos victims. The lawsuits claimed Montana health officials failed to warn Libby miners and community members about asbestos risks.
A proposed settlement in 2023 shows justice and compensation for asbestos victims in Libby, Montana, may continue.
Below are a few examples of other mesothelioma settlements in Montana:
- $1.9 million for a 70-year-old Army veteran and at-home mechanic
- $1.8 million for an 80-year-old Navy veteran (Brooklyn Navy Yard)
- $1.8 million for a 75-year-old Army veteran and electrician
- $1.2 million for a 65-year-old teamster (U.S. Gypsum Company)
- $1 million for a 68-year-old Air Force veteran and aircraft worker
- $900,000 for an 82-year-old Navy veteran and laborer
- $800,000 for a 55-year-old Navy veteran and pipefitter
- $500,000 for a 56-year-old quilter with secondary exposure
Mesothelioma Verdicts in Montana
Cases that go to trial may result in compensation for victims through verdicts. The average mesothelioma verdict is about $2.4 million. But one recent verdict in Montana was notably larger.
In 2022, a jury awarded an asbestos victim $36.5 million. He filed a lawsuit against W.R. Grace’s insurance company, Maryland Casualty Company. The victim experienced asbestos exposure in the late 1960s while working at the Libby mine. The jury found that the company had failed to warn workers of the risk of illnesses caused by asbestos exposure.
The mine in Libby was a significant source of asbestos exposure in Montana. But other asbestos sites across the state may have led to exposure for residents. Anyone in Montana diagnosed with an asbestos disease may be able to file a lawsuit for compensation.
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Montana mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in Montana
Montana Asbestos Laws & Regulations
Montana companies and employers must follow both state and federal asbestos regulations. These include instructions for safely handling and removing asbestos.
The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the primary state department that oversees asbestos regulations. This involves the enforcement of various asbestos-related guidelines and administrative rules, including:
- All asbestos abatement activities must be performed by state-certified contractors.
- Safety procedures must be followed for activities like asbestos waste management.
- Specific training must be completed by all asbestos contractors.
- Various workplace safety initiatives are controlled by the DEQ.
These asbestos laws are intended to help protect residents and workers from exposure risks. Companies or individuals who violate these laws may be subject to various penalties.
Montana Laws Affecting Asbestos Litigation
Several Montana laws relate to asbestos litigation. To help manage mesothelioma cases, the state established the following asbestos lawsuit guidelines:
- Asbestos Claims Court: In 2017, the Montana Supreme Court established this court to handle the high volume of W.R. Grace lawsuits.
- Comparative negligence: Montana laws require mesothelioma attorneys to prove companies are more responsible for injury or death than plaintiffs (victims). Plaintiffs may recover damages if they are found 50% or less at fault for their injury.
- Statute of repose: A 10-year filing window, called a statute of repose, applies to some product liability cases. These are lawsuits that hold companies liable for asbestos exposure caused by their products. This filing window begins on the date of a product’s sale or lease. Some asbestos lawsuits may fall under an exception to this statute. These may instead be governed by the statute of limitations.
Many factors can affect the filing and negotiating of mesothelioma lawsuits. Experienced mesothelioma lawyers understand the ins and outs of asbestos litigation in Montana. They can make this process as easy as possible for their clients.
Find Mesothelioma Doctors, Lawyers and Asbestos Exposure Sites Near You
