San Diego Mesothelioma Attorney

Since 1921, San Diego has been linked with the U.S. Navy and with asbestos use. During World War II alone, workers at the U.S. Repair Base in San Diego reconfigured and restored more than 5,000 ships. Every one of these ships was laced with asbestos from bow to stern. Asbestos use in naval vessels increased after a 1967 fire aboard the USS Forrestal killed more than 100 people. Asbestos use continued in navy ships large and small until 1980. Many of these vessels remained in service until at least the early 2000s.

Naval sailors fight for us overseas, and the determined San Diego mesothelioma attorneys at the Throneberry Law Group fight for asbestos exposure victims inside and outside the courthouse. We promote victim-friendly laws that make it easier for us to obtain maximum compensation for our valued clients. We also represent victims in complex bankruptcy victim compensation fund claims. If available, these claims enable victims to quickly obtain compensation without going to court.

We discussed the U.S. Navy and asbestos use above. Shipbuilders were so eager to reduce the risk of fire that they lined ammunition dumps, boiler rooms, and other high-heat, high-risk areas with asbestos. For good measure, they used asbestos-laced tiles and insulation throughout the ship.

Many other people in and around San Diego were at risk for asbestos exposure. The extensive list of major hotspots in the area included:

• A.C. Martin,
• Air Traffic Tower,
• Alaynite Corporation,
• Epcor Utilities, Incorporated,
• Etiwanda Generating Station,
• American Electric Powerhouse,
• American Fisheries,
• American Processing Company,
• B.T. Alaska,
• B.T. San Diego,
• Anthony’s Restaurant,
• Arco Alaska,
• Arco California,
• Associated Exhaust Pipe,
• Avco Office Building,
• Avionics,
• Blueprint Exhaust,
• California Packing Company,
• Chas R. Mccormick Company,
• Dietary Sharp Hospital,
• Dockside Marine Works,
• E R Strong Building Materials,
• Ehmcke Sheet Metal Works,
• Chemetron Corporations,
• Coronado Beach Hotel,
• Cynberg Field Airport,
• English & Lauer,
• Etiwanda Steam Plant (Bechtel), and
• Fairchild Semiconducting.

A single fiber from a single facility could cause pleural mesothelioma, an aggressive and rare form of lung cancer. Once a tumor forms in the lining between the heart and lungs, it is usually fatal. By the time doctors accurately diagnose the condition, doctors can do little.

Over the years, thousands of servicemembers and their family members have been infected with asbestos fibers. A San Diego mesothelioma lawyer can obtain compensation for all these individuals.

If the exposure was service-related, a VA disability claim is normally the best legal option. The claimant must only prove the exposure was service-related. Evidence on this point includes service records, military records, and “buddy statements,” which prove day-to-day activities a service record might omit.

These victims are usually entitled to lost wage replacement. The amount of cash compensation usually depends on the nature and extent of the asbestos illness disability. Successful claimants also receive free medical care at any VA medical facility.

Government lawyers typically cannot contest fault. But they can, and usually do, contest the appropriate amount of damages based on the often questionable results of a C&P (compensation and pension) doctor’s exam. For this reason, a San Diego mesothelioma lawyer often partners with an independent doctor who performs an independent medical exam (IME).

Family members, and non-service-related exposure victims, can usually file civil claims or bankruptcy victim compensation fund claims. These matters are more complex, and more compensation is available.

A single asbestos fiber could cause a deadly disease. For a free consultation with an experienced San Diego mesothelioma lawyer, contact the Throneberry Law Group. We do not charge upfront legal fees in these matters.