Chattanooga Mesothelioma Lawyer

Workers and residents who were injured by asbestos have the right to seek justice with the help of an experienced Chattanooga mesothelioma lawyer. Before the 1980s, many Chattanooga industries depended on asbestos, affecting thousands of workers.

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 loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in Chattanooga, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more. 

Chattanooga Asbestos Facts

• Hamilton County and Chattanooga have the second-highest rate of asbestos-related deaths in Tennessee.
• Between 1999 and 2017, 350 people in the Chattanooga area died from asbestos illnesses.
• Metal smelting, textile production, and construction, among other industries, contributed to asbestos exposure in Chattanooga.

 

What Is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that affects the mesothelium, the tissue that lines the lungs and abdomen. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma, which develops around the lungs. It causes symptoms like chest pains, coughing, and shortness of breath and is often confused with lung cancer.

Peritoneal mesothelioma develops in the abdomen and is less common. It causes symptoms that include abdominal pain and swelling, constipation, and diarrhea.

Mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure. Asbestos is a natural mineral and insulator heavily used in many industries for most of the 20th century. Most people with mesothelioma were negligently exposed to asbestos at work.

How to Take Legal Action for Mesothelioma in Chattanooga

If you have a mesothelioma diagnosis, you have a right to take legal action to seek compensation. There are several ways to recover damages for past negligent asbestos exposure:

• Mesothelioma personal injury lawsuit. Because asbestos exposure is negligent, mesothelioma is often considered a personal injury. You can sue the companies responsible for seeking a settlement or jury award.
• Mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit. If your loved one died from mesothelioma, you can sue for damages. It may be considered a wrongful death.
• Asbestos trust fund claim. Many asbestos companies went bankrupt and can no longer be sued. You may be eligible to make a claim with an asbestos trust set up by these companies to compensate victims.
• VA benefits claim. If you can show your asbestos exposure occurred during military service, you may qualify for VA benefits, including disability compensation.

How a Chattanooga Mesothelioma Lawyer Can Help

If you want to seek compensation for asbestos exposure and illness, you need excellent legal representation. Top Chattanooga attorneys with asbestos experience can sort through your complicated case and get you the best outcome.

Asbestos law firms offer free initial consultations. They will review your information and determine if you have a case. If so, they will use their extensive resources and experience to build a case with evidence to show companies negligently exposed you to asbestos.

Your asbestos attorney will file a lawsuit or claim on your behalf, negotiate a settlement, or take your case to court if necessary. Most importantly, the right lawyer will maximize your compensation for mesothelioma.

Where Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Chattanooga, Tennessee?

Several industries in and around Chattanooga used asbestos and put workers at risk of exposure. These are just a few examples of where you could have been exposed.

Allied Metal Company

This industrial company has several facilities nationwide, including the Chattanooga branch on 3440 Lightfoot Mill Road.

Allied Metal Company smelts aluminum and zinc, supplying materials for appliances, automobiles, electronics, hardware, household products, and more.

Allied used asbestos for decades. Fire and high heat are always a concern at aluminum facilities. Asbestos resists heat and fire and has long been used as an insulator for fire protection.

In addition to the machinery used for smelting, asbestos was used in many company-made products. This asbestos put both workers and people who used the products made by Allied at risk of later health problems.

R.L. Stowe Mill Yard

Many textile mills once used asbestos. The abandoned R.S. Stowe textile mill in Lupton City still poses a risk for nearby residents because of this past use. The site once manufactured thread and employed many people. While it previously helped build the population of the area, it is now a dangerous eyesore.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency confirmed asbestos on the site. The mayor of Chattanooga pledged $1.5 million to clean up the area, but after two years, the effort has been slow.

Several issues have held up the process, including discovering an elevator shaft with a significant amount of asbestos. In early 2020, the city put the project on hold, citing high costs and the complicated nature of the cleanup.

Combustion Engineering

Combustion Engineering acquired two companies that made boilers in Chattanooga in 1925. Boilers at that time, and for decades to come, were made with asbestos insulation. The company also made other products with asbestos, including insulation and asbestos cement.

The Combustion Engineering facilities in Chattanooga exposed many workers to harmful asbestos. One of the victims was Ray Albright, a Tennessee State Senator until 1994. In 2016, Albright spoke out about his diagnosis of mesothelioma. He died in 2017.

Albright worked at Combustion Engineering beginning in 1953. He spent nearly two decades cutting boiler covers and remembered the asbestos dust it produced. Albright and many other former workers sued Combustion Engineering for failing to protect them from the dangers of asbestos.

Other Job Sites Associated with Asbestos Use in Chattanooga

Several older buildings and workplaces in Chattanooga have had or currently have issues with asbestos:

Schools

• East Ridge High School
• McBrien Elementary School
• Mccallie High School
• Westview Elementary School

Manufacturing Companies

• Gager Lime and Manufacturing Company
• Invista Nylon Plant

Hospitals

• Erlanger Health System
• Hamilton County Memorial Hospital

Additional Job Sites

• Chattanooga and Tennessee Electric Power Company
• Breeding Insulation Company Inc.
• Sewanee Coal & Supply Company
• Crystal Springs Bleachery Company
• E. I. Dupont De Nemours & Company
• Eclipse Lookout Boiler Company
• Southern Wood Preserving Company
• Standard Coosa Thatcher Company
• James Supply and Hardware Company
• Tennessee Valley Authority
• Tennessee Paper Mills Inc

Residents in Chattanooga Still at Risk of Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos exposure was much more common in the past, but people are still at risk. Asbestos lingers in older buildings and can cause harm when it deteriorates or is mishandled.

In 2012, a Hamilton judge found three Chattanooga residents guilty of purposely polluting the environment with asbestos. The residents didn’t take the proper precautions while working on a demolition project.

David Wood, James Mathis, and Don Fillers violated federal and state laws when their company was hired to demolish a former textile mill, Standard-Coosa Thatcher Plant. The plant was littered with asbestos.

Wood, Mathis, and Fillers hired several homeless men to help on the project, none of whom were trained and qualified to work around asbestos.

Not only was the community in danger of asbestos exposure, but they also put the workers in direct danger.

All three men were sentenced to prison for violating the Clean Air Act. They also must pay several fines to the city and face civil lawsuits should anyone develop asbestos-related illnesses.

Mesothelioma Treatment in Chattanooga

It’s important to find mesothelioma treatment from doctors and centers specializing in asbestos diseases, preferably a center backed by the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

Although there are no NCI-designated cancer centers in Chattanooga, nearby options include:

• Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center:
  691 Preston Research Building
  Nashville, Tennessee, 37232
  615-936-8422
• Winship Cancer Institute:
  1365C Clifton Road
  Atlanta, Georgia, 30332
  404-778-1900

Getting Legal Help in Chattanooga

Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for significant compensation. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on experienced asbestos lawyers in your area. If you need additional assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.