Idaho Mesothelioma Lawyer

Idaho mines, power plants, and other job sites have put workers at risk of asbestos exposure for decades. Asbestos exposure can lead to deadly diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer. An Idaho mesothelioma attorney can pursue justice and financial compensation for patients.

Legally reviewed Melissa Crowe Schopfer

on March 18, 2024

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Working With a Mesothelioma Lawyer in Idaho

Idaho residents with mesothelioma deserve compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos-based products. Manufacturers used asbestos and hid the deadly health risks for decades. The only known cause of mesothelioma is asbestos exposure.

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The Environmental Working Group (EWG) reported that nearly 300 Idaho residents died from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2017.

An Idaho mesothelioma lawyer can help you file a lawsuit against negligent manufacturers after getting sick from asbestos exposure.

Idaho Mesothelioma Lawsuits

A successful mesothelioma lawsuit forces manufacturers to pay asbestos victims.

Mesothelioma lawsuits award $1 million to $11.4 million on average. Some cases may award more or less than these amounts.

Mesothelioma victims can use this compensation for:

Lost wages
Medical treatments
Travel expenses related to health care

If you want to file a mesothelioma lawsuit, consult with a lawyer. An Idaho mesothelioma attorney will handle most of the legal burdens — and filing a lawsuit is free.

Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts in Idaho

More than 95% of mesothelioma lawsuits reach out-of-court settlements. A mesothelioma settlement resolves the case before a trial. Mesothelioma victims can receive $1 million on average through a settlement.

A mesothelioma trial verdict occurs when a settlement cannot be reached. Juries reach a trial verdict after hearing arguments from a mesothelioma victim’s lawyers and the lawyers representing the manufacturers of asbestos-based products.

A jury awarded a 71-year-old Idaho woman who developed mesothelioma $40.3 million in 2019. The woman became sick after using asbestos-based products.

An Idaho mesothelioma attorney will usually try to settle lawsuits — but will prepare for a trial.

Statute of Limitations in Idaho

A statute of limitations means a lawsuit must be filed within a certain time frame.

These laws vary by each state and other factors, such as whether mesothelioma patients or family members file a personal injury claim or a wrongful death claim.

Working with an Idaho mesothelioma attorney can ensure that your lawsuit is filed within these deadlines. These attorneys understand the statutes as they apply to your case.

Asbestos Trust Funds and Statutes of Limitations

In some cases, the statutes of limitations may have run out. That said, some victims can still access compensation through an asbestos trust fund.

Bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-based products set up trust funds to pay mesothelioma victims and avoid lawsuits. These trusts do not follow state statutes of limitations — they set their own deadlines to file claims.

Asbestos trust funds contain around $30 billion in total. Get a free case review to learn how to access these trusts.

Asbestos Sites in Idaho

High-risk asbestos sites in Idaho included power plants, mines, and construction sites. Learn more about the risks of these sites below.

Construction sites: Before the 1980s, thousands of construction products contained asbestos. Workers often inhaled asbestos fibers on construction sites without notice. Older buildings and homes may still have these materials inside.
Mines: While asbestos is no longer mined in the U.S., many Idaho miners can encounter naturally occurring asbestos while mining other substances. Mining machinery and equipment also relied on asbestos before the 1980s.
Power plants: Plants have used asbestos fireproofing materials and insulation for decades. Those who worked for the Idaho Power Company and at other power plants could have inhaled asbestos dust — and asbestos is still present in some older plants today.

Idaho mesothelioma lawyers at top law firms keep track of asbestos sites in the state and across the nation.

Examples of Idaho asbestos sites include:

Amalgamated Sugar Company (multiple locations across the state)
Boise Cascade Corporation (multiple locations across the state)
Callahan Mining Company, Osburn
Clover Club Foods, Boise
Del Monte Corporation, Franklin, Burley
Empire Copper Company, Mackay
Idaho Mining Company, Mountain Home
Idaho Pacific Corporation, Ririe
Idaho State Capitol, Boise
Kraft Foods Company, Pocatello
Latter Day Saints Hospital, Idaho Falls
National Reactor Testing Station (multiple locations across the state)
Northern Idaho and Montana Power Company, Sandpoint
Northwest Lumber Company, Coeur d’ Alene
Oregon Short Line Railroad Company (multiple locations across the state)
Phillips Petroleum, Scoville
Union Pacific Railroad, Pocatello, Sun Valley
University of Idaho, Moscow
Waters Asbestos, Scoville
Westinghouse Electric, Idaho Falls, Scoville

There are other asbestos exposure sites in Idaho not on the list above. Contact an Idaho mesothelioma attorney to learn where you were exposed and if you qualify for financial benefits.

Asbestos Rules and Regulations in Idaho

In the state of Idaho, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulates the removal and disposal of asbestos-containing materials from all buildings.

The EPA:

Certifies and licenses asbestos removal contractors
Educates homeowners about the dangers of asbestos
Inspects asbestos removal projects

The Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) regulates the removal of asbestos-containing materials from large industrial sources.

Idaho does not operate a state asbestos certification program. Anyone licensed to remove asbestos in another state can do so in Idaho if they meet the EPA guidelines.

Contact a mesothelioma lawyer to see if these Idaho asbestos laws may affect your case.

Idaho VA Information for Mesothelioma Victims

In addition to filing a lawsuit, veterans with mesothelioma can access benefits through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Veterans make up 33% of all mesothelioma patients since every branch of the U.S. military relied on asbestos until the early 1980s.

The military used asbestos to make:

Air Force planes
Bases and barracks
Navy and Coast Guard ships
Tanks, trucks, and vehicles

The VA offers many benefits to help veterans with mesothelioma.

These VA benefits include:

Burial & funeral coverage
Disability compensation
Health care services
Military pension plans

Veterans can also access mesothelioma treatments through the VA. Some of the nation’s best mesothelioma doctors are on staff to help veterans.

Several VA medical centers and offices are located in Idaho. Contact any on the list below by going to va.gov (the VA’s official website).

Veterans Benefits Administration

Boise Regional Office, Boise
Mountain Home Air Force Base

VA Medical Centers

Boise VA Medical Center, Boise

Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

Caldwell VA Clinic
North Idaho VA Clinic
Grangeville VA Outpatient Clinic
Idaho Falls VA Clinic
Lewiston VA Clinic
Pocatello VA Clinic
Twin Falls VA Clinic

Veterans Centers

Boise Veterans Center
Pocatello Veterans Center

Veterans who want to file a VA benefits claim can start with an Idaho mesothelioma lawyer. Lawyers can pinpoint when, where, and how a veteran was exposed to asbestos while they served.

Veterans can then connect with a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) and use this information to file a claim.

AML and VFW Service Officers in Idaho

VSOs are trained by the VA to help veterans access military benefits. They work with organizations such as the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the American Legion (AML), all of which have offices in Idaho.

There are over 100 veterans offices located across Idaho.

The following is a partial list of Idaho veterans service offices:

Boise

American Ex-Prisoners of War
American Legion
American Veterans
Catholic War Veterans of the USA
Disabled American Veterans
Fleet Reserve Association
Idaho Division of Veterans Services
Marine Corps League
The Retired Enlisted Association
Veterans of Foreign Wars

Pocatello

American Ex-Prisoners of War
American Legion
American Veterans
Fleet Reserve Association
The Retired Enlisted Association

Post Falls

American Legion
Idaho Division of Veterans Services
National Association of Country Veterans Service

Veterans can contact these offices and connect with a VSO. Veterans can also reach out to a mesothelioma lawyer to see if they qualify for other forms of compensation. Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide today to learn if and how you can access financial assistance for an asbestos-related illness.

Contacting an Idaho Mesothelioma Lawyer

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you can contact a mesothelioma lawyer in Idaho regarding compensation.

These lawyers know the burdens that come with a mesothelioma diagnosis and will do everything they can to help you.

To learn more about your options, contact our team for a free, no-obligation case review. Our Idaho mesothelioma lawyers never charge upfront or out-of-pocket fees, and they get paid only if your case results in compensation. Get started with a free legal consultation.

Melissa Crowe Schopfer, Simmons Hanly Conroy Attorney

Reviewed by:Melissa Crowe Schopfer

Partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy

Fact-Checked
Legal Editor

Melissa Crowe Schopfer is a partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy. Over the past 10 years, Melissa has worked on over 500 cases and recovered more than $100 million in settlements and trial verdicts on behalf of her clients. She has represented families impacted by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases in almost every state.

Asbestos Trial Team Leader
Practicing Attorney for 15+ Years
Has Recovered Over $100 Million

Written by:Jenna Tozzi, RN

Director of Patient Advocacy

Jenna Tozzi, RN, is the Director of Patient Advocacy at Mesothelioma Hope. With more than 15 years of experience as an adult and pediatric oncology nurse navigator, Jenna provides exceptional guidance and support to mesothelioma patients and their loved ones. Jenna has been featured in Oncology Nursing News and is a member of the Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators & the American Nurses Association.

ReferencesLast modified: 18 Mar 2024

American Legion. “Find Service Officer Directory.” Retrieved from: https://www.legion.org/serviceofficers/ID. Accessed on December 19, 2022.
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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Malignant Mesothelioma Mortality — United States, 1999–2015.” Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6608a3.htm. Accessed on December 19, 2022.
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LegalScoops. “Idaho Woman Awarded $40.3 Million in Trial Against J&J Over Baby Powder Cancer Claims.” Retrieved from: https://www.legalscoops.com/idaho-woman-awarded-40-3-million-in-trial-against-jj-over-baby-powder-cancer-claims/. Accessed on December 19, 2022.
Perpetua Resources. “Mining in Idaho.” Retrieved from: https://perpetuaresources.com/news/mining-in-idaho/. Accessed on December 19, 2022.
Reuters. “Special Report: The long, lethal shadow of asbestos.: Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-asbestos-lawsuits/special-report-the-long-lethal-shadow-of-asbestos-idUSBRE84A0J920120511. Accessed on December 19, 2022.
United States Census Bureau. “QuickFacts.” Retrieved from: https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/ID. Accessed on December 19, 2022.
University of Idaho. “35.01 – Asbestos Management.” Retrieved from: https://www.uidaho.edu/governance/policy/policies/apm/35/01. Accessed on December 19, 2022.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Locations.” Retrieved from: https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?dnum=ALL&STATE=ID. Accessed on December 19, 2022.
U.S. Government Accountability Office. “Asbestos Injury Compensation: The Role and Administration of Asbestos Trusts.” Retrieved from: https://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-819. Accessed on December 19, 2022.