Mesothelioma Lawyers Wisconsin
At least 716 people died from asbestos exposure in Wisconsin from 1979 to 2001, according to the Environmental Working Group. These deaths primarily centered in Milwaukee County, home to Milwaukee. Wisconsin’s primary sources of asbestos exposure include paper mills, power plants, older buildings and vermiculite processing.
If you or a member of your family has mesothelioma (asbestos cancer) due to asbestos exposure while working in Wisconsin, attorneys Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason can help. We are mesothelioma lawyers with over 30 years of success, and we have recovered millions of dollars in settlement compensation for mesothelioma patients and their families. Our attorneys provide a free mesothelioma case evaluation, and there is no up front cost to you for our services. We can advise you throughout the entire complicated mesothelioma legal process.
Asbestos Exposure in Wisconsin
Wisconsin is the largest manufacturer of paper products in the United States, with paper mills in Green Bay, Marinette, Kaukauna, Mosinee, Rapids and Stevens Point. Georgia-Pacific is one of the largest employers in Wisconsin and has several paper-producing facilities in the state. According to the Georgia-Pacific 4th Quarter 2004 News, in 2004 the company made $200 million in litigation payments to asbestos victims and still had 59,700 asbestos claims pending at year-end.
Before the hazards of asbestos exposure were well known, asbestos was used in paper mills, like Georgia-Pacific, to insulate equipment from the high levels of heat released during the paper manufacturing process. Maintenance workers at paper mills were particularly at risk, since they regularly opened up the machinery to check that passageways were clear and heating elements were working properly.
Wisconsin has numerous older power plants. Since even the smallest fire at a power plant can cause a major disaster, asbestos was commonly used in older power stations across the United States to resist heat and flame. Asbestos insulated boilers, generators, turbines and other machinery. It was also used in wires and electrical panels. When power plant equipment or facilities were repaired, dangerous asbestos fibers could be released into the air, affecting the health of utility and maintenance workers. Workers who repaired and maintained equipment lined with asbestos were especially prone to asbestos fiber inhalation. They often wore protective gear, including aprons, gloves, overcoats and hoods, made from asbestos. When these materials tore or ripped, workers came into direct contact with dangerous asbestos fibers.
Another source of asbestos exposure in Wisconsin was vermiculite processing. 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 594 shipments, representing more than 55,000 tons of vermiculite, was shipped to 3 locations in Wisconsin, including Milwaukee, Kenosha and Madison. The vermiculite was made into attic insulation and other products and sold for construction purposes around the state. Many people across the nation were placed at risk of asbestos exposure. As a result of their negligence, eight executives of W.R. Grace & Company, the owner of the Libby, Montana mine, were indicted on criminal charges for conspiracy and violations of the Clean Air Act.
Wisconsin has many older homes, schools, hospitals and commercial buildings that might ahve used this insulation, along with other asbestos-containing materials. Until the 1980s, asbestos was commonly used for building insulation, roofing materials, floor tiles and millboard. Construction workers, even today, can be exposed to asbestos while repairing or remodeling older buildings unless proper safety precautions are taken.
The City of Milwaukee offers an Asbestos Program to help homeowners and builders understand how to best mitigate the dangers of asbestos inherent in older buildings, including outlining all requirements related to permits, inspections and government regulations. Milwaukee also maintains a directory of certified asbestos companies that offer regulated asbestos services to the public.
Our Attorneys Can Help Victims of Mesothelioma in Wisconsin
If you or someone you love has been affected by asbestos cancer in Wisconsin or any state in the U.S., contact Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason. Whether your asbestos exposure was due to working at a contaminated jobsite or because you used asbestos-containing products, our mesothelioma attorneys will give you sound, legal advice. 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 Wisconsin to meet with you in person.
If you are in need of mesothelioma medical information or treatment, please visit our list of Wisconsin mesothelioma doctors. Our mesothelioma attorneys are here to help.
Call Clapper, Patti, Schweizer & Mason for a free consultation.