Asbestos Lawsuits - We Can Hold Companies Accountable in Court
“Mr. Brown, do you mean to tell me you would let them work until they dropped dead?”
He said, “Yes. We save a lot of money that way.”
— Vandiver Brown, Johns-Manville corporate attorney
That brief exchange—cold, calculated, and horrifying—captures exactly why the asbestos industry concealed the truth for so long. Companies knew asbestos was deadly. But instead of warning workers, they made a business decision: it was cheaper to let people die than to take responsibility.
It took Clarence Borel, a pipefitter from Beaumont, Texas, to crack their armor. His 1969 lawsuit sparked a 1973 ruling that rewrote the rules: workers could finally sue manufacturers for hiding asbestos risks. Clarence’s fight didn’t just win justice for his family—it shattered the silence protecting those companies.
Learn more about Clarence Borel and the lawsuit that changed everything
Who Is Eligible to File an Asbestos Lawsuit?
If you or a loved one has an asbestos-related diagnosis, you can hold companies accountable—not just for money, but for justice and prevention. You don’t need a hardhat history; asbestos lurked in homes, schools, even in cosmetic talc powders and other "safe" products. If you’ve received a diagnosis, there may be a path to compensation for you and your family.
Individuals Diagnosed with an Asbestos-Related Illness
If you have been diagnosed with one of the following asbestos-related illnesses, you may be eligible to file a lawsuit:
Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. It can affect the lining of the lungs (pleural), abdomen (peritoneal), heart (pericardial), or testicles (testicular). Mesothelioma usually develops decades after exposure—and by the time it's diagnosed, it's often advanced. But even then, legal options are still available.
Lung Cancer: Asbestos significantly increases the risk of lung cancer, especially in smokers. Many people diagnosed with lung cancer were never told that their jobsite or military service exposed them to asbestos. If you've developed lung cancer—even if you smoked—you may still be entitled to compensation.
Throat Cancer: Inhaled asbestos fibers can damage the throat and voice box. Over time, this damage can lead to cancer, particularly in workers exposed to dust over many years. These cancers are often overlooked in asbestos claims—but they count.
Stomach Cancer: Asbestos fibers that are swallowed can irritate the stomach lining, leading to inflammation, cell changes, and eventually cancer. This route of exposure was common in factories and homes where asbestos dust settled on food, dishes, or hands.
Colon Cancer: Medical studies have shown a link between long-term asbestos exposure and colon cancer. While diet and genetics play a role, asbestos may be the silent contributor in thousands of colorectal cancer cases—especially among industrial and construction workers.
Ovarian Cancer: Talcum powder products contaminated with asbestos have been linked to ovarian cancer, especially with long-term use. If you regularly used talc products (like body or baby powder) and developed ovarian cancer, you may have been exposed without ever knowing it.
Asbestosis: A non-cancerous but often disabling lung condition caused by asbestos scarring. It can leave you breathless, fatigued, and unable to work or enjoy life as you once did. These conditions are just as real—and just as eligible for compensation—as cancer diagnoses.
Click on each illness to learn more about its causes, symptoms, and treatments.
What About Family Members - Are They Eligible?
Family members may be able to file a lawsuit if:
A spouse or loved one passed away from an asbestos-related illness
In these situations, surviving family members can often file a wrongful death lawsuit. These claims help recover compensation for funeral costs, lost income, and the emotional pain of losing a loved one too soon. Even if the exposure happened decades ago, it may not be too late.
You’re seeking compensation for the loss of companionship or support (called loss of consortium)
Spouses can pursue a separate claim for the deep, personal toll of asbestos-related illness—including the loss of emotional support, intimacy, and shared daily life. These claims acknowledge that the harm goes far beyond medical bills.
Your childhood exposure came from a parent who brought asbestos home on their work clothes
This is called secondary exposure, and it’s tragically common. Many children were unknowingly exposed while hugging a parent in work clothes, playing in laundry rooms, or sleeping near contaminated belongings. If you later developed an asbestos-related disease, you may still have a right to compensation.
How Long Do I Have to File an Asbestos Lawsuit?
Every state has deadlines—called statutes of limitations—that determine how long you have to file an asbestos lawsuit. For someone living with an asbestos-related disease, the clock can sometimes start running on the diagnosis date. In wrongful death cases, the clock usually starts on the date of your loved one’s passing.
Most of these deadlines fall between two and three years, though some states allow up to six years. A few even give you as little as twelve months. And because every situation is different, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
Don’t assume you’re out of time. Some people miss out on compensation because they think too much time has passed—but the law may say otherwise. It costs nothing to call us and ask because our consultations are always free.
What Is the Discovery Rule?
Because asbestos diseases often take decades to show symptoms, many states apply a legal principle called the discovery rule. It means the countdown may not begin when you were exposed—but when the illness was reasonably discovered (or should have been).
That might be:
The date of a formal diagnosis
The point when symptoms became impossible to ignore
Or even the first time a doctor connected your illness to asbestos
This varies by state, disease, and even the company you’re filing against. That’s why it’s so important to talk with a firm that knows the nuances. We've sometimes been able to salvage some claims by proving that none of a client's healthcare providers told them about the link between asbestos exposure and their lung cancer.
Deadlines Also Apply to Asbestos Trust Claims
It’s not just lawsuits that have time limits. Bankruptcy trust funds also enforce filing deadlines—and each trust can set its own or use the laws of your home state. If you wait too long to file a trust claim, you could lose access to tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars in compensation.
We can help you navigate both types of deadlines and make sure nothing falls through the cracks.
The Clock Might Be Running Right Now
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, the clock may already be ticking. We’ll help you figure out exactly how much time you have, explain your legal options, and move quickly to protect your rights.
Call us today at 833-4-ASBESTOS or request a free consultation. There’s no cost to talk—and no risk in asking.
Like Clarence's family, I’ve lived the toll of asbestos diseases. My father and both maternal grandparents died from asbestos-related cancers — victims of Vandiver Brown’s ideology where saving money was more important than saving lives. We didn’t connect the dots until years later, after the statute of limitations had expired, leaving us with no justice, no compensation, and no closure. That’s why I fight so hard for my clients. Because I know what it’s like to get answers too late—and I don’t want that for you.
– Justinian Lane, founder of AsbestosClaims.Law - Read more about Justinian's story here »
What Kind of Asbestos Lawsuit Can I File?
Asbestos exposure happened in homes, factories, shipyards, military bases—even schools and offices. That’s why the type of lawsuit you file depends on where and how you were exposed. Our firm has experience with every kind of asbestos claim and will help you choose the legal path that’s right for your case.
Product Liability Lawsuits
These lawsuits are filed against companies that made, sold, or supplied asbestos-containing products—from pipe insulation to floor tiles to brake pads. These companies often knew the dangers but failed to warn users.
Example Case: Mark worked as an electrician in Los Angeles in the 1970s and frequently used asbestos-containing electrical insulation. Decades later, he develops lung cancer. Mark files a product liability lawsuit against the insulation manufacturer, claiming they knew of asbestos’s dangers but failed to warn users.
→ Learn more about product liability lawsuits
Premises Liability Lawsuits
These claims hold property owners responsible when someone is exposed to asbestos on their premises—such as at refineries, chemical plants, or shipyards. Owners must keep their worksites safe or face the consequences.
Example Case: Linda worked at a Baton Rouge chemical plant in the early '80s. During a renovation project, asbestos ceiling tiles were disturbed, releasing dust into the air. Years later, she developed mesothelioma and filed a premises liability lawsuit against the plant owner for failing to protect her.
→ Learn more about premises liability lawsuits
Wrongful Death Lawsuits
If a loved one has passed away from an asbestos-related illness, you may be able to file a wrongful death claim. These lawsuits help families recover compensation for funeral costs, medical bills, and the devastating emotional loss.
Example Case: Tom’s father, a shipyard welder, died of mesothelioma. Tom filed a wrongful death lawsuit to recover for funeral costs, lost income, and the years his family lost together.
→ Learn more about wrongful death lawsuits
Workers’ Compensation Claims
Some states allow workers with asbestos diseases to file claims through the workers’ compensation system. These claims don’t require proof of fault—but they may offer less compensation than lawsuits and may not be available in every case.
Example Case: Samantha handled asbestos materials at an Illinois steel mill for over a decade. After being diagnosed with asbestosis, she filed a workers’ compensation claim, receiving help with medical bills and lost income.
→ Learn more about workers' compensation
Railroad Worker Asbestos Lawsuits (FELA)
Railroad workers are covered by the Federal Employers Liability Act (FELA)—not traditional workers’ comp. FELA lets you sue your railroad employer for asbestos exposure, even years later.
Example Case: Jim worked for a railroad maintaining engine brake systems in the 1960s and ‘70s. Diagnosed with lung cancer decades later, he filed a FELA claim alleging his employer failed to provide warnings or protective gear.
→ Learn more about FELA claims
Maritime Worker Asbestos Lawsuits (Jones Act)
If you worked aboard ships and were exposed to asbestos, you may qualify under the Jones Act, a federal law that allows seamen and maritime workers to file lawsuits against their employers for unsafe conditions.
Example Case: Sarah, a machinist aboard a cargo ship, worked in asbestos-filled engine rooms for years. When she developed mesothelioma, she filed a Jones Act lawsuit against her shipping company for failing to provide a safe workspace.
→ Learn more about maritime asbestos lawsuits
Each of these lawsuit types has unique requirements and strategies—but you don’t have to figure it out on your own. We’ll help you determine which types of claims apply and how to get the most compensation possible.
Combining Claims for Maximum Compensation
In many cases, one claim just isn’t enough.
If you were exposed to asbestos at work, you may be eligible to file multiple types of claims at once—against product manufacturers, property owners, employers, and even bankruptcy trusts. These legal paths can overlap, and when handled correctly, they can significantly increase the compensation available to you and your family.
Our firm has extensive experience coordinating these complex, multi-claim cases. We’ll help make sure no opportunity is missed and no dollar is left on the table.
A Real-World Example: Clarence Borel’s Legal Options Today
Clarence Borel was a Texas insulation worker who developed mesothelioma after years of handling asbestos-containing products on the job. His historic lawsuit in the early 1970s helped launch modern asbestos litigation. If Clarence Borel were diagnosed today, here's how our legal team might pursue his case:
Premises Liability Lawsuit
Clarence worked in petrochemical plants and refineries—sites where owners knew asbestos was present but failed to warn workers or provide safety protections.
Claim Basis: He could file a premises liability lawsuit against the owners of those facilities, arguing that they failed to maintain a safe work environment or warn him about known asbestos hazards on their property.
Clarence could sue those refinery owners because he didn't work for them. Most states require claims against your direct employer to be brought through the workers' compensation system.
Product Liability Lawsuit
Borel regularly installed and removed insulation made by companies like Johns-Manville and Fibreboard, often working with products like Kaylo insulation—which were packed with asbestos and lacked warning labels.
Claim Basis: He could file product liability lawsuits against the manufacturers of those materials, alleging that the products were defectively designed and unreasonably dangerous, and that the manufacturers failed to warn him about the risks of asbestos exposure.
The manufacturers Clarence sued have all setup asbestos trusts so today instead of suing those companies, we'd file claims with their trusts.
Workers’ Compensation Claims
In addition to union jobs, Clarence worked for various contractors over the years who supplied the very asbestos products he used—often without any warnings or protective equipment.
Claim Basis: He could pursue workers’ compensation claims in the states where he was employed, seeking medical coverage and financial compensation for his occupational illness—without needing to prove employer fault.
Clarence did in fact file and receive workers' compensation benefits. But workers' compensation benefits don't cover pain or suffering so they are far less valuable than a potential lawsuit could be.
Government Benefits: Social Security and VA Disability
In addition to lawsuits and trust claims, Clarence would likely qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) based on his mesothelioma diagnosis. The Social Security Administration recognizes mesothelioma as a qualifying condition for expedited disability benefits—often through the Compassionate Allowance program, which speeds up approval for people with serious illnesses.
If Clarence had served in the military—particularly in the Navy, where asbestos was heavily used on ships—he could also apply for VA disability compensation, which provides monthly tax-free payments for service-connected illnesses caused by asbestos exposure.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Many of the companies that made the asbestos products Clarence used have since gone bankrupt and established asbestos bankruptcy trusts to compensate victims like him.
Claim Basis: Clarence could file asbestos trust claims with each of these companies’ trusts—seeking compensation tied to the specific products he used, like Kaylo insulation.
With Clarence's work history (decades in refineries and chemical plants) his total compensation from asbestos trusts might exceed $1 million dollars.
We would also a free asbestos health test to Clarence's wife and children because they were exposed to asbestos he brought home on his clothes. And we don't have to guess as to what the results would be - Clarence's granddaughter explained that multiple members of Clarence's family did in fact develop asbestosis.
Comprehensive Support, Built Around You
If Clarence Borel were a client today, we’d pursue every available path to compensation on his behalf—lawsuits, trust claims, workers’ compensation, and government benefits like SSDI. That same coordinated legal strategy is what we offer every client we represent. We don’t leave money on the table, and we don’t leave you to figure things out alone.
We connect the dots—so you get the support you deserve.
Take the First Step Toward Justice—Before Time Runs Out
An asbestos-related illness is always life-changing. But legal action can provide the financial support your family needs—covering treatment costs, replacing lost income, and securing a more stable future. It can also hold the companies accountable that knowingly put you in harm’s way.
But your time to act is limited.
Statutes of limitations are already running, and waiting too long could cost you the right to file.
📞 Call us today at 833-4-ASBESTOS (833-427-2378) Or schedule your free consultation online with the form below.
We’ll review your exposure and medical history, explain all your options, and handle the rest—so you can focus on your health, your family, and the road ahead.