Mesothelioma in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Until the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used at manufacturing jobsites in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Workers at these companies, like Hercules, Inc., were often exposed to asbestos. They are at risk of developing mesothelioma. Hattiesburg residents can find local mesothelioma treatment and legal resources below.
Learn More About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in Hattiesburg
Hattiesburg, Mississippi Mesothelioma Treatment
Individuals who worked around Mississippi asbestos exposure sites may have developed asbestos-related diseases. Hattiesburg residents who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma have regional options for treatment. Nearby cancer centers that treat mesothelioma patients are in Jackson, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana. Doctors at these cancer centers specialize in mesothelioma treatments such as thoracic surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
These centers also perform mesothelioma research, and the doctors may be involved in clinical trials. Patients who qualify for these trials can get access to experimental treatment options.
Cancer Centers for Mesothelioma Serving Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Mesothelioma patients in the Hattiesburg area can access treatment at Mississippi cancer centers in Jackson. The University of Mississippi Medical Center Cancer Institute is equipped to treat mesothelioma patients.
Patients may also choose to travel to centers in Louisiana. For example, the Gayle and Tom Benson Cancer Center in New Orleans is a renowned healthcare facility and can treat mesothelioma patients. This center offers various mesothelioma treatments including radiation, chemotherapy and clinical trials.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi Mesothelioma Doctors
Patients seeking medical care at cancer centers near Hattiesburg have access to mesothelioma doctors with expertise in treating mesothelioma. Specialists involved in a mesothelioma patient’s treatment plan may include medical oncologists, pulmonologists, thoracic surgeons and pain-management experts, among others.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Hattiesburg residents who develop an asbestos-related illness may be eligible to seek compensation. For instance, victims may be able to pursue personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits against asbestos companies to get compensation.
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers can advise patients and families of their legal options. Dedicated law firms can handle the process of filing lawsuits and help ensure victims receive the compensation they deserve.
Finding a Lawyer or Law Firm in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Experienced asbestos law firms can help Hattiesburg mesothelioma victims and their loved ones receive compensation. Lawyers who specialize in asbestos cases will be familiar with the complexities of mesothelioma. They can also help research asbestos-containing products and asbestos companies to build a successful case.
Asbestos lawyers will work to hold these companies accountable for wrongful exposure by filing lawsuits and bankruptcy trust claims. It is important to work with lawyers experienced in Mississippi asbestos litigation to ensure all applicable state laws are followed.
Deadlines for Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
Each state has specific requirements and timelines for filing lawsuits. The timelines for filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits are based on when injury or death occurred. Each state has statutes of limitations for different types of mesothelioma lawsuits. Mesothelioma lawyers will guide Hattiesburg clients through filing lawsuits within the specific statutes of limitations.
Claims must be filed within 3 years after an asbestos-related diagnosis.
Claims must be filed within 3 years after an asbestos-related death.
There are also legal options outside the statute of limitations. Asbestos victims or family members can discuss which legal option is best for them. Asbestos lawyers may also suggest filing claims through asbestos bankruptcy trusts. Together they can review the requirements for asbestos exposure and medical diagnoses.
Examples of clients served in Hattiesburg and surrounding areas include:
Age: 65
Occupations: Shipyard, Police
Jobsites Worked at: Keesler Air Force Base (1961 – 1965)
Settlement: ~$2,822,733
Age: 61
Occupations: Household, Plant worker
Jobsites Worked at: Dews Foundry (1977 – 1980); Dickton & Mosh Injection Molding (1990 – 1995); Pierce Construction; Sunbeam Household Products (1983 – 1990)
Settlement: ~$1,474,982
Age: 76
Occupation: Plant worker
Jobsites Worked at: Keesler Air Force Base (1941 – 1945)
Settlement: ~$1,028,074
Age: 84
Occupations: Laborer, Nurse
Jobsites Worked at: Camp Shelby Army Base (1939)
Settlement: ~$542,515
Asbestos Use in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
A vital rail center by 1912, Hattiesburg was nicknamed the “Hub City.” With this accessible transportation at its core, the city began to develop economically. This economic growth resulted in an onset of residential and commercial construction. Several manufacturers also established themselves in the city.
During this time, asbestos was widely used in construction materials, and asbestos products were popular at industrial jobsites. Hattiesburg workers and residents may have been exposed to asbestos at jobsites like:
- Chemical plants
- Oil refineries
- Paper mills
- Power plants
| Gender | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| Male | 307 |
| Female | 71 |
Asbestos at Hercules, Inc. in Hattiesburg, Mississippi
In the early 1920s, the Hercules Powder Company, a gunpowder manufacturer, opened in Hattiesburg. This location extracted rosin from tree stumps to use in the process of making gunpowder. Over the next 50 years, this plant produced more than 250 chemicals, from wood-based products to pesticides. In 1966, the company changed its name to Hercules, Inc.
Before the 1980s, asbestos was widely used in chemical plants like Hercules, Inc. The mineral’s resistance to heat and chemicals made it popular for insulation. Plants used it to insulate machinery and boilers involved in making chemicals.
It was also added to protective clothing to insulate chemical plant workers from extreme heat. Some workers also handled raw asbestos during the production of chemicals. Any exposure to asbestos put these workers at risk of mesothelioma.
In August of 2008, Hercules, Inc., voluntarily filed for bankruptcy relief under Chapter 11. This was in response to mounting asbestos litigation. At the time, the company faced more than 7,000 active lawsuits.
Workers and residents in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, may be impacted by a mesothelioma diagnosis. Exposure may have occurred at industrial jobsites, manufacturing plants or other city areas. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer can help file a lawsuit or trust fund claim.
Hattiesburg, Mississippi Jobsites Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
- A.K. McInnis, Jr., Inc.
- Crosby Chemicals, Inc.
- E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
- Hercules Chemical Plant
- Louisiana-Pacific Corporation
- Masonite Corporation
- Mississippi Power Company
- Pulley Hall Southern Station
- University of Southern Mississippi Bernard Reed Green Coliseum
- University of Southern Mississippi Cook Library
- University of Southern Mississippi Mannoni Performing Arts Center
- University of Southern Mississippi Owings McQuagge Hall
- Wicht Insulation Company, Inc.
Sources
Burns H. A look back — and ahead — at the Hercules plant. Hattiesburg American. July 2015.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
Olsztynski J. Asbestos Claims Force Hercules Voluntary Bankruptcy. Supply House Times. September 2008.
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.
