Illinois mesothelioma law firm Flint Cooper has recovered millions of dollars in damages for asbestos victims. Illinois ranks high among the fifty states for the number of deaths related to asbestos. Most of these victims experienced asbestos exposure in the workplace.
Flint Cooper – Leading Illinois Mesothelioma Law Firm
Flint Cooper has a long history of successfully representing victims of asbestos exposure who have been diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other asbestos-related diseases.
These clients each have a story to tell, and the firm puts particular emphasis on listening carefully and combining a compelling narrative with undeniable evidence to win their clients the maximum compensation and justice they deserve.
Following this simple process, the firm has successfully won hundreds of millions of dollars for thousands of clients who have suffered as a result of asbestos-related company negligence, recklessness, and greed.
Recent successful verdicts include:
Illinois jury awards $6,022,814 verdict for Illinois Pipefitter
Illinois jury awards $2,000,000 verdict in Willis vs. Bondex et. al.
Illinois Office Location:
Chicago Mesothelioma Law Office
500 North Michigan Avenue
Suite 600
Chicago, Illinois 60611
Phone: (312) 487-4660
How Do I Qualify for a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Illinois?
If you were exposed to asbestos in Illinois and are now sick, you have legal options. Asbestos exposure is nearly always negligent, which means a company can be held accountable and forced to pay compensation.
Talk to a mesothelioma lawyer for advice and your next steps. Asbestos firms in Illinois work with victims from all over the state, including Chicago, Aurora, Rockford, Joliet, Naperville, Springfield, Peoria, Elgin, Waukegan, and Bloomington.
How to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Illinois
To file a claim over asbestos exposure and mesothelioma in Illinois, it’s best to work with an experienced lawyer. You might have more than one option for legal action. They can help determine the best course of action and take you through the steps.
Many people choose to file a personal injury lawsuit against the companies responsible for past asbestos exposure. If those companies went bankrupt, another option is to file a claim with an asbestos trust. As part of the bankruptcy process, these companies were required to set up and fund trusts for victims.
If you lost a loved one to mesothelioma, a lawyer can help you file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages.
Finally, if you served in the military and encountered asbestos, you may be eligible for VA benefits. A lawyer can help you make a claim with a better chance of success navigating the system.
How Has Asbestos Affected Illinois Workers and Residents?
Asbestos use in Illinois has been massive, which explains the high number of deaths related to it. Between 1999 and 2017, 12,067 people in Illinois died from asbestos-related conditions.
Over 2,000 of those were from mesothelioma, 430 were from asbestosis, and the remaining deaths were the result of asbestos-related lung cancer. Chicago and Cook County are the areas in the state with the highest rates of exposure to asbestos and resulting deaths.[1]
Where Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Illinois?
Asbestos was used heavily in several industries and hundreds of workplaces throughout Illinois. Although there are federal and state laws in place now that aim to protect workers, there was a time when people were exposed without knowing that there were such severe risks to their health.
Oil refineries and power plants, chemical plants, manufacturing plants, steel factories, and other industrial workplaces used asbestos heavily. The most common applications were for insulating and fireproofing in these industries.
Some school buildings in the state have also been found to be contaminated with asbestos, putting both workers and students at risk. Older buildings likely had asbestos in the insulation and other materials.
Asbestos becomes a health risk if it is disturbed or deteriorates, releasing fibers into the air. Several schools in the state were demolished because of the presence of asbestos.[2]
Vermiculite Processing
Vermiculite is a natural mineral with several uses in homes and industrial plants, but it must be processed before use. Several processing sites in Illinois received vermiculite mined from the W.R. Grace site in Libby, Montana.
For decades, Grace produced vermiculite heavily contaminated with asbestos. The mine itself caused a large amount of exposure in workers and residents in Libby. People who worked and lived near processing plants around the country that received the mine’s vermiculite faced exposure.[3]
One example of such a site was in Chicago. Between the 1970s and 1996, the facility processed nearly 300,000 tons of vermiculite from the Libby mine, when operations ceased.
The workers there were exposed to significant levels of asbestos and were at risk of becoming sick. As recently as 2003, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found traces of asbestos remaining in the soil at the site.
Johns Manville
The Johns Manville Corporation in Waukegan, Illinois, is another well-known site in the state for asbestos exposure. Not only were workers here put at risk, but the company dumped millions of cubic yards of waste at the site, near public beaches and state parks on Lake Michigan. Residents and vacationers enjoying the parks, lakes, and beaches could also have been exposed to asbestos.
The Johns Manville facility was closed in 1998, and the EPA declared it a Superfund site in need of federal cleanup funding. The process of cleaning it up is still ongoing. The EPA continues to monitor soil, water, and the air outside of the official site.[4]
Other Sites in Illinois with Known Asbestos Exposure
In addition to these major sources of asbestos exposure in Illinois, there are many others all over the state. Workers and residents alike have been put at risk of becoming sick from exposure. Some of these industrial sites include:
- Amoco Oil, Joliet
- Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, Morris
- Great Lakes Naval Station, Chicago
- Peoria Power Plant, Peoria
- Shell Oil Refinery, Wood River
- US Steel Corp, Chicago
- Wisconsin Steel, Chicago
- Monsanto Chemical Company, Sauget
- Inland Steel, Chicago
- International Harvester, Peoria
- John Deere Company, Moline
- Commonwealth Edison, Chicago
Are Illinois Residents and Workers Still at Risk of Asbestos Exposure?
Yes, people can still be exposed to asbestos today. Asbestos has never been completely banned or eliminated. It lingers in older homes, buildings, and workplaces.
A recent example highlights how much asbestos is still out there and how it can affect people. A Taylorville Kroger closed in 2022 after the store potentially exposed workers and shoppers to asbestos.
The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) found that the company and a licensed contractor violated asbestos regulations in the store. It must be remediated before it can be reopened.[5]
What Are Illinois’s Asbestos Laws?
Illinois has passed laws that aim to prevent additional asbestos exposure. In addition to these safety regulations, several laws affect how victims take legal action and recover damages.
Asbestos Safety Regulations
The Illinois Department of Health and the Illinois EPA are responsible for state-level regulations for the management of asbestos. The laws in the state require that any building project that includes asbestos abatement cannot begin until the state has been notified and a fine paid. Asbestos abatement projects can only be done by professionals trained and licensed through the state.[6]
Projects involving asbestos must include large, visible signs to warn the public. Projects must also include air samples taken regularly to monitor for fibers in the air. Specific locations in the state, including Cook County, have their own additional rules regarding asbestos.
According to the state of Illinois, local education agencies are responsible for protecting students from airborne asbestos. The state’s Asbestos Abatement Act and Code state that one person in each local agency must be designated to oversee the management of existing asbestos in schools and any necessary abatement by trained professionals.[7]
Statute of Limitations
The statute of limitations on asbestos lawsuits varies by state. In Illinois, it is two years from the time of diagnosis. A victim has a right to find representation and file a lawsuit to seek compensation and justice from the responsible party, but it must be done within the two years following diagnosis.
The same is true for the loved ones of those who died from the exposure. The statute of limitations on wrongful death suits in the state is two years from the time of death.
Why Do I Need an Illinois Mesothelioma Lawyer?
People who became sick after asbestos exposure should seek out the assistance of an Illinois mesothelioma lawyer. Trying to handle an asbestos lawsuit without good representation is challenging and limits successful outcomes.
An experienced asbestos firm has the experience, knowledge, and resources to give you the best chance of getting compensated. They can determine which companies exposed you to asbestos, provide free advice, file claims on your behalf, and work with experts to build your case.
How Much Compensation Can I Get from a Mesothelioma Claim?
There have already been many examples of lawsuits led by experienced legal teams that won compensation for victims or their families:
- These include a case from 2011 in which a jury awarded the wife of a man who died from mesothelioma $1.5 million. Her husband had worked for three decades at a steel plant in Chicago. He was exposed to asbestos while working with wires insulated with asbestos.[8]
- Madison County, Illinois, has seen more asbestos-related cases than anywhere in the state. Illinois mesothelioma lawyers there set the record for the most significant award for a plaintiff. Most asbestos lawsuits never go to court. Lawsuits are often settled out of court, but in 2003, a plaintiff won a $250 million verdict, the largest asbestos verdict for a single plaintiff in history.
- A jury in Cook County recently found in favor of a woman with asbestos-related lung cancer. She worked with asbestos materials on the job for Qualitex Co. The jury awarded Cynthia Cowger $23 million.[9]
- Although the court case took place in San Francisco, Richard Worthley’s asbestos exposure occurred in Illinois. He worked at the Johns Manville plant supplied by Advocate Mines in Canada. He died from mesothelioma later, and a jury awarded his family $3.4 million.[10]
If you are living with mesothelioma, or you have lost a loved one to the disease or another asbestos-related illness, let an Illinois mesothelioma lawyer help you make a case for compensation. This professional can guide you through the steps you need to take to make sure you have the best possible chance of winning.
