Ohio Mesothelioma Lawyer

Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in Ohio

Those who developed mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases in Ohio deserve financial compensation. Manufacturers of asbestos-containing products knew about the dangers of asbestos but covered them up instead of warning the public.

In 2016, Ohio had the fifth-highest number of asbestos deaths in the country. There were 146 new mesothelioma cases reported and 123 people died, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

An Ohio mesothelioma lawyer can help asbestos victims get compensation from manufacturers by filing lawsuits and taking other types of legal action.

When looking for an Ohio mesothelioma lawyer, it’s important to select a firm with the experience, reputation, and resources to advocate for you. Thankfully, Mesothelioma Hope has partnered with an experienced mesothelioma law firm that can help patients like you: Simmons Hanly Conroy.

Ohio Mesothelioma Law Firm

As one of the nation’s largest mass tort law firms, Simmons Hanly Conroy is dedicated to helping victims of mesothelioma and other personal injuries find justice and hope.

The attorneys at Simmons Hanly Conroy have centuries of combined experience, and they aim to provide their clients with first-class legal services.

Our sponsor firm has recovered over $312 million on behalf of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease victims in Ohio alone. A few of the firm’s recent mesothelioma settlement amounts are highlighted below.

Asbestos Exposure Sites in Ohio

Asbestos does not occur naturally in Ohio, but many manufacturers imported the toxic substance to use in their products and machinery. As a result, work sites across Ohio were hotbeds of asbestos exposure.

One of the most notorious Ohio asbestos-based product manufacturers, Philip Carey Manufacturing Corporation, made insulation and construction materials for homes, hospitals, and many universities in the state.

To this day, sites across Ohio are still dealing with the hundreds of thousands of tons of asbestos that came into the state.

For example, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) began a major asbestos cleanup operation in South Point in 2019.

Ohio Counties With the Highest Number of Asbestos-Related Deaths

Asbestos affects families and communities in every state and county in the U.S. Along with mesothelioma, asbestos exposure has caused thousands of deaths in Ohio from related diseases like asbestosis and lung cancer. Five counties were hit particularly hard in recent years.

Know Your Rights: Ohio Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Many mesothelioma victims choose to pursue justice and compensation by filing a mesothelioma lawsuit against the manufacturers of asbestos-based products.

These manufacturers knew that people who were exposed to asbestos could get sick and die, but they chose to keep making and selling their products — putting profits ahead of people.

Successful mesothelioma lawsuits force manufacturers to pay for the harm they’ve caused victims and their families.

With the help of an Ohio mesothelioma lawyer, asbestos victims can see if they’re eligible to receive compensation through a lawsuit.

Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Ohio?

In addition to Ohio residents, mesothelioma patients who may have been exposed to asbestos while working in, living in, or visiting the state might qualify to file a claim for financial compensation.

Additionally, anyone who’s been diagnosed with other serious asbestos-related diseases — such as lung cancer or asbestosis — may also qualify to file a claim with the help of an Ohio mesothelioma attorney.

Even those who develop an asbestos-related disease later in life, such as mesothelioma, may be eligible to file a claim. Surviving family members may also be able to file a claim on behalf of a mesothelioma victim.

An Ohio mesothelioma lawyer can explain how the state’s laws and regulations impact someone’s eligibility for different types of asbestos claims.

Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts in Ohio

According to Black’s Law Dictionary, about 95% of personal injury cases settle before ever going to court.

To avoid a long public legal battle in court before a judge and jury, companies responsible for a victim’s asbestos exposure typically try to reach a mesothelioma settlement.

A settlement is an agreement between an Ohio mesothelioma attorney representing the victim (plaintiff) and the legal team(s) representing the manufacturers being sued.

Often, settlements are reached due to the overwhelming evidence an Ohio mesothelioma lawyer presents to the offending company or companies.

Three notable mesothelioma settlements in Ohio include:

• $3.5 million to the family of an Ohio operator
• $2.9 million to an Ohio sheet metal worker
• $2.7 million to an Ohio machine operator

If a mesothelioma lawsuit is not resolved with a settlement, it may proceed to a trial. In a trial, a jury hears each side (the victim’s and the manufacturer’s) and determines how much compensation the injured party (plaintiff) may be owed.

In 2013, a 40-year-old Ohio man was awarded $27.5 million by a Cuyahoga jury, which was the largest asbestos verdict in the state’s history. The jury agreed that the plaintiff’s mesothelioma was caused by inhaling brake dust carried home on his father’s clothing when he was a child.

However, it’s also possible for the jury to rule in favor of the asbestos company (defendant), awarding the plaintiff no compensation.

Consult with an Ohio mesothelioma lawyer to see if a settlement or trial is best for your case.

Asbestos Laws and Regulations in Ohio

Ohio policies are consistent with federal asbestos laws and regulations.

These laws require certification and licensing for all individuals directly involved with asbestos abatement and demolition, which are overseen by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency.

Laws and regulations governing mesothelioma lawsuits in Ohio, however, are not the same as they are in the rest of the country.

If you are considering filing a mesothelioma lawsuit in Ohio, be aware that you may encounter legal challenges that you might not in other states.

Only an experienced Ohio mesothelioma lawyer can help you navigate the process and secure any financial assistance to which you may be entitled.

Ohio Asbestos Trial Laws

In recent years, courts in Ohio have introduced a number of changes that have made it more challenging for people to file mesothelioma claims in the state.

You need to make sure that your Ohio mesothelioma lawyer has experience navigating:

• Asbestos premises liability
• Successor liability
• Trust transparency
• Other case law that affects mesothelioma lawsuits

Plaintiffs now have to prove that the defendant’s conduct was a “substantial factor” in causing their cancer.

Ohio courts have interpreted this in ways that allow asbestos manufacturers to avoid liability, especially if a victim was exposed to asbestos on more than one job site.

This is one of the reasons that people choose an Ohio mesothelioma lawyer that is part of a nationwide firm.

Depending on where you were exposed, the state in which you currently reside may not be the best place to file.

Many factors that go into this decision and an Ohio mesothelioma lawyer can help you decide the best course of action.

Statutes of Limitations in Ohio

Each state has specific laws regarding how long someone has to file a claim. These laws are called statutes of limitations (SOLs), and they range from 1–2 years depending on the state.

Once an SOL has passed, you can no longer file a lawsuit.

Because these laws can be difficult to navigate, victims often turn to an experienced mesothelioma lawyer for help. An Ohio mesothelioma lawyer can explain how statutes of limitations will affect your case and whether you should file a claim in Ohio or another state.

There are two types of mesothelioma lawsuits a victim may file in Ohio:

• Personal injury lawsuit: This type of lawsuit is filed when a living person who has mesothelioma seeks compensation from the company or companies responsible for their disease.
• Wrongful death lawsuit: A wrongful death claim allows eligible family members to pursue compensation from the company or companies responsible for their loved one’s death from mesothelioma.

Only an experienced Ohio mesothelioma lawyer will be able to determine the best course of action to help you file a strong lawsuit before time runs out.

Even if statutes of limitations prevent you from filing a lawsuit, you may still be able to access compensation from an asbestos trust fund.

Asbestos Trust Funds in Ohio

Bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-based products were forced to set aside money in trust funds to pay out future asbestos claims. Asbestos trusts aren’t subject to regular statutes of limitations. Instead, they have their own deadlines to file claims.

Mesothelioma victims may be able to file claims with multiple trusts. An experienced Ohio mesothelioma lawyer can determine which trusts victims can file claims with.

Ohio VA Information for Mesothelioma Victims

Although the military stopped using asbestos around the 1980s, they were the country’s largest consumer of the toxic mineral for decades.

As a result of this widespread asbestos use, roughly one-third of all mesothelioma claims in America are filed by veterans.

Examples of military bases in Ohio that used asbestos include:

• Lockbourne Air Force Base (AKA Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base)
• Newark Air Force Base, Heath
• Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton

Ohio VA Benefits

Thankfully, veterans with mesothelioma can access benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Top VA benefits include:

• Aid & attendance
• Burial & funeral services
• Pensions
• Survivor benefits

Veterans can also access care from top mesothelioma doctors who work with the VA.

Two VA mesothelioma doctors include:

• Dr. Daniel Wiener
• Dr. Robert Cameron

The VA has a large presence in Ohio. The Regional Benefit Office is located in Cleveland, and there are 5 VA Medical Centers, 8 Veterans Centers, 4 Outpatient Clinics, and 30 Community Based Outpatient Clinics located throughout the state.

Navigating the VA health care system can be a challenge, but there are people who can help.

AML and VFW Service Officers in Ohio

For assistance accessing benefits, you can reach out to a Veteran Service Officer (VSO).

VSOs are accredited by the VA to help veterans receive the benefits they earned. They provide expert assistance to veterans and their families free of charge.

Two of the biggest veterans organizations, the American Legion (AML) and Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), employ service officers who can help you file your mesothelioma VA claim.

The VFW has hundreds of locations in Ohio, including several in some of the larger cities like Cleveland and Cincinnati. The AML has 527 locations in Ohio.

Download our Free Veterans Compensation Guide today to learn if and how you can access financial assistance for an asbestos-related illness.

Connect With an Ohio Mesothelioma Lawyer

Ohio mesothelioma lawyers know how mesothelioma can devastate families and are here to help. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is in your best interest to work with an Ohio mesothelioma lawyer.

An Ohio mesothelioma lawyer will understand the complex laws and regulations governing asbestos lawsuits in your state and can help you file a complete claim within the statute of limitations.

A qualified Ohio mesothelioma attorney can help you:

1. Identify the Ohio work sites or locations where you were exposed to asbestos
2. Obtain medical and military records
3. Build an asbestos claim that maximizes your chances of securing compensation
4. File your claim within the proper Ohio statute of limitations

To learn more about your legal options, contact our team for a free, no-obligation case review. Our asbestos 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.