When mesothelioma shows up in someone’s life, it’s almost never traced back to a single moment. It’s usually years of contact. Maybe it started at a refinery job in the ’80s, continued at a shipyard in the ’90s, and even came home on work clothes.
For people in New Orleans and Baton Rouge, where heavy industry was a way of life, that’s not unusual. The law makes room for it: You can take action against more than one company in the same case.
When Several Companies Share the Blame
A single lawsuit can name each business that played a role. That could mean a product manufacturer, a contractor, or the owner of a worksite. It can even include cases where exposure was secondhand, like a spouse who washed asbestos-covered uniforms for years. Courts have recognized that fibers brought home can be just as deadly as those breathed in on the job.
To get there, lawyers look at employment records, old union rosters, job site contracts, and sometimes talk to co-workers from decades ago. The goal is to connect the illness to specific products or job sites.
Why These Claims Aren’t Always Straightforward
Some major asbestos companies are long gone. Bankruptcy pulled them out of the courtroom, but trust funds, now holding more than $30 billion, are still open for claims. That means a case might involve both a lawsuit against current companies and claims against those funds.
There’s also a problem with overloading cases. It’s common to see a list of 20 or 30 defendants, but half may have no real tie to the person’s exposure. That slows things down and costs everyone more. The better approach is to name only the companies with solid proof against them.
Work With Us to Hold Every Party Accountable
Louisiana law gives you one year from diagnosis or death to file. That time disappears quickly, especially when you’re dealing with a serious illness. Because these cases often depend on old documents and fading memories, starting early matters.
At Pourciau Law Firm, we’ve spent decades helping families trace every source of asbestos exposure: on the job, at home, or both. We know how to build a case that covers it all. Call 504-305-2375 or use our intake form to get started. We’ll walk through your history, explain your options, and go after every company that should answer for your illness.