MISSISSIPPI: Mesothelioma Lawyers Help MS Asbestos Victims

JACKSON, Mississippi – Mesothelioma lawyers from the national asbestos litigation firm of Levy Konigsberg LLP (“LK”) are continuing to help Mississippi mesothelioma patients and families obtain legal compensation from companies that manufactured, sold or used asbestos-containing products.

Every year, thousands of men and women across the country are diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma cancer, including many in Mississippi. Even more are diagnosed with lung cancer and asbestosis. All of these asbestos-related diseases could have been prevented if workers had been properly protected from exposure to asbestos.

Due to the presence of a sprawling shipyard and numerous oil rigs, oil refineries, power plants, paper mills and other industrial employers throughout Mississippi, mill workers, powerhouse employees, insulators, plumbers, laborers, electricians, pipefitters, chemical operators, machinist, boilermakers, engineers and many other trades were routinely exposed to asbestos on a daily basis at their places of employment. Mesothelioma lawyers at LK have extensive experience in investigating these occupational exposures:

Ingalls Shipbuilding

For over 75 years, Ingalls Shipbuilding has employed thousands of Mississippi residents at its shipyard location. Spread across 800 acres in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Ingalls Shipbuilding has constructed large vessels for the U.S. Navy, Coast Guard, Marine Corps and foreign and commercial customers. Individuals present at the Ingalls Shipbuilding worksite were potentially exposed to large amounts of asbestos dust on a regular basis.

Between the 1940s and 1980s, employees of Ingalls Shipbuilding built surface combatants, warships, guided missile destroyers, and large deck amphibious ships. Available statistics show that Ingalls Shipbuilding has built over 70% of the Navy’s total warships. Considered the largest industrial employer in Mississippi and Alabama, numerous trades were required to support Ingalls Shipbuilding, including pipefitters, insulators, boilermakers, electricians, plumbers, millwrights, laborers, military personnel and independent contractors.

LK mesothelioma lawyers have substantial experience in investigating exposure suffered by individuals present at shipyard worksites. Vessel building and overhaul work performed at Ingalls Shipbuilding typically occurred in cramped spaces with poor ventilation systems resulting in regular exposure to high levels of asbestos dust. Individuals at the Ingalls Shipbuilding shipyard regularly worked with gaskets, packing, raw asbestos, insulation, and other asbestos-containing materials and equipment throughout their careers.

Mississippi’s Oil Industry

MS residents were employed throughout the state on Mississippi’s oil rigs and refineries. LK mesothelioma attorneys have experience investigating the unique exposures suffered by individuals employed on oil rigs and oil refineries.

Oil Well Rigs

Due to Mississippi’s coastline and the abundance of shale rock bodies, hundreds of companies have previously employed Mississippi residents on water-based oil rigs. Also known as an “oil platform,” heavy equipment, containing asbestos, was required to be installed and maintained on a regular basis. Pumps, valves boilers, motors, generators, engines, and cranes were installed and operated on water oil rigs. Individuals present on these oil rigs operated this equipment on a regular basis, unaware of the serious health hazards created by exposure to asbestos-containing materials. Other areas of asbestos exposure on water-based oil rigs which LK attorneys have previously investigated are the asbestos-containing drilling muds used by rig workers and the large braking systems of the rig’s cranes, which required regular maintenance.

Mississippi Oil Refineries

Major companies established oil refineries throughout Mississippi, including Exxon Mobile, Hess, Pontiac, and Standard Oil. The process of refining oil required the use of large, high-temperature equipment. Boilers, furnaces, turbines, cooling towers and ovens were installed, maintained and repaired at these power plants on a regular basis. This equipment required large amounts of asbestos-containing products to properly function. Other products, including pumps, valves, motors, wire, cable, heaters, air conditioning units, gaskets, packing, chillers, and steam traps were necessary to allow the oil refineries to properly function. Individuals working at these Mississippi oil refineries were exposed to high levels of asbestos dust from their work with or around these products.

Mississippi Paper and Pulp Industry

Several companies, including Allied Paper, Georgia Pacific, International Paper, Moss Point Mississippi, St. Regis and Weyerhauser operated plants throughout Mississippi. Mesothelioma lawyers at LK are experienced in investigating the unique exposures suffered by employees at paper and pulp mills.

These paper and pulp companies operated large mills throughout Mississippi containing large, asbestos-containing equipment and other asbestos-containing products which employees and independent contractors were routinely exposed to. Although preventable, individuals present at these Mississippi Paper and Pulp mills were not warned about the dangers associated with exposure to asbestos dust.

Scientific Research

In 2002, an article was published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, investigating lung and pleural diseases of 62,937 males who worked for at least one year in the paper and pulp industry between the years 1945 and 1966. The study found that at least 36 percent of paper and pulp employees were exposed to asbestos while employed at a paper and pulp mill. Many of the paper and pulp employees who developed a lung or pleural disease performed maintenance work at the paper and pulp mill.

An experienced mesothelioma lawyer at LK will investigate all possible exposures you or your loved one suffered at a Mississippi paper and pulp worksite. Individuals present at these worksites commonly worked with and around boilers, furnaces, turbines, ovens, motors and generators. Other products commonly used at paper and pulp mills include gaskets, packing, pipe covering, raw asbestos and masonry products, much of which contained asbestos.

Mississippi Powerhouses

Between the 1930s and 1980s, numerous powerhouses were operated throughout Mississippi. Employees and independent contractors present at these Mississippi powerhouses may have been exposed to large amounts of asbestos dust while performing their work. Despite your job title, there are numerous areas of asbestos exposure commonly suffered by individuals present at powerhouses. Mesothelioma attorneys at LK are experienced in investigating asbestos exposures at power plants.

Non-Occupational Asbestos Exposure

In Mississippi, and across the country, many people also developed mesothelioma from non-occupational asbestos exposures, such as automotive work, home renovations and other hobbies, or from “second-hand asbestos exposure,” which occurred when work clothes contaminated with asbestos were worn home. An experienced LK mesothelioma lawyer will assist your family in determining all possible sources of your exposure to asbestos dust.

Mississippi worksites where asbestos exposure occurred most commonly include:

• Allied Paper Mill (Jackson, MS)
• American Potash Chemical Plant (Hamilton, MS)
• Anderson Tully Plant (Vicksburg, MS)
• Armour Packing (Jackson, MS)
• Armstrong Tire & Rubber Plant (Natchez, MS)
• Bexter Wilson Power Plant (Vicksburg, MS)
• Buckeye Industries (Corinth, MS)
• Bruce Lumber Plant (Laurel, MS)
• Chicago Bridge & Iron Shipyard (Pascagoula, MS)
• Coastal Chemical Plant (Pascagoula, MS)
• Continental Turpentine & Rosin (Laurel, MS)
• Daniel Power Plant (Escatawpa, MS)
• Escatawpa Power Plant (Escatawpa, MS)
• Exxon Refinery (Pascagoula, MS)
• First Chemical Plant (Pascagoula, MS)
• Flintkote (Meridan, MS)
• Georgia Pacific (Monticello, MS)
• Greenville Mills (Greenville, MS)
• Greenville Power Plant (Greenville, MS)
• Greenwood Power Plant (Greenwood, MS)
• Gulf Oiil Refinery (Purvis, MS)
• Halter Marine Shipyard, MS)
• Hercules (Hattiesburg, MS)
• Hess Refinery (Pascagoula, MS)
• Hooker Chemical (Columbus, MS)
• Industrial Steel & Machine Works (Gulfport, MS)
• Ingalls Shipyard (Pascagoula, MS)
• International Paper Mill (Moss Point, MS)
• Jack Watson Power Plant (Gulfport, MS)
• Kerr-McGee Plant (Hamilton, MS)
• Kimberly-Clark (Corinth, MS)
• Litton Shipyard (Pascagoula, MS)
• Litton Systems Building (Moss Point, MS)
• Mason Electric Company (Laurel, MS)
• Masonite Plant (Laurel, MS)
• McGehee Lumber Company (Natchez, MS)
• Meridan Powerhouse (Meridian, MS)
• Mississippi Power & Light Plant (Statewide, MS)
• Moselle Power Plant (Moselle, MS)
• Moss Point Mississippi Paper Mill (Moss Point, MS)
• Parker Hannifin Company (Holly Springs, MS)
• Pontiac Refinery (Purvis, MS)
• Quaker Oats Plant (Pascagoula, MS)
• R.D. Morrow Power Plant (Purvis, MS)
• Rex Brown Steam Plant (Jackson, MS)
• Shell Refinery (Jackson, MS)
• Southern Mississippi Powerhouse (Moselle, MS)
• Standard Oil Refinery (Pascagoula, MS)
• St. Regis/Champion Paper Mill (Monticello, MS)
• Thiokol/Morton Chemical Plant (Moss Point, MS)
• Transco-Pipeline Compressor Station (Hattiesburg, MS)
• U.S. Gypsum (Greenville, MS)
• Vicksburg Power Plant (Vicksburg, MS)
• Weyerhauser Paper Mill (Columbus, MS)
• Wurlitzer Piano Plant (Holly Springs, MS)

If you or your loved one are a Mississippi resident or were exposed to asbestos in Mississippi, and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, please call 1-800-637-6529 or submit an online inquiry on this website to receive a FREE consultation with a mesothelioma lawyer at Levy Konigsberg LLP.

ATTENTION: Mesothelioma has no known cure and often causes severe pain, suffering, and other types of damage, such as loss of consortium, and loss of income. Additionally, due to the exceedingly high cost of mesothelioma treatments, many families exhaust savings and accumulate financial debt in order to pay for the medical expenses of their family member.

Under the law of most states, pain and suffering from mesothelioma may be compensated through the award of money damages, usually obtained with the help of experienced mesothelioma attorneys. In some states other types of damages may also be recovered.

Asbestos litigation affords mesothelioma victims the opportunity to receive financial compensation and hold accountable the companies that caused their asbestos exposure.

IMPORTANT: If you or your family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should get in touch with a mesothelioma lawyer as early as possible to determine if you have a mesothelioma case and to:

• Preserve your rights to bring a legal action against the responsible parties within the limited time frame allowed by law, known as statute of limitations;
• Obtain maximum compensation in your case by being able to:
  • Preserve evidence and establish facts of the asbestos exposure while the claimant is still alive and able to provide information;
  • File and resolve a lawsuit against the responsible parties before they file for bankruptcy or, if they already have, to obtain compensation before their bankruptcy trust funds run out of money;
• Expedite your case, as courts tend to give higher priority to mesothelioma lawsuits where the claimant is still alive.

Find out whether you have a case by speaking to one of our experienced mesothelioma lawyers via our 24/7 (800) 315-3806 or by submitting an email inquiry (see form above). Our attorneys will be quick to respond to you and happy to answer all of your questions.

NOTE: We have offices located in New York, New Jersey, California, Georgia, Washington, and Maryland. Many of our mesothelioma lawyers are licensed to practice law in a number of U.S. states and have the capability and extensive experience of representing mesothelioma clients throughout the United States. You are encouraged to contact us with any questions.

Mississippi Mesothelioma FAQ

Many workers were exposed to asbestos in Mississippi while working at oil refineries or shipyards in the state, and in countless other industries. Asbestos was in wide use throughout the state for many decades. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our team at Levy Konigsberg, a premier mesothelioma lawsuit firm, offers some guidance about this important issue.

Where in Mississippi Could a Worker Have Been Exposed to Asbestos?

Mississippi workers in several industries were exposed to high levels of asbestos. Exposure occurred in shipyards, where ship engine rooms and pipe systems were insulated with the material. Another common location where workers have been exposed to asbestos in Mississippi could be one of many several paper companies, as well as auto repair shops and other industrial facilities.

While these industries are known to have exposed employees to the risk of inhaling asbestos fibers, countless other workplaces and industries were also responsible for exposing their workers to asbestos, including chemical companies, power companies, tire and rubber manufacturing firms, oil refineries, pipe supply firms, and many, many others.

Do I Need an Attorney for a Mesothelioma Claim?

Mesothelioma is a disease with no cure, caused by breathing in asbestos fibers. It usually takes decades for the disease to develop. Once diagnosed, you have a short time window in which to file a claim. At Levy Konigsberg, we have years of experience litigating mesothelioma claims to assist victims of exposure, or to file wrongful death claims for families who have lost a loved one to this terrible disease. We have an impressive track record in these cases, years of experience, and we focus on delivering individual legal counsel – our clients and their families are important to us.

Are Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available in Cases of Mesothelioma in Mississippi?

The Workers’ Compensation program in Mississippi allows a person suffering work-related injuries or illnesses to receive benefits. The amount paid is often so low that it barely covers even the most basic living expenses. A worker exposed to asbestos who later developed mesothelioma has the right to seek damages through filing a lawsuit against all negligent parties, not just the employer. To determine what can be accomplished in your case, act quickly and contact a Mississippi mesothelioma lawyer.

How Long Do I Have to File an Injury Claim for Mesothelioma?

In Mississippi, the statute of limitations allows for three years from the date of the injury, or when it should have reasonably been discovered. Once you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, the location where you were exposed must be identified. As this deadly disease typically takes decades to appear, the employer may no longer exist, may have been purchased by another company, or have other problems that require extensive research, and that’s when the need for a law firm that has the power and resources to perform the necessary research cannot be overstated. The importance of identifying all parties responsible for the asbestos exposure is also something we recognized in all of the cases we handle.

Will My Mesothelioma Case Go to Trial?

After being diagnosed with mesothelioma in Mississippi, you likely have the right to file a claim. In the large majority of cases, a settlement is negotiated, without taking the case to court. At Levy Konigsberg, 90 percent of our cases are settled out of court. However, we are relentless when negotiating a settlement, and demand that the responsible party pay full and fair compensation. If not, we can take the case to civil court for a jury to decide.

How Much is a Mesothelioma Case in Mississippi Worth in Compensation?

Every case has unique facts. The amount of funds available can vary, and some of the companies that exposed workers to asbestos are shuttered, have declared bankruptcy, or were bought out or merged. Some companies established trust funds to compensate victims. Every case is decided on an individual basis and may reflect the amount of money available in the fund, the percentage paid to victims, the strength of any civil lawsuit and other factors. Any law firm that promises a specific dollar result is not being entirely honest. You need a law firm that has your back, with a record of ethical practice, and that has an extensive record of positive outcomes in mesothelioma cases.

Contact Levy Konigsberg at (800) 315-3806 for a free case consultation.