Oklahoma Mesothelioma Lawyers
Oklahoma residents and their loved ones have filed mesothelioma lawsuits. Many have secured multi-million-dollar awards. One jury awarded $6 million to an Oklahoma man who developed mesothelioma after working with asbestos for years. Lawyers are available to represent asbestos victims.
Connect With a Top Mesothelioma Lawyer in Oklahoma
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in Oklahoma
Oklahoma residents injured by asbestos can seek legal representation from experienced mesothelioma law firms. These lawyers specialize in helping people obtain financial compensation for asbestos illnesses. Asbestos attorneys also understand the Oklahoma legal system. They can manage the entire legal process, allowing the victim to focus on treatment and quality time with loved ones.
The following law firms can help Oklahoma asbestos victims receive compensation:
People injured by asbestos can feel confident working with a dedicated mesothelioma law firm. These firms have a track record of building successful cases. They help identify companies and employers responsible for victims’ injuries. Specialty firms also have the resources and experience needed to hold large companies accountable.
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Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Oklahoma
Experienced mesothelioma law firms can help Oklahoma asbestos victims obtain compensation. These firms help residents understand their eligibility and filing options. They can also help clients decide if Oklahoma is the best state to file in. Attorneys can then file asbestos lawsuits and trust fund claims on behalf of their clients.
Bankrupt companies create asbestos trust funds to compensate people harmed by their asbestos products. Even after the company goes bankrupt, victims can still be compensated for asbestos injuries.
Hundreds of Oklahoma residents have been injured or killed by asbestos cancers and related diseases. These include mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer.
For example, more than 600 mesothelioma diagnoses occurred in Oklahoma from 1999 to 2019. From 1990 to 2020, more than 500 residents died of the disease.
Many Oklahoma residents have filed lawsuits against asbestos companies because of these serious illnesses. People commonly file lawsuits in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. Others have filed in different locations out of state.
These lawsuits named well-known employers like Boeing, General Motors and the Federal Aviation Administration. A substantial number of these lawsuits resulted in multi-million dollar verdicts and settlements.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma residents harmed by asbestos may be able to file mesothelioma lawsuits. Certain employers, industries and companies hurt a lot of Oklahomans through asbestos exposure. These include oil refining and asbestos processing companies. Pursuing legal action can help victims hold the responsible companies accountable.
Oklahoma has two asbestos-contaminated Superfund sites. This designation means the sites pose serious risks to human health and need large-scale cleanup. Before cleanup, employees and locals may have been exposed to asbestos from these sites. Oklahoma Superfund sites include:
- Henley’s Sealants Incorporated in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: This site processed asbestos-contaminated vermiculite sourced from W.R. Grace in Libby, Montana. It posed an active risk to employees and locals for at least 30 years. Processing had stopped by 1993, and site cleanup occurred in phases between 2010 and 2018.
- Hudson Refinery in Cushing, Oklahoma: Asbestos used at this 200-acre site contaminated nearby soil, water and sediment. A 2015 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) review found the site posed no ongoing risks to public health. But, many oil refinery employees were exposed to asbestos while the site was active from 1922 to 1982.
Residents of Oklahoma who lived in the following cities and towns have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to seek compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos:
- Altus, OK
- Ardmore, OK
- Broken Arrow, OK
- Checotah, OK
- Collinsville, OK
- Edmond, OK
- Garber, OK
- Glenpool, OK
- Grove, OK
- Jay, OK
- Jennings, OK
- Locust Grove, OK
- McAllister, OK
- Miami, OK
- Midwest City, OK
- Moore, OK
- Noble, OK
- Norman, OK
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Owasso, OK
- Stillwater, OK
- Tahlequah, OK
- Tulsa, OK
- Vici, OK
- Wann, OK
- Waukomis, OK
- Wilburton, OK
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Oklahoma
Oklahomans injured by asbestos can benefit from the help of qualified mesothelioma lawyers. Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit involves many steps, including gathering and organizing evidence. Experienced attorneys can make this process easy for asbestos victims. The lawyers also help ensure filings are made before any relevant deadlines.
Attorneys file lawsuits according to Oklahoma’s state-specific timeframes. These are called statutes of limitations and generally run from the date of diagnosis or death. Once diagnosed, patients may be eligible to file personal injury lawsuits. Family members may also be able to file wrongful death lawsuits after losing a loved one.
Lawsuits must be filed within 2 years after a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Lawsuits must be filed within 2 years after death from mesothelioma.
If the state’s statute of limitations has passed, patients and their loved ones may have other options. They may be eligible to file their lawsuit in another state. Some may also be able to submit asbestos trust fund claims. Mesothelioma law firms can help Oklahoma clients understand their compensation options and eligibility.
Did You Know?
The statutes of limitations in the state you now live may not be applicable to your case.
An experienced mesothelioma attorney can determine the best state in which to file your case and what the deadline to file will be.
Filing VA Claims in Oklahoma
In 2021, more than 240,000 veterans were living in Oklahoma. In the past, military service involved significant asbestos exposure risks from products supplied by asbestos companies. As a result, service members from the Air Force, Army, Marines and other military branches have developed asbestos cancers and illnesses.
Veterans with asbestos diseases from military service may qualify for monthly benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). They may also have additional compensation options. These include filing lawsuits against asbestos companies and making trust fund claims. Experienced asbestos lawyers can handle these legal matters on behalf of veterans and their loved ones. This includes filing VA benefits claims.
The government sets aside VA benefit money to assist veterans in acknowledgement of their service to the country. It is the government’s policy that it owes these benefits to any qualified veteran.
Mesothelioma lawsuits are separate actions that do not involve suing the government. When veterans file mesothelioma lawsuits, they sue asbestos companies that manufactured and distributed asbestos to the U.S. military.
Mesothelioma Settlements in Oklahoma
Oklahomans injured by asbestos have received millions of dollars in financial compensation. Some have won jury verdicts, and others have negotiated asbestos settlements.
A settlement is a private arrangement made between an asbestos company and its victim. It ends the lawsuit against the company in exchange for compensation. Settlements can be reached before, during or after a trial.
Asbestos settlements help cover costs associated with asbestos illnesses. These include treatment costs, lost wages, pain and suffering. If a victim has died, family members may be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Some details from Oklahoma mesothelioma settlements include:
- $4.7 million for a 67-year-old Navy veteran (Long Beach Naval Shipyard)
- $3.4 million for an 81-year-old Army veteran and HVAC worker
- $2.7 million for a 48-year-old Marine Corps veteran (Long Beach Naval Shipyard)
- $2.4 million for a 63-year-old Navy veteran (Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard)
- $2 million for an 84-year-old Navy veteran (Boston Navy Yard)
- $2 million for a 61-year-old Army veteran and construction worker
- $1.7 million for a 75-year-old Air Force aircraft mechanic
- $1.7 million for a 61-year-old Navy veteran (Naval Base San Diego)
- $1.6 million for a 56-year-old mechanic and home renovator
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Oklahoma mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
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Oklahoma Asbestos Laws & Regulations
Oklahoma follows federal asbestos regulations and has its own state laws. The Oklahoma Asbestos Control Act regulates asbestos handlers, training and inspections. The state’s Clean Air Act adopts federal air quality standards, including those related to asbestos.
Two state departments that oversee asbestos management are:
- Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ)
- Oklahoma Department of Labor
The DEQ oversees asbestos-related demolition, renovation and waste disposal. The Department of Labor enforces asbestos abatement training and licensing requirements. It also inspects asbestos projects for regulatory compliance.
Oklahoma Laws Affecting Asbestos Litigation
Oklahoma also has laws that establish rules for asbestos legal cases. These laws affect the following aspects of asbestos lawsuits:
- Filing against successor companies: Some asbestos companies get bought or absorbed by other companies. In such cases, state law limits the amount of money the buyer company may owe the purchased company’s asbestos victims.
- Filing requirements: Victims must have evidence from a physician demonstrating an asbestos disease diagnosis. The illness or cancer must reach a certain level of severity. The filing must also include a high degree of detail related to the victim’s occupational asbestos exposure history.
- Two-disease rule: People who develop a non-malignant asbestos disease may later develop an asbestos-related cancer. Oklahoma treats these as separate causes of action. This means filing a lawsuit for a non-malignant disease does not prevent a person from filing another lawsuit if cancer develops.
People wondering how these laws could affect their own cases should speak with an experienced attorney. The lawyer can explain these and other related asbestos laws.
Sources
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. United States and Puerto Rico Cancer Statistics, 1999-2021 Incidence Request. CDC Wonder Online Database.
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Asbestos.
Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. Asbestos / NESHAP Regulations.
Oklahoma Department of Labor. Asbestos Abatement Program. Updated February 2022.
Oklahoma Department of Labor. Oklahoma Asbestos Control Act 40 O.S. § 450, et seq. Abatement of Friable Asbestos Materials Rules OAC 380:50. January 2019.
Statista Research Department. Number of veterans living in the United States in 2021, by state. Statista. June 2023.
Supreme Court of Oklahoma. Galier v. Murco Wall Prods. October 2022.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. Henley’s Sealant.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. Hudson Refinery Cushing, OK: Cleanup Activities.
United States Environmental Protection Agency. What is Superfund? Updated November 2022.
Wingerter J. EPA says asbestos levels near Douglass Park ‘pose a risk to public health’. The Oklahoman. December 2017.
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.
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Sara Salger
Mesothelioma Lawyer and Legal Contributor
Sara Salger is the Managing Partner at The Gori Law Firm. She has dedicated her career to fighting hard on behalf of mesothelioma victims. Sara shares her vast legal knowledge on Mesothelioma.com.
