Connecticut Asbestos & Mesothelioma Lawsuits: Deadlines, Claims, and Legal Options
From the submarine shipyards of Groton to the power plants of the Connecticut River Valley, the Constitution State's industrial heritage was built with deadly asbestos materials that continue claiming lives today. Our comprehensive database documents 1,456 asbestos exposure sites across 196 Connecticut communities—from Groton's Electric Boat shipyard and Naval Submarine Base to Middletown's Hartford Electric Light power stations and Stratford's Raybestos Manhattan manufacturing facilities.
Whether you worked at Electric Boat's submarine construction facilities, Connecticut's numerous power stations like the Middletown or Montville plants, Pratt & Whitney Aircraft in Middletown, or any of the defense contractors, manufacturing facilities, and utility companies that powered Connecticut's economy, you may have been unknowingly exposed to deadly asbestos fibers. From the nuclear facilities of New London County to the aerospace industry of Fairfield County, Connecticut's high-tech industries relied heavily on asbestos-containing materials.
Connecticut provides strong legal protections for mesothelioma families. The state offers a unique 80-year window for asbestos product liability claims alongside its standard 3-year discovery rule, has no caps on economic or noneconomic damages, and maintains joint liability for economic damages—meaning you can collect full medical expenses from any solvent defendant. Connecticut's modified comparative fault system ensures you can recover compensation as long as you're 50% or less at fault.
Time is critical. Connecticut's discovery rule means your family's deadline to file began when you learned your illness was caused by asbestos exposure. Don't let corporate defendants benefit from delay—your family deserves experienced advocates who understand both Connecticut's maritime and industrial history and its favorable legal environment.
This page is part of our broader mission. I started this firm after learning that the cancers that killed my father and grandparents were caused by asbestos—something we didn't realize until it was too late to hold anyone accountable. That experience is why we built this site: to make sure no other family misses their chance.
— Firm Founder, Justinian Lane
If you’re trying to make sense of complex legal and medical terms, our Asbestos Lexicon explains the terminology in plain English. For a deeper understanding of how mesothelioma lawsuits actually work—from proving liability to calculating damages—visit our Complete Guide to Mesothelioma Lawsuits.
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Connecticut Asbestos Law Summary
Legal Topic | Connecticut Law | What This Means for Your Family |
|---|---|---|
Deadlines and Accrual Rules | ||
Filing Deadline – Personal Injury | 3 years from discovery (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577a) | You must file within 3 years of discovering the illness. For asbestos product claims, you also have up to 80 years from the last sale by the defendant. |
Filing Deadline – Wrongful Death | 2 years from death; no later than 5 years from exposure (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555) | The estate must file a wrongful death claim within 2 years of death and no more than 5 years after the defendant’s wrongful act. |
Minor Tolling | No tolling for minors unless fraud or concealment applies (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577) | Minors do not automatically get extra time to file, unless there is evidence of fraud or a continuing course of conduct. |
Statute of Repose | 80-year window for asbestos products (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577a(e)) | Asbestos claims may be filed decades after exposure, provided the suit is filed within 3 years of diagnosis and the defendant possessed the product within 80 years. |
Standards of Proof and Causation | ||
Causation Standard | Substantial factor test (Mahoney v. Beatman, 110 Conn. 184) | You must prove that asbestos exposure significantly contributed to the development of the disease. |
Expert Testimony | Porter/Kelly standard applies (State v. Porter, 241 Conn. 57) | Experts must rely on scientific principles generally accepted in their field. Judges act as gatekeepers but use a more flexible standard than Daubert. |
Punitive Damages Standard | Clear and convincing evidence of reckless disregard (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-240b) | Punitive damages may be awarded if the defendant acted with reckless indifference, up to twice the amount of compensatory damages. |
Damage Rules | ||
Economic Damage Caps | No cap | You may recover the full amount of medical bills, lost wages, and other financial losses. |
Noneconomic Damage Caps | No cap | Pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment damages are not limited in Connecticut asbestos cases. |
Punitive Damage Caps | Typically limited to 2x compensatory (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-240b) | Punitive damages in product liability asbestos cases may not exceed double the compensatory award. |
Liability and Fault Rules | ||
Comparative Fault | Modified 50% bar rule (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h) | You may recover damages only if you are 50% or less at fault. If found more than 50% responsible, you cannot recover anything. |
Joint and Several Liability | Joint liability for economic damages only (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(g)) | You can recover full medical costs from any one defendant. Pain and suffering damages are split by fault, and reallocation rules apply if a defendant can’t pay. |
Other Considerations | ||
Collateral Source Rule | Modified rule; verdict reduced by paid amounts (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-225a) | Your award may be reduced by amounts paid by insurance or government benefits, but you receive credit for what it cost you to obtain those benefits. |
Wrongful Death Recovery | Executor or administrator may sue (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555) | The estate may recover damages for lost income, companionship, and medical and funeral expenses. |
Loss of Consortium | Available to spouses; possibly minor children | Spouses may seek damages for loss of companionship. In some cases, minor children may sue for loss of parental consortium. |
Connecticut Asbestos Law Details
Connecticut provides a strong legal foundation for asbestos and mesothelioma victims to bring claims. The state recognizes the long latency period of asbestos-related diseases and offers extended deadlines in certain asbestos product cases. While Connecticut caps certain categories of damages and modifies joint liability, it generally allows for full recovery of economic losses and recognizes claims for loss of consortium.
Statutes of Limitation and Repose
Most asbestos personal injury claims must be filed within three years of the date the injury is discovered or should have been discovered (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577a). However, Connecticut provides a unique statute for asbestos-related product liability claims: plaintiffs must still meet the three-year-from-injury deadline, but the state allows an 80-year window from the defendant’s last possession of the product (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577a(e)).
Wrongful death claims must be brought within two years of death, and no later than five years from the date of the underlying act or omission (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555). Statutes are not tolled for death or minority, but may be tolled in rare cases involving fraudulent concealment or a continuing course of conduct (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 52-595, 52-577).
Eligibility to Sue
Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases may bring personal injury claims. In the event of death, a wrongful death claim must be brought by the executor or administrator of the estate (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-555). Spouses may also bring loss of consortium claims, and in some cases, minor children may sue for loss of parental consortium.
Workers’ Compensation Limitations
Connecticut’s Workers’ Compensation Act provides the exclusive remedy against an employer for workplace asbestos exposure (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-284). However:
Lawsuits may be brought against third parties (e.g., manufacturers, premises owners).
An employer may lose protection if an intentional tort is proven, including via “substantial certainty” doctrine (Suarez v. Dickmont Plastics Corp., 242 Conn. 255 (1997)).
Employers and insurers have a lien on third-party recoveries, and proper notice is required to preserve rights (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-293).
Damages and Caps
Connecticut does not cap economic or noneconomic damages in personal injury or wrongful death cases. However:
Punitive damages are typically limited to attorney’s fees and litigation costs, unless provided by statute (Larsen Chelsey Realty Co. v. Larsen, 232 Conn. 480 (1995)).
In asbestos product liability cases, punitive damages may be awarded up to twice compensatory damages if the defendant acted with reckless disregard (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-240b).
Comparative Fault and Joint Liability
Connecticut uses a modified comparative fault system: plaintiffs may recover if they are not more than 50% at fault, and their damages are reduced by their percentage of negligence (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(b), (o)).
Connecticut retains joint and several liability for economic damages. For noneconomic damages, the court apportions fault and applies a reallocation formula if a defendant cannot pay (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-572h(g), (h)).
Collateral Source Rule
Tort reform modified Connecticut’s collateral source rule. Today, verdicts are reduced by amounts paid by health insurers and other sources—but plaintiffs get credit for the cost of securing those benefits (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-225a). Courts reduce awards by amounts paid, not amounts billed, per statute and case law.
Standards of Proof and Causation
Connecticut requires plaintiffs to prove that asbestos exposure was a substantial factor in causing their illness (Mahoney v. Beatman, 110 Conn. 184 (1929)). The jury is instructed to consider all contributing causes, even when multiple defendants or exposures are involved (Barry v. Quality Steel Prods., 263 Conn. 424 (2003)).
Expert testimony is generally required to establish medical causation in mesothelioma cases. Connecticut follows the Porter/Kelly standard (not Daubert), which allows expert testimony if it is based on scientific knowledge that is reasonably reliable and generally accepted in the expert’s field (State v. Porter, 241 Conn. 57 (1997)). Judges act as gatekeepers but apply a more flexible standard than in federal court.
The burden of proof in civil asbestos cases is a preponderance of the evidence, but clear and convincing evidence is required for punitive damages or fraud (Alaimo v. Boyer, 188 Conn. 36 (1982)).
How Connecticut’s Laws Work in Practice
Meet Evelyn, a 73-year-old retired lab technician from New Haven. From 1975 to 1992, she worked in a medical research facility where she frequently handled asbestos-insulated lab ovens, fume hoods, and pipe coverings. In April 2024, she was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma after months of worsening abdominal symptoms.
Under Connecticut’s asbestos-specific product liability law (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-577a(e)), Evelyn’s personal injury lawsuit is timely—even though her exposure ended more than 30 years ago. The statute provides an 80-year window from when the defendant last possessed the product, as long as the case is filed within three years of discovering the illness. Since Evelyn was diagnosed in April 2024, she has until April 2027 to file.
Because Evelyn never worked directly for the product manufacturer or installer, her claim is not barred by workers’ compensation. She can sue third parties responsible for the asbestos-containing equipment. If she had been exposed at her job, the Workers’ Compensation Act would likely have barred her claim—unless she could prove an intentional tort under Connecticut’s “substantial certainty” doctrine (Suarez v. Dickmont Plastics, 242 Conn. 255 (1997)).
Connecticut uses modified comparative fault, so Evelyn can recover as long as she is 50% or less at fault. If a jury determines that she should have used more protective measures, her award could be reduced—but not eliminated unless she’s found more at fault than the defendants.
If her lawyers prove that the company acted with reckless disregard for her safety, Evelyn may also be entitled to punitive damages—potentially up to twice her compensatory award under Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-240b.
However, because of Connecticut’s collateral source rule reform, any compensation she’s already received from health insurance or Medicare may be deducted from her trial award (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 52-225a), unless she can show she paid for those benefits herself.
This is a hypothetical example based on real Connecticut law. Every case is different. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, call 833-4-ASBESTOS to learn how Connecticut’s legal system may apply to your situation.
Why Choose Our Firm to Handle Your Family's Connecticut Mesothelioma Case?
Our proprietary database contains detailed records of 1,456 asbestos exposure sites across 196 Connecticut communities—from Groton's 55 documented sites including Electric Boat and the Naval Submarine Base to Middletown's 34 power generation and aerospace facilities. While other firms spend months investigating your exposure history, we often know within days which companies owe you compensation.
The Result? Faster trust claims, stronger lawsuits, and maximum recovery for your Connecticut family—because we've already done much of the detective work your case requires.
Learn more about our firm and our database
Connecticut Database Highlights:
Major Connecticut Exposure Sites | Trust Claims Available | Court Precedents |
|---|---|---|
Groton (55 documented sites) | 17+ major trusts | Shipyard/naval exposure precedents |
New London (36 sites) | Nuclear/maritime trusts | Submarine base liability wins |
Middletown (34 sites) | Power generation trusts | Utility company precedents |
Stratford (30 sites) | Manufacturing trusts | Raybestos Manhattan victories |
If you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, our firm can begin helping your Connecticut family today. Here's how:
Hundreds of companies have set aside billions specifically for asbestos victims. These claims often resolve faster than lawsuits and don't require going to court. Our Connecticut database contains detailed records of which trust-affiliated companies supplied materials to sites across the state—from Electric Boat's submarine construction to Hartford Electric Light's power generation facilities.
For example, if you worked at the Middletown Power Station or any of Connecticut's Hartford Electric Light Company facilities, our database shows that Babcock & Wilcox established a trust specifically for workers exposed to their boiler and power generation equipment. We can file your Babcock & Wilcox Asbestos Trust claim immediately, potentially recovering $90,000 to $400,000 for mesothelioma cases.
You can hold companies accountable through Connecticut's favorable court system. Our database strengthens your case with documented evidence and court precedents from Connecticut worksites. We don't just argue you were exposed—we can cite specific depositions and trial records that already established liability at facilities like Raybestos Manhattan and Electric Boat.
Our database contains detailed records from Connecticut's unique maritime and aerospace industrial sites, including testimony about which defendants' products were used in submarine construction and aircraft manufacturing. This gives us crucial evidence about product failures and safety violations specific to Connecticut's specialized industries.
Both Social Security and VA benefits provide monthly income while you pursue other compensation options. These are benefits you've already earned, and our specialized military database is particularly powerful for veterans. Connecticut's extensive military and naval presence means many residents have potential VA claims from service at submarine bases, the Coast Guard Academy, or defense contractors throughout the state.
Our military records are especially valuable for veterans who served at Connecticut's numerous naval installations or worked on submarine construction projects, helping prove exposure that gets VA claims approved faster.
Learn more about the legal options available to your family
Ready to Pursue Your Connecticut Mesothelioma Case?
Whether you were exposed to asbestos at Electric Boat's shipyard, Connecticut's power generation facilities, or any of Connecticut's documented exposure sites, our experienced mesothelioma team is ready to fight for your rights.
Why Time Matters in Connecticut:
Three-year filing deadline from diagnosis, plus unique 80-year window for asbestos product claims
Multiple trust claims may be available beyond your lawsuit
No caps on economic or noneconomic damages in Connecticut
Evidence preservation becomes more difficult as time passes, especially for older submarine construction records
What We'll Do for Your Connecticut Family:
Free case evaluation to determine all available compensation sources
Immediate trust claim filings using our proprietary database of Connecticut exposure sites
Aggressive lawsuit preparation against manufacturers and premises owners
Strategic use of Connecticut's joint liability rules for economic damages to maximize recovery from solvent defendants
Get started today. Our Connecticut mesothelioma team understands the unique challenges of proving exposure in submarine construction and specialized manufacturing environments and is ready to put that expertise to work for your family.
Free Case Review | No Fees Unless We Win | Call 833-4-ASBESTOS