Mesothelioma & Asbestos Law Firm In Texas

A mesothelioma diagnosis can leave you with difficult questions about your health and finances. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed after asbestos exposure, Texas mesothelioma lawyers can help. Your lawyer will investigate where your exposure occurred, identify the companies that may be responsible, pursue every available source of compensation, and handle the legal process so you can focus on your health and your family.

Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney & Meisenkothen (ELSM) has helped hundreds of families affected by mesothelioma pursue justice, from Houston to Dallas, San Antonio, Austin, and other communities across Texas.

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Texas Mesothelioma Legal Rights At a Glance

• Texas generally allows two years from the date of diagnosis to file a mesothelioma lawsuit, although exceptions may apply.
• Depending on the circumstances of your case, you may be eligible to pursue compensation through multiple sources, including a mesothelioma lawsuit, asbestos trust fund claims, and VA claims.
• Asbestos exposure has been documented at Texas refineries, petrochemical plants, shipyards, power plants, construction sites, and other jobsites.
• Depending on where your asbestos exposure occurred and other factors, you may have the option to file your mesothelioma lawsuit in Texas or another state.
• ELSM Law represents clients throughout Texas and will travel to you for a free mesothelioma case evaluation.

Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Texas

Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit in Texas starts with determining when, where, and how your asbestos exposure occurred. Every case is unique, and the best legal strategy depends on factors such as your work history, military service, medical diagnosis, and exposure history.

A mesothelioma lawyer in Texas can evaluate your circumstances and determine whether filing a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit is the right option for you. Even if your asbestos exposure occurred decades ago or the company responsible is no longer in business, you may still have legal options.

ELSM Law can help you:

• Investigate your work history, military service, use of asbestos-contaminated consumer products such as talcum powder, and other potential sources of asbestos exposure.
• Identify the companies that may be responsible for your asbestos exposure.
• Determine whether filing a mesothelioma lawsuit in Texas is appropriate for your situation.
• Gather the records and evidence needed to support your case.
• Prepare and file your mesothelioma lawsuit.
• Handle communications and negotiations on your behalf.
• Guide you through every step of the legal process.

Our attorneys handle all aspects of your mesothelioma lawsuit while pursuing the compensation you may be entitled to, allowing you to focus on your treatment and your loved ones.

Mesothelioma Compensation in Texas

A mesothelioma diagnosis can create significant financial challenges for you and your loved ones. Medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other losses caused by asbestos exposure can quickly add up. An experienced Texas mesothelioma attorney can help identify your compensation options based on your diagnosis, work history, military service, and other factors.

Mesothelioma compensation may be available through:

• Mesothelioma lawsuits
• Asbestos trust fund claims
• Workers' compensation claims, when applicable
• VA claims for eligible veterans

Our mesothelioma attorneys consider the details of your case and work with you to recommend the best path forward. You may qualify for compensation from more than one of these sources depending on the facts of your case.

Meet Our Welcome Team

When you contact ELSM Law, your first conversation will likely be with a member of our Welcome Team. They understand the challenges that come with a mesothelioma diagnosis and are committed to making the process as straightforward and supportive as possible.

Our dedicated team of attorneys, including Jennifer and Kyle, will answer your questions, explain what to expect, gather information about your situation, and connect you with the attorney best suited to your case. As a mesothelioma law firm that focuses exclusively on asbestos litigation, ELSM Law is committed to providing compassionate guidance and support from your first call.

Texas Mesothelioma Statute of Limitations

Under Texas Civil Practice & Remedies Code §§ 16.003 and 16.0031, the statute of limitations for filing a mesothelioma lawsuit is generally two years.

Because mesothelioma often develops decades after asbestos exposure, Texas law includes special rules that affect when the statute of limitations begins.

Even if your asbestos exposure occurred many years ago or the company responsible is no longer in business, you may still have legal options. Speaking with an experienced Texas mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after your diagnosis can help ensure your claim is evaluated before any applicable filing deadline expires.

Why Acting Quickly Matters

Missing a filing deadline may prevent you from pursuing compensation in Texas, even if you have a strong case. Speaking with a mesothelioma lawyer soon after diagnosis can help preserve important evidence, identify all potential defendants, and protect your legal rights.

Do I Have to File My Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Texas?

Not necessarily. Where you may file depends on where your asbestos exposure occurred, where you worked, and which companies may be responsible. In some cases, you may have the option to file in more than one state.

Mesothelioma Settlements for Clients Living in Texas

The following mesothelioma settlements highlight results ELSM Law obtained for clients living in Texas. Settlement amounts vary based on the unique facts and circumstances of each case, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

State	Disease	Occupation / Exposure	Age	~ Monies to Date
TX	Mesothelioma	Talc Powder User	36	~$15,600,000
TX	Mesothelioma	Power Plant Worker	58	~$5,500,000
TX	Mesothelioma	Laundry Worker	64	~$5,300,000
TX	Mesothelioma	Laborer	76	~$4,300,000
TX	Mesothelioma	HVAC Contractor	65	~$4,200,000
TX	Mesothelioma	Railroad Worker / Electrician	69	~$3,900,000
TX	Mesothelioma	Mechanic	64	~$3,500,000
TX	Mesothelioma	Machinist / Laborer	77	~$3,100,000

Jobsites in Texas with Documented Mesothelioma Cases

Asbestos-containing materials were widely used in many workplaces throughout Texas for decades. Workers in industries such as oil refining, petrochemical manufacturing, power generation, shipbuilding, construction, manufacturing, and the military may have encountered asbestos in equipment, building materials, and a variety of products used in the course of their work.

ELSM Law has represented mesothelioma clients who worked at the following jobsites in Texas where asbestos exposure has been documented:

• Alcoa Aluminum - Point Comfort, Rockdale
• Amoco Chemical Plant - Pasadena, Texas City
• Atlas Pipe Plant - Houston
• Bethleham Steel Shipyard - Beaumont
• Brooks Air Force Base - San Antonio
• Coastal Refining - Corpus Christie
• Consolidated Steel Shipbuilding - Orange
• Cosden Petroleum Refinery - Big Springs
• Dallas Steam Electric Station - Dallas
• Diamond Shamrock Chemical Company - Houston
• Dow Chemical - Freeport, Port Arthur
• Exxon Refinery - Pasadena
• Fort Hood - Fort Hood
• Lackland Air Force Base - San Antonio
• Laredo Air Force Base - Laredo
• NASA - Houston
• Port of Galveston Docks - Galveston
• Port of Houston - Houston
• Randolph Air Force Base - San Antonio
• Shell Oil Refinery - Deer Park
• Sinclair Oil Refinery - Houston
• Standard Oil Company of Texas - El Paso
• Sun Oil Company - Beaumont, Corpus Christi
• Todd Shipyards Corporation - Galveston, Houston
• University of Texas - Austin

The jobsites listed above represent only a sampling of the locations in Texas with known asbestos exposure. Even if you never worked at one of these sites, you may still have been exposed through another job, military service, take-home (secondary) exposure, or asbestos-contaminated consumer products, including asbestos-contaminated talcum powders and cosmetics. ELSM Law can investigate your exposure history and help determine whether you may have a legal claim.

ELSM Mesothelioma Clients in Texas

ELSM Law has represented hundreds of mesothelioma clients from communities throughout Texas. The cities and towns listed below are places where our clients have lived.

Our Trusted Mesothelioma Law Firm Partners in Texas

When it benefits your case, ELSM Law works with trusted mesothelioma law firms in Texas. These partnerships combine ELSM Law's exclusive focus on mesothelioma litigation with the local knowledge and courtroom experience of respected Texas attorneys. Our law firm partners maintain offices in Texas, and this collaboration comes at no additional cost to you.

Dean Omar Branham Shirley (DOBS) represents individuals nationwide in complex litigation against companies that have endangered the health and safety of others. ELSM Law has worked closely with DOBS on mesothelioma cases, securing significant results for our mutual clients, including a $77 million verdict and more than $10 million in settlements for 15 clients. The firm maintains an office in Dallas, Texas.

Shrader & Associates is a nationally recognized mesothelioma law firm that has recovered more than $1 billion in verdicts and settlements for asbestos victims. ELSM Law has co-counseled with Shrader & Associates on mesothelioma cases in jurisdictions across the country. The firm maintains an office in Houston, Texas.

Through these partnerships, ELSM delivers the reach of a national firm along with the in-depth local knowledge that Texas mesothelioma victims need.

Texas Asbestos Laws

Texas regulates asbestos through state and federal laws that govern asbestos abatement, licensing, inspections, air quality, and the safe handling of asbestos-containing materials. These laws are designed to reduce asbestos exposure and establish standards for protecting workers, building occupants, and the public.

The Texas Health and Human Services Commission administers the state's asbestos program in coordination with regulations established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Depending on the project, property owners and contractors may be required to use licensed asbestos professionals and comply with state and federal notification requirements before regulated asbestos work begins.

Asbestos Litigation in Texas

For decades, asbestos was widely used throughout Texas industries such as oil refining, petrochemical manufacturing, power generation, shipbuilding, construction, and manufacturing. As a result, many workers experienced occupational asbestos exposure before the health risks became widely recognized.

Today, people continue to be diagnosed with mesothelioma because of the disease's long latency period. Your legal options may include filing a mesothelioma lawsuit, pursuing compensation through asbestos trust funds, or seeking other available benefits.

Key Texas Asbestos Laws and Regulations:

Law or Regulation	What It Covers
Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act (Tex. Occ. Code Chapter 1954)	Establishes licensing, training, inspections, asbestos abatement requirements, and enforcement for asbestos-related work in Texas.
Texas Health and Human Services Asbestos Program	Oversees asbestos licensing, training, compliance, and enforcement throughout Texas.
EPA National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (40 C.F.R. Part 61, Subpart M)	Regulates asbestos handling during many demolition and renovation projects to help prevent the release of asbestos fibers.
Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (15 U.S.C. §§ 2641–2656)	Requires asbestos inspections and asbestos management plans in public and private nonprofit schools.

Understanding how these Texas laws apply to your case is an important step, and an experienced ELSM asbestos lawyer is ready to help you.

Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act

The Texas Asbestos Health Protection Act establishes licensing, training, inspection, and work practice requirements for asbestos-related activities throughout the state. It authorizes the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to regulate asbestos professionals, investigate violations, and help ensure asbestos-containing materials are handled safely during renovation, demolition, and abatement projects.

Texas requires licensing or registration for many asbestos-related occupations, including:

• Asbestos abatement contractors
• Asbestos abatement supervisors
• Asbestos consultants
• Asbestos inspectors
• Asbestos management planners
• Asbestos training providers
• Transporters of asbestos-containing materials

Asbestos laws help regulate how asbestos is handled today, but many mesothelioma cases involve exposures that occurred decades ago. A careful investigation can help identify where the exposure occurred and which companies may be legally responsible. Kyle Navin
Partner and Mesothelioma Lawyer

Texas Asbestos Safety Guidelines

Texas enforces asbestos safety requirements through a regulatory program that incorporates many federal standards. The Texas Health and Human Services Commission oversees asbestos licensing and compliance, while the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality regulates the disposal of asbestos-containing waste and works with other agencies to help enforce applicable environmental requirements.

Violations of Texas asbestos regulations may result in enforcement actions and monetary penalties. Examples include:

• Failing to provide required demolition or renovation notifications
• Failing to conduct required asbestos inspections
• Improper asbestos abatement practices
• Failing to monitor asbestos projects
• Improper handling or disposal of asbestos-containing materials

Frequently Asked Questions