Portland Mesothelioma Attorney

Asbestos exposure is one of the worst environmental issues in Oregon. To better manage this problem, the state’s Department of Environmental Quality raised asbestos abatement fees by over 25 percent in 2022. That fee increase speaks to the magnitude of the problem. Asbestos is almost everywhere in Portland. This substance is very difficult and expensive to remove. But removal is by far the best option. Despite contrary government and industrial claims, there is no safe asbestos exposure level.

The diligent Portland mesothelioma lawyers at the Throneberry Law Group begin working for victims as soon as they reach out to us. Through the years, our experienced legal team has developed proven methods that have obtained life-changing results for our clients in the past. We’re confident these same methods will produce similar results for your family. These results usually include compensation for economic losses, such as medical bills, and noneconomic losses, such as pain and suffering. Additional punitive damages may be available as well.

Asbestos was commercially produced at the Mount Vernon deposit in Grant County, the Raspberry Creek deposit in Jackson County, and the L.E.J. Asbestos mine in Josephine County. The Coast Asbestos Company managed the Mount Vernon deposit, where production began in 1959. The mine produced chrysotile (white) asbestos. This kind of asbestos breaks up quickly, releasing fibers and dust into the air. Workers processed as much as 5,000 pounds of recovered fiber every eight-hour shift.

Mining was one of the most hazardous environments for asbestos exposure. The process of extracting the fiber from the earth and transporting it to the facility for processing was especially dangerous. Mining operations rarely used safety equipment and certainly failed to implement the safety precautions that are required today when handling toxic minerals. The risk of developing mesothelioma cancer is a concern for former employees.

Mesothelioma risks went far beyond miners. A Portland mesothelioma attorney can also obtain compensation for industrial and service-related exposure victims at places like:

• Martin-Marietta Aluminum Co.: In 1984, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality designated the Martin-Marietta Aluminum plant as hazardous. The facility was later declared a Superfund site and was placed on the National Priorities List. A lot of the waste from the site was sent to a landfill on the property, which the EPA said was contaminated with asbestos insulation.
• Burns Air Force Station: The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has asked the EPA to conduct a time-critical removal action for the former Burns Air Force Station Radar Base site. There are concerns stemming from friable asbestos-containing materials around deteriorating buildings. Reports state these materials are on the ground, and buildings made with asbestos could potentially collapse.
• Chiloquin Lumber & Box Company: The Chiloquin Lumber and Box Company operated a box factory and lumber mill in Klamath County starting in 1918. While the box factory burned down in 1947, the lumber mill remained operational until 1988. This industrial facility was packed with asbestos, mostly in the insulation.

Before 1980, most Naval and other vessels also contained asbestos. Use of this dangerous material increased significantly after a 1967 fire aboard an aircraft carrier killed hundreds of people. Marine asbestos hotspots in the Portland area include the South Portland Shipyard, Tongue Point Naval Shipyard, and Astoria Voyage Repair Station.

Asbestos fibers are only slightly heavier than air. They float for up to three days before they come to rest on a surface.

Therefore, the people who lived and worked near these asbestos hotspots are also at risk for developing mesothelioma or another asbestos-exposure illness. The danger might be even greater. Secondhand exposure victims never wore any PPE (personal protective equipment).

One microscopic fiber could cause a catastrophic illness. So, occasional exposure is almost as dangerous as regular exposure.

Asbestos exposure victims need and deserve significant compensation. For a free consultation with an experienced Portland mesothelioma lawyer, contact the Throneberry Law Group. Virtual, home, and hospital visits are available.