If you or a loved one has mesothelioma because of past asbestos exposure, contact South Carolina mesothelioma lawyers for help recovering damages. In recent years, thousands of people in the state have died due to asbestos-related diseases from asbestos exposure.[1] Most exposures occurred in workplaces, including mines, shipyards, textile mills, and vermiculite processing plants.
How Do South Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyers Help Asbestos Victims?
South Carolina mesothelioma attorneys work with people all over the state, including in Charleston, Columbia, Greenville, Spartanburg, Hilton Head, Enoree, Anderson, and other cities.
If you have mesothelioma or another asbestos illness, you need an experienced asbestos firm to represent you. They will do several things to help you:
- Explain your legal options and provide expert advice
- Give you a free initial consultation so you can ask questions
- Investigate your past asbestos exposure to find the companies responsible
- File a lawsuit on your behalf to recover damages
- File a claim for compensation with an asbestos trust fund
- Maximize the amount of compensation you recover
- Charge nothing until they win
- Take charge of your legal battle so you can focus on treatment
Who Is at Risk for Mesothelioma in South Carolina?
Most people with mesothelioma or other asbestos illnesses encountered asbestos in the workplace. There are several locations, companies, and job sites in South Carolina that exposed workers. Your expert asbestos attorney will be able to find out which companies are responsible for your exposure.
Natural Asbestos Deposits, Vermiculite, and Mining
The western part of South Carolina has several known natural asbestos deposits and several former asbestos mining prospects.[2] Although there were never any active asbestos mines in the state, other mines and natural deposits have combined to put miners and nearby residents at risk of asbestos exposure.
South Carolina was once home to a handful of vermiculite mines. Vermiculite is a mineral that often has asbestos deposits contained in it.
The state also had several vermiculite processing plants. Workers in the mines and processing plants were put at risk for asbestos exposure. Some plants in the state also received shipments of vermiculite from the infamous W.R. Grace mine in Libby, Montana. This specific mine produced hundreds of thousands of tons of asbestos-laced vermiculite.
The Savannah River Site
The DuPont Corporation and the United States Department of Energy ran a nuclear materials facility in Aiken, SC, from the 1950s through the 1980s. This site was called the Savannah River Site.
The site used asbestos and other hazardous materials, and today, it is an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund site.[3] Thousands of former workers have been positively screened for asbestos exposure. Some have developed symptoms and illnesses associated with that exposure.
Shipyards and Shipbuilding
If you worked in a shipyard or on a ship decades ago, you likely came into contact with asbestos. Asbestos was once commonly used in the construction of ships, especially during World War II.
South Carolina has a long history in the maritime industry, thanks to its extensive coastline. Many people worked in the shipyards over the years, including during the years of peak asbestos use.
Ship construction included asbestos for insulation and fireproofing. Fire on ships is hazardous, so having a readily available and inexpensive material like asbestos was important. At one time, this natural mineral was used in nearly every component of ships.
Any workers on ships or even around them in shipyards likely encountered asbestos. Because of these previous uses, shipbuilding and repair facilities in the state have long been sources of asbestos exposure.
Textile Plants
Another important industry in South Carolina is textile manufacturing. Textile mills once used asbestos in the buildings and equipment that workers used.
Many of these mills also produced asbestos textiles. These fabrics were mostly used for fire and heat protection. Workers in these facilities handled and worked with asbestos directly. As a result, they were exposed to harmful asbestos fibers.
One of these facilities was the Raybestos-Manhattan facility in Charleston, SC. Workers here handled asbestos during manufacturing. By the 1970s, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health had tested air samples.
The agency found concentrations of asbestos fibers in the air much higher than what is allowed by today’s standards. Workers there also had higher than average lung cancer rates.[4]
Other Sites of Known Asbestos Exposure
Many facilities, workplaces, industries, and buildings in South Carolina have exposed residents and workers to asbestos. While there are far too many to list individually, here are just a few known sites where people were likely exposed:
- Zonolite, Enoree
- Carolina Vermiculite Mining Division, Enoree
- Patterson Vermiculite Company, Enoree
- Raybestos-Manhattan, Charleston
- Fiber Industries Textile Plant, Greenville
- Spartan Mill, Spartanburg
- Monsanto Chemical Plant, Anderson
- Celanese Chemical Plant, Spartanburg
- International Paper Mill, Georgetown
- Detyens Shipyard, Charleston
- Goose Creek Naval Shipyard, Charleston
- S. Naval Receiving Station, Charleston
- Georgetown Power House, Georgetown
- South Carolina Power and Light, Charleston
- Fort Jackson, Columbia
- Georgetown Veneer Co., Inc, Columbia
- Union Bleachery, Greenville
Can I Still Be Exposed to Asbestos in South Carolina?
Unfortunately, asbestos exposure is not totally in the past. Because so many construction materials contained asbestos, numerous older homes, workplaces, and public buildings still have asbestos.
If the asbestos in older buildings deteriorates or if workers handle it inappropriately, it can cause exposure. A few recent incidents highlight how dangerous asbestos can still be.
In Florence, workers finally began demolishing the abandoned Palmetto Inn. The building contains asbestos and, left alone for years, could have contaminated nearby residents.[5]
The U.S. Department of Justice sentenced the owner of an asbestos abatement company in 2022 for falsifying records of asbestos in Anderson University buildings. Brian Thomas Rogers, the company’s owner, twice reported no asbestos in the buildings.
Workers later found asbestos materials. A subcontractor doubted the initial reports and submitted samples for his own test. It came back positive for asbestos. Rogers put workers at risk of exposure.[6]
How Much Compensation Can I Get for Mesothelioma?
Asbestos attorneys work hard to get clients as much compensation as possible. However, it is impossible to predict exactly how much a case is worth, and reputable lawyers do not make guarantees.
If you have a valid case, your lawyer can help you get compensation for:
- Past and future medical costs
- Home health care
- Lost income
- Permanent disability
- Reduced quality of life
- Pain and suffering
Many asbestos lawsuits result in significant settlements. Those that go to trial often result in large jury awards, like these recent cases in South Carolina.
$14 Million for Plant Worker
In 2015, the family of a former Celanese Corporation plant worker received a court settlement of $14 million. The worker was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2013 and died in 2014. He was exposed to asbestos while working at the facility for approximately ten years.
The courts ordered the company to pay $12 million to the family and $2 million in punitive damages for exposing workers to deadly asbestos.[7] Lawyers discovered in memos that the company executives knew about the risks and had a policy of concealing that information.
$32 Million for Secondhand Asbestos Exposure
In 2021, a state jury found in favor of the plaintiff Kathy Weist, who developed mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos secondhand. Her husband, father, and uncle worked in facilities with asbestos and brought the fibers home on clothing.
Weist was later diagnosed with mesothelioma. She sued Kraft Heinz and Metal Masters Inc. The jury awarded $11 million in compensatory damages against both companies and $10 million in punitive damages against Kraft Heinz.[8]
$1.75 Million for Widow
A South Carolina jury awarded the widow of a maintenance worker $1.75 million in March 2024. Melba Bolton’s husband worked for years at a Celanese Corporation plant. Bolton claimed her husband’s mesothelioma resulted from asbestos exposure at work, including to asbestos in gaskets made by John Crane.
Her lawsuit included multiple defendants, but only John Crane went to trial. A jury agreed that John Crane was at least partly liable for Bolton’s illness and death for failing to warn of the risks of asbestos in its products.[9]
South Carolina Asbestos Laws
Asbestos laws vary by state. Some of the laws are safety regulations to prevent ongoing and future asbestos exposure. Negligence laws outline how past exposure victims file lawsuits and recover damages.
Asbestos Safety Regulations
Asbestos regulations are managed and administered by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control. The Department requires ten days’ written notice before any asbestos-related construction project is allowed to proceed.
The Department also enforces federal regulations, ensuring only certified professionals work on asbestos projects. The Department also ensures any asbestos-containing materials are removed and disposed of following specific guidelines.
Statute of Limitations
The state of South Carolina has set a statute of limitations of three years on lawsuits related to asbestos-related illnesses and wrongful death.
If you have developed an illness due to asbestos exposure, you have three years from the time of diagnosis to file a lawsuit. If you lose a loved one to one of these illnesses, you have just three years from the time of death to file.
Mesothelioma Medical Care in South Carolina
Getting good care for mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses is crucial for those exposed. Early screening leads to early diagnosis, which is essential for receiving proper treatment.
In South Carolina, there is one facility designated by the National Cancer Institute as a comprehensive cancer care center. This facility is the Hollings Cancer Center at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. Here, you will find the most up-to-date treatment options and excellent care from experienced medical staff.[10]
Find a South Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer
Asbestos lawsuits are not always as straightforward as they may seem. While it seems only fair that you get justice and compensation for your exposure and resulting illness, there are many details to consider, and mistakes are easily made.
You need a South Carolina mesothelioma lawyer to help you make your case and ensure the best chance of getting compensation. When you have an experienced professional on your side, you have an advocate to fight for your case in settlements or court.
