Mesothelioma Lawyers Louisiana

Louisiana is home to numerous shipbuilding facilities, power generation plants, oilrigs, oil refineries, chemical plants and paper mills. All of these industries have historically placed workers at high risk of asbestos exposure. Additionally, Louisiana received the brunt of the damage from Hurricane Katrina. Since homes and commercial buildings were typically constructed with asbestos-containing products prior to 1980, many workers involved in the clean up after the hurricane may have come in contact with dangerous levels of asbestos. Exposure to any amount of asbestos needlessly puts workers at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma.

Louisiana had 680 asbestos-related deaths from 1979 through 2001 alone. Jefferson Parish and Orleans Parish had the highest number of deaths, 242, with 123 from mesothelioma. We strongly urge anyone diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease or an heir to contact a mesothelioma attorney to determine if an asbestos-related lawsuit is appropriate. Clapper, Patti Schweizer & Mason are mesothelioma lawyers with over 30 years of experience. We can explain your legal rights and help you understand what to expect from a mesothelioma lawsuit. Our attorneys have recovered millions of dollars in settlement compensation for mesothelioma patients and their families. We provide a free mesothelioma case evaluation, and there is no up front cost for our services.

Hurricane Katrina and Asbestos Exposure in Louisiana

Because of its location on the Gulf Coast, Louisiana has a large number of heavy industries historically known for asbestos use, putting many workers at risk of developing asbestos-related diseases. These industries include shipbuilding, power generation, oil drilling, oil refineries, chemical plants and paper mills. Louisiana also has many older homes and historic buildings. Before its dangers were widely known, asbestos was commonly used in insulation, roofing materials, floor tiles and millboard.

Hurricane Katrina put many Louisiana individuals and families at risk of asbestos exposure. The hurricane tore homes and commercial buildings apart, releasing asbestos-containing materials into the air. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warned of the deadly hazard of asbestos exposure due to Hurricane Katrina and noted that all structures built prior to the mid-1970s likely contained asbestos materials.

After the hurricane subsided, many damaged buildings were demolished. Buildings were often demolished quickly, and demolitions may have been performed without proper precautions. Safety procedures, such as dampening asbestos-containing materials, wearing disposable protective clothing and avoiding the use of power tools might not have been followed. According to the National Cancer Institute, investigators have found asbestos-related diseases in individuals with only brief exposures to asbestos. As construction and demolitions continue in New Orleans, the threat of asbestos exposure is still present throughout the city.

A primary industrial source of asbestos in New Orleans was the Zonolite Company. W.R. Grace & Company shipped asbestos contaminated vermiculite concentrate from their mine in Libby, Montana to the Zonolite Company for processing from 1965-1989. The vermiculite was used for attic insulation, an ingredient in fireproofing products, an ingredient in masonry fill and as an additive in potting soils and fertilizers. The processing of the concentrate put many workers and residents of the surrounding community at risk of asbestos exposure. The Zonolite Company is considered a priority government exposure site for asbestos contamination.

Louisiana has many oil refineries, and oil refinery workers were typically at high risk of asbestos exposure prior to the late 1970s. Asbestos was widely used to insulate equipment that needed to operate at hot temperatures. Equipment such as furnaces, tanks, boilers, ovens, heat exchangers and pumps were lined and covered with asbestos-containing materials. Workers who repaired and maintained this equipment were especially prone to asbestos fiber inhalation. Workers sometimes wore protective gear, including gloves and facemasks, made from asbestos fibers to protect them from heat-creating elements. This clothing may have put them into direct contact with dangerous asbestos fibers. When asbestos is inhaled or ingested, the thin fibers that make up this mineral can cause asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma.

Louisiana is home to many shipyards. The shipbuilding industry exposed countless workers to asbestos. Because having a fire while at sea was a great concern, asbestos was used extensively to protect nearly every ship component from high temperatures and corrosion. Asbestos was used in boiler rooms, engine rooms, sleeping quarters and hallways. Shipyard workers who constructed these areas were likely exposed to asbestos while installing asbestos-containing materials. Longshoremen and other port workers may also have been exposed to asbestos while loading and unloading ships. Wrapping materials, crates and pallets for transporting products often contained asbestos fibers. Anyone who handled items being off-loaded from a ship or who delivered a load aboard a ship was at risk of breathing asbestos into their lungs.

If you worked in any of these industries, companies and/or jobsites in Louisiana, there is a possibility that you were exposed to harmful asbestos. If you need sound legal advice or representation due to this exposure, contact mesothelioma lawyers Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason.

• Zonolite Company in New Orleans
• Bollinger Shipyard in Lockport
• Avondale Shipyard in New Orleans
• Higgings Shipyard in New Orleans
• Power Plants in Baton Rouge, St. Francisville, New Orleans, Killona and Lake Charles
• Oil Refineries
• Paper Mills
• Chemical Companies

Our Attorneys Can Help Victims of Mesothelioma in Louisiana

If you or members of your family have been affected by asbestos cancer in Louisiana or any state in the U.S., contact Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason. Our mesothelioma attorneys are experts in mesothelioma lawsuits. We have over thirty years of success providing legal representation to mesothelioma clients across the United States. We will provide a free case evaluation and can fly to Louisiana to meet with you in person. There is no up front cost to you for our services.

If you are in need of mesothelioma medical information or treatment, visit our list of Louisiana mesothelioma treatment centers. Mesothelioma attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason are here to help.

Call attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason for a free consultation.