Louisiana mesothelioma lawyers help asbestos victims seek justice and recover damages for their illnesses. Between 1999 and 2017, more than 5,000 Louisiana residents died from mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis.[1] Workplace asbestos exposure in oil refineries, ports, and shipyards accounts for many deaths.
Waters Kraus & Paul – Leading Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyers
Waters Kraus & Paul is a Louisiana mesothelioma law firm with a record of successfully winning impressive verdicts and settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm prides itself on its ability to hold asbestos manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers accountable for their negligence.
The firm supports its aggressive representation with both experience and resources. Each case is pursued in collaboration with one of the firm’s partners from start to finish. Cases are supported by a Medical Resources Department and a Litigation Support Department.
Waters Kraus & Paul prides itself on the individual attention that it provides to its clients. They have recovered more than $1.3 billion for clients like you.
Examples of Waters Kraus & Paul’s Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts
- Won $4.4 million on behalf of a bowling alley owner diagnosed with pericardial mesothelioma after years of drilling holes into bowling balls filled with asbestos-laden brake lining dust.
- Won $2 million on behalf of an industrial maintenance mechanic diagnosed with mesothelioma after years of working with asbestos pipe and fittings.
- Won $1.1 million on behalf of a pipeline worker diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma after working with asbestos-contaminated cement pipe.
- Won $8.45 million on behalf of a man diagnosed with malignant mesothelioma after years of working with asbestos-contaminated boilers, gaskets, rope, and cement.
- Won $6.8 million on behalf of a postal worker who worked with asbestos insulation while working as a part-time insulator in middle and high school.
Louisiana Office Location
Baton Rouge Mesothelioma Law Office
9191 Siegen Lane
Building 7
Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70810
Phone: (225) 308-2617
(866) 295-4518
Meet the Attorneys
Michael L. Armitage
One of Waters Kraus & Paul’s partners, Mr. Armitage, is based in the firm’s Los Angeles location. His work on asbestos-related cancer cases has resulted in significant decisions for his clients.
In addition to litigation, he serves as a liaison counsel on Bench-Bar Committees for asbestos litigation issues before the Los Angeles County Superior Court. He’s frequently invited to be a speaker or co-chair of national conferences and seminars dealing with asbestos litigation.
Mr. Armitage has won many prestigious awards and recognitions and is associated with numerous professional associations, including:
- American Association for Justice
- Consumer Attorneys of California
- Consumer Attorneys of Los Angeles
- Maritime Law Association of the United States
- Public Justice Foundation
Honors & Awards
- Order of the Coif
- Member, Moot Court Board, Tulane University
- Senior Fellow, Legal Research and Writing Program, Tulane University
- Selected for inclusion on the Southern California Super Lawyers list, published by Thomson Reuters, Legal, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Selected for Inclusion in The Best Lawyers In America, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010
- AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5, Martindale-Hubbell Featured Peer Review Rated Lawyer
- Selected for recognition on the “Southern California’s Top Rated Lawyers” list, produced by LexisNexis® Martindale-Hubbell® and published by ALM Media Properties, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Bar Admissions: States of Louisiana and California; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals 5th Circuit; U.S. Court of Appeals 9th Circuit; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Louisiana; U.S. District Court, Middle District of Louisiana; U.S. District Court, Western District of Louisiana; U.S. District Court, Southern District of California; U.S. District Court, Central District of California; U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
Peter A. Kraus
Mr. Kraus is one of the founding partners of the firm and acts as its managing partner. He is a noted asbestos litigator who has tried and won numerous cases on behalf of mesothelioma victims and has testified before the Texas Legislature and to Congress on behalf of victims of asbestos exposure.
He serves on advisory committees for asbestos bankruptcy creditors and trustees and is involved in steering committees working on asbestos multi-district litigation in the U.S. and Texas. He has also served on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Asbestos Litigation.
Mr. Kraus has won many prestigious awards and recognitions and is associated with numerous professional associations, including:
- American Association for Justice
- American Board of Trial Advocates
- Public Justice Foundation
- State Bar of California
- State Bar of Hawaii
- State Bar of Missouri
- Virginia Bar Association
- State Bar of Texas
- Texas Bar Foundation
- Texas Trial Lawyers Association
- Dallas Bar Association
- Dallas Bar Foundation
- Dallas Trial Lawyers Association
Honors & Awards
- Recipient, Above and Beyond Award, American Association for Justice, 2017
- Kristi Couvillon Pro Bono Award, Texas Civil Rights Project, 2016
- Selected for recognition on the Best Lawyers in America© list, produced and published by Best Lawyers©, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
- Appointed to Federal Judicial Center Foundation Board, 2014
- Selected for recognition on the “Texas’ Top Rated Lawyers” list, produced by LexisNexis® Martindale-Hubbell® and published by ALM Media Properties, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- American Association for Justice “David S. Shrager President’s Award,” 2012
- American Association for Justice “Heavy Lifting” Award, 2010, 2011
- Selected for recognition on the Texas Super Lawyers list, published by Thomson Reuters, Legal, 2003-2011, 2017, 2018
- Selected for recognition on the “Best Lawyers in Dallas” list in D Magazine, published by D Magazine Partners, 2001, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2019
- AV® Preeminent™ 5.0 out of 5.0, Martindale-Hubbell Featured Peer Review Rated Lawyer
- 2018 Patron Member of Public Justice
Bar Admissions: State Bars of Hawaii, Missouri, California, Texas, and Virginia; U.S. Supreme Court; U.S. Court of Appeals 4th Circuit; U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Virginia; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas; U.S. District Court, Western District of New York
How to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Louisiana
Firms like Waters Kraus & Paul help victims of asbestos throughout the state, including in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Shreveport, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Kenner, Metairie, and more.
Finding an asbestos firm to represent you is the first step in filing a claim. They will help you take the next steps and decide which type of claim to make. To file a claim for mesothelioma, you may have one or more options:
- Personal Injury Lawsuit. If you have mesothelioma because of workplace exposure, a lawyer can help you determine the companies responsible and then begin a lawsuit against them to recover damages.
- Wrongful Death Lawsuit. Unfortunately, for many people, this is the only option because a loved one has died from mesothelioma. You can recover damages for medical expenses, funeral costs, and pain and suffering.
- Asbestos Trust Fund. When companies go bankrupt because of asbestos claims, they must set up funds to compensate victims. Your lawyer can determine if you are eligible for any trusts.
- Veterans Administration Benefits. A lawyer can also help you file for VA benefits if your asbestos exposure occurred during your time in the military.
How Much Compensation Can I Get for a Mesothelioma Claim?
Compensation amounts vary significantly by individual. No lawyer can promise you a certain amount, but an experienced firm can make a reasonable estimate and maximize your compensation.
These are some past cases from Louisana that give you an idea of typical asbestos and mesothelioma compensation amounts:
- $4 Million for Chemical Plant Worker. Alfred Watts died from mesothelioma in 2001. He worked at Dow Chemical in Louisiana, where he came into contact with asbestos. He and his family sued several companies that provided asbestos products to the chemical plant.[2]
- $36.7 Million for Welder and Pipefitter. A jury awarded this victim a record amount for asbestos cases in Louisiana. He worked as a welder and pipefitter in the state in the 1960s and 1970s, a peak period for asbestos in industrial workplaces. The lawsuit involved more than 20 plaintiffs.[3]
- $10.3 Million for Longshoreman. Henry Pete worked in the maritime industry, which used asbestos heavily for decades. A jury awarded him over $10 million in damages for his mesothelioma diagnosis.[4]
Where Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Louisiana?
Asbestos is a harmful mineral once used by many industries. Regulations set in the 1970s limited asbestos use and set guidelines for safe handling; however, buildings built before these regulations may have asbestos in the insulation, roofing, ceilings, drywall compound, flooring tiles, and many other places.
The firm supports its aggressive representation with both experience and resources. Each case is pursued in collaboration with one of the firm’s partners from start to finish. Cases are supported by a Medical Resources Department and a Litigation Support Department.
While exposure in older buildings is possible, most asbestos exposure in Louisiana occurred on worksites. Many industries used asbestos in the materials workers made and used on the job. Factories, power plants, chemical plants, oil refineries, shipyards, and many more work sites used asbestos, potentially harming workers through exposure.
Oil Refining, Shipping, and Ports
Because of the long Gulf of Mexico coastline, two of Louisiana’s most significant industries are oil and shipping. Both industries often exposed workers to asbestos. Oil refineries line Louisiana’s coast, processing petroleum drilled from the floor of the Gulf of Mexico.
Refineries use intense heat and fire. The industry has long used asbestos because of its strong resistance to fire and high temperatures. Nearly all pipelines leading to and from refineries were insulated with asbestos materials.
Shipping is also an essential industry for Louisiana. Shipyards and ports are important sites of asbestos use. Ships used asbestos in construction because it is lightweight and protects against fire. Fireproofing ships without adding weight is crucial for safety and puts workers at risk of serious illness from asbestos exposure.
Salt Mines
Mining is inherently risky. Digging deep into the earth poses its own dangers; however, miners can be exposed to dangerous asbestos even if they do not work in an asbestos mine.
For example, salt mining could potentially result in dangerous asbestos exposure. Cargill, Morton, and other companies own several salt mines in the Bayou State. These companies mined, purified, and processed salt. Because asbestos was used in salt processing, numerous workers were exposed.[5]
W.R. Grace and Libby Vermiculite
A vermiculite mine owned by W. R. Grace in Libby, Montana, produced hundreds of thousands of tons of minerals over the years. Minerals collected from this mine often contained contaminating asbestos.
The company shipped vermiculite around the country for processing, including to a large New Orleans facility. Many workers were exposed to asbestos and put at risk of serious illness. Residents in the area also faced dangers from asbestos fibers that contaminated the surrounding area.
In 2005, the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry reported on the New Orleans vermiculite facility. The registry confirmed that between seventy and ninety former workers suffered asbestos exposure there. Orleans Parish, where the facility is located, has the highest asbestos-related death rate in the state of Louisiana.[6]
Chemical Plants
Louisiana is home to a thriving chemical manufacturing industry that used and might still use asbestos. Four chemical plants, in particular, are known to have used chrysotile asbestos:[7]
- Occidental Chemical Corp., Convent
- Occidental Chemical Corp., Taft
- Olin Corp., Plaquemine
- Westlake Chemical Corp., Plaquemine
Sites with Known Asbestos Exposure in Louisiana
Many Louisiana public buildings and job sites have documented asbestos, potentially exposing workers or residents to dangerous fibers. Some of these include:
- Dow Chemical Company, Plaquemine
- Avondale Shipyard, Avondale
- Esso Standard Oil Company, Baton Rouge
- Louisiana Power and Light Company, New Orleans and Westwego
- Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corporation, Baton Rouge
- Exxon Refinery, Baton Rouge
- Todd Shipyard, New Orleans
- Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge
- Freeport Sulphur Company, Harvey
- Morton Salt Company, Weeks Island
Asbestos Exposure After Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in many obvious ways but often overlooked is increased asbestos exposure. High winds and flooding destroyed many older buildings, exposing asbestos in older construction materials.
First responders sorted through rubble in rescue efforts and were likely exposed to asbestos in the process. When the water receded and the ground and debris dried out, damaged asbestos was left behind. Afterward, fibers from exposed asbestos could break free and easily become airborne or contaminate the ground or water.
Louisiana’s Asbestos Laws
Louisiana’s laws both protect people today from asbestos and affect how past victims file lawsuits and claims.
Asbestos Safety Regulations
The Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality is responsible for administering asbestos regulations and ensuring federal rules are followed. Rules require the state and department to be notified before any work with asbestos, including building renovations and abatement projects.
The work can only be done by professionals trained and certified to work with asbestos; any friable asbestos removed must be wetted and disposed of in a licensed waste facility.
Statute of Limitations
Victims of asbestos exposure have one year from the time of diagnosis to file a lawsuit. If you were exposed to asbestos and developed an asbestos-related illness, you must act quickly. If you have a loved one who died from one of these illnesses, you also have one year to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Secondhand Asbestos Exposure
While most people exposed to asbestos encountered it on the job, some came into contact with it indirectly. This is called secondhand exposure, and it most often occurs when a family member brings asbestos fibers home on their clothing.
States vary in whether or not they recognize a company’s take-home duty for asbestos exposure. This refers to a company’s responsibility to extend the warning about asbestos risks to family members of workers.
Through precedents set in several cases, Louisiana does recognize take-home duty. Victims of secondhand asbestos exposure in Louisiana can sue the responsible companies.[8]
Find a Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawyer
The statute of limitations on lawsuits and wrongful death cases means if you or a loved one suffered harm from asbestos exposure, your time to act is limited. Work with a reliable mesothelioma legal team to ensure you don’t miss deadlines.
The leading Louisiana mesothelioma attorneys at Waters Kraus & Paul are available now to gather evidence and make a strong case for you. The process is challenging, but with their experienced help, it can be done. A legal team with in-depth knowledge of asbestos laws is your best chance of a positive outcome.
