Many civilian workers and military personnel received diagnoses of asbestos diseases and are now getting help from an experienced Connecticut mesothelioma lawyer. Connecticut has a long history of harmful asbestos exposure because of industrial workplaces, shipping, and naval facilities.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is full of information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in your area, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more.
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Hartford County has the highest number of asbestos-related deaths in the state.
How to File an Asbestos or Mesothelioma Claim in Connecticut
If you have mesothelioma, you were probably negligently exposed to asbestos. You can hold companies liable and claim compensation for medical expenses and other costs. You have several options for making a claim:
File a Mesothelioma Personal Injury Lawsuit
Negligent asbestos exposure that causes an illness like mesothelioma is a personal injury. You can sue the companies responsible for your exposure, which likely occurred in the workplace.
Most asbestos lawsuits end in a settlement. This occurs when the defendants agree to provide you with a certain amount of compensation as negotiated with your lawyer.
Mesothelioma and asbestos settlements average around $1 million to $1.4 million. In rare cases, the suit will go to trial. If the plaintiff wins, the jury often awards a much larger amount of damages, sometimes in the tens of millions of dollars.
Make a Claim with an Asbestos Trust Fund
If the companies that exposed you to asbestos in Connecticut filed for bankruptcy, you cannot sue them. You can make a claim with the asbestos trust fund for compensation. These asbestos trusts currently contain around $30 billion in funds.
File a Mesothelioma Wrongful Death Lawsuit
You can file a wrongful death lawsuit if you lost a loved one to negligent asbestos exposure. As with personal injury, it will most likely end in a settlement rather than going to trial.
Claim VA Benefits
Veterans have high rates of mesothelioma because of the extensive use of asbestos in the military, especially on U.S. Navy ships. If you served in the military and have mesothelioma, you can claim benefits, including monthly compensation.
How Can a Connecticut Mesothelioma Lawyer Help Me?
Top Connecticut lawyers handling mesothelioma and asbestos cases are available to help you if you have received a mesothelioma diagnosis. They will first provide an initial consultation for free to evaluate your case and provide guidance.
If they believe you have a case, a lawyer will investigate your work history and find out which companies can be held liable for your asbestos exposure. They will explain your options and help you take the next step.
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Connecticut can determine how much compensation you are owed, file a lawsuit, and negotiate a fair settlement.
Choose a local Connecticut lawyer with experience handling asbestos cases. They should be part of a large, nationwide firm because asbestos lawsuits are complicated and often reach across state borders.
Waterbury, Connecticut, earned the nickname “Brass City” for its numerous brass products manufacturing factories.
Most of Waterbury’s industries used asbestos in significant quantities, especially in the facilities where brass products were made, including:
American Brass Company
Mattatuck Manufacturing Company
Chase Brass and Copper Company
Olin Brass
General Insulation Distributor
Anaconda Metal Hose
Waterbury Clock (Timex)
Waterbury Brass Company
Scovill Manufacturing Company
Waterbury Buckle Company
Somers Thin Strip Brass (Wieland)
Waterbury Button Company
Other Industries That Used Asbestos in Connecticut
Throughout the latter half of the 19th Century and for much of the 20th, almost every industry in Connecticut had a connection to asbestos. These ranged from hats made in mechanized millineries to aircraft and submarine factories.
For a period of time, nearly all used asbestos either in the manufacturing facilities or in their products.
Some of the cities with the highest levels of industry and, therefore, asbestos exposure are Hartford, Waterbury, and Danbury, known primarily for their hat-making factories.
Raymark Industries made asbestos automotive brakes in Stratford for nearly 100 years. Declared a Superfund site, the abandoned Stratford site has been in the cleanup process for 25 years. In late 2021, the state allocated $2.5 million to remove toxic materials from the water and soil.
Shipping and Military Asbestos Use
Although Connecticut doesn’t have an Atlantic coastline, it has access to the open sea through Long Island Sound to its south.
From colonial times to the present day, the state has been involved in building civilian and military ships and submarines.
Deep-sea fishing, ship repair, and other maritime enterprises form part of Connecticut’s economy. Additionally, the U.S. Navy and Coast Guard have two major facilities in the state.
Asbestos insulation was used on almost every steam pipe or piece of machinery aboard ships built in the first half of the 1900s.
Groton is particularly notable in the maritime industry and is known as the World’s Submarine Capital. In 1899, Isaac Rice founded the Electric Boat Company to construct John P. Holland’s first submarines for the U.S. Navy.
Electric Boat grew from a small Connecticut shipyard into General Dynamics’ Electric Boat Division.
Navy officers and sailors trained at the nearby Submarine School in New London crewed the submarines built in Groton. New London is also the home of the Navy’s main submarine base.
Thousands of shipyard workers, engineers, sailors, and naval officers encountered asbestos in Groton and New London.
People who built or operated submarines were especially at risk for asbestos exposure because of the cramped interior space and poor ventilation.
Other military installations and maritime workplaces in Connecticut that put workers and personnel at risk of asbestos exposure include:
U.S. Coast Guard Training Station
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Groton Vocational Technical High School
Pfizer, Inc Research Laboratories
Ballard Oil
Groton Shipyard
Asbestos in Connecticut Buildings
Even non-industrial and civilian workers experienced asbestos exposure in Connecticut. This is because asbestos was used heavily in the construction of public and residential buildings.
Some examples of buildings known to have contained asbestos include several in Waterbury:
St. Margaret’s School
Sacred Heart Rectory
Waterbury Button Shop
Waterbury Bank
Our Lady of Mount Carmel Catholic Church
St. Anne’s Catholic Church and School
Homes built before the mid-1980s may contain asbestos.
Is There a Deadline for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Connecticut?
All states have a deadline for filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits. These apply to asbestos cases:
As with most other states, Connecticut follows a strict statute of limitations for filing an asbestos-related lawsuit. A mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit must be filed within three years of being diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease.
For wrongful death cases, the plaintiff must file within three years of the victim’s date of death.
What Laws in Connecticut Protect Against Asbestos Exposure?
The Connecticut Department of Public Health set forward regulations on how asbestos is handled within the state to protect people from the hazards of dangerous asbestos fibers:
Any schools built with asbestos-containing materials must go through routine inspections and maintenance at all times.
Anyone handling asbestos-related materials must be trained and certified by the state of Connecticut.
Buildings with friable asbestos can be deemed condemned and, in turn, must be either renovated or demolished by an asbestos professional.
Heating, air conditioning, and ventilation must be turned off prior to any asbestos abatement project in order to stop contamination. The area must be marked off clearly, with warning signs.
All tools used during asbestos abatement must be thoroughly cleaned, before and after, with HEPA-filtered vacuums and antibacterial cleaning wipes.
Once an asbestos project is complete, the asbestos technician must test the air thoroughly to ensure it’s as clean as possible from asbestos. They then must make sure that the removed asbestos is disposed of properly.
For additional details regarding asbestos regulations in Connecticut, contact the Connecticut Department of Public Health at 860-509-8000.
Mesothelioma Treatment in Connecticut
Mesothelioma is a difficult cancer to treat because it is aggressive and often diagnosed in later stages. It’s best to get excellent cancer treatment as soon as possible. There are two top-notch cancer centers in Connecticut:
Yale Cancer Center
The Yale Cancer Center is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as a Comprehensive Cancer Center. It provides expert treatment and also conducts research. Patients here can access clinical trials.
The staff includes specialists in medical oncology and thoracic surgery. These experts are equipped to treat pleural mesothelioma.
Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute
Located at Hartford Hospital, the Hartford Healthcare Cancer Institute is one of the largest cancer treatment centers in the northeastern U.S. On staff are experts who can treat both pleural and peritoneal mesothelioma.
Getting Legal Help in Connecticut
Remember, if you’ve been a victim of mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, there is a good chance you may qualify for significant compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and more. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. For questions and assistance, feel free to contact us at 800-793-4540.
Paul Danziger grew up in Houston, Texas and earned a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. For over 25 years years he has focused on representing mesothelioma cancer victims and others hurt by asbestos exposure. Paul and his law firm have represented thousands of people diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer, recovering significant compensation for injured clients. Every client is extremely important to Paul and he will take every call from clients who want to speak with him. Paul and his law firm handle mesothelioma cases throughout the United States.
