Hurricane Helene Flooding Closes Tennessee Jail

Flood waters eroded walls at the Cocke County Jail, releasing asbestos fibers and transforming the facility into a toxic waste dump.

Cocke County Sheriff C.J Ball said there is no real timetable for the jail to reopen at this point in time. “We’re going by some of the FEMA guidelines where we’ve met with FEMA,” Ball said. “We are actually having to get contractors and we have a company coming in an architect group that will come in and they will go through that building and see what it would cost to tear the building completely down and then rebuild it at today’s cost. We’ve got to do that and then go through a process to find out what it would cost to just fix the existing building.”

In the time since the flooding hit, the more than 100 inmates at the jail are being housed elsewhere while work continues to figure out what the costs to rebuild will be.

The Courthouse Annex, where the jail is located, was not in great shape prior to the floods. Ball said at this time, it’s a matter of how they will spend the money to build back the jail. A correctional partnership has been formed to deal with the matter.

The full impact of the flooding in Cocke County probably will not be known until at least mid-century. Mesothelioma and other asbestos-exposure illnesses have extremely long latency periods. This long latency period presents significant challenges for an asbestos-exposure lawyer.

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive form of lung cancer. As a result, it is very difficult to diagnose. Most mesothelioma victims have no lifestyle or genetic risk factors. Furthermore, mesothelioma is a very painful disease. These victims often suffer greatly. Making matters worse, these victims are usually in their 70s or 80s, once again because of the long latency period.

These victims badly need compensation to pay medical bills and enable their survivors to carry on with their lives. A solid case must include a medical diagnosis, proof of negligence, and proof of damages.

Usually, a board-certified physician must diagnose a victim with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other asbestos poisoning-related disease. These physicians are extremely thorough and well-versed in this area. As a result, their opinions are solid. Furthermore, these doctors have often testified in court before. So, they’re essentially expert witnesses.

Negligence is basically a lack of care. Compensation is available if the defendant, which is usually an asbestos provider, was negligent. Usually, negligence involves a failure to adequately warn people about all known product side effects. Attorneys often partner with expert witnesses, such as industrial hygienists, to establish the standard of care in a certain situation.

Victims have other legal options as well, such as a workers’ compensation claim, VA disability claim, or Social Security Disability claim.

Compensation is especially hard to determine in wrongful death cases. Most states allow survivors to recover money for lost future emotional and financial support. So, once again, an asbestos exposure lawyer must partner with outside professionals to make a strong case.

This extensive process is time-consuming. But the extra time pays off in the form of additional compensation. Almost all asbestos exposure victims and survivors receive settlements. Over 90 percent of civil claims are settled out of court.

The settlement process is complex as well, mostly because these cases often involve multiple victims, and asbestos companies are very stingy negotiators.

Where there is one asbestos-exposure victim, there is usually more than one. As a result, courts often consolidate several cases into one legal action. The consolidation saves time in the end, but it makes a complex case even more complicated during settlement negotiations.

Frequently, judges appoint mediators to supervise settlement negotiations and enforce a court-ordered duty to negotiate in good faith. Before a mediator gets involved, low-ball settlement offers often delay the process. Mediators don’t stand for delay tactics, which is one reason why over 90 percent of negligence cases settle during mediation.

Mesothelioma victims need and deserve significant compensation. For a confidential consultation with an experienced nationwide mesothelioma lawyer, contact the Throneberry Law Group. Virtual, home, and hospital visits are available.