Mesothelioma Lawyers California
Clapper, Patti Schweizer & Mason is aCalifornia mesothelioma law firm with over 30 years of success. Our lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in settlement compensation for mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) patients and their families who have lived and worked in the State of California.
We have represented workers who were exposed to asbestos in shipyards, refineries, naval facilities, construction sites and industrial operations throughout California. Unfortunately, the same industry, shipbuilding and military presence that has been an economic boon to Californians over the years has also resulted in many of our citizens being exposed to asbestos and developing mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases.
These diseases could have and should have been prevented. The knowledge that was needed to prevent asbestos diseases from occurring existed as far back as the 1930's. California law allows people who develop asbestos diseases, even from exposure in the remote past, to sue and receive compensation from the responsible companies.
The law in California allows us to obtain early trial dates for people with mesothelioma, so that our attorneys can often completely resolve a case within six months or less. California law imposes liability on the companies that sold defective products for the injuries caused by their products. California juries, particularly in Los Angeles, Alameda and San Francisco Counties, have repeatedly awarded large verdicts for mesothelioma victims and their families. This record of large jury verdicts provides motivation for asbestos companies to settle cases before trial.
Mesothelioma is a very serious form of cancer related to asbestos exposure, and families who have been touched by mesothelioma have many challenges ahead. Whatever treatment options a mesothelioma patient chooses, treatment is expensive. A mesothelioma diagnosis can often mean financial hardship without some kind of legal assistance.
Our experienced mesothelioma lawyerscan help provide fast compensation to California families impacted by mesothelioma. The financial resources we make available allow our clients to focus on fighting mesothelioma, beating the odds, and enjoying time with loved ones.
We have represented people who have worked at virtually every major shipyard, refinery and industrial plant in the state. The full list is too long to mention here, but our clients have worked at:
Government shipyards in California with possible asbestos exposure:
- Hunter’s Point Naval Shipyard
- Long Beach Naval Shipyard
- Mare Island Naval Shipyard
- Alameda Naval Air Station
- 32nd Street Naval Base (San Diego)
- North Island Naval Air Station (San Diego)
Privately owned shipyards in California with possible asbestos exposure:
- Kaiser Shipyards 1-3 (Richmond)
- Bethlehem Steel Shipyard (San Francisco)
- Marin Shipbuilding Corporation (Sausalito)
- Triple A Shipyard (Alameda)
- Triple A Shipyard (San Diego)
- Pacific Ship Repair (San Diego)
- Campbell Industries Shipyard (San Diego)
- San Diego Marine Shipyard
- California Shipbuilding (Wilmington)
- Western Pipe and Steel (San Francisco)
- Western Pipe and Steel (San Pedro)
- Bethlehem Steel Shipyard (Terminal Island)
- Todd Shipyard (San Pedro)
- Todd Shipyard (Alameda)
- Moore Drydock (Alameda)
- National Steel Shipyard (San Diego)
Refineries in California:
- Exxon Refinery (Benicia)
- Standard Oil Refineries (Richmond, San Pedro)
- Tosco Refining (Avon)
- Union Oil Refineries (Carson, El Segundo, Rodeo, San Pedro)
- Shell Oil Refineries (Dominguez, Martinez)
Other facilities have included numerous power plants, high-rise buildings, industrial facilities, factories, automotive garages and municipal sewer and water services. We have a vast library of information about these and many other California sites, that includes information about the types and brands of asbestos products used at each location.
Every mesothelioma patient’s exposure to asbestos is different. Some, such as insulators, shipyard workers or pipe fitters, had jobs that obviously involved working with asbestos. Others were exposed during the course of home remodeling and during the use of consumer products–completely outside their occupation.
Many mesothelioma victims we have represented have not known how or when they were exposed to asbestos until our lawyers completed an extensive asbestos exposure investigation. By getting to know each client as an individual, and by learning each client’s personal story of asbestos exposure, we can show which asbestos companies were responsible for causing the mesothelioma.
Victims of mesothelioma that live in California or another state:
Our attorneys who are experts inmesothelioma cancer lawsuits , will provide a free mesothelioma case evaluation and will fly to your location to meet with you in person. If you are a family member of someone who has been affected by asbestos cancer in California or any state in the U.S. contact us. There is no up front cost to you for our services. We are here to help. We have over twenty five years of experience providing mesothelioma legal representation to clients in California as well as across the United States.
California Mesothelioma Lawyer
California ranks number one among all U.S. states for deaths caused by mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses. To date over 4,000 asbestos-related deaths have occurred in the state.
Most of these cases are a result of asbestos exposure on job sites. The victims never knew they were at risk of harm from asbestos. Many have since turned to a experienced California mesothelioma lawyer for guidance in the fight against the manufacturers and companies that exposed them to asbestos.
There is currently more than $30 billion available in trusts funds for those who have been affected by an asbestos-related illness. If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to significant compensation. Complete our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the top mesothelioma lawyers in your area, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.
We can offer legal assistance to families in all California cities and towns, including these:
Los Angeles, San Diego, San Jose, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Santa Ana, Riverside, Stockton, Chula Vista, Irvine, Fremont, San Bernardino, Modesto, Oxnard, Fontana, Moreno, Valley, Huntington Beach, Glendale, Santa Clarita, Garden Grove, Oceanside, Santa Rosa, Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Elk Grove, Lancaster, Corona, Palmdale, Salinas, Hayward, Pomona, Escondido, Sunnyvale, Torrance, Orange, Pasadena, Fullerton, Thousand Oaks, Visalia, Roseville, Simi Valley, Concord, Victorville, Santa Clara, Vallejo, Berkeley, El Monte, Downey, Costa Mesa, Inglewood, Carlsbad, Fairfield, Ventura, West Covina, Richmond, Murrieta, Antioch, Temecula, Norwalk, Daly City, Burbank, Santa Maria, El Cajon, Rialto, San Mateo, Clovis, Jurupa Valley, Compton, Vista, Mission Viejo, South Gate, Vacaville, Carson, Santa Monica, Hesperia, Westminster, Redding, Santa Barbara, San Marcos, Chico, San Leandro, Newport Beach, Whittier, Hawthorne, Citrus Heights, Livermore, Tracy Alhambra, Indio, Menifee, Buena Park, Hemet, Lakewood, Merced, Chino, and more.
Asbestos Exposure in California
Several companies and industries in California used large amounts of asbestos from the early 1900s until the 1970s. These included construction, shipbuilding, automobile manufacturing, electronics, the military, and other industries.
Asbestos use decreased after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put limits on it in the 1970s when its link to cancer had been proven. Even with these limits, asbestos continues to impact thousands of individuals.
In spite of protections, Californians still receive diagnoses of asbestos illnesses today. This is because it takes years or decades for symptoms to develop and the diseases to manifest. There are several reasons that California residents, even today, are especially vulnerable to mesothelioma and other illnesses related to asbestos:
- California has several industries that used asbestos on a large scale. During World War II California was home to aircraft factories, radar and radio equipment manufacturers, shipyards, and automobile plants that used asbestos.
- Many military men and women who served between World War II and the mid-1970s experienced asbestos exposure during active duty.
- Thousands of residential developments used and still have asbestos. This is because the state’s population boom coincided with the prosperity of the post-Depression recovery.
- California has some of the highest levels of naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) in the U.S. NOA deposits are harmless if they remain undisturbed. The effects of earthquakes and human activity stir up asbestos fibers and release them into the air.
High Rates of Mesothelioma in California
The rapid increase in California’s population since the 1940s caused rapid economic expansion. It also led to an increase in mesothelioma cases. As more people moved to the state to seek jobs or to live in California’s temperate climate after World War II, the boom in construction resulted in widespread use of asbestos.
Serious health risks associated with asbestos were not well understood then. The fire- and heat-resistance of asbestos made it a desirable material for use in construction. Many buildings, including homes, schools, offices, and industrial factories still have asbestos in them for this reason.
Workers who handled drywall, insulation, roofing materials, steam pipes, plumbing materials, electrical wiring, and many other building materials faced serious exposure risks during the boom in construction and building.
California Companies That Used Asbestos
Before the regulations put in place by the federal government, many companies and government agencies used asbestos. Asbestos adds strength, and heat and fire resistance to materials, making it a useful mineral for many different types of industries.
Many electric companies, including Pacific Gas & Electric, Southern California Edison, and San Diego Gas & Electric used asbestos in their facilities. Automobile, aviation, electronics equipment, computer science and chemical industries also used asbestos in materials and components.
Examples include Chrysler, Ford Motor Company, Boeing, North American Aviation, Rockwell, Honeywell International, Union Carbide, U.S. Steel, and Chevron. Companies that mined asbestos in California included Bell Asbestos Mines, Ltd. and Calaveras Asbestos, Ltd. Both miners and residents near the mine risked exposure.
Other California Job Sites Known for Asbestos Use
- King City Asbestos Company (KCAC)
- California Naval Shipyard
- Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
- Moore Dry Dock
California Asbestos Laws
California laws are designed to reduce asbestos exposure. According to the California Department of Industrial Relations (DIR), Title 8 sets guidelines for each industry for the reduction of asbestos exposure, for minimum air quality, and asbestos exposure documentation.
The DIR’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health enforces the state’s asbestos laws and standards in construction, shipbuilding, and other industries.
Under subchapter 7 of Title 8, Section 5208 of the California Code of Regulations there are several laws related to the abatement, handling, removal, and disposal of asbestos within the state:
- The law sets breathing exposure limits for all affected employees.
- Employees working around asbestos must be monitored.
- Employees must be professionally trained in working around and handling asbestos.
- Facility and building owners must determine the location and amount of any existing asbestos.
- Warning signs and postings that clearly convey asbestos in the work area must be posted in the vicinity of the workplace.
- Protective clothing and respirators must be provided to and worn at all times by workers around asbestos. Tools and equipment must also be cleaned.
For more detailed information, you can contact the California Department of Industrial Regulation’s at 510-286-7000.
California Statute of Limitations on Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cases
The Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 335.1 states that asbestos-related cases in California must be filed separately from personal injury cases. Asbestos cases also have a different statute of limitations. Plaintiffs filing an asbestos or mesothelioma lawsuit must do so within one year of the first signs of the condition or within one year after the victim should have reasonably received a diagnosis.
Wrongful deaths lawsuits have to be filed within one year of the victim’s death. It is important to work with an experienced asbestos lawyer if filing a related case, as it is easy to miss the window of opportunity without that expertise and knowledge of the laws
