Mesothelioma in Spokane, Washington
Several work facilities in Spokane, Washington, used asbestos during manufacturing processes. For example, workers in insulation, aluminum and paper production risked asbestos exposure. Spokane residents who develop mesothelioma from asbestos exposure have medical and legal resources available to them.
Learn More About Asbestos and Mesothelioma in Spokane
Spokane, Washington Mesothelioma Treatment
Spokane residents diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos illness may seek treatment from Washington doctors and cancer centers. Patients may also travel to nearby states like Idaho or Oregon for treatment.
Patients should seek the advice of doctors who have experience treating asbestos-related diseases. Doctors may specialize in different types of mesothelioma, including pleural mesothelioma and peritoneal mesothelioma. A mesothelioma specialist can make personalized treatment recommendations based on an individual’s case.
In some cases, experimental treatments may be available through clinical trials at these cancer centers and research facilities.
Cancer Centers for Mesothelioma Serving Spokane, Washington
Patients who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma should seek care from a cancer center with mesothelioma treatment experience. Patients in Spokane may choose to travel to a larger city for access to the best mesothelioma specialists.
Seattle, Washington, has multiple cancer centers with mesothelioma specialists. For example, the University of Washington Medical Center in Seattle has specialists experienced in treating patients with surgery, immunotherapy and other treatments.
Out-of-state options for mesothelioma treatment include the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute in Portland, Oregon, and St. Luke’s Mountain States Tumor Institute in Boise, Idaho.
Spokane, Washington Mesothelioma Doctors
Mesothelioma patients should seek care from doctors who specialize in this rare type of cancer. There are many mesothelioma doctors in Washington and the neighboring states of Idaho and Oregon.
Specialists use therapies for mesothelioma such as immunotherapy, thoracic surgery, heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) and radiation. They also develop personalized care and treatment plans for their patients. Many of these mesothelioma doctors are also involved in mesothelioma research and can help their patients access clinical trials.
Spokane, Washington Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Mesothelioma patients and loved ones in Spokane have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against responsible asbestos companies. After a diagnosis or death, individuals should talk to mesothelioma lawyers about eligibility for lawsuits and other legal options.
Dedicated attorneys understand state laws around asbestos litigation and can help determine the best legal options for maximum mesothelioma compensation.
Finding a Lawyer or Law Firm in Spokane, Washington
Spokane workers, residents and homeowners may have experienced asbestos exposure. As a result, they may develop an asbestos disease and be eligible for compensation.
Experienced mesothelioma law firms provide the necessary resources and knowledge to build successful asbestos cases. They can also help patients navigate Washington asbestos laws and regulations.
Deadlines for Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Spokane, Washington
Spokane mesothelioma attorneys can help asbestos victims with their lawsuits, which includes meeting any filing deadlines. The time frames for filing asbestos lawsuits are outlined in laws called statutes of limitations. Each state has their own statutes of limitations, which may vary depending on the type of lawsuit being filed.
Claims must be filed within 3 years after an asbestos-related diagnosis.
Claims must be filed within 3 years after an asbestos-related death.
Spokane asbestos victims may also have compensation options in addition to lawsuits, such as an asbestos trust fund claim or a VA claim. Experienced lawyers can explain eligibility for the type of claims and handle the filing process.
For instance, mesothelioma lawyers have helped the following clients in Spokane secure compensation:
Age: 65
Occupation: Carpenter
Jobsites Worked at: Federal Housing Authority (1968 – 1969)
Settlement: ~$4,926,962
Age: 83
Occupation: Railroad worker
Jobsites Worked at: Burlington Northern Railroad (1978 – 1982)
Settlement: ~$2,546,693
Age: 64
Occupations: Air Force, Plant worker
Jobsites Worked at: Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation’s Mead Works (1956 – 1968)
Settlement: ~$2,290,434
Age: 38
Occupations: Household, Social worker
Jobsites Worked at: Spokane Tribe of Indians (2003 – 2004)
Settlement: ~$1,865,904
Asbestos Use in Spokane, Washington
Several industries in Spokane carried the risk of asbestos exposure, including mining, aluminum manufacturing and paper production. Working with asbestos materials put workers at risk of ingesting or inhaling asbestos fibers and later developing asbestos-related diseases, like mesothelioma and lung cancer.
From the late 1940s to the early 1990s, mountain ranges near Spokane, Washington, were mined for vermiculite ore, which sometimes contained asbestos fibers. Vermiculite shipments from these mines were sent to manufacturing facilities and used to make a variety of products, including insulation.
At aluminum production plants, asbestos was used to shield workers and machinery from heat generated during production. For example, Kaiser Aluminum is a known Spokane jobsite where asbestos exposure occurred. Asbestos was also used in materials and machinery in the paper production process at companies like Inland Empire Paper Company.
| Gender | Number of Deaths |
|---|---|
| Male | 72 |
| Female | 39 |
Asbestos Exposure at Vermiculite Northwest, Inc. in Spokane, Washington
Several former employees of Vermiculite Northwest, Inc. in Spokane, Washington, have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. The company’s Spokane-based factory produced asbestos insulation from the 1940s to 1974, exposing around 100 workers.
Workers were not the only individuals who risked asbestos exposure. Family members who lived with workers may also have been secondarily exposed to asbestos fibers carried home on workers’ clothing, skin and hair. Children who played in piles of asbestos-containing ore near the factory may also have been exposed.
In 2000, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) investigated Vermiculite Northwest, Inc. for dangerous levels of asbestos dust. The factory was later demolished in 2002, after which the EPA found traces of asbestos in soil samples taken from the lot. The factory lot may still pose a hazard for any people engaging in activity on the property, such as future excavations and development projects.
Spokane, Washington Jobsites Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
- Alcoa Corporation
- Armour and Company
- Armstrong Contracting & Supply Corporation (ACandS, Inc.)
- Black Carbon Coal Company
- Bumstead & Woolford Company
- Burlington Northern Railroad
- Carnation Company
- Crescent Department Store
- Defense Plant Corp
- Ej Bartells Company
- Fairchild Air Force Base Hospital
- Federal Housing Administration
- Fiberglas Engineering & Supply Company
- General Electric Company (GE)
- Gonzaga University
- Hoerner Waldorf Corporation
- Inland Empire Paper Company
- Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation
- Kaiser Aluminum & Chemical Corporation’s Mead Works
- Kaiser Aluminum Trentwood Works
- Lincoln Bank
- Linde Air Products Company
- Mann-Grandstaff Veterans Affairs Medical Center
- North Central High School
- Northwest Building Materials Company
- Oregon-Washington Depot
- Oregon-Washington Railroad and Navigation Company
- Parkade Plaza Parking Garage
- Potlatch Corporation
- Potlatch Forests, Inc.
- Providence Holy Family Hospital
- Sacred Heart Medical Center
- Shell Oil Company
- Spokane Compressor Company
- Spokane International Airport
- Spokane Tribe of Indians
- Tessenderlo Kerley, Inc.
- Union Carbide Corporation
- Valley General Hospital
- Velox Naval Depot
- Vermiculite Northwest, Inc.
- Waldorf Paper Products Company
- Warren, Little & Lund, Inc.
- Washington Water Power Central Steam Plant
- Washington Water Power Company
Sources
Asbestos alert over closed plant in Spokane. Seattle Post-Intelligencer. Updated March 2011.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About Underlying Cause of Death, 1999-2020. CDC Wonder Online Database.
Washington State Department of Health. Vermiculite Northwest, Spokane, Health Consultation, 2004. July 2004.
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.
