Mesothelioma in South Bend, Indiana
Before the 1980s, asbestos use was common. The mineral was used during the construction of manufacturing plants and other buildings in South Bend, Indiana. The use of asbestos put workers and residents at risk of exposure. This may lead to mesothelioma. Medical and legal resources for victims in South Bend can be found below.
Learn More About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in South Bend
South Bend, Indiana Mesothelioma Treatment
Mesothelioma treatments are available to South Bend, Indiana, residents with this rare disease. Treatments and palliative care may improve a patient’s prognosis and relieve symptoms. Mesothelioma specialists will consider various factors when determining the best mesothelioma treatment approach for each patient. These factors include the type of mesothelioma and cancer stage.
Cancer Centers for Mesothelioma Serving South Bend, Indiana
Mesothelioma patients in the South Bend area can seek treatment at cancer centers located in Indiana. Alternatively, South Bend mesothelioma patients can choose to travel outside of Indiana for their care.
For example, mesothelioma patients may go to Edward Cancer Center in Naperville, Illinois. Nearby Chicago, Illinois, also offers mesothelioma treatment options. One option is The University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center. This center has one of the largest mesothelioma programs in the nation. It is among the leaders in the treatment and research of malignant mesothelioma.
South Bend, Indiana Mesothelioma Doctors
There are top mesothelioma doctors serving South Bend, Indiana, residents. Mesothelioma victims can consult with doctors in the South Bend area, as well as in nearby Chicago, Illinois.
Mesothelioma doctors have specific knowledge and training about this disease. This includes both diagnosis and treatment. They are focused on innovative research and treatments for asbestos-related illnesses. Typically, multidisciplinary teams of specialists are formed for patients.
These teams of health providers may consist of various members. Care teams may include surgeons, medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, pathologists and others. Close team collaboration ensures a cohesive and personalized care experience for the mesothelioma patient.
South Bend, Indiana Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Financial compensation may result from mesothelioma lawsuit verdicts or settlements, or asbestos bankruptcy trust claims. Compensation can help South Bend mesothelioma patients cover expenses related to their diagnosis.
South Bend mesothelioma victims may be entitled to compensation for their asbestos exposure and resulting diagnoses. Asbestos laws vary from state to state, but lawyers can help victims understand how they relate to their cases. The best mesothelioma law firms represent clients nationwide. Lawyers at these firms will choose the proper venues for filing cases. They will ensure lawsuits and claims are filed within the legal deadline after a mesothelioma diagnosis or death.
A consultation with an experienced asbestos law firm can give victims insight into a case. This includes eligibility, filing options and next steps in the legal process.
Finding a Lawyer or Law Firm in South Bend, Indiana
Mesothelioma victims in South Bend, Indiana, should seek legal advice from an experienced asbestos law firm. Individuals can seek legal counsel from nationwide law firms experienced in asbestos litigation.
Mesothelioma law firms can help patients or loved ones receive financial compensation. This may be through litigation, such as asbestos lawsuits and settlements. Depending on their case, victims may be eligible to file asbestos lawsuits in Indiana or in another state. Based on mesothelioma victims’ jobsite history, there may also be other filing options. An experienced asbestos lawyer may file asbestos trust fund claims on behalf of victims.
Deadlines for Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in South Bend, Indiana
Mesothelioma lawyers ensure victims file within the legal deadline for eligibility. Asbestos-related disease patients, and their loved ones, must follow Indiana’s statutes of limitations. A statute of limitations requires plaintiffs to file within a particular time frame.
Victims of asbestos diseases must adhere to personal injury guidelines. Loved ones filing after patients’ deaths must adhere to wrongful death guidelines.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related diagnosis.
Claims must be filed within 2 years after an asbestos-related death.
Asbestos-related disease victims may receive financial compensation from a successful lawsuit. Compensation may help individuals and their loved ones cover:
- Funeral costs
- Lost wages
- Travel expenses
- Treatment costs
Several asbestos victims in South Bend have received financial compensation. Examples of individuals served in the South Bend area include:
Age: 67
Occupations: Bricklayer, Household
Jobsites Worked at: Drewrys Limited USA, Inc. (1956)
Settlement: ~$1,722,055
Age: 72
Occupations: Army, Mechanic
Jobsites Worked at: U.S. Government (1981 – 2002)
Settlement: ~$1,142,982
Age: 79
Occupations: Navy, Shipyard
Jobsites Worked at: The Studebaker Corporation (1953)
Settlement: ~$984,396
Age: 80
Occupations: Plant worker, Police
Jobsites Worked at: Bobs Nash, Inc. (1947 – 1949); City of South Bend Police Department (1957 – 1978); Gates Chevrolet Corporation (1977); Memorial Hospital (1978 – 1994); The Studebaker Corporation (1948 – 1954)
Settlement: ~$710,996
Asbestos Use in South Bend, Indiana
Asbestos exposure in South Bend, Indiana, puts workers and others at risk for developing related diseases. This includes asbestos cancers, such as mesothelioma. Heavy industrial development helped shape South Bend’s economy through the late 1970s. For instance, the city experienced an increase in manufacturing facilities.
Until the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used in industries such as construction and manufacturing. The mineral’s natural properties, such as heat and fire resistance, made it popular. For example, asbestos fireproofing materials were common in construction and manufacturing settings.
Manufacturing jobsites in South Bend, Indiana, with known asbestos exposure history include:
- Bendix Corporation
- Birdsell Manufacturing Company
- Drewrys Limited, USA (Drewrys Brewery)
- Oliver Chilled Plow Works
- Singer Manufacturing Company
- Studebacker Brothers Manufacturing Company
| Gender | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| Male | 33 |
| Female | 18 |
Asbestos-Exposure Risk at the Old Drewrys Brewery Site in South Bend, Indiana
Drewrys Brewery operated as a large American regional brewery from 1936 – 1972. Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were found at the former Drewrys Brewery site in South Bend. Brewing companies used asbestos in a variety of ways, including brewing filters and brewery construction products. In 2016, the Indiana Department of Environmental Management ordered the current owner to remove all ACMs. Multiple buildings on the property had asbestos abatement and demolition work completed. However, not all contaminated buildings were successfully abated.
In 2018, a fire blazed in one of the remaining buildings. It required 23 firefighters to respond. In December 2021, South Bend city officials ordered further abatement work. The remaining buildings and asbestos debris had to be completely demolished and removed. If not, the City of South Bend would take control of the former Drewrys Brewery site. Indiana law gives the current property owner four months to pay off fines and back taxes. This may allow the current owner to keep the property.
The Drewrys property has posed and continues to pose risk of asbestos exposure. If exposed, brewery workers, firefighters, demolition workers and residents may later develop mesothelioma.
South Bend, Indiana Jobsites Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
- Allied Products Corporation
- Associates Investment Company
- Bendix Aviation
- Bendix Corporation
- Birdsell Manufacturing Company
- Cummins Engine Company
- Drewry’s Limited, Inc.
- Economist Plow Company
- Empire Box Corporation
- F. W. Means & Company
- Healthwin Hospital
- Hein Metals
- Indiana and Michigan Electric Company
- Indiana Rail Road Company
- McHenry-Millhouse Manufacturing Company
- Memorial Hospital
- Midland Engineering Company
- Midwest Floor Covering
- New Energy Corporation of Indiana
- Oliver Corporation
- Oliver Farm Equipment Company
- Oliver Hotel
- Protofore Machine and Engineering Corporation
- Shetland Properties, Inc.
- Singer Manufacturing Company
- South Bend Beverage & Ice Association
- South Bend Brewing Association
- South Bend Pump Company
- South Bend Range Corporation
- South Bend Supply Company
- South Bend Toy Manufacturing Company
- South Bend Water Works
- South Bend Wood Parts, Inc.
- St. Josephs Hospital
- Stephenson Manufacturing Company
- Stone and Pipe Manufacturing Company
- Studebaker Corporation
- Studebaker Wagon Works at South Bend
- TempCor, Inc.
- Timken Industrial Bearing Service
- Torrington Company
- University of Notre Dame
- Van Buren Meats, Inc.
- Ward Baking Company
- Washington High School
- Wheelhorse Products, Inc.
- Whirlpool Corporation
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
Drewrys. Drewrys History.
Fosmoe M. City of South Bend tells owner of former brewery: Repair or demolish by Dec. 30. South Bend Tribune. August 2016.
Koopsen B. Cleanup delayed for asbestos-ridden site in South Bend. ABC57. September 2019.
Parrott J. Drewrys site owner says asbestos, unrest from recent South Bend police shooting delay cleanup. South Bend Tribune. June 2019.
Parrott J. South Bend moves to clean up Drewrys brewery site if owner can’t pay taxes, fines. South Bend Tribune. December 2021.
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.
