Texas Mesothelioma Lawyer
Written by: Jeff O’Connell
How a Mesothelioma Lawyer in Texas Can Help
In the 1960s and 1970s, more than 400,000 people worked in Texas’s oil, mining and petrochemical industries. Decades later, thousands of those former workers are developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. If your loved one is in this situation, a Texas mesothelioma lawyer can show you what legal steps to take.
Working With Texas Mesothelioma Attorneys
- Understand filing deadlines and legal requirements specific to Texas mesothelioma cases.
- Access resources to locate employment records, exposure documentation and worksite histories.
- Explore all compensation options, including asbestos trust funds and other sources you may not be aware of.
- File claims in the appropriate Texas jurisdiction for your situation.
- Work with experienced attorneys who handle every aspect of your case and protect you from costly errors.
Recent Texas Supreme Court decisions have made it more challenging to hold companies accountable for negligence in mesothelioma lawsuits. Nemeroff Law Firm has extensive experience handling asbestos cases in Texas and can help you and your family.
How We Help People Facing Mesothelioma in Texas
Nemeroff Law Firm investigates your asbestos exposure history, identifies liable companies and pursues compensation through lawsuits, settlements or trust fund claims. We handle the legal work so you can focus on treatment and time with family.
Our team has recovered tens of millions of dollars for Texas mesothelioma patients. We meet with clients within 24 hours and work on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we win your case.
Asbestos Compensation in Texas
Mesothelioma patients in Texas may be eligible for multiple forms of compensation. Personal injury lawsuits can recover costs for medical treatment, hospitalization, ongoing care and income lost from illness.
If a patient passes away, family members can pursue wrongful death claims to recover funeral expenses, lost financial support and outstanding medical bills. These claims recognize both the economic impact and the loss surviving relatives experience.
Compensation amounts vary based on individual circumstances. Mesothelioma settlements typically range from $1 million to $2 million nationally, while asbestos trust fund payouts average $200,000 to $800,000. Many cases involve combining multiple sources, such as lawsuit recoveries, trust fund payments and veterans benefits, to maximize total compensation.
Nemeroff Law Firm’s Notable Mesothelioma Verdicts
Nemeroff Law Firm has secured substantial verdicts for clients across Texas. Recent wins include Bobby Lee v. Ameron Inter. Corp., a case involving a worker at an ExxonMobil oil refinery.
Recent Texas Verdicts Nemeroff Law Firm Has Secured
- $55.5 million: Hernandez v. Kelly Moore Paint Company
- $16.9 million: Blackburn, et al. v. Tyler Pipe Industries
- $6 million: Sanchez v. US Gypsum and National Gypsum
- $4.78 million: Meinert v. Owens Corning Fiberglass
- $3.55 million: Hermosillo v. Pittsburgh Corning
- $2.4 million: Bobby Lee v. Ameron Inter. Corp. (2024)
Our Texas mesothelioma attorneys also handle appeals and can help your family identify the most effective compensation strategy. This may include pursuing trust fund payments from multiple sources, including manufacturers and insurance companies.
Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in Texas
Texas courts require adequate proof to support your claim before filing. This includes proof of illness, medical records, employment documents, witnesses and expert testimony to prove the defendant’s liability.
Key Facts About Filing Texas Mesothelioma Claims
- Texas courts may dismiss mesothelioma lawsuits that lack sufficient evidence at the initial filing stage. While substantial evidence is required, they can be successfully pursued with proper documentation.
- Asbestos trust fund claims also require documentation of exposure and employment history but have different filing requirements than lawsuits.
- The statute of limitations for mesothelioma personal injury claims is two years from diagnosis.
- Wrongful death claims must also be filed within two years of the patient’s death.
Contact a mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after diagnosis, even if the statute of limitations deadline seems distant. Early legal guidance helps ensure you gather the necessary evidence and meet all filing requirements.
Common Sources of Asbestos Exposure in Texas
The risk of asbestos exposure in Texas was high at industrial locations such as oil refineries, shipyards, chemical factories, power plants and steel mills. Many of these companies were located in cities near Houston and along the Texas Gulf Coast, such as Baytown, Beaumont, Freeport, Galveston and Corpus Christi.
Dozens of Texas manufacturers are on the EPA’s National Priorities List for asbestos, such as ALCOA in Point Comfort and Crystal Chemical Co. in Houston. The W.R. Grace & Company asbestos mine in Libby, MT, sent more than 500,000 tons of contaminated vermiculite to companies in Dallas and Houston for processing.
Click here to download a full list of exposure job sites and companies in Texas
Oil Refining
In the 1960s and 1970s, Texas oil refineries used asbestos for its heat-resistant and fireproof properties. Examples include insulation and cement building materials.
- ARCO Petrochemical Plant
- Citgo Refinery
- ExxonMobil Baytown Refinery
- Gulf Oil
- Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery
- Texaco Oil
Asbestos insulation covered oil refining equipment and pipes, such as heat exchangers, furnaces, pumps and crackers. Maintenance workers had frequent contact with the toxic material.
Chemical Processing
More than 60,000 people worked in Texas’s chemical industry in the 1960s. The largest manufacturing hub was in the Houston and Texas City area, with additional major centers in Beaumont and Port Arthur.
- Chevron Phillips Chemical
- Dow Chemical Plant
- DuPont Chemical Plant
- Lone Star Industries Inc
- Lyondell Chemical
- Nalco Chemical Plant
- Texas Chemical
- Union Carbide
Chemical plants used asbestos frequently as a protective coating on production screens and tanks. Workers had to regularly wash off the old layer and reapply new asbestos.
Shipbuilding
Asbestos is corrosion-resistant and heat-resistant, which made it a major part of ship construction and repair operations. The material coated pipes, hulls, pumps and other equipment. Many wall, floor and ceiling tiles also contained asbestos.
- American Bridge Shipyard
- Bethlehem Shipping Company
- Gulfport Shipping Company
- Port Adams Shipyard
- Todd Shipping Company
Many laborers worked directly with asbestos coatings in shipbuilding, such as pipefitters and repair personnel. Others were exposed when working nearby, including electricians and welders.
Occupations & Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure in Texas
Asbestos insulation was a danger to factory workers on a daily basis. Spray-on insulation coatings were friable, releasing harmful asbestos fibers that workers inhaled with dust. Asbestos pipe wrapping eventually needed replacing, with maintenance teams cutting it away and applying new layers.
Jobs Linked to Asbestos in Texas
- Chemical plant workers
- Insulators and maintenance workers
- Metalworkers
- Painters, carpenters and drywall installers
- Steamfitters, pipefitters and boilermakers
- Welders and electricians
Texas laborers exposed to asbestos could also carry the dangerous fibers home on their work clothes and hair. Some family members developed mesothelioma from this type of secondary exposure.
Get a Free Texas Mesothelioma Case Evaluation
Let the Mesothelioma Attorneys at Nemeroff Law Firm Help You
At Nemeroff Law Firm, we have the experience and dedication to handle difficult mesothelioma cases. Other national law firms refer Texas cases to our team because of our reputation.
Nemeroff attorneys live and work in Texas. Our team is determined and experienced. We know the local people, court system and laws. We handle the heavy lifting so your family can focus on health and family time.
Office locations:
Nemeroff Law Firm – Dallas
Douglas Plaza
8226 Douglas Avenue, Suite 740
Dallas, Tx 75225
214-774-2258
Nemeroff Law Firm – Houston
3355 W Alabama St
Ste 650 Houston, TX 77098
214-774-2258
Frequently Asked Questions About Texas Mesothelioma Claims
Q. How long do I have to file a mesothelioma claim in Texas?
A. The statute of limitations for mesothelioma lawsuits in Texas is two years from the date of diagnosis. In the case of bankruptcy claims, each trust fund sets its own rules for qualifying. Mesothelioma patients usually have a maximum of two or three years to file.
Q. Can I file a mesothelioma claim in Texas if my asbestos exposure happened in another state?
Texas laws allow filing mesothelioma cases involving out-of-state exposure, but it’s not easy to bring asbestos cases to trial in the state. For example, you have to reveal any past payouts from bankruptcy trust funds. Before making a decision, have an asbestos lawyer in Texas review your case.
You may be able to file in Texas if you currently live in the state, if the company that exposed you does business in Texas, or if other jurisdictional requirements are met. However, Texas has strict rules about proving causation and venue that can make these cases challenging. An experienced mesothelioma attorney can review your exposure history and determine whether filing in Texas or another state gives you the best chance of recovering compensation.
Q. Can families file wrongful death lawsuits for asbestos exposure in Texas?
A. In Texas, when a mesothelioma patient dies before filing a personal injury lawsuit (or during a trial), family members can start or continue the claim. Only the patient’s spouse, children or parents have this right, but an estate representative can help.