Massachusetts Mesothelioma Lawyer

The prolonged use of asbestos in many important industries in Massachusetts has left people with life-threatening diseases. Victims of mesothelioma have the right to retain a Massachusetts mesothelioma lawyer who can help them fight for compensation and justice.

If you’ve been a victim of mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Massachusetts, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

We offer help to all cities and towns in Massachusetts, including:

Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Lowell, Cambridge, New Bedford, Brockton, Quincy, Lynn, Fall River, Newton, Somerville, Lawrence, Framingham, Waltham, Haverhill, Malden, Brookline, Plymouth, Medford, Taunton, Chicopee, Weymouth Town, Revere, Peabody, Methuen Town, Barnstable Town, Pittsfield, Attleboro, Arlington, Everett, Salem, Billerica, Westfield Leominster, Beverly, Fitchburg, Holyoke, Marlborough, Woburn, Amherst, Chelsea, Braintree, Shrewsbury, Chelmsford, Dartmouth, Andover, Natick, Randolph, Watertow, Franklin, Lexington, Falmouth, Dracut, Tewksbury, Needham, Gloucester, North Andover, Wellesley, Norwood, North Attleborough, Agawam, West Springfield, Northampton, Milford, Stoughton, Melrose, Saugus, Danvers, Milton, Bridgewater, Wakefield, Marshfield, Burlington, Belmont, Reading, Dedham, Walpole, Yarmouth, Easton Middleborough, Mansfield, Wilmington, Westford, Acton, Hingham, Wareham, Canton, Winchester, Stoneham, Ludlow, Sandwich Gardner, Marblehead, Bourne, Hudson, Norton, Concord, Westborough, Somerset, and more.

Asbestos and Ships in Massachusetts – A Major Source of Exposure

Massachusetts’ location on the U.S. East Coast has made the Bay State a principal hub for shipbuilding and U.S. Navy installations.

The shipping industry’s heavy use of asbestos for the greater part of the 20th Century led to significant exposure and had tragic consequences.

Asbestos, used as insulation and fire inhibiting material since ancient times, was heavily used in all kinds of civilian and military ships.

When the U.S. Navy modernized during the 19th and 20th Centuries, it began to build all ships with many components that used asbestos.

Every U.S. Navy ship built between 1930 and 1973 included 300 or more asbestos-containing components to protect equipment, ammunition, fuel, and crew members from fire. Some examples of shipyards that exposed workers to asbestos include:

• Fore River Shipyard, Quincy
• Charlestown Naval Yard
• Fairhaven Shipyard, Fairhaven
• Victory Yard, Squantum

What Other Job Sites in Massachusetts Used Asbestos?

Asbestos was widely used in various industries through much of the 20th Century. Most factories, power plants, chemical works, incinerators, and paper mills used asbestos for the same reasons as the maritime industry.

As a result, every power plant in the state of Massachusetts built from 1930 to 1973 contained large quantities of asbestos.

Mineral processing companies, paper mills, all kinds of factories, and even public and school buildings used and contained asbestos, causing dangerous exposure for decades:

•  Marlboro Electric Company, Marlboro
• The University of Massachusetts at Amherst, Amherst
• W.R. Grace Site, Walpole
• Stevens Paper Mill, Andover
• Mead Paper Mill, Lee
• Tyco Healthcare Group Textile Mill Site, Walpole
• Algonquin Generating Plant, Freetown
• General Dynamics Shipyard, Quincy
• Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Quincy
• Norton Grinding Company, Worcester
• Lawrence Factory, Peabody
• Pilgrim Nuclear Power Plant, Plymouth
• Monsanto Plant, Springfield

What Are the Asbestos Laws in Massachusetts?

The Massachusetts Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) and the Massachusetts Department of Labor oversee asbestos abatement laws in the state:

• Under BWP AQ 04 (ANF-001), any asbestos contractor, owner, and/or operator of a facility or area must notify the state prior to starting an asbestos abatement project. Notification must be sent within 10 days before the project is set to begin. However, no notification is required if the area containing asbestos is less than three square or linear feet.
• Under 310 CMR 4.00 of the MassDEP regulations, a fee of $100 must be submitted with each notification for asbestos removal. This fee is non-refundable even in the event that the asbestos project is canceled.
• In addition to notifying the state of Massachusetts of any asbestos project, a notification may also be required to the city you live in as well. Check with your local city laws to determine if you’re required to send the notification.
• Under 301 CMR 7.00 (Massachusetts Air Pollution Control Regulations), asbestos removed during an abatement project must be encapsulated, labeled, and disposed of at a state-approved waste management site.

For additional regulations and more in-depth information regarding asbestos laws in Massachusetts, contact the EEA at 617-626-1000.

Where Can I Get Medical Help in Massachusetts for Asbestos Diseases?

It’s essential to seek medical assistance from qualified physicians and clinics with a background in dealing with asbestos-related diseases.

Since these types of cancers are rare, a physician specializing in asbestos-related diseases provides you with a much better chance of promising treatment. Currently, two medical facilities in Massachusetts are backed by the National Cancer Institute:

• Dana-Farber Cancer Institute: 450 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA. 02215
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital: 75 Francis Street, Boston, MA. 02115

Statute of Limitations for Asbestos-Related Cases in Massachusetts

Although Massachusetts doesn’t have a specific statute of limitations for asbestos cases, the state follows the tort statute of limitations.

Under ALM GL ch. 260, § 2A, the plaintiff has three years from the date they discovered the asbestos exposure or three years from diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease.

Further, loved ones can file on behalf of a deceased victim within three years of the death or within three years of finding out the cause of death.

Legal Help in Massachusetts

Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for significant compensation.  Get our free Financial Compensation Packet for information on the top mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers in your area. If you have questions or need assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.