New Mexico: Mesothelioma Lawyers Help NM Asbestos Exposure Victims

Albuquerque, New Mexico – Mesothelioma Lawyers From the National Asbestos Litigation Firm of Levy Konigsberg LLP (“LK”) Are Continuing To Help New Mexico Mesothelioma Patients and Families Obtain Legal Compensation From Companies Who Manufactured, Sold or Used Asbestos-containing Products.

Every year, thousands of men and women across the country are diagnosed with mesothelioma, including many in New Mexico. 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 power plants, commercial mines, pipelines and other heavy industry, many tradespeople employed throughout New Mexico were regularly exposed to asbestos at their workplace. Mesothelioma lawyers at LK have successfully represented insulators, plumbers, laborers, electricians, pipefitters, chemical operators, machinist, boilermakers, engineers and many other trades who were routinely exposed to asbestos on a daily basis at their places of employment. Mesothelioma lawyers at LK have extensive experience in investigating occupational exposures suffered in New Mexico.

New Mexico Power Plant Industry

As one of New Mexico’s largest industries, owners and operators of power generating plants have employed thousands of individuals in New Mexico for decades. Statistics provided by the U.S. government illustrate the enormous output of power in New Mexico, with the state supplying electricity to New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, California and Utah. Many employees, independent contractors and other visitors of these New Mexico Powerhouses were regularly exposed to airborne asbestos.

Power Plants in New Mexico

Between the 1940s and 1980s, numerous power-generating facilities were constructed and operated throughout New Mexico. Mesothelioma lawyers at LK will investigate all sources of your potential asbestos exposures at these worksites. Some of the large powerhouses which employed numerous individual throughout New Mexico are discussed below.

Four Corners Power Plant

Located in Fruitland, New Mexico on the Navajo Indian Reservation, near the borders of New Mexico, Arizona, Colorado and Utah, individuals from several states were employed in various skilled trade positions throughout the plant. Construction operations at the Four Corners Plant began in 1963, with the firing of the coal boilers of Units 1, 2, and 3 quickly following. Thereafter, major construction continued, with additional units beginning operation in 1969. Plant employees, independent contractors, visitors and those involved in the 1950s and 1960s construction of the power plant and its additions were regularly exposed to airborne asbestos fibers.

San Juan Powerhouse

After years of heavy construction, the San Juan Powerhouse near Farmington, New Mexico began operations in 1973. Operated by Public Service Company of New Mexico, four industrial generating units were operated year-round by powerhouse employees. Skilled tradesmen and independent contractors regularly installed and replaced asbestos-containing products throughout the powerhouse. By 1976, additional construction activities were underway to expand the number of generating units at the plant. Plant employees, independent contractors, visitors and those involved in the 1950s and 1960s construction of the power plant and its additions were regularly exposed to airborne asbestos fibers.

Rio Grande Power Plant

Owned and operated by the El Paso Electric Company, the Rio Grande Power Plant was originally constructed in 1929 in what is now known as Sunland Park, New Mexico. Between the 1930s and 1980s, continuous construction at the Rio Grande Power Plant resulted in the operation of four power-generating units. Individuals involved in the construction of these powerhouse units and those tradespeople who were employed at the plant were at a serious risk of being exposed to airborne asbestos.

New Mexico Coal Mines

Numerous companies established coalmines in New Mexico. Two specific coalmines, the Navajo Coal Mine and San Juan Coal mine, have supplied the coal requirements of the Four Corners and San Juan power plants. These operations required continuous construction, shipping, transportation and rail yard activities.

The generation of power in New Mexico required the use of large, high-temperature equipment. Boilers, furnaces, turbines, cooling towers and ovens were installed, maintained and repaired at these power plants. 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 powerhouses to properly function. Individuals working at these New Mexico power plants were exposed to high levels of asbestos dust from their work with or around these products.

LK attorneys are experienced in investigating asbestos exposures suffered by both those who constructed and those who were employed at power plants. Jerome H. Block, an LK partner, represented Ralph North, a power plant employee who was exposed to numerous asbestos-containing materials at the LILCO power station in Northport Long Island. After a trial which lasted approximately two weeks, the jury rendered a verdict in the amount of $7 million dollars.

New Mexico Military Bases

Several military bases operated by the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army were established in New Mexico between the 1930s and 1940s. Many skilled military personnel, civilian employees and independent contractors were exposed to asbestos at these military bases. For example, some military personnel and civilian employees were responsible for maintaining the fleet of vehicles used at these bases, which included frequent brake and clutch replacements as well as engine work. Other individuals were employed for purposes of maintaining the boiler rooms and other equipment used at the bases. Mesothelioma lawyers at LK are experienced in investigating asbestos exposures suffered at military bases.

New Mexico Oil Industry

The first commercial well was drilled in New Mexico in 1921. Decades later, in the early 1950’s, major pipeline construction began throughout the state. Between 1952 and 1962, pipelines were built, reaching from Northwestern New Mexico to several west coast states. During this period, thousands of construction employees, independent contractors and other individuals were employed to construct facilities and install the oil pipelines. Unfortunately, much of the equipment and products used during this time period contained asbestos. If you suffer from an asbestos-related illness and were present at any of these New Mexico pipeline projects, contact LK for a free consultation.

New Mexico Mining Operations

For over a century, mining operations have occurred throughout New Mexico. Coal, potash, natural gas, copper, gold, silver, zinc and lead have all been mined. The operation of these mines required heavy construction and the installation of large equipment, much of which was insulated with or contained asbestos components. If you were exposed to asbestos at one of these New Mexico worksites, an attorney from LK will investigate all sources of your potential exposure which may have contributed to your asbestos-related illness.

Other Industry

Many other worksites throughout New Mexico, including chemical companies, oil refiners, and manufacturers of industrial and consumer products, exposed New Mexico citizens to asbestos. Individuals in New Mexico employed at these worksites performed the critical work necessary to make these companies successful without knowledge of the serious health hazards created by exposure to asbestos. Mesothelioma lawyers at Levy Konigsberg have the expertise necessary to carefully analyze your work history to identify the unique asbestos exposures that were present at your previous places of employment.

Individual Case Review

In New Mexico, and across the country, many people also developed mesothelioma from non-occupational asbestos exposures, such as driveway 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 Levy Konigsberg attorney will assist your family in identifying all possible sources of your exposure to asbestos dust.

New Mexico worksites where asbestos exposure was common include:

Figure 1. Map of the most common asbestos exposure worksites in the State of New Mexico.

• A.T. & Santa Fe Railway System (Clovis, NM)
• Ace Building & Supply Company (Hobbs, NM)
• Ace Welding Service (Hobbs, NM)
• Alamogordo Lambert Company (Alamogordo, NM)
• Alamogordo Lumber Company (Alamogordo, NM)
• American Laundry & Dry Cleaning Company (Hurley, NM)
• Burn Construction Company (Las Cruces, NM)
• Chaco Compressor Station (Farmington, NM)
• Chino Mines & Power Plant (Hurley, NM)
• Climax Chemical Company (Hobbs, NM)
• El Paso Electric Company (Las Cruces, NM)
• Eppsco Inc. (Albuquerque, NM)
• Farmers Compress Company (Las Cruces, NM)
• Farmington Insulation & Metal Supply (Farmington, NM)
• Four Corners Powerhouse (Farmington, NM)
• Four Corners Steam Electric Generating Plant (Fruitland, NM)
• H.B. Zachry Company (Hobbs, NM)
• Haines Sewing Plant (Las Cruces, NM)
• Holloman Air Force Base (Alamogordo, NM)
• Holloman Air Force Base (Alamogordo, NM)
• International Miners & Chemical Corp. (Loving, NM)
• Kennecott Copper Mines (Hurley, NM)
• Kirtland Air Force Base (Albuquerque, NM)
• Las Cruces Gas Distribution System (Las Cruces, NM)
• Lea County Electric Coop. (Lovington, NM)
• Los Alamos Atomic Testing Site (Los Alamos, NM)
• Los Alamos Laboratories (Los Alamos, NM)
• Los Alamos Power Plant (Los Alamos, NM)

• Lovington Power Plant (Fruitland, NM)
• M.R. Prestridge Lumber Company (Alamogordo, NM)
• Maddok Power Plant (Hobbs, NM)
• Merrill H. Fisher (Alamogordo, NM)
• Municipal Light Plant (Farmington, NM)
• Navajo Refining (Artesia, NM)
• Neff Buckner (Santa Fe, NM)
• Nevada Consolidated Copper Corp. (Hurley, NM)
• New Mexico Light, Heat & Power Company (Silver City, NM)
• New Mexico State University (Las Cruces, NM)
• Northern Natural Gas Company (Hobbs, NM)
• Phelps Dodge Mining (Hurley, NM)
• Production Equipment Corp. (Farmington, NM)
• Reeves Power Plant (Albuquerque, NM)
• San Juan Power Plant (Farmington, NM)
• Sandia Air Force Base, NM)
• Santa Fe General Hospital (Santa Fe, NM)
• Silver City Reduction Company (Silver City, NM)
• Socorro Mines (Silver City, NM)
• Southern Public Service Company (Clovis, NM)
• Southwest Lumber Company (Alamogordo, NM)
• Texas Louisiana Power Company (Alamogordo, NM)
• Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Company (Clovis, NM)
• Turbine Generator (Lovington, NM)
• United States Potash Company (Loving, NM)
• Walker Air Force Base (Roswell, NM)
• Warren Petroleum Corporation (Hobbs, NM)
• White Sands Missile Range (Alamogordo, NM)
• Wonder Building (Hobbs, NM)
• Zia Corporation (Los Alamos, NM)

If you or your loved one are a New Mexico resident or were exposed to asbestos in New Mexico, and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, please call (800) 315-3806 or submit an online inquiry on this website to receive a FREE consultation with mesothelioma lawyers 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 toll-free hotline at (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: While our offices are located in the states of New York, New Jersey, and Georgia, 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.