01. Oregon Law Firms
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in Oregon
Oregon residents diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses may be eligible for compensation. Mesothelioma law firms can explain eligibility, filing options and how state laws may impact lawsuits. Asbestos attorneys also handle the entire litigation process on behalf of their clients, from filing cases to negotiating settlement amounts.
The following law firms can help people living in Oregon seek compensation:
Working with a mesothelioma law firm has several advantages for clients. Asbestos attorneys have experience with complex asbestos litigation and access to many resources to help them build successful cases. Lawyers at these firms have proven track records holding asbestos companies accountable for the harm they caused and securing compensation for their clients.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Filing Lawsuits in Oregon
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Oregon
Oregon workers may have experienced occupational asbestos exposure while on the job. Other Oregonians may have been exposed to asbestos through materials used in homes, schools and office buildings. Those who develop mesothelioma and their loved ones may be eligible to file asbestos lawsuits.
From 1999 to 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 1,019 instances of mesothelioma in Oregon. During those years, around 927 residents passed away from the disease.
Mesothelioma attorneys have represented clients across many Oregon towns and cities. These lawyers have won compensation for asbestos victims through mesothelioma settlements and verdicts.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Oregon?
Oregonians who have been impacted by asbestos may be eligible to file a lawsuit. Patients diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses or their loved ones may be able to file.
Oregon workers may develop mesothelioma after occupational asbestos exposure. For example, people who worked in asbestos mines or at military sites in the state may have been exposed to the hazardous mineral. Often, employers at these jobsites did not provide workers with adequate information about asbestos, protective equipment or safe working conditions.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designates many high-risk locations for cleanup of harmful materials. Oregon has several of these locations, called Superfund Sites. These sites put workers and community members at risk of exposure to toxic materials like asbestos. One Superfund Site in the state known to be contaminated by asbestos was the North Ridge Estates, a former military complex.
Other locations in Oregon have been designated “Hazardous Waste or Industrial Sites” by the Oregon Environmental Health Assessment Program. Supreme Perlite and Vermiculite Northwest both processed vermiculite from Libby, Montana. The Libby mine contained asbestos, which contaminated the vermiculite being mined and potentially exposed anyone who handled it.
Companies mined asbestos deposits in three locations in Oregon:
- L.E.J. Asbestos mine in Josephine County
- Mount Vernon deposit in Grant County
- Raspberry Creek deposit in Jackson County
Residents of Oregon who lived in the following cities and towns have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to seek compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos and asbestos products:
- Albany, OR
- Astoria, OR
- Bend, OR
- Brookings, OR
- Creswell, OR
- Damascus, OR
- Estacada, OR
- Gladstone, OR
- Grants Pass, OR
- Gresham, OR
- Jefferson, OR
- Klamath Falls, OR
- Lake Oswego, OR
- Medford, OR
- Milton-Freewater, OR
- Milwaukie, OR
- Molalla, OR
- Newberg, OR
- Oceanside, OR
- Phoenix, OR
- Portland, OR
- Roseburg, OR
- Salem, OR
- Sandy, OR
- Springfield, OR
- Toledo, OR
- Veneta, OR
- Winston, OR
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Oregon
Individuals in Oregon may be able to file a lawsuit if diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, such as mesothelioma. A qualified mesothelioma attorney can help prepare the case and file on behalf of the victim.
Each state has time frames for filing lawsuits, contained in laws called the statutes of limitations. Depending on the lawsuit type, this timeline generally runs from the date of diagnosis or death. Patients may be eligible to file a personal injury lawsuit. Family members of deceased patients may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Victims may be eligible for additional compensation through mesothelioma claims. Victims could potentially file claims through bankruptcy trust funds or veterans benefits. An experienced lawyer can help individuals understand their options.
Filing VA Claims in Oregon
Oregon veterans may have been exposed to asbestos during their time serving in the military. Asbestos use was common in all branches of the military during the twentieth century. As a result, veterans have a high rate of mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases.
North Ridge Estates was originally a military barracks site that was later demolished and turned into a residential area. The original military complex had more than 80 asbestos-containing buildings. They were improperly demolished, leading to soil contamination. The EPA designated the location a Superfund site. The EPA performed three cleanups from 2016 to 2018. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) directs long-term management of the site.
Service members and veterans also risked asbestos exposure at Burns Air Force Radar Station, a military base in the state. The station’s facilities used asbestos-containing materials
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) offers benefits to veterans with diseases caused by asbestos exposure during service. These benefits may also be available to veterans’ family members. They can help pay for health care, housing and other expenses.
03. Oregon Settlements & Verdicts
Mesothelioma Settlements in Oregon
Victims have won multi-million dollar settlements in Oregon. This compensation can help them cover medical bills and loss of income. It can also provide security for their loved ones’ future.
Below are a few settlements compensating victims of asbestos exposure in Oregon:
- $3.4 million for a 45-year-old Army veteran and home mechanic
- $2.6 million for a 68-year-old union sheet metal worker
- $1.8 million for a 65-year-old Navy veteran and DIY home renovator
- $1.6 million for a 75-year-old Navy veteran and steamfitter
- $1.5 million for a 61-year-old Air Force veteran and home mechanic
- $1.5 million for a 67-year-old Army veteran and manufacturing foreman
- $1.5 million for a 77-year-old Navy machinist’s mate
- $1.4 million for a 71-year-old machine operator and home mechanic
- $1.3 million for a 75-year-old shipyard worker (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard)
Mesothelioma Verdicts in Oregon
In 2019, a Portland jury awarded an Oregon couple $8.75 million in a mesothelioma case. The plaintiff worked for construction companies that used Kaiser Gypsum spackle. The popular spackle contained asbestos, which the plaintiff inhaled while sanding the product. The jury awarded $750,000 for medical expenses and $8 million to the couple for their pain and suffering. Two other companies settled privately and paid the couple an undisclosed sum.
Other mesothelioma verdicts in Oregon include:
- $6.2 million awarded to an insulator in another personal injury case against Kaiser Gypsum
- $5.7 million awarded to a Navy veteran and pipefitter in a personal injury case against John Crane Inc.
- $5 million awarded to a maintenance worker in a personal injury case against Mar-Dustrial
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Oregon mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in Oregon
Oregon Asbestos Laws & Regulations
Oregon follows federal laws and regulations to limit asbestos exposure. Oregon adopted other regulations in 2018 for handling, removing and disposing of asbestos materials. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) enforces these regulations.
Examples of Oregon-specific asbestos regulations include:
- Accredited laboratories must perform asbestos testing.
- An asbestos inspector must check all residential buildings constructed before 2004 for asbestos.
- Before asbestos abatement, the facility owner, operator or contractor must file certain paperwork.
Individuals and companies who violate federal or state regulations are subject to fines. There is not a full asbestos ban in the United States. However, these regulations can help protect communities from the dangers of asbestos exposure.
Oregon Laws Affecting Asbestos Litigation
Oregon legislation regarding asbestos litigation is unique from other states in a few ways. Some of these laws may be favorable for asbestos victims.
Laws impacting asbestos litigation in Oregon include:
- Causation: Like California, Oregon does not require plaintiffs to prove frequency of use, proximity and regularity in order to receive compensation. Oregon plaintiffs must only prove a specific product played a role in the development of their asbestos disease.
- Comparative negligence: Oregon law considers the extent to which a victim may have been at fault for their own injuries. As long as a judge or jury does not assign more than 50% fault to a victim, they can receive compensation. However, their total compensation will be reduced by the percentage of their fault.
- Contractor liability: In Oregon, contractors may have less liability in some cases. Contractors are not liable if they used asbestos materials per a project owner’s direction. However, plaintiffs can file claims against a contractor if they used asbestos materials without direction or consent.
- No “bare metal defense”: In 2016, the Oregon Court of Appeals rejected the “bare metal defense.” Various other states allow certain companies to use this defense and avoid liability. “Bare metal” manufacturers make non-asbestos products that third parties may add asbestos materials to later. In some states, bare metal manufacturers are not held liable for asbestos exposure. But Oregon does not allow companies to avoid responsibility with this defense.
A mesothelioma attorney can explain how these laws may impact a victim’s filing options.
Find Mesothelioma Doctors, Lawyers and Asbestos Exposure Sites Near You
