Mesothelioma Lawyers Ohio
According to the Environmental Working Group, at least 1,609 people were killed by asbestos exposure in Ohio from 1979 to 2001. These deaths primarily centered in Cuyahoga, Hamilton, Lucas and Summit Counties, covering the metropolitan areas of Cleveland, Cincinnati, Toledo and Akron. Because Ohio depends so heavily on the types of industries that have historically used asbestos for heat, sound and fire insulation, it is understandable why Ohio mesothelioma statistics are staggering. Since asbestos takes years or even decades to affect the body, and patients do not typically demonstrate symptoms of an asbestos-related illness for many years, it is likely that a high number of asbestos-related deaths will continue to occur in Ohio.
If you or someone you love has mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) because you were exposed to asbestos while working in Ohio, attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason can help. Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason understand the stressful and complicated mesothelioma legal process. We are mesothelioma lawyers with over 30 years of success. We have recovered millions of dollars in settlement compensation for mesothelioma patients and their heirs. Our attorneys provide a free mesothelioma case evaluation, and there is no up front cost to you for our services.
Asbestos Exposure in Ohio
Ohio has a long history of manufacturing, and it is home to many power plants and oil refineries. Heavy industries in Ohio where workers may have been exposed to high levels of asbestos include steel plants, auto plants, chemical plants, oil refineries, power plants and several vermiculite processing plants.
From 1940 – 1990, asbestos-contaminated vermiculite mined in Libby, Montana was shipped to processing plants throughout the United States. According to the Environmental Working Group, at least 3,737 shipments, representing over 445,000 tons, of vermiculite was shipped from Libby to 14 locations in Ohio, including Marysville, Cleveland, Port Clinton and North Bloomfield. The vermiculite was processed into attic insulation and other products. The O.M. Scott & Sons plant in Marysville, Ohio, received a great deal of the Libby vermiculite contaminated with asbestos. During the insulation manufacturing process, asbestos fibers could easily have adhered to workers clothing, hair and skin, putting both workers and their families at great risk of asbestos exposure. The insulation was sold for construction purposes around the state and across the country, putting even more people at risk. Today, O.M. Scott & Sons is one of 28 identified Government Listed Asbestos Contamination Sites in the United States.
Steel mills have operated for generations in Ohio. Manufacturing steel involves a tremendous amount of heat and flame. Because of its insulating and fire-retardant qualities, steel mills used asbestos to line and protect equipment exposed to high temperatures. Many workers even wore clothing made from asbestos for protection. Furnace and smelter operators were particularly at risk of asbestos exposure, since they worked directly with heated materials. Many other steel plant workers may have come in contact with asbestos-containing materials as well, including machine setters, welders, millwrights, pourers and casters.
Ohio is home to dozens of auto parts manufacturing plants. Before the health hazards of asbestos were widely known, asbestos was commonly used in the automotive industry to make exhaust systems, brake pads, gaskets and hundreds of other products. Asbestos helped minimize the possibility of automobile fires. Workers who made and assembled these auto parts were often exposed to and inhaled the fine asbestos fibers. Automobile manufacturers readily admit that asbestos was used in brakes, clutches and firewalls, but they often deny its toxicity. In fact, many automobile manufacturers have gone to court to defend their use of the hazardous mineral.
Other major industries in Ohio that have exposed workers to asbestos include power plants, oil refineries and chemical plants. Asbestos was widely used in all of these industrial plants, prior to the 1980’s, because of its heat and fire-resistant properties and its heightened resistance to chemical degradation. Employees at chemical plants may have come in contact with asbestos on work surfaces, wrapped around pipes, or even in their protective gear, including gloves and face masks. Asbestos exposure was virtually unavoidable in power plants built prior to 1980, since it was used to cover pipes, boilers, generators and other machinery.
Our Attorneys Can Help Victims of Mesothelioma in Ohio
If you or a member of your family has been affected by asbestos cancer in Ohio or any state in the U.S., contact Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason. Our mesothelioma attorneys are experts in mesothelioma cancer lawsuits. We have over thirty years of experience providing mesothelioma legal representation to clients across the United States. We offer a free case evaluation and can fly to Ohio to meet with you in person.
If you are in need of mesothelioma medical information or treatment, visit our list of Ohio mesothelioma doctors. Mesothelioma attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason are here to help.
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