Mesothelioma in Torrance, California
Torrance, California, is home to many industries that used asbestos. The city has a long history of oil production. Asbestos was once an important material in the heat-intensive processes of oil refining. As a result, many workers were exposed to asbestos and risk mesothelioma. Treatment and legal resources for Torrance mesothelioma patients are below.
Learn More About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in Torrance
Torrance, California Mesothelioma Treatment
Mesothelioma patients in Torrance have treatment options available to them in Los Angeles County and other nearby cities. For instance, residents are within driving distance of University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center and the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center.
An experienced mesothelioma cancer doctor will be able to discuss and recommend treatment options, which may include surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and/or radiation. The specialist may also research and suggest potential clinical trials that patients can enroll in.
Cancer Centers for Mesothelioma Serving Torrance, California
Mesothelioma patients in Torrance have access to several nearby mesothelioma cancer centers in Southern California. These centers offer various mesothelioma treatments, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation and surgery. In neighboring Los Angeles, patients can find renowned mesothelioma experts at UCLA Medical Center. Military veterans also have the option of seeking expert care at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center. For patients who qualify for and elect to have surgery, there are world-renowned surgical teams at these facilities.
Torrance, California Mesothelioma Doctors
Torrance mesothelioma patients can seek care from nearby doctors who specialize in the cancer. Each case of mesothelioma is unique, and care will depend on a wide range of factors, including age of patient, location, stage of disease and cell type. Mesothelioma doctors will create a personalized plan for each patient. Plans may include conventional treatments, such as chemotherapy. Patients may also be eligible for mesothelioma clinical trials.
Torrance, California Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Mesothelioma victims who live in or were exposed to asbestos in Torrance may have the option to file their mesothelioma lawsuit in California. There may also be options to file their case outside of California, depending on a victim’s unique circumstances. An experienced mesothelioma law firm will review all the facts of a case to determine the best option for the client. It is helpful to find a firm that can file a case in different jurisdictions. There are nationwide mesothelioma law firms that can handle cases in California and other jurisdictions.
Finding a Lawyer or Law Firm in Torrance, California
Asbestos victims in Torrance should speak with an attorney who has experience handling mesothelioma cases. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer will be familiar with defendants, jobsites and asbestos trusts. They will review the details of an individual’s case to determine the best legal option for them.
Deadlines for Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Torrance, California
Individuals who pursue an asbestos lawsuit must file within the appropriate legal deadline. This time frame is called a statute of limitations. Time frames may be different for personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits. The statutes of limitations also vary by state.
Claims must be filed within 1 year after an asbestos-related diagnosis.
Claims must be filed within 1 year after an asbestos-related death.
Many Torrance residents with an asbestos-related disease have filed successful lawsuits. A successful lawsuit may result in a jury award or mesothelioma settlement. Compensation from a mesothelioma lawsuit may help patients and their families pay for treatment, travel expenses and lost wages.
Successful Torrance asbestos cases include:
Age: 67
Occupations: Plant worker, Inspector
Jobsites Worked at: Exxon Mobil Refinery (1975 – 1978); Shell Chemical (1975 – 1978)
Settlement: ~$3,241,240
Age: 75
Occupation: Electrician
Jobsites Worked at: Mobil Oil (1965 – 1968)
Settlement: ~$1,564,590
Age: 46
Occupation: Correction officer
Jobsites Worked at: Alpine Village Inc. (1985); Clems, Ltd. (1985 – 1986)
Settlement: ~$1,347,700
Age: 90
Occupations: Army, Warehouse worker
Jobsites Worked at: Eureka Hotel (1979 – 1980)
Settlement: ~$1,058,120
Asbestos Use in Torrance, California
Torrance, California, is home to companies and facilities that used asbestos. For instance, various manufacturing facilities and oil refineries in Torrance caused asbestos exposure.
The oil industry has been an important part of the Torrance economy since the early 20th century, when asbestos use was prominent. The first oil strike in Torrance occurred at the Del Amo oil field, which is now a residential neighborhood. Throughout the 1920s, Del Amo was one of the most productive oil fields in the Los Angeles area. As oil production waned and real estate development encroached, local government officials ordered the removal of all oil derricks from Torrance. However, major refineries remained and continue to play an important part in the Torrance economy.
| Gender | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| Male | 797 |
| Female | 255 |
Asbestos in Torrance, California’s Oil Refineries
For much of the 20th century, asbestos was used extensively in oil refining. Due to the heat-resistant properties of asbestos, it worked well to counter the high temperatures required to refine petroleum into gasoline and other distillates. In a refinery, asbestos was used in many pieces of equipment, including pipes, gaskets and pumps. Refinery workers even wore fireproof clothing woven with asbestos fibers to increase its heat resistance. These tradesmen were exposed to asbestos when cutting through and replacing insulation and gaskets.
In 1927, General Petroleum purchased 900 acres of land in Torrance to build a refining facility to handle the area’s oil output. By the time the refinery became operational in 1929, General Petroleum had become a subsidiary of Standard Oil of New York. Around this time until 1980, asbestos use was popular in oil refineries and other industries.
During World War II, the refinery was retooled and expanded. Its official name was then the Socony-Vacuum Oil Co. In 1955, a merger with Mobil Oil resulted in a name change to Socony-Mobil Oil Co. The refinery later became the Mobil Oil Refinery until a later merger with Exxon.
The Mobil Oil Refinery and Socony-Mobil Oil Co. are included as jobsites with at least a dozen asbestos bankruptcy trusts. Other oil companies, including Shell Oil and General Petroleum Corp., are also jobsite matches for many different trusts.
Asbestos victims who worked at the Mobil Oil Refinery or other oil refineries in Torrance should speak to a lawyer to learn about their legal options.
Torrance, California Jobsites Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
- Aeronca Aircraft Corporation
- Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA)
- American Standard Plumbing & Heating Division
- Armco Steel Corporation National Supply Division
- Barrington Mobar, Inc.
- Carbide and Carbon Chemicals Company
- Carson High School
- Coline Gasoline Corporation
- Columbia Steel Plant
- Combustion Power Company
- Continental Oil Company
- Cyprus Tubing & Conduit Co.
- Douglas Aircraft Company
- Douglas Oil Refinery
- Dow Chemical Company
- ExxonMobil Refining and Supply Company
- Ford Motor Company
- Garrett AiResearch
- General Aluminum & Chemical Corp
- General Petroleum Corporation
- Golden Eagle Refinery Company, Inc.
- Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company
- Great Lakes Carbon (GLC) Corporation
- Harvey Aluminum
- Harvey Machine Company
- HITCO Carbon Composites, Inc.
- Hughes Aircraft Company
- International Derrick and Equipment Company
- JCPenney
- Kalof Aluminum
- Linde Air Products Company
- Los Angeles Port of Embarkation Station Hospital
- Martin Marietta Aluminum, Inc.
- Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.
- Mcdonnell Douglas Corporation
- Mead Johnson & Company, LLC
- MegaTherm
- Metalclad Insulation Company, Inc.
- Metalclad Products Corporation
- Mobil Oil Company
- Montrose Chemical Corporation of California
- North High School
- Pacific Electric (PE) Railway Company Powerhouse
- Pacific Smelting Co.
- Pepsi Cola Bottling Company
- Petroleum Process Company
- Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) Company
- Reconstruction Finance Corporation
- Redland Company
- Redman Equipment & Manufacturing Company
- Reynolds Metals Co.
- Rome Cable Corporation
- Shell Chemical Corporation
- Sierra Alloys Company
- Socony-Mobil Oil Company
- Sonkin & Galamba Metals
- South High School
- Standard Oil Company
- Stauffer Chemical Company
- Sunset International Petroleum Corporation
- Texaco Oil Refinery
- Thurston, Inc.
- Torrance Fuel, Inc.
- Torrance Refining Company
- Torrance Tubing & Conduit Co.
- U.S. Gypsum Company
- Union Carbide Corporation
- Union Oil Company of California
- United States (U.S.) Steel Corporation
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Underlying Cause of Death 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
Chilland E. Mapping the Long History of Oil Drilling in LA. Curbed Los Angeles. Updated November 2019.
Gnerre S. Capt. John Barneson Brings an Oil Refinery to Torrance. The Daily Breeze. October 2014.
Gnerre S. Torrance Becomes an Oil Boom Town in the 1920s. The Daily Breeze. October 2014.
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Jennifer Lucarelli
Mesothelioma Lawyer and Legal Advisor
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.
