Most people in Louisiana picture asbestos in shipyards or big industrial plants. That picture is not wrong, but it is incomplete. Asbestos is a heat-resistant mineral that was mixed into building materials and consumer products for decades. When those materials break, crumble, or are ripped out during repairs, tiny fibers go into the air and […]
The U.S. Navy used large amounts of asbestos in ships and shipyards for fireproofing and durability. The Navy used more asbestos than any other branch, and that asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma. For much of the 20th century, sailors worked and lived in ships lined with asbestos insulation, valves, and gaskets. Manufacturers hid […]
In the state of Louisiana, there are specific timetable limits for filing tort claims, referred to as prescriptive periods. The Louisiana Legislature just extended the prescriptive period for delictual actions (torts) to two years; however, special rules still apply for asbestos-related disease. For patients diagnosed with mesothelioma pursuing personal injury claims, the patient must file […]
A diagnosis of mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer often leaves families making urgent medical decisions. At the same time, they also face legal choices that can affect compensation. In Louisiana, two different claims exist: the survival action under Civil Code article 2315.1 and the wrongful death action under article 2315.2. What Each Claim Covers A survival claim is […]
Asbestos may be banned in new construction, but it still lingers in the walls, ceilings, and mechanical rooms of older hospitals and college campuses. When renovations or maintenance work disturb this material, the fibers can become airborne and pose a danger. Workers, students, and even visitors may be exposed without warning. When the health consequences […]
Many veterans never saw asbestos as a threat during their service. It was just part of the job; the pipes on the ship, the brake pads in a Humvee, and the walls of an old barracks. Years later, the illness appears. Mesothelioma moves quickly, and the bills come just as fast. What many don’t realize […]
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 […]
When you hear that your mesothelioma case might go all the way to trial, it can feel intimidating. Many people in New Orleans and Baton Rouge wonder what happens inside that courtroom. Unlike settlements, trials involve juries, expert witnesses, and evidence that sometimes stretches back 40 or 50 years. Choosing the Jury Jury selection is […]
Mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases do not appear overnight. They often take decades to develop, which makes proving where and how someone was exposed feel almost impossible. In New Orleans and Baton Rouge, many workers spent years in shipyards, plants, and old buildings full of hidden asbestos. When someone gets sick, attorneys must dig deep […]
Lung cancer patients who were exposed to asbestos often wonder if their smoking history makes them ineligible for compensation. The answer is no. Smoking does not cancel out the legal right to sue for asbestos-related disease. Courts acknowledge that when asbestos and tobacco are both involved, the risk of cancer increases sharply. This combined risk, […]