Missouri mesothelioma lawyers help victims file lawsuits, recover damages, or make a claim with an asbestos trust fund. Over 1,000 people died from mesothelioma or asbestosis in Missouri between 1999 and 2017, and many more died from lung cancer associated with asbestos exposure.[1] Responsible industries include chemical production, manufacturing, and mining.
Attorney Aaron Dickey – Leading Missouri Mesothelioma Lawyer
For nearly two decades, Aaron has been working on behalf of mesothelioma victims, asbestosis victims, and others who have suffered due to the negligent actions of asbestos companies.
His dedication to justice and providing the best possible representation has resulted in victims and their families receiving significant jury awards and settlements that have both compensated them for their expenses and provided them with financial security far into the future.
Aaron’s skill and compassion have been showcased in numerous notable lawsuits: he has argued in front of the Illinois Court of Appeals and played a crucial role in multi-district litigation in Federal Court.
BAR ADMISSIONS
Missouri
Illinois
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri
U.S. District Court Southern District of Illinois
EDUCATION
Saint Louis University School of Law, Juris Doctor
Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri B.A. Political Science Honors: Cum Laude
Mylonas Scholar for studies in the humanities.
Aaron also studied at the University of Tübingen in Germany, Jagiellonian; University in Krakow, Poland, and Benito Juárez University in Oaxaca, Mexico.
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS & MEMBERSHIPS
American Bar Association
American Association for Justice—Leader’s Forum Member
Missouri Office Location:
Frontenac Mesothelioma Law Office
10336 Donoho Place
Frontenac, MO 63131
Phone: (314) 396-6640
How Missouri Mesothelioma Lawyers Help Asbestos Victims and Their Families
Asbestos law firms and attorneys work with patients and their families throughout Missouri, including Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, Columbia, Independence, St. Joseph, Jefferson City, and Independence.
Lawyers in the state know the area and where and when asbestos exposure occurred. They research and track down the companies responsible for their client’s exposure. They then offer legal options and advise their clients on the best way to recover damages:
- Personal injury lawsuit. By finding the companies responsible, an asbestos law firm gives you a chance to sue those companies and recover damages for medical and other expenses.
- Wrongful death lawsuit. Mesothelioma lawyers also work with families to help recover damages after a loved one dies from an asbestos illness.
- Asbestos trust funds. If the companies that exposed you to asbestos are now bankrupt, a lawyer can help you make a claim for compensation with the appropriate trust.
- VA claims. Veterans can rely on lawyers to help them get VA benefits if their asbestos exposure occurred during military service.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Missouri?
Most people exposed to asbestos who later get sick are eligible to seek compensation. Exposure occurred at many job sites, industrial sites in particular, throughout Missouri.
People can also come into contact with naturally occurring asbestos found across the country. In Missouri, there are known deposits in the southeast part of the state, including one site that is a former asbestos mine prospect.[2]
Even if an asbestos deposit is never mined, it still poses a risk. If the earth there is disturbed, such as through construction projects, the dust stirred up may contain asbestos fibers that can harm anyone nearby.
Mining and Asbestos in Missouri
Mining has long been an important industry in Missouri, and minerals are a major natural resource. Mines in the southeastern part of the state, along the Ozark Ridge in the same area as natural asbestos, have produced manganese, copper, and other minerals.
With natural asbestos in the same area, mining these other minerals can disturb the harmful substance, putting miners at risk.
Chemical and Manufacturing Plants and Asbestos
Two other important sources of workplace asbestos exposure in Missouri are chemical and manufacturing plants. Both of these industrial work sites use asbestos in machinery, insulation around boilers, ducts, plumbing, electricity, and, in some cases, the materials or products that workers handle daily.
GAF Corporation and CertainTeed are two examples of these types of facilities in Missouri that regularly expose workers and even nearby residents to harmful asbestos. Over the years, they have produced products such as asbestos cement pipes and roofing materials.
Other Sites in Missouri with Asbestos
Mining, manufacturing, and chemicals have been important industries in Missouri. They have brought jobs and economic growth, but also harmful things like asbestos. These are not the only places in the state, though, that have exposed people to asbestos. Here are some of the others:
- American Oil Company, Sugar Creek
- American Steel Foundry Company, St. Louis
- Bendix Corporation, Kansas City
- McDonnell Douglas, St. Louis
- Monsanto Chemical Company, St. Louis
- Scott Air Force Base, St. Louis
- Sioux Power Plant, West Alton
- Kansas City Power and Light Company, Kansas City
Can Missouri Residents Still Be Exposed to Asbestos?
Yes, it is still possible to be exposed to asbestos today. While most exposures occurred in the past, asbestos has not gone away, and many workers and residents are still at risk.
The most common source of current exposure is asbestos that lingers in older buildings. Asbestos was used so extensively in construction that many homes, commercial buildings, and worksites still contain it.
A current example is now the subject of a lawsuit. A former worker at the Federal Goodfellow Center in St. Louis filed suit over asbestos that continues to linger in the building. He developed terminal cancer and has not been able to receive workers’ compensation benefits.[3]
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration recently cited St. Monett’s Bentonview Park Health & Rehabilitation, a nursing home, for exposing workers and residents to asbestos. The facility renovated flooring without taking appropriate precautions.[4]
Asbestos Laws in Missouri
Missouri’s asbestos laws aim to prevent future exposure and also affect how past victims take legal action.
Asbestos Safety Regulations
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources administers and enforces state asbestos laws and federal laws, like the Clean Air Act. If asbestos is present in a public building, the department must approve the demolition. Before the project can begin, a state-certified inspector must be present to determine whether there is asbestos.
If there is, an abatement professional must handle the safe removal of any asbestos covering a particular building area. The department also has rules for how the removed asbestos must be disposed of, including encapsulation and disposal in a designated facility. Finally, after a finished project, the state has to be notified.
Statute of Limitations
The state of Missouri is pretty liberal with its statute of limitations for filing lawsuits related to asbestos. This is the time you have to file a lawsuit if you believe someone or a group, like your employer, is responsible for your exposure and illness.
In Missouri, you have five years from the time you get a diagnosis of a disease related to asbestos. If someone in your family, such as a spouse, has died from negligent asbestos exposure, you have only three years to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Your time is limited for collecting evidence and filing a lawsuit for compensation or a settlement.
Missouri Litigation Reform
Although it has not passed into law, the Missouri legislature has debated reforms to asbestos litigation in recent years. These changes could make it more difficult for victims to recover damages.
One potential change would require claimants to provide detailed information about their alleged asbestos exposure 30 days before filing. This could delay recovery for genuine victims.[5]
How Much Compensation Can I Get in a Missouri Asbestos Lawsuit?
The outcome of an asbestos or mesothelioma claim is impossible to predict. Working with an experienced Missouri firm is the best way to ensure you have a chance of recovering damages. While they cannot predict an amount, past lawsuits give you an idea of what might be possible.
William Trokey worked on Ford brake drums as a teen and young man in the 1960s. Now 76, he has mesothelioma. Brakes have long contained asbestos to reduce the harmful effects of friction. Mechanics were exposed to asbestos dust when working on brakes.
Trokey and his wife sued Ford over past asbestos exposure to cover the costs of his medical care. A jury in St. Louis sided with the Trokeys and awarded them $20 million.[6]
Asbestos Verdicts in Missouri
Many victims and their families affected by asbestos in Missouri have successfully sued companies responsible for exposure.
The family of Linda Behling of Springfiled, who died of mesothelioma in 2019, suied Ford Motor Company and other plaintiffs. Linda and her husband worked at multiple manufacturing companies. Some of their work involved Ford asbestos brakes. Jurors awarded the Behlings $6 million to be paid by Ford and other companies.[7]
A Missouri Navy veteran worked with Crane Co. gaskets that contained asbestos. His widow filed a lawsuit against the company over his death from mesothelioma. A judge in Missouri awarded her $11.5 million.[8]
Talcum Powder Asbestos Lawsuits in Missouri
Talcum powder is a more recently recognized source of asbestos exposure. Missouri has been the location for several important lawsuits against Johnson & Johnson and other companies that provided talc or sold talcum powder products.
An early case involved 22 women who sued J & J over ovarian cancer they developed after years of use of Baby Powder and similar products. A jury initially awarded the women over $4 billion. A court reduced that amount to $2 billion.
J & J then tried to appeal the $2 billion verdict. The Missouri Supreme Court refused the appeal, allowing the victims to keep their verdict award.[9]
Missouri Cancer Care
Mesothelioma is a devastating diagnosis, and treating it is challenging. If you are diagnosed with this type of cancer, it is crucial to get the most expert care as soon as possible.
In Missouri, the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center at the Washington University School of Medicine and Barnes-Jewish Hospital is a comprehensive cancer center designated by the National Cancer Institute.
This means it is staffed by cancer experts conducting some of the most groundbreaking cancer research in the country. This is a great place to get treatment for mesothelioma or lung cancer in Missouri.[10]
Finding a Missouri Mesothelioma Lawyer
Because time is limited and the laws regarding filing lawsuits are complicated, your best chance of being successful in this matter is to work with a Missouri mesothelioma lawyer. You can find a lawyer or a legal team in the state with expertise and experience in asbestos laws and work with people like you.
A reliable attorney helps you by providing expert advice, handling paperwork, and advocating for you in a settlement before a judge or a jury. Without a Missouri mesothelioma lawyer, you risk not having the success you need. With this professional guiding you, getting the compensation you need and the justice you deserve is more likely.
