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

From the oil refineries of Casper to the coal mines and power plants throughout the Equality State, Wyoming's energy and natural resource industries created significant asbestos exposure across the state. Our comprehensive database documents 302 asbestos exposure sites across 90 Wyoming communities—from the Amoco and Texaco refineries in Casper to the FMC chemical plants in Green River, the power generation facilities throughout the state, and the Union Pacific Railroad operations that transported energy resources across the nation.

Wyoming offers legal protections for mesothelioma families. The state follows a discovery rule that protects victims of diseases with long latency periods, has no statutory caps on economic or noneconomic damages, and provides modified comparative negligence that allows recovery if you're 50% or less at fault. However, Wyoming has abolished joint and several liability, meaning each defendant pays only their proportional share.

Time is critical. Wyoming's four-year 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 Wyoming's energy industry legacy and its legal framework.

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.

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

Wyoming Asbestos Law Summary

Wyoming Asbestos Law Details

Asbestos lawsuits in Wyoming are governed by a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury and a two-year limitation period for wrongful death. Wyoming applies a discovery rule to personal injury claims, allowing asbestos-related lawsuits to proceed years after exposure if the disease was not immediately known. However, wrongful death actions are considered a condition precedent—not a statute of limitations—so the discovery rule does not apply. Wyoming uses modified comparative fault with a 51% bar, and has abolished joint and several liability entirely, meaning each defendant is only responsible for their own share of fault. Expert testimony is evaluated under a traditional reliability framework, and punitive damages may be awarded for willful or wanton misconduct. Both survival actions and wrongful death claims are permitted, with damages apportioned to the statutory beneficiaries. Understanding these nuances is critical to protecting your rights under Wyoming law.

Statutes of Limitation and Repose

• Personal Injury: Wyoming applies a four-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims based on negligence, strict liability, or emotional distress, including asbestos-related injuries (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv), (a)(iv)(C)).

• Discovery Rule: The limitations period begins when the plaintiff knew or should have known of the injury and its likely cause.

• Wrongful Death: A wrongful death claim must be filed within two years of the date of death (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-38-102(d)). This deadline is a condition precedent, not a statute of limitations, and the discovery rule does not apply (Corkill v. Knowles, 955 P.2d 438 (Wyo. 1998)).

• Statute of Repose: Wyoming has no general statute of repose barring asbestos claims due to the passage of time.

Eligibility to Sue

• A person diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease may bring a personal injury claim.

• A wrongful death action must be brought by a court-appointed personal representative (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-38-103(b)).

• Wyoming also permits survival actions to recover for medical expenses, pain and suffering, and other damages incurred before death (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-4-101).

Workers’ Compensation Limitations

Wyoming provides broad immunity to covered employers. Lawsuits against employers are barred unless the employer intentionally caused harm (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-104(a)).

Third-party claims (e.g., against asbestos product manufacturers) are allowed, but the state may assert a lien for benefits paid (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-105(a)).

Damages and Caps

• Economic Damages: Fully recoverable, including medical bills, lost income, and future care.

• Noneconomic Damages: Recoverable with no statutory cap in asbestos or wrongful death cases.

• Punitive Damages: Permitted where conduct is willful and wanton, proven by clear and convincing evidence. Must involve reckless disregard for safety (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-1-109(b); Danculovich v. Brown, 593 P.2d 187 (Wyo. 1979)).

• Loss of Consortium: Recoverable in both survival and wrongful death actions (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-38-102(c)).

Comparative Fault and Joint Liability

• Wyoming follows a modified comparative fault rule with a 51% bar (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-1-109(b)). Plaintiffs may recover only if their fault is 50% or less.

• Joint and several liability is abolished: Each defendant pays only their share of fault (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-1-109(e)).

Collateral Source Rule

• Wyoming allows courts to reduce awards by amounts received from collateral sources (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-1-109(b)).

• However, reductions are not allowed when the source has a right of reimbursement.

Standards of Proof and Causation

• Plaintiffs must prove that:

  1. The defendant’s product was present,

  2. The plaintiff had frequent and regular exposure,

  3. The exposure was proximate in time and space, and

  4. It was a substantial factor in causing the illness.

• Wyoming recognizes proximate cause as a foreseeability-based standard: the injury must be a natural and probable consequence of the exposure (Wood v. CRST Expedited, Inc., 419 P.3d 503 (Wyo. 2018)).

Wyoming applies Rule 702 of the Wyoming Rules of Evidence, requiring that expert testimony be:

• Based on scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge;

• Helpful to the jury; and

• Supported by reliable methodology.

Courts serve as gatekeepers, though the state has not formally adopted Daubert (Bunting v. Jamieson, 984 P.2d 467 (Wyo. 1999)).

Wrongful Death and Survival Actions

• Wrongful Death: Must be filed within two years of death (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-38-102(d)). Filed by a personal representative on behalf of heirs defined by intestacy statutes. Damages include loss of support, companionship, and funeral costs.

• Survival Action: Preserves the decedent’s personal claims for pain and suffering and economic losses before death (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-4-101).

How Wyoming’s Laws Work in Practice

Meet Glenn, a 74-year-old retired oil refinery technician from Casper. From the 1960s through the 1980s, Glenn worked with high-heat equipment lined with asbestos insulation. He frequently cut asbestos pipe covering and removed gaskets from valves and pumps made by now-bankrupt manufacturers. In May 2024, he was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

Because Wyoming applies a discovery rule to personal injury claims, Glenn’s four-year statute of limitations began in May 2024, when he learned that asbestos exposure likely caused his illness—not when the exposure occurred decades earlier (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-3-105(a)(iv)(C)). He has until May 2028 to file a personal injury lawsuit.

If Glenn passes away before filing, his family may still pursue compensation by bringing a wrongful death claim and a survival action. The wrongful death claim must be filed within two years of death—a deadline treated as a condition of the right to sue, not subject to the discovery rule (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-38-102(d); Corkill v. Knowles). The survival claim may seek compensation for the medical bills, lost earnings, and pain and suffering Glenn experienced before death (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-4-101).

Because Glenn’s former employer was covered by Wyoming workers’ compensation law, he cannot sue the employer—even if it was negligent (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-104). However, Glenn can still sue third parties, such as the manufacturers of asbestos products and industrial equipment. Any recovery will be subject to a lien by the compensation carrier for previously paid benefits (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 27-14-105).

Wyoming uses modified comparative fault. Glenn can recover damages only if he is 50% or less at fault (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-1-109(b)). If he is found 51% or more at fault, he recovers nothing. If other defendants are found liable but cannot pay, Glenn cannot recover their share from solvent defendants because Wyoming has abolished joint and several liability (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-1-109(e)).

Glenn may recover full economic and noneconomic damages, including pain, suffering, lost income, and medical bills. There is no statutory cap on compensatory damages. If his legal team can prove that a manufacturer willfully ignored known safety risks, he may also pursue punitive damages, which are allowed under Wyoming law if supported by clear and convincing evidence of willful and wanton conduct (Wyo. Stat. Ann. § 1-1-109(b)).

To succeed, Glenn’s attorneys will present expert medical testimony linking asbestos exposure to his mesothelioma. Wyoming courts follow Rule 702 and require that expert opinions be based on reliable science and helpful to the jury, but the state has not formally adopted Daubert (Bunting v. Jamieson).

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

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

Our proprietary database contains detailed records of 302 asbestos exposure sites across 90 Wyoming communities—from Casper's oil refineries to the chemical plants of Green River and the power generation facilities throughout the state. 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 Wyoming family—because we've already done much of the detective work your case requires.

Learn more about our firm and our database

Wyoming 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 Wyoming 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 Wyoming database contains detailed records of which trust-affiliated companies supplied materials to sites across the state—from the oil refineries of Casper to the chemical plants of Green River and the power generation facilities throughout Wyoming.

For example, if you worked at the Amoco refinery in Casper where our database shows Pittsburgh Corning products like Unibestos were installed, we can file your Pittsburgh Corning trust claim immediately. While other firms would spend months investigating whether Pittsburgh Corning products were present at your workplace, we've already done that detective work. We can potentially recover significant compensation for mesothelioma cases depending on exposure level and diagnosis.

Asbestos Lawsuits

You can hold companies accountable through Wyoming's court system. Our database strengthens your case with documented evidence and court precedents from Wyoming worksites. We don't just argue you were exposed—we can cite specific depositions and trial records that already established liability at facilities like the Amoco refinery and other energy facilities.

Our database contains detailed records from Wyoming's unique industrial sites, including testimony about which defendants' products were used in oil refining, chemical production, and power generation. This gives us crucial evidence about product failures and safety violations specific to Wyoming's energy and mining 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 specialized military database is particularly powerful for veterans. Wyoming's military history means many residents have potential VA claims from service at installations like Francis E. Warren Air Force Base or work on defense projects.

Our military records are especially valuable for veterans who served at Wyoming installations or worked on defense projects throughout the Mountain West, helping prove exposure that gets VA claims approved faster.

Learn more about the legal options available to your family

Ready to Pursue Your Wyoming Mesothelioma Case?

Whether you were exposed to asbestos at the Amoco refinery in Casper, Standard Oil facilities, FMC Corporation's Green River plants, or any of Wyoming's documented exposure sites, our experienced mesothelioma team is ready to fight for your rights.

Why Time Matters in Wyoming:

• Four-year filing deadline from discovery under Wyoming's discovery rule

• Multiple trust claims may be available beyond your lawsuit

• No caps on economic or noneconomic damages in Wyoming

• Abolished joint and several liability means defendants pay only their share

What We'll Do for Your Wyoming Family:

• Free case evaluation to determine all available compensation sources

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

• Aggressive lawsuit preparation against manufacturers and premises owners

• Strategic use of Wyoming's liability rules to maximize recovery from responsible defendants

• Expert navigation of workers' compensation issues and premises liability claims recognized in Wyoming

Get started today. Our Wyoming mesothelioma team understands the energy industry legacy of the Equality State and is ready to put that expertise to work for your family.

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