Mesothelioma Claims Lawyer in New Orleans: Tips and Guidance

The Port of New Orleans has an impressive history that reverberates across not just Louisiana but also the entire United States.
But its asbestos history is far reaching as well.

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Port of New Orleans History

Together with its neighboring sibling Port of South Louisiana, the twins command a stature that recognizes them as among the top ten ports in the world by volume.

Thought about in 1682, the Port of New Orleans was established in 1718, but grew by leaps and bounds only after 1788 and exploded manifold from the 1810s onwards, as steamboats began calling at the port.

During this period, the port was touted as the fourth largest port in world commerce, superseded only by London, Liverpool, and New York.

The Port of New Orleans has had a confusing history because of the multiple agencies supervising its operations. The administration was in the hands of city, state, and federal officials.

Establishment of the Port of New Orleans Dock Board

While this was a tumultuous period in the history of the port, it sort of settled down when in 1896, the state legislature brought the maritime activity under the authority of a new state agency, the Port of New Orleans, guided by a governor-appointed Board of Commissioners or the Dock Board.

This move shaped the future of the port to become a modern maritime port, with all supportive infrastructure being built. These included power generators, pavilions, platforms, grain elevators and an integrated railroad network.

Canal construction at the Port of New Orleans

Another significant contribution of the Dock Board was the construction of a series of canals that linked various waterways. For instance, the Mississippi River was linked to Lake Pontchartrain via the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal dug through the Ninth Ward.

These measures saw the development of New Orleans into a booming economy predicated upon its maritime prowess.

Unfortunately, for all the workers constructing and working at the Port of New Orleans, there was a hidden danger beneath all the growth: asbestos.

“It seems the dirtier the job, the more asbestos you were exposed to.”


Justinian C. Lane.
Managing Partner
AsbestosClaims.Law

The timeline of the Port of New Orleans from 1718 to now is a story of continuous development and some of the highlights include the following:

  • In 1803, The U.S. buys the entire colony of Louisiana from France for $15 million

  • Between 1862 and 1879, the American Civil War leaves its mark on the fortunes of the port

  • In 1896, The Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans is created by the Louisiana Legislature, with A. Robert Bleakley as the first president

  • In 1923, the Inner Harbor Navigation Canal linking the Mississippi River with Lake Pontchartrain opens

  • In 1940, The Public Grain Elevator begins operation and 18 new wharves have been built since 1903

  • In 1968, a trade exhibition center called The Rivergate opens

  • In 1973, the France Road Terminal Berth #1 opens for handling containers

  • In 1984, a cruise terminal at Erato Street Wharf opens

  • In 1993, the world’s largest bulk coffee handling plant Silocaf opens

  • In 1998, the port installs its first two gantry cranes on the riverfront and opens the Clarence Henry Truckway

  • In 2004, The Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal Complex opens, acquiring two gantry cranes and moving the primary container facilities to the Mississippi

  • In 2005, Hurricane Katrina inflicts $300 million damage on the port

  • In 2008, Master Plan for Hurricane Katrina Recovery Project developed

  • In 2013, the Henry Clay Avenue Refrigerated Terminal storage facility is commissioned

  • In 2016, the Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal at Milan Street is complete, providing on-dock rail transfer for the six Class I railroads that serve the port

  • In 2018, the port acquires the New Orleans Public Belt Railroad from the City of New Orleans

The saga is ongoing, as the Port of New Orleans continues to make big strides in driving the U.S. Economy.

Asbestos diseases have a long latency.

That means people exposed to asbestos may not discover their asbestos-related disease until 20-50 years later.

In many cases workers who tested negative for asbestos damage in the 1990s eventually developed asbestosis, mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

Asbestos: a slow and silent killer

Because asbestos also has no smell or taste, and generally does not produce an immediate reaction, people may not know they’re breathing asbestos. Asbestos fibers can be microscopic.

But the American Lung Association notes that there is a risk that once inhaled, some asbestos fibers will never leave the body.[1]

Louisiana’s Port of New Orleans Prone to Asbestos Exposure

Having a coastline and hosting a thriving maritime economy, Louisiana is prone to asbestos exposure in a big way. The shipyards, the ships that ply on the waterways in Louisiana, and the oil refineries are breeding grounds for asbestos exposure.

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Call us for quick answers on asbestos compensation.

Call us at (833) 427-2378

Image Asbestos Hurricane Katrina article bodyPhoto by Library of Congress on Unsplash

Hurricanes and tropical storms often damage buildings and expose hidden asbestos.

Hurricane Katrina that hit the state and New Orleans in 2005 is another huge source of asbestos exposure.

Although people working in workplaces handling asbestos are known to run the risk of asbestos-related diseases because of asbestos exposure, Hurricane Katrina became a source of exposure to asbestos for first responders, such as police, firefighters, rescue personnel, and volunteers.

Similarly, people going back to live in the affected areas after rehabilitation also ran the same risk. Others who worked on the rebuilding of New Orleans and cleaning up the debris after the hurricane created its havoc also are at risk of asbestos-related diseases.

Besides, people working in the following facilities in New Orleans could be exposed to asbestos:

  • W.R. Grace Exfoliation Facility in New Orleans

  • Higgins Shipyard New Orleans

  • Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans

  • Motiva Norco Refinery in New Orleans

  • Johns Manville plant in New Orleans

Asbestos cases in Louisiana

Statistics bear out the dangers of asbestos exposure in New Orleans.

Louisiana has recorded an estimated 5,092 asbestos-related deaths during the 1999-2017 period, of which 927 were due to mesothelioma, 491 were due to asbestosis, and 3,708 were due to non-mesothelioma lung cancer.

Jefferson Parish (in which New Orleans is located) had 1,277 asbestos-related deaths, the highest in the state.

!

In terms of death rate, Louisiana had 5.9 asbestos-related deaths per 100,000 population during the 1999-2017 period. (Higher than the national average death rate of 4.9.)

Jefferson Parish again had the asbestos-related highest death rate of 15.2.

Danger of Latency Period for Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a lethal cancer that affects the lungs and asbestos is the main cause of mesothelioma. The problem with asbestos exposure is the latency period. For instance, the time between asbestos exposure and appearance of mesothelioma symptoms is the latency period.

Mesothelioma diagnosis is known to be made sometimes as late as 50 years after exposure. Similarly, the non-cancerous asbestosis diagnosis can be made 15 to 20 years after exposure.

Another group of people at higher risk of asbestos exposure are the veterans who have worked in military workplaces. These veterans often have worked with equipment using asbestos containing materials (ACM) and work on shipping vessels, which use a lot of ACMs.

Veterans who have been exposed to asbestos could become victims of the latency period effect of asbestos exposure.

Thus, in the Port of New Orleans all types of people could have been exposed to asbestos for various reasons and therefore prone to contract some form of an asbestos-related disease.

Do You Qualify For Compensation?

Quickly and easily find out how you were exposed by searching W.A.R.D., the largest asbestos database on the planet.

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Legal Options in New Orleans for Asbestos Injuries

A mesothelioma claim is quite a complex task, requiring an understanding of the law in Louisiana. For example, claimants can overlook the statutes of limitations applicable in Louisiana.

It is possible that certain claims can qualify under trust funds, which are set up to settle asbestos claims. Law firms like asbestosclaims.law can often secure compensation without filing a lawsuit.

From the foregoing, it is clear that there could be hundreds of people who could have contracted an asbestos-related disease because of simply working and living in the Port of New Orleans. They would be well advised to seek a professional mesothelioma asbestos lawyer to handle cases of asbestos exposure.

Second-hand asbestos exposure (Secondary Asbestos Exposure)


Even the workers’ families were affected due to secondhand exposure—asbestos fibers are extremely durable and can cling to skin and clothing, traveling great distances with those directly exposed. 

Asbestos fibers have no taste or smell, and can be microscopic, so you may not realize you were breathing them.

Unfortunately, many workers’ families and other household members were exposed to asbestos as well, as asbestos was brought home daily in neighborhoods across the U.S. on work-clothing.

This is often known as secondary or second-hand asbestos exposure (or domestic / household family asbestos exposure). In studies of asbestos disease, 1 in 5 cases of asbestos exposure were caused by secondary asbestos exposure.[1]

But spouses and children can also receive a share of the $30 Billion in asbestos trust compensation if they were exposed to asbestos brought into the house or family vehicle by a worker.

Even lifelong smokers can collect compensation for asbestos damage.
Many of our clients believed they weren’t eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit because they were cigarette and cigar smokers.

This isn’t true under the laws of many states. 

Our database contains the medical evidence needed to show that smokers who are exposed to asbestos are far more likely to develop cancer than smokers who weren’t exposed to asbestos. Cigarettes and asbestos are far more dangerous than cigarettes or asbestos.
Even lifelong smokers can collect compensation for asbestos damage.
Many of our clients believed they weren’t eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit because hey were cigarette and cigar smokers.

This isn’t true under the laws of many states. 

Our database contains the medical evidence needed to show that smokers who are exposed to asbestos are far more likely to develop cancer than smokers who weren’t exposed to asbestos. Cigarettes and asbestos are far more dangerous than cigarettes or asbestos.


The Port of New Orleans lawyer has at its command Worldwide Asbestos Research Database (W.A.R.D.) that can access the largest and most comprehensive database of asbestos-related information in the world and render the following advice:

  • Where exposure to asbestos could have happened

  • Which products could have caused the exposure

  • Type and nature of compensation that is possible

The other important aspect of the Port of New Orleans lawyer is the absence of any payment to the law firm until the compensation funds have been received by the claimant.

Need some answers?

Call us. No commiment, the info is free.

Call us at (833) 427-2378

Asbestos Resources in Louisiana

The following asbestos resources are available for Port of New Orleans:

https://deq.louisiana.gov/resources/category/asbestos
https://asbestoscasetracker.com/category/louisiana/
https://scdhec.gov/environment/your-home/asbestos-resources-dhec
https://www.mesotheliomahub.com/mesothelioma/states/louisiana/
https://www.epa.gov/la
https://www.epa.gov/asbestos
https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/state-asbestos-contacts
https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/asbestos-laws-and-regulations
https://www.envcap.org/srl/srl.php?srl=1&state=LA

New Orleans Events and Culture

Mardi Gras and the City of New Orleans


Worldwide, New Orleans may be most famous for its Mardi Gras parade and celebration.

Mesothelioma Claims Lawyer Port of New Orleans articlebody5

Traditionally celebrating the end of Lent (Shrove Tuesday), NOLA’s version of Mardi Gras is a riot of color and the excitement builds long before the parade.

The city comes alive and the carnival festival begins. While New Orleans is a city with a rich history and fabulous places of interest, the visit is not complete if the Mardi Gras is missed. Of course, there is no bar on visiting a second time just for the Mardi Gras.

Port of New Orleans Cruise

The Port of New Orleans is just not all maritime commerce. Although it has had a tumultuous history of the civil war ravages and the Hurricane Katrina havoc, it has rebuilt itself into a dynamic place of interest. New Orleans has been a cruise destination for savoring the majesty of the Mississippi River. From the fresh waters of the river, tourists can take a grand cruise to the Caribbean to enjoy the warm climate and the many adventures in store.

AsbestosClaims.Law

For Justinian C. Lane, getting compensation for asbestos victims is personal.

Justinian’s grandparents and his father all worked with asbestos in their younger years and died from asbestos-related cancers in their later years. 

At the time of each of their deaths, no one in Justinian’s family knew that they were eligible to file an asbestos lawsuit and to seek compensation from the asbestos trusts.

Because no one in Justinian’s family knew their options, they never received any compensation for the death of their loved ones.

If you believe that you or your family member’s injury was related to asbestos exposure, you could be entitled to significant compensation.

This is money you could use to cover the costs of asbestos removal services, pay for medical treatment, and preemptively protect your physical well-being.

There are also asbestos trusts that offer compensation much more quickly and easily (without filing a lawsuit.)

If you’d like help with filing a claim, please get in touch by email at [email protected], or call or text us at (833) 4-ASBESTOS (427-2378) or (206) 455-9190. We’ll listen to your story and explain your options. And we never charge for anything unless you receive money in your pocket.

In addition to legal claims, veterans disability, social security and employment protection like workers compensation, FELA and The Jones Act for maritime workers, there are asbestos trusts that have been set up to compensate those harmed by asbestos without having to file a lawsuit.

There is no risk or cost to speak with one of our staff about your asbestos litigation. There are no fees unless you receive money.

If you have any additional questions or concerns related to asbestos, check out our website and YouTube page for videos, infographics and answers to your questions about asbestos, including health and safety, asbestos testing, removing asbestos from your home and building, and legal information about compensation for asbestos injuries.

We feature the largest database of asbestos information on the planet. W.A.R.D., which stands for the Worldwide Asbestos Research Database, helps clients to narrow down when and where they may have been exposed, as well as which products may still contain asbestos. W.A.R.D. will also help indicate compensation types and how much a person may be entitled to.

References:

https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/the-impressive-port-of-new-orleans-26085

https://www.hg.org/legal-articles/the-impressive-port-of-new-orleans-26085

https://portnola.com/info/port-101/historyghlight=WARD