01. Filing Claims and Lawsuits in Connecticut
Filing Mesothelioma Claims and Lawsuits in Connecticut
Many individuals in Connecticut have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against negligent asbestos companies. In the state, several jobsites and natural asbestos deposits have contributed to asbestos exposure.
Individuals who worked in a variety of industries in Connecticut may have experienced occupational asbestos exposure. Some individuals with mesothelioma may have experienced exposure in other states.
Because of this widespread asbestos use, 823 Connecticut residents were diagnosed with mesothelioma between 1999 and 2017. Those who develop an illness as a result of exposure may be eligible for compensation.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Connecticut?
Individuals who were exposed to asbestos in Connecticut may be able to make a mesothelioma claim. Family members and loved ones may also file a wrongful death lawsuit on behalf of a deceased individual. Between 1999 and 2019, there were 723 mesothelioma-related deaths in Connecticut.
Until the 1970s, asbestos was a popular building material and fire retardant. Workers involved in construction work or repair at Connecticut’s numerous shipyards may have been exposed to asbestos on the job. Individuals who worked at any of Connecticut’s shipyards and later developed mesothelioma should contact a reputable lawyer.
Shipyards in Connecticut that used asbestos-containing materials include:
- General Dynamics Electric Boat
- Thames Shipyard
- Naval Submarine Base New London
Other industrial sites in Connecticut used asbestos materials, such as asbestos insulation and roofing materials. For example, asbestos materials were used at Quinebaug Mill in the Quebec Square Historic District and the Baltic Mill in Sprague.
Maintenance workers and employees at these jobsites may have come into contact with asbestos at work. Workers who are later diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis or lung cancer may be entitled to compensation.
Connecticut residents have encountered asbestos at home and work for many decades. Connecticut residents living in the following towns and cities have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to protect their rights and seek compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos:
- Ansonia, CT
- Avon, CT
- Ballouville, CT
- Baltic, CT
- Berlin, CT
- Bethany, CT
- Bloomfield, CT
- Branford, CT
- Bridgeport, CT
- Bristol, CT
- Chaplin, CT
- Cheshire, CT
- Clinton, CT
- Colchester, CT
- Cromwell, CT
- Danbury, CT
- Danielson, CT
- Darien, CT
- Deep River, CT
- Derby, CT
- Durham, CT
- East Berlin, CT
- East Hampton, CT
- East Hartford, CT
- East Haven, CT
- East Lyme, CT
- East Windsor, CT
- Ellington, CT
- Enfield, CT
- Fairfield, CT
- Glastonbury, CT
- Griswold, CT
- Groton, CT
- Guilford, CT
- Haddam, CT
- Hamden, CT
- Hartford, CT
- Harwinton, CT
- Hebron, CT
- Higganum, CT
- Jewett City, CT
- Kensington, CT
- Killingworth, CT
- Ledyard, CT
- Lisbon, CT
- Madison, CT
- Manchester, CT
- Marion, CT
- Marlborough, CT
- Meriden, CT
- Middlebury, CT
- Middletown, CT
- Milford, CT
- Milldale, CT
- Moodus, CT
- Moosup, CT
- Mystic, CT
- Naugatuck, CT
- New Britain, CT
- New Canaan, CT
- New Haven, CT
- New London, CT
- New Milford, CT
- Newington, CT
- Newtown, CT
- Niantic, CT
- Noank, CT
- Norfolk, CT
- North Branford, CT
- North Franklin, CT
- North Grosvenor Dale, CT
- North Haven, CT
- North Stonington, CT
- Northford, CT
- Norwalk, CT
- Norwich, CT
- Oakdale, CT
- Old Lyme, CT
- Old Saybrook, CT
- Orange, CT
- Oxford, CT
- Pawcatuck, CT
- Plainfield, CT
- Plainville, CT
- Portland, CT
- Prospect, CT
- Putnam, CT
- Quaker Hill, CT
- Rocky Hill, CT
- Sandy Hook, CT
- Shelton, CT
- Simsbury, CT
- Somers, CT
- South Windsor, CT
- Southbury, CT
- Southington, CT
- Southport, CT
- Stamford, CT
- Stonington, CT
- Stratford, CT
- Suffield, CT
- Thomaston, CT
- Torrington, CT
- Trumbull, CT
- Uncasville, CT
- Vernon, CT
- Wallingford, CT
- Waterbury, CT
- Waterford, CT
- Watertown, CT
- West Hartford, CT
- West Haven, CT
- West Redding, CT
- Westbrook, CT
- Westport, CT
- Wethersfield, CT
- Wilton, CT
- Windsor, CT
- Windsor Locks, CT
- Winsted, CT
- Woodbridge, CT
- Woodstock, CT
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in Connecticut
Mesothelioma patients, family members and surviving loved ones may file personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits.
Attorneys at mesothelioma law firms may provide asbestos victims with legal advice. Asbestos attorneys help victims gather information about their exposure and illness, including employment and health records.
Connecticut lawyers also help victims file lawsuits within the state’s statutes of limitations. The statute of limitations is a legal deadline within which asbestos victims must file a lawsuit.
In some cases, asbestos victims may be eligible for other types of compensation, including asbestos trust funds. As part of bankruptcy proceedings, many asbestos companies set up trust funds to compensate current and future claimants.
02. Connecticut Mesothelioma Law Firms
Mesothelioma Law Firms in Connecticut
Connecticut residents and workers impacted by an asbestos-related disease can seek legal help from local or nationwide law firms. Experienced mesothelioma law firms can help claimants understand their filing options for financial compensation. These firms can handle the filing process on the claimant’s behalf, enabling them to focus on treatment and time with their loved ones.
The following nationwide law firm can help people living in Connecticut receive compensation:
Working with a national law firm can have several advantages over working with smaller, local firms. Nationwide mesothelioma firms like Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen have decades of experience and access to many resources to build successful claims. Lawyers at these law firms have proven experience holding asbestos companies accountable and securing settlements for their clients.
National law firms understand the intricacies of asbestos laws across the country and can identify the most favorable jurisdiction to file your claim. It is not always ideal to file your claim in the state you currently live in.
Lawyers at national firms will also travel to you to make the process as easy as possible. They are dedicated to getting you and your family the compensation and peace of mind you deserve.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
03. Connecticut Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts
Mesothelioma & Asbestos Settlements in Connecticut
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Connecticut regularly help clients win compensation from former employers and asbestos companies. Compensation from a claim or lawsuit may help mesothelioma victims and their loved ones pay for treatment and other costs.
Mesothelioma law firms have recovered compensation for clients in Connecticut through jury verdicts and out-of-court settlements. As a reference point, we have provided below a sampling of settlements achieved on behalf of Connecticut residents who were exposed to asbestos in the workplace:
In some cases, individuals may also experience asbestos exposure from consumer products. For example, some makeup and talc products may contain small amounts of asbestos.
In February 2020, product manufacturer Johnson & Johnson settled out of court with a plaintiff in Connecticut. The lawsuit was filed by an individual who developed mesothelioma from asbestos-contaminated talc.
Mesothelioma & Asbestos Verdicts in Connecticut
There have been several noteworthy mesothelioma verdicts in Connecticut. Successful mesothelioma lawsuits may result in a jury award or settlement for the plaintiffs. Examples of successful mesothelioma lawsuits in Connecticut include:
- A former firefighter and U.S. Navy veteran was exposed to asbestos on the job. He spent time working as a fireman on the USS Forrestal in the late 1960s and early 1970s. During that time period, he handled asbestos-insulated equipment. In 2006, he was diagnosed with mesothelioma. The veteran and his wife later filed a lawsuit against the manufacturers who supplied the asbestos products. In 2008, he died of mesothelioma. The jury awarded his widow $2.59 million.
- A tile setter was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2009. During his 30-year career, he worked with mortar that contained asbestos. He later died from the rare cancer. His family filed a wrongful death lawsuit on his behalf. In 2012, a Superior Court jury awarded the estate $2.4 million in damages. The total award included punitive damages against the Tile Council of North America.
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Connecticut mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in Connecticut
Connecticut Asbestos Laws & Regulations
In Connecticut, some state laws give asbestos victims additional flexibility when it comes to filing a claim. For example, Connecticut laws allow victims with an asbestos-related disease to file a claim up to 60 years after initial exposure. For most other product-related lawsuits, victims have 10 years to file.
Connecticut law also does not force claimants to tell the court about yet-to-be filed trust fund claims. The law may allow asbestos victims to decide whether or not they will file a trust fund claim in the future.
Connecticut Asbestos Handling Laws
Several federal and state laws apply to asbestos handling and disposal in Connecticut. At the federal level, companies have to follow laws administered by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Connecticut’s state asbestos regulations are outlined by the Department of Public Health’s Asbestos Program. In addition to the Environmental Practitioner Licensing Program, Connecticut’s Asbestos Program ensures asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) are removed and disposed of safely.
The Connecticut Asbestos Program is also responsible for asbestos handling and removal in public, not-for-profit and private schools in the state.
Professionals who plan to work with asbestos in Connecticut must be professionally licensed and have specific certifications. Licensed asbestos abatement contractors must also take courses to update their certification regularly.
