Mesothelioma in Tampa, Florida
Asbestos was used widely in Tampa, Florida. Manufacturing, shipbuilding and other industries in the city used asbestos-containing products. As a result, the state has the second-highest rate of mesothelioma-related deaths in the United States. Residents and workers in Tampa impacted by an asbestos-related disease can find local treatment and legal resources below.
Learn More About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in Tampa
Tampa, Florida Mesothelioma Treatment
Workers and residents may have been exposed to asbestos in Florida, leading to an asbestos disease diagnosis. Patients with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diagnoses can access treatment at several cancer centers and hospitals in the Tampa area. Options include the Moffitt Cancer Center, which U.S. News & World Report ranks as a top hospital in the nation, and UF Health Cancer Center. Mesothelioma specialists at these hospitals will work with the patient to develop a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan.
In Tampa, patients and their loved ones can also seek support services through these cancer centers. For instance, individuals may participate in support groups, stress management programs and more.
Cancer Centers for Mesothelioma Serving Tampa, Florida
Several cancer centers and treatment facilities for mesothelioma are located in the Tampa, Florida, area. Patients can access surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and other therapies at these facilities.
For instance, the Moffitt Cancer Center offers a dedicated Mesothelioma Treatment and Research Center. Multidisciplinary care teams develop patient’s treatment plans at the center. Doctors at the Mesothelioma Treatment and Research Center are also actively involved in clinical trials. As a result, patients may access the latest promising mesothelioma treatments.
Florida Mesothelioma Cancer Clinics
Tampa, Florida Mesothelioma Doctors
Tampa mesothelioma patients have access to local specialists. These doctors have a deep knowledge of the rare cancer and can develop custom care plans for patients. Many doctors who specialize in mesothelioma are also avid researchers. As such, they can help patients understand their eligibility for relevant clinical trials.
Florida Mesothelioma Doctors
Tampa, Florida Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Mesothelioma patients in Tampa, Florida, have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against responsible asbestos companies after becoming ill. Surviving loved ones have also filed successful lawsuits against negligent asbestos companies. After a diagnosis or death, individuals should talk to a mesothelioma law firm about eligibility for lawsuits and other legal options.
Dedicated attorneys understand state laws around asbestos litigation and can help determine the best legal option for maximum compensation for mesothelioma.
Finding a Lawyer or Law Firm in Tampa, Florida
People living with mesothelioma in Tampa, or their surviving loved ones, can seek help from asbestos law firms. Patients should contact a reputable mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Experienced lawyers can explain legal options, which may include filing a claim with a bankruptcy trust fund and/or filing a lawsuit. They will assist victims throughout the entire process.
Deadlines for Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Tampa, Florida
Mesothelioma lawyers can also advise Tampa victims on the statute of limitations. This refers to the deadlines to file a lawsuit. Patients or family members have four years after being diagnosed with mesothelioma to file an asbestos lawsuit in Florida. Surviving loved ones can sue for wrongful death for up to two years after the patient’s death.
Claims must be filed within 4 years after an asbestos-related diagnosis.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related death.
Individuals may also have other compensation options, such as workers’ compensation or asbestos trust fund claims. An experienced Tampa asbestos attorney can review an individual’s case and help determine the best legal option.
Examples of clients served in the Tampa area include:
Age: 65
Occupations: Navy worker, Operating engineer
Jobsites Worked at: County of Hillsborough Office Clerk (1989 – 2006)
Settlement: ~$7,106,807
Age: 74
Occupation: Pipefitter
Jobsites Worked at: Envirocon Intl. Corp. (1988 – 1989)
Settlement: ~$2,815,728
Age: 64
Occupation: Plant worker
Jobsites Worked at: B&B Grocery (1963); Cash and Carry (1962); DuPont (1967 – 1969); JCPenney’s (1965 – 1966); Northeast United Methodist Church (1969 – 1971); Tampa Wholesale Company (1955 – 1956); Winn Dixie (1964)
Settlement: ~$1,328,562
Age: 47
Occupation: Household
Jobsites Worked at: MacDill Air Force Base, Headquarters Building (1977 – 1978)
Settlement: ~$1,198,787
Asbestos Use in Tampa, Florida
Unlike many other cities and states, Tampa doesn’t have any naturally occurring asbestos deposits. However, many industries in Tampa relied on the mineral. As a result, workers and residents risked exposure.
For example, pipefitters, steamfitters, engineers and other construction professionals may have come into contact with asbestos at various industrial sites in or near Tampa. Shipbuilding and repair sites, such as the Tampa Shipbuilding Company, put workers at risk of exposure. Manufacturing plants, such as the Verlite Company in Tampa, also exposed workers to asbestos.
| Gender | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| Male | 143 |
| Female | 32 |
Asbestos Exposure at the Verlite Company in Tampa, Florida
A prominent exposure site in Tampa was the insulation manufacturer Verlite Company. The company was one of 28 vermiculite processing plants for W.R. Grace & Company. Vermiculite mining began in Libby, Montana, in 1919 and ended in 1990. The mine was contaminated with amphibole asbestos deposits, which put individuals throughout the county at risk of exposure.
Verlite Company received numerous shipments of Libby vermiculite. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry later evaluated Verlite Company and the other vermiculite processing plants.
The agency described how workers at these plants would often unload the vermiculite manually from trucks, which could release asbestos fibers into the air. The exfoliation process would then produce waste rock, which would contain asbestos. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated the rock typically contained 2 – 10% asbestos.
As a result, workers at Verlite Company who handled Libby vermiculite before 1990 may be at high risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestosis or another asbestos-related disease.
Tampa, Florida Jobsites Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
- Acousti Engineering Company of Florida
- Adamo Insulation Company
- Aerodyne Investment Castings, Inc.
- Airstron, Inc.
- Alafia Lutz Job
- Algerie
- Amienois
- Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
- Ap Green Refractories Company
- Badger Daylighting, Inc.
- Barnett Bank of Tampa
- Bay-Con General, Inc.
- Big Bend Power Station
- Bucyrus-Erie Company
- Buell Engineering
- Cameron & Barkley Company
- Chemex Paint & Coatings, Inc.
- Citro Dry, Inc.
- Consolidated Citrus Limited Partnership
- Continental Can Company
- Dixie Linen and Uniform Company
- Florida Portland Cement Company
- Florida Power & Light Company
- Florida Steel Corporation
- Gannon Station Power Plant
- Gardinier, Inc.
- Gaylord Container Corporation
- General Portland Cement Company
- Glidden Durkee Company
- Gulf Brass Works, Inc.
- Gulf Electric Company
- Gulf Marine Repair
- Gulf Tampa Drydock Company
- Heat & Frost Insulation
- Hendry Corporation
- Herman Sausage Company
- Hillsboro Hotel
- Hillsborough County Animal Control
- Hillsborough County Courthouse
- Hillsborough County Public Schools
- Hookers Point Power Plant
- James A. Haley Veterans' Hospital
- Johns‐Manville Sales Corporation
- Lakeland Electric
- Linde Air Products Company
- MacDill Air Force Base
- Memorial Hospital of Tampa
- Mid Valley Service Corporation
- Misener Marine, Inc.
- Nitram Chemicals, Inc.
- North Brothers, Inc.
- Ocean Shipholdings, Inc.
- Owens-Corning Fiberglass
- Painters Union
- Palmetto Beach Railroad
- Paul Smith Construction Company
- Polk County Board of County Commissioners
- Port Sutton Terminal
- Portland Gasoline Company
- Rouennais
- Seaboard Air Line Railroad
- Sol Walker and Company
- Southern Brewing & Winery
- St. Joseph's Hospital
- Stone and Webster
- Tampa Armature Works
- Tampa Bay Hotel
- Tampa Electric Company
- Tampa General Hospital
- Tampa International Airport
- Tampa Marine Terminal
- Tampa Municipal Hospital
- Tampa Post Office
- Tampa Ship Repair & Dry Dock Company
- Tampa Shipbuilding Company
- Tampa Steel Erecting Co.
- Tampa Street Railway and Power Company
- Tampa Tank, Inc.
- Thatcher Glass Manufacturing Company
- The Artisan
- Thompson Hayward Siding Co.
- Tiffany Tile Corporation
- TSR Corporation
- U.S. Phosphoric Productions
- Union Carbide Corporation
- University of South Florida
- Waterworks Park
- Westinghouse Electric Corporation
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Division of Health Assessment and Consultation. Summary Report: Exposure to Asbestos-Containing Vermiculite from Libby, Montana, at 28 Processing Sites in the United States. October 2008.
U.S. News & World Report. H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute.
Financial Assistance for Mesothelioma Patients
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Reviewed by
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.
