Minnesota Asbestos & Mesothelioma Lawsuits: Deadlines, Claims, and Legal Options

From the commercial towers of Minneapolis to the paper mills along Minnesota's rivers, the Land of 10,000 Lakes has seen its share of industrial development that left a legacy of asbestos exposure throughout the North Star State. Our comprehensive database documents 1,020 asbestos exposure sites across 188 Minnesota communities—from Minneapolis' downtown construction projects like the IDS Center to the 3M Company facilities, and from the paper mills in Cloquet to the food processing plants in Austin. From the skyscrapers that defined Minneapolis' skyline to the mills that processed Minnesota's timber, the state's industrial heritage includes countless worksites where employees encountered asbestos-containing materials.

Minnesota offers strong protections for mesothelioma families through its well-established legal framework. The state provides a six-year filing deadline from diagnosis—one of the most generous in the nation—uses comparative fault principles that allow recovery even with shared blame, and has no caps on damages. Minnesota's courts have experience with complex industrial exposure cases and follow established precedents that protect workers' rights.

Time is on your side in Minnesota. The state's six-year discovery rule means your family has until 2030 to file if diagnosed in 2024. This generous timeline provides crucial opportunity for thorough investigation and case development, recognizing that mesothelioma can take decades to develop and that victims deserve adequate time to pursue justice.

Time is critical, but less so than many other states. Minnesota’s six-year statute of limitations gives your family more time than many states, but the clock still starts when you knew or should have known that asbestos exposure caused your illness. Don’t let corporate defendants benefit from delay—your family deserves experienced advocates who understand both Minnesota’s industrial legacy and the legal tools available to hold companies accountable.

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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Minnesota Asbestos Law Summary

Minnesota Asbestos Law Details

Minnesota law allows individuals diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma to file lawsuits for damages caused by negligent exposure. The state follows a modified comparative fault system, enforces certain statutes of limitations and repose, and permits punitive damages under specific conditions. Minnesota also permits third-party claims even when workers’ compensation benefits have been paid. Plaintiffs should be mindful of causation standards, liability sharing rules, and evidentiary thresholds unique to Minnesota.

Statutes of Limitations and Repose

For asbestos-related personal injury and wrongful death claims, Minnesota generally applies a six-year statute of limitations for negligence claims (Minn. Stat. § 541.05) and a three-year limit from the date of death for wrongful death suits, with an absolute cap of six years from the act or omission causing the death (Minn. Stat. § 573.02).

Although Minnesota does not generally apply the discovery rule, courts have recognized it in product liability actions, meaning that in asbestos-related illness cases—particularly mesothelioma—the clock may begin running when a physical manifestation of the disease occurs and a causal link to asbestos exposure becomes known.

There is no asbestos-specific statute of repose, but a 10- to 12-year cap applies to construction defect claims under Minn. Stat. § 541.051.

Eligibility to Sue

Anyone diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness may bring a personal injury claim. If the individual has passed away, the decedent’s trustee may bring a wrongful death claim on behalf of the spouse and next of kin (Minn. Stat. § 573.02, subd. 1). A survival action is also permitted for injuries incurred prior to death, even if the death was unrelated to the asbestos exposure (Minn. Stat. § 573.02, subd. 2, amended in 2023).

Workers’ Compensation Limitations

Minnesota’s Workers’ Compensation Act (Minn. Stat. §§ 176.001–.862) is generally the exclusive remedy against an employer. However, it does not bar third-party lawsuits, such as those against product manufacturers or property owners.

Notably, Minnesota allows third-party tortfeasors to seek contribution from employers, with the employer’s liability capped at the amount of workers’ compensation benefits paid or payable (Lambertson v. Cincinnati Welding Corp., 257 N.W.2d 679 (Minn. 1977)).

Damages and Caps

Minnesota does not cap compensatory damages in asbestos cases. Plaintiffs may recover economic damages such as medical bills and lost earnings, as well as noneconomic damages like pain and suffering.

Punitive damages are available under Minn. Stat. § 549.20, but may not be pleaded in the initial complaint. They require clear and convincing evidence that the defendant deliberately disregarded the rights or safety of others. Courts consider the defendant’s awareness, concealment, financial condition, and the seriousness of the misconduct when evaluating such claims.

Comparative Fault and Joint Liability

Minnesota follows a modified comparative fault system. You may recover damages as long as you are 50% or less at fault, but your recovery will be reduced in proportion to your share of responsibility (Minn. Stat. § 604.01). If you are found more than 50% at fault, you cannot recover any damages.

Joint and several liability in Minnesota is limited. A defendant is only responsible for the full amount of damages if they are found to be more than 50% at fault, acted intentionally, or violated environmental laws (Minn. Stat. § 604.02). Otherwise, each defendant is typically only liable for their own share of the damages.

Collateral Source Rule

Minnesota follows a statutory collateral source rule (Minn. Stat. § 548.251), which permits defendants to offset amounts received by the plaintiff from sources like insurance. However, Medicare benefits and negotiated discounts are excluded from this offset (Swanson v. Brewster, 784 N.W.2d 264 (Minn. 2010)).

Standards of Proof and Causation

Minnesota applies a substantial factor test for causation: plaintiffs must show that the defendant’s conduct was a substantial factor in causing the injury (Staub v. Myrtle Lake Resort, 964 N.W.2d 613 (Minn. 2021)).

Minnesota does not follow Daubert. Instead, courts apply the Frye-Mack standard, which requires that expert evidence be generally accepted in the scientific community and that the expert is qualified (Goeb v. Tharaldson, 615 N.W.2d 800 (Minn. 2000)).

Wrongful Death and Survival

Wrongful death claims must be filed by a trustee within three years of death and no later than six years after the act or omission causing the death (Minn. Stat. § 573.02). Damages include pecuniary loss to the family and all damages suffered by the decedent prior to death. Survival actions are now explicitly permitted, even if the asbestos-related injury did not cause death (Minn. Stat. § 573.02, subd. 2).

How Minnesota Law Works in Practice

Meet Diana, a 66-year-old retired construction project manager from Duluth. From 1980 to 2000, she oversaw industrial renovation projects involving insulation removal and pipefitting, often working in dusty environments where asbestos was disturbed. In April 2024, after months of shortness of breath and chest discomfort, she was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

Minnesota generally uses a six-year statute of limitations for negligence claims (Minn. Stat. § 541.05), and courts have applied a version of the discovery rule in asbestos cases. Because Diana didn’t know she had mesothelioma until her 2024 diagnosis—and only then learned it was connected to asbestos—her time to file began in April 2024, giving her until April 2030 to bring a personal injury claim.

If Diana were to pass away before filing, her estate’s trustee could still pursue a wrongful death claim, provided it is filed within three years of her death and no later than six years after the act or omission that caused the harm (Minn. Stat. § 573.02). Minnesota law also now allows survival actions, even if the asbestos illness didn’t cause death—a result of the 2023 amendment to the survival statute (§ 573.02, subd. 2).

Because Diana’s asbestos exposure occurred during her employment, she cannot sue her direct employer due to workers’ compensation exclusivity. However, her legal team can file third-party lawsuits against contractors, manufacturers, and premises owners. And in Minnesota, third-party defendants may seek contribution from the employer, though the employer’s liability is capped at the amount of workers’ compensation paid (Lambertson v. Cincinnati Welding Corp.).

To establish liability, Diana’s attorneys must prove that the defendant’s conduct or product was a substantial factor in causing her mesothelioma—a test Minnesota courts apply in toxic exposure cases (Staub v. Myrtle Lake Resort). Expert medical and industrial hygiene testimony is essential.

Minnesota uses the Frye-Mack standard—not Daubert—so expert testimony must be generally accepted in the scientific community and reliably applied to the case (Goeb v. Tharaldson). The judge will screen expert methods but typically does not perform a deep Daubert-style reliability analysis.

Diana can recover full compensatory damages, including medical costs, lost earnings, and pain and suffering. There is no statutory cap on these amounts. If the defendants acted with deliberate disregard for safety, her attorneys can move to amend the complaint to seek punitive damages—but only after the court finds sufficient evidence under Minn. Stat. § 549.20.

Lastly, any insurance or benefit payments Diana received may reduce the jury award under Minnesota’s collateral source statute (§ 548.251), but Medicare and negotiated discounts cannot be used to lower her compensation (Swanson v. Brewster). Diana’s legal team will need to prepare strong arguments to protect her verdict from offsets.

This is a hypothetical example based on real Minnesota law. Every case is unique. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, call 833-4-ASBESTOS to understand how Minnesota law may apply to your family.

Why Choose Our Firm to Handle Your Family's Minnesota Mesothelioma Case?

Our proprietary database contains detailed records of 407 asbestos exposure sites across 6 Minnesota communities—from Minneapolis' commercial construction projects to the industrial facilities that powered the state's economy. 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 Minnesota family—because we've already done much of the detective work your case requires.

Learn more about our firm and our database

Minnesota Database Highlights:

If you or someone in your family has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, our firm can begin helping your family today. Here's how:

Asbestos Trust Claims

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 Minnesota database contains detailed records of which trust-affiliated companies supplied materials to sites across the state—from Minneapolis' major construction projects to industrial facilities throughout the state.

For example, if you worked on construction projects in Minneapolis where Flintkote Company products were used—including major buildings like the IDS Center, we can file your Flintkote Company Asbestos Trust claim immediately, potentially recovering $184,000 to $450,000 for mesothelioma cases.

Asbestos Lawsuits

You can hold companies accountable through Minnesota's favorable court system. Our database strengthens your case with documented evidence and court precedents from Minnesota worksites. We don't just argue you were exposed—we can cite specific depositions and trial records that already established liability at facilities like construction projects in Minneapolis and other Minnesota industrial sites.

Our database contains detailed records from Minnesota's unique industrial sites, including testimony about which defendants' products were used in construction, manufacturing, and paper processing. This gives us crucial evidence about product failures and safety violations specific to Minnesota's industrial environment.

Asbestos Disability Claims

Both Social Security and VA benefits provide monthly income while you pursue other compensation options. These are benefits you've already earned, and our records help identify exposure sources that support disability claims. Minnesota's diverse industrial history means many residents have multiple potential exposure sources.

Our records are especially valuable for workers in Minnesota's construction, manufacturing, and paper industries, helping prove exposure that gets disability claims approved faster.

Learn more about the legal options available to your family

Ready to Pursue Your Minnesota Mesothelioma Case?

Whether you were exposed to asbestos during construction projects in Minneapolis, at 3M Company facilities, or any of Minnesota's documented exposure sites, our experienced mesothelioma team is ready to fight for your rights within Minnesota's favorable legal framework.

Why Minnesota's Laws Favor Your Family:

• Six-year filing deadline from diagnosis—among the most generous in America

• Comparative fault allows recovery even with shared blame

• No caps on damages mean full recovery for all losses

• Established industrial exposure precedents protect workers' rights

What We'll Do for Your Minnesota Family:

• Comprehensive free case evaluation leveraging Minnesota's generous six-year filing window

• Immediate trust claim filings using our proprietary database of Minnesota exposure sites

• Strategic lawsuit preparation designed around Minnesota's favorable damage rules

• Expert navigation of Minnesota's comparative fault system to maximize recovery

Get started today. Our Minnesota mesothelioma team understands both the North Star State's industrial and construction history and Minnesota's uniquely favorable legal environment—and we're ready to put that expertise to work for your family.

Free Case Review | No Fees Unless We Win | Call 833-4-ASBESTOS