Most industrial workplaces in Milwaukee used asbestos for decades and put workers at risk of developing fatal diseases. Many people injured by asbestos are now fighting back with the help of an experienced Milwaukee mesothelioma lawyer.
If you or a loved one suffer from mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for substantial compensation. Currently, there is over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds, awaiting those who’ve been diagnosed with an asbestos illness. Fill out our form to receive our free Financial Compensation Packet. Our packet is loaded with information on experienced mesothelioma attorneys in Milwaukee, how to file a claim for asbestos trust funds, how to get paid in 90 days, and more.
FREE Financial Compensation Packet
- Info on law firms that will recover your HIGHEST COMPENSATION
- Learn how to get paid in 90 days
- File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Milwaukee Asbestos Facts
- Nearly 7,000 people died from asbestos diseases in Wisconsin between 1999 and 2017.
- Milwaukee County had the highest number of such deaths during that period, with 851.
- Manufacturing is an important industry in Milwaukee, and most companies used asbestos for decades, putting workers at risk.
What Caused My Mesothelioma?
The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure. If you have a mesothelioma diagnosis, you were most likely exposed to asbestos at one or more past jobs.
Asbestos is a natural mineral that easily sheds tiny fibers when handled. These fibers enter the air as dust and can be inhaled or ingested by workers not wearing protective gear.
Asbestos fibers in the body cause damage to cells and tissue. This damage can lead to serious illnesses many years later in some people:
Mesothelioma is strongly associated with asbestos. The most common form develops around the lungs and causes related symptoms, such as shortness of breath, chest pains, and persistent coughing.
Do I Have a Valid Mesothelioma Case?
If you have mesothelioma, you probably have a valid case to seek compensation. Mesothelioma is almost always caused by negligent asbestos exposure. You can hold asbestos companies accountable and liable for your expenses related to being sick.
The best way to determine if you have a case is to talk to a local Milwaukee asbestos attorney. They can review your work history and medical records to find the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure.
How to Choose a Milwaukee Mesothelioma Lawyer
You need an expert lawyer on your side to seek compensation after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Here’s what to look for in a Milwaukee asbestos attorney:
- Experience handling and winning asbestos cases
- Access to investigators to find out where you were exposed to asbestos and the companies responsible
- Access to medical experts to prove asbestos exposure caused your illness
- Experience settling cases and litigating mesothelioma lawsuits in court
- Examples of proven wins and fair compensation amounts for similar clients
- A free initial consultation to review your case and answer your questions
- Contingency payment, so you pay nothing until they win
- Compassion for clients who are ill and often unable to travel
What Is My Mesothelioma Case Worth?
Every asbestos case is different. The compensation you might receive depends on individual factors:
- Your past and current medical expenses
- Loss of income
- Future expected treatment costs
- Home medical care costs
- Medical equipment costs
- The costs of travel to medical appointments
- Physical and emotional pain and suffering
An expert mesothelioma lawyer can give you a reasonable estimate of compensation expectations. They cannot guarantee any specific amount.
Most mesothelioma and asbestos lawsuits end in settlements, which average between $1 million and $1.4 million. Jury awards are often much higher, but trials take a long time to resolve. Asbestos trust fund claims average around $180,000.
Where Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Milwaukee, Wisconsin?
Asbestos exposure mainly occurs on the job. If you have mesothelioma, you probably worked with or around asbestos. Milwaukee has long had an industrial economy with numerous workplaces that used asbestos. These are just a few examples.
P&H Mining Equipment, Inc.
P&H Mining Equipment, also known as the Harnischfeger Corporation, is a manufacturing company for the mining industry. It makes industrial cranes, drills, excavators, welding machinery, and more.
For decades, the company used asbestos in machinery, parts, and equipment, especially brake linings. Workers were at risk of exposure to the asbestos fibers in these components.
The brakes on large mining machinery had to be abraded to fit various parts on the machines.
Each time workers abraded the brakes, asbestos fibers went airborne and contaminated the job site. The company faced several lawsuits after workers were diagnosed with terminal asbestos-related diseases.
One plaintiff, John Pender, worked at the company from 1952 to 1993. In 2006, Pender was diagnosed with mesothelioma and died a few days later.
Pender’s loved ones filed a lawsuit. Although the jury awarded the family $1.5 million in damages, the decision was later reversed on an appeal. However, the company continues to face similar lawsuits.
H.W. Johns Manville Company
The Manville Covering Company was a Milwaukee asbestos manufacturing company that made insulation. In 1901, it merged with another manufacturing business and became the H.W. Johns Manville Company.
Along with manufacturing asbestos for heat insulation, the company also began making many other asbestos-containing products, such as cement, pipes, fiberglass, and cylinders. After many years of prolonged exposure to asbestos, workers began to suffer from asbestos-related illnesses.
The sheer amount of asbestos-related lawsuits forced the company to go into bankruptcy. Later, it set up a mesothelioma trust fund to compensate future claimants.
Vermiculite Processing Plants
Two former vermiculite processing facilities operated in Milwaukee, Western Mineral Products Co. and W.R. Grace Construction Products Division. They both received asbestos-contaminated minerals from the W.R. Grace mines in Libby, Montana.
The Libby mines shipped tainted vermiculite to processing facilities around the country. Workers who handled these materials most likely inhaled asbestos fibers and were at risk of developing asbestos illnesses. Also at risk of exposure were nearby residents.
Asbestos in Milwaukee Breweries
The beer industry has long been a major employer in Milwaukee. Breweries used asbestos in a few different ways: as insulation in buildings and as a filtering material. Breweries filtered beer with asbestos as late as the 1970s. This use of asbestos put workers at risk of exposure and illness.
The family of a former worker at Pabst sued the company over his death from mesothelioma. Gerald Lorbiecki worked as a steamfitter at several locations, including Pabst. The jury agreed that Pabst failed to protect workers from asbestos and awarded the family $6.5 million in actual damages.
Additional Job Sites Associated with Asbestos in Milwaukee
Many companies in Milwaukee used asbestos in the past. Some still have facilities that contain asbestos, and there are also older public buildings that may still pose a risk of exposure.
Schools
- Case High School
- Central Continuation School
- Forest Home Avenue School
- Gesu Grade School
- Horace Mann High School
- Horlick High School
- James Madison High School
- Kohler High School
- Lloyd Street Global Education School
- Mother of Good Counsel School
- Oconomowoc High School
- Sholes Middle School
- Union Grove High School
- Marquette University
Hospitals
- Columbia St. Mary’s
- Lakeview Hospital
- Milwaukee Regional Medical Center
- Northwest General Hospital
- Aurora St. Luke’s Medical Center
- St. Catherine’s Hospital
- St. Francis Hospital
Manufacturing Companies
- Bausch Manufacturing
- M.C. Bullock Manufacturing Company
- Cutler-Hammer
- E.R. Wagner Manufacturing Company
- Marquette Cement Manufacturing Company
- Milwaukee Car Manufacturing Company
- Nordberg Manufacturing Company
- Vilter Manufacturing LLC
- Wrought Washer Manufacturing Company
Breweries
- Blatz Brewing Company
- Gettelman Brewing
- Joseph Schlitz Brewing Company
- Miller Brewing Company
- Pabst Brewing Company
- Valentin Blatz Brewing Company
Can I Still Be Exposed to Asbestos in Milwaukee?
Asbestos exposure was more prevalent in the past when so many workplaces used it. Today, most companies do not use it, but asbestos remains in older buildings throughout and near Milwaukee.
Older asbestos materials in buildings deteriorate over time, releasing fibers. Any kind of renovation work or demolition can also release fibers and put people at risk of exposure.
School buildings are common sources of ongoing asbestos risk. In 2022, Sheboygan was forced to close a middle school due to asbestos that was damaged after a pipe burst.
In nearby Racine County, Yorkville schools notified parents of an asbestos exposure incident at an elementary school in 2019. A maintenance worker was directed to remove flooring without any protective gear or warnings that it contained asbestos.
Many older buildings in Milwaukee contain asbestos and must be handled carefully. In 2022, the city received millions in federal funding to support affordable housing. Part of the project necessarily involves safely abating asbestos in older homes.
A multimillion-dollar project to renovate Milwaukee’s criminal courthouse began in 2018. It included abating asbestos throughout the building to make it safer for staff.
Mesothelioma Treatment in Milwaukee
Treatment for asbestos-related diseases requires specialists in cancer and asbestos illnesses.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) designates certain facilities, including the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center, as Comprehensive Cancer Centers. These facilities provide excellent specialist care, innovative treatment options, and clinical trials.
Getting Legal Help in Milwaukee
Remember to fill out our form to get your free Financial Compensation Packet, with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers in your area. Keep in mind that if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for considerable compensation. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.
