Cleveland Mesothelioma Lawyer

Contact a Cleveland mesothelioma lawyer for legal options if you’ve been harmed by asbestos in the area. Cleveland has long been a center for economic and manufacturing industries, but most job sites once used asbestos.

If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for substantial compensation. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.

Cleveland Asbestos Facts

• Nearly 1,600 of Ohio’s 12,697 asbestos-related deaths between 1999 and 2017 were in Cleveland and Cuyahoga County.
• Industrial job sites in and around Cleveland, including coal mines, steel mills, foundries, and automotive manufacturers, used asbestos for decades.
• Some of these sites are still causing exposure issues in the city.

Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma

Asbestos exposure causes mesothelioma, a rare cancer. Most asbestos exposure occurs at work and is considered negligent. Asbestos companies had a duty to warn workers of the risks of exposure, but most did not for many years.

Asbestos is made of small fibers. When workers handle asbestos materials, fibers come loose and contaminate the workplace. Workers inhale or ingest the tiny fibers, which then cause damage inside the body.

In some people, asbestos damage leads to pleural mesothelioma, peritoneal mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis. Most do not get a diagnosis until decades after asbestos exposure.

Why Do I Need a Cleveland Mesothelioma Lawyer?

Filing an asbestos claim is a crucial step in securing justice and financial stability for those affected by mesothelioma. Because asbestos exposure is negligent, you can hold asbestos companies liable for expenses related to your illness. Many of these companies knew the risks associated with their products but chose to hide this information from the public for years.

By pursuing a claim, you not only seek compensation to help cover medical expenses and secure your family’s future, but you also take a stand against corporate negligence. This accountability can bring a sense of closure and justice to victims and their families.

Contact a top-rated Ohio mesothelioma lawyer working with clients in Cleveland to learn what to do next. A skilled attorney can guide you through the process, ensuring that you understand your rights and the potential outcomes of your claim.

Remember, holding these companies accountable is not just about personal gain—it’s about preventing future harm and promoting corporate responsibility.

Mesothelioma is expensive to treat. It also causes emotional and physical pain and suffering. “You need an experienced asbestos attorney to help you get the compensation you deserve.” Our dedicated legal team stands ready to support you every step of the way. With a senior partner leading the charge, our team includes seasoned attorneys, skilled paralegals, and knowledgeable medical staff.

• Personalized Attention: We tailor our approach to meet your unique needs, ensuring you receive the individualized care every client deserves.
• Comprehensive Resources: Our investigators work diligently to uncover the details of your case, providing a thorough foundation for your lawsuit.
• Simplified Process: We handle the complexities of the legal system, making it as straightforward and stress-free as possible for you and your family.

By choosing our firm, you’re not just hiring a lawyer; you’re gaining an entire team committed to fighting for your rights and securing the justice you deserve.

Understanding Ohio’s Statute of Limitations for Mesothelioma Claims

When dealing with mesothelioma claims in Ohio, one critical factor to consider is the statute of limitations. This refers to the time frame within which a patient or their family must take legal action after a diagnosis.

Key Points to Know:

1. Time Frame: In Ohio, the statute of limitations often allows mesothelioma patients two years from the date of diagnosis to file a personal injury lawsuit. If a loved one has passed away from mesothelioma, the family typically has two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
2. Reason for Timing: These time constraints ensure that claims are filed while evidence is relatively fresh and witnesses are more likely to be readily available. Acting quickly can significantly impact the strength of the case.
3. Importance of Swift Action:
   • Delaying action might forfeit the opportunity to claim financial compensation.
   • Early consultation with experienced asbestos attorneys can aid in gathering necessary documentation and evidence in a timely manner.
4. Flexibility and Exceptions:
   • While these are standard limitations, exceptional cases may alter the allowable time frame. For instance, if the asbestos exposure was discovered later than initially realized, it could potentially adjust the timeline.

By understanding and adhering to these legal time constraints, mesothelioma patients and their families can better protect their rights and potential compensation. Getting in touch with a lawyer specializing in asbestos-related cases as soon as the disease is diagnosed is crucial in navigating these legal nuances effectively.

How to Choose a Cleveland Mesothelioma Lawyer

Choosing the right lawyer for your mesothelioma lawsuit or claim is important. Look for these characteristics as you find a Cleveland asbestos lawyer:

• Experience. Rely on a lawyer with proven experience handling and winning asbestos cases. These cases require specific knowledge and skills that not all attorneys have.
• Proven Results. The lawyer you choose should be able to show you they have won for other clients.
• Asbestos Law Firm. Investigating and proving a mesothelioma case takes a lot of resources. Your lawyer might be local to Cleveland, but they should be part of a larger law firm with adequate resources and nationwide reach.
• Free Consultation. You shouldn’t have to pay anything for a case review. Reputable mesothelioma lawyers offer free initial consultations. They also offer contingency payment. You pay nothing until they win.

Your Cleveland Mesothelioma Case Could Be Worth Millions

The amount of compensation you can get from a mesothelioma or asbestos lawsuit depends on individual factors. These include your medical and care expenses, lost wages, degree of pain and suffering, and the defendants involved.

Most asbestos cases end in settlements. Mesothelioma settlements average between $1 million and $1.4 million. When they go to trial, mesothelioma lawsuits often result in jury awards of several million dollars.

An example from Cleveland is a case that went to trial in 2014. John Panza was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2012. His father worked in a plant that made asbestos brakes. Panza was exposed to asbestos fibers on his father’s work clothing. A Cleveland jury awarded Panza $27.5 million.

How Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Cleveland?

If you have a diagnosis of mesothelioma, you might not know where you were exposed. This is essential information to prove a mesothelioma case and one of the main reasons you need an experienced attorney.

Cleveland has been home to several industries and employers that used asbestos and exposed workers in the past. Some continue to put workers at risk today.

The Republic/LTV ArcelorMittal Cleveland Steel Plant

Steel manufacturing has been one of Cleveland’s major industries since the 1850s.

The ArcelorMittal Cleveland plant is one of the city’s largest and oldest operating steel manufacturing facilities. The plant consists mainly of pre-existing sections of the old Republic Steel Corporation/LTV plants. Cleveland-Cliffs bought ArcelorMittal USA in 2020.

The section on the West Side used to belong to Otis Steel and has been in its present location since 1914. ArcelorMittal’s facilities on the East Side were part of Corrigan McKinney Steel and have operated there since 1913.

These old sections of the plant were built during a period in which many of the machines used to process raw iron ore into finished steel products contained asbestos.

Steam pipes, insulation, floor panels, and even workers’ utility clothing were made with ACMs for safety purposes. Asbestos was also mixed into some of the steel products to make them stronger and more heat resistant.

Workers and their families came into contact with asbestos for decades. Many are now developing mesothelioma and other related illnesses.

National Acme Building

Many of the older industrial job sites in Cleveland are still standing. Some are no longer in use but still pose risks of asbestos exposure to nearby residents.

Once a manufacturer of machine tools, the National Acme Building is no longer in use. But the site is now littered with asbestos.

In 2012, a demolition company hired to demolish the building failed to follow proper steps to remediate the asbestos, prompting the IRS to get involved.

Several workers associated with the demolition were sentenced to prison plus hefty fines. The same workers were also associated with similar scams at job sites in Louisiana.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now working on cleaning up the site. By 2019, the “EPA removed about 4,000 tons of trash and rubble, deeming the asbestos mix hazardous waste,” according to Cleveland.com.

However, around 30,000 to 40,000 tons of debris and trash remain.

“And so what this now breeds … (is) dumpers, scrappers, vandals, and now it has affected all these buildings along here.”

Councilman Mike Polensek (2019)

Other Cleveland Job Sites and Buildings Associated with Asbestos

Cleveland’s association with heavy industry and energy production has lasted for over 150 years. Much of that period coincided with the heyday of the asbestos industry. 

Consequently, many job sites in Cleveland and the surrounding communities have been known to have used asbestos and consumer products made with ACMs.

Schools and Hospitals

• Case School of Engineering
• Case Western Reserve University
• Garfield High School
• Lake City Vocational School
• Rocky River High School
• South High School
• Cleveland State University
• University Hospitals Case Medical Center
• Cleveland Clinic
• Metro Health System
• St. Alexius Hospital
• St. Vincent Charity Medical Center
• St. Michael’s Hospital

Manufacturing

• Alloys & Chemical Manufacturing Company
• Avtron Manufacturing Inc.
• Cleveland Welding and Manufacturing Company
• Grabler Manufacturing
• Avtron Manufacturing Inc.
• Dangler Stove and Manufacturing Company
• Eberhard Manufacturing
• Kroehler Manufacturing
• Mcmyler-Interstate

Plants

• Calcio Chemical Plant
• General Motors (Chevrolet plant)
• City of Cleveland Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Cleveland Wire Plant
• Edgewater Power Plant
• Cleveland Municipal Lighting Plant
• Standard Oil Pilot Plant
• Avon Lake Power Plant

Additional Businesses and Job Sites

• Apex Smelting Company
• Armstrong Contracting & Supply
• Boston & Ohio Railroad
• Bronson Portland Cement Company
• Champion Machine & Forging
• Chandler & Price
• City of Cleveland Board of Public Service
• Cleveland: Fairmont Pump Station Rehabilitation
• Kirkland Street Pumping Station
• Cleveland & Sandusky Brewing Corporation
• Cleveland and Elyria Electric Railway
• Cleveland Arcade
• Cleveland Board of Education
• Cleveland City Cable Railway
• Cleveland City Forge and Iron
• Cleveland Frog and Crossing Co.
• Cleveland Metropolitan Housing Authority
• Cleveland Transit Drill Company
• Fisher Body and Casting
• Cleveland Botanical Garden
• Hinde and Dauch Paper Company
• Hollenden Hotel
• LTV Steel Mill
• Perfection Stove Corporation
• Plain Dealer Publishing Co.
• Rauch and Lang
• Red Seal Electric Company
• Reliance Electric & Engineering Co.
• Schlather Brewing Company
• Swasey Company Boiler House
• Thompson Ramo Wooldridge
• W.H. Hanna
• White Sewing Machine Company
• The W.M. Pattison Supply Company
• WHK Broadcasting Studio
• West Ninth St. Terminal Warehouse
• Waldron Firebrick & Insulation
• United States Aluminum Company
• Troy Laundry Machinery
• Union Carbide & Carbon Chemical Corporation
• Union Rolling Mill Company
• Todd Welding Company
• Zurowski Greenhouse

Mesothelioma and Cancer Treatment in Cleveland

There are two major medical facilities in Cleveland that provide cancer treatment for victims of asbestos-related diseases: the Cleveland Clinic and the Case Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Founded in 1921, the Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit medical center that combines multi-specialty medical care with academic research. Its Taussig Cancer Institute provides surgical procedures, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and drug-based treatment options.

Cleveland Clinic

2010 East 90th Street
Cleveland, OH, 44195
Phone: 866-223-8100

The Case Comprehensive Cancer Center (Case CCC) is one of only 41 medical facilities in the country designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI) as a Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Wolstein Research Building, Suite 1422

2103 Cornell Road
Cleveland, OH 44106
Phone: 216-844-8797

What Benefits Can Veterans with Mesothelioma Access Through the VA?

Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma have access to a variety of medical and financial benefits provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). These benefits are designed to alleviate the burden of medical expenses and provide support.

Medical Benefits

1. Health Care Services: Veterans can receive specialized treatment for mesothelioma at VA medical centers, which often include access to experienced oncologists.
2. Prescriptions and Medications: Coverage for necessary medications related to mesothelioma treatment.
3. Supportive Care: Access to palliative care services to improve quality of life.

Financial Benefits

1. Disability Compensation: Monthly payments are available to veterans who developed mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure during service.
2. Pension Programs: Additional financial aid is offered for those who meet specific income and age criteria.
3. Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC): Benefits may extend to the surviving spouses and children of veterans who have passed away from service-connected mesothelioma.

Assistance in Filing Claims

Navigating the VA benefits system can be complex, but help is available:

• Veteran Service Organizations (VSOs): Many nonprofits offer free assistance to guide veterans through the process of filing for benefits.
• VA-Accredited Attorneys: Specialized attorneys can assist in preparing and filing claims to ensure veterans receive the benefits they deserve.

Veterans with mesothelioma should explore these options to secure the support needed for managing their health and financial well-being.

People in this company are friendly, knowledgeable, and professional. They quickly answered all my questions and patiently walked me through the case and any open issues. I so appreciate their diligence and patience during this challenging time.

-Jingjing Z.

Legal Help in Cleveland and Additional Information

If you’ve been injured by asbestos, there is a good chance that you’ll qualify for considerable compensation. Don’t forget to get our free Financial Compensation Packet for information on the top mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers in your area.