Boise Mesothelioma Attorney

Idaho has one of the lowest mesothelioma death rates in the country. But that certainly does not mean these residents are safe from asbestos exposure. The vast Kamiah deposit was one of the country’s largest asbestos mines. Mine workers unintentionally carried fibers home to Boise and other cities.

State officials also authorized extensive asbestos use in schools. In 2021, officials shut down Boise High School after workers found asbestos in the pipes, which were installed in the 1960s. There’s no telling how many students were exposed to this substance.

Lawmakers and environmental regulators can contain asbestos exposure and prevent its spread. But only a Boise mesothelioma attorney from the Throneberry Law Group can obtain the financial compensation these victims need and deserve. Victims need the financial resources to treat mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-exposure illnesses. Furthermore, a court judgment holds the responsible company accountable for the injuries it caused.

Large-scale asbestos mining in Idaho began around 1920. The government did not close asbestos mines until 2002. So, generations of people were infected at places like:

• Orofino Creek anthophyllite deposit,
• Teakean deposit,
• Blacktail asbestos prospect,
• Olson asbestos prospect, and
• Several unnamed occurrences in Adams County.

When the government shut down these and other asbestos mines, it made no provision to compensate exposure victims. Only a Boise mesothelioma lawyer can do that.

Before around 1980, industrial workers were at risk as well. Some industrial exposure hotspots in the Boise area include:

• Boise Cascade Corporation
• Intermountain Gas Company,
• Southern Industries Piping,
• Northwest Roads Company,
• Union Pacific Railroad Company,
• Clover Club Foods,
• Plateau Supplies Company,
• Lodge Brothers and Bullet Pawn Shop,
• Fluor Corporation,
• Bonner County Courthouse,
• Westvaco Mineral Production, and
• Yankee Machine Shop.

1980 sounds like a long time ago. However, mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-exposure illnesses often have a 50-year latency period. Therefore, many people who were exposed to asbestos in the 1970s and 1980s are just now getting devastating medical news from their doctors.

Regardless of when the exposure occurred, a civil case is usually still an option. Possible legal theories include:

• Defective Product: Generally, manufacturers are strictly liable for injuries that a design or manufacturing defect causes. In this context, a design defect is usually a building or item that includes asbestos at the design phase. Cross-contamination, usually at a mine, is the most common manufacturing defect claim. The ongoing talc-asbestos cervical cancer lawsuit is a good example.
• Negligence: Companies have a legal duty to warn the public about known product risks and side effects. They breach this duty if they do not promptly add a warning that accurately states the danger and is proportionate to the risk. The aforementioned compensation is available if a Boise mesothelioma lawyer proves asbestos exposure substantially caused the victim’s injury.

Civil claims, like all other asbestos exposure claims, have pros and cons. In general, strict liability claims are easier to prove, and jurors award more compensation in negligence claims.

Evidence in asbestos exposure claims usually includes a current medical diagnosis, the identification of a probable asbestos exposure window, and testimony from an industrial hygienist or other expert witness.

Asbestos exposure victims usually have multiple legal options. For a free consultation with an experienced Boise mesothelioma lawyer, contact the Throneberry Law Group. The sooner you reach out to us, the sooner we start fighting for you.