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Asbestos Lawyers Maryland

Thousands of workers in the greater Washington, D.C. and Baltimore region were exposed, through their occupations, to hazardous asbestos dust. Many of these workers developed respiratory ailments and cancers of the lung and chest, including mesothelioma. Even household members of these workers have occasionally developed mesothelioma because the worker unknowingly exposed his family by carrying toxic asbestos dust home on his clothing. Many of the companies that manufactured and sold the asbestos products routinely failed to warn the workers of the presence of asbestos in their products or the magnitude of the danger it posed, despite having knowledge of the hazard.

Asbestos litigation is a highly specialized field of product liability law, requiring familiarity with the complex medical and industrial hygiene issues that surface in virtually every case. Our lawyers have over 20 years of experience representing the rights of asbestos victims. Contact us so that we can help you and your family get the information you need to make the decisions that will work best for you.

Mesothelioma is a rare and aggressive cancer caused primarily by asbestos exposure. Maryland has a long history of industries such as shipbuilding, construction, and manufacturing, which unfortunately used asbestos extensively. This has led to higher-than-average cases of asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma, among workers and their families.

At Brown Kiely, LLP, we recognize the devastating impact of mesothelioma on victims and their loved ones. Our team is dedicated to helping Maryland residents who have been affected by this disease pursue justice and the compensation they deserve. Whether you were directly exposed to asbestos at work or through secondary exposure at home, we are here to help.

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma develops in the thin layer of tissue covering certain internal organs, most commonly the lungs (pleural mesothelioma). Its symptoms often appear decades after exposure to asbestos, making diagnosis and treatment particularly challenging. Common symptoms include shortness of breath, chest pain, and persistent coughing. If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it’s crucial to act quickly to explore your legal options.

How Asbestos Exposure Happens

In Maryland, asbestos exposure often occurred in workplaces such as:

  • Shipyards: Many shipyard workers were exposed to asbestos in insulation, gaskets, and engine rooms.
  • Construction Sites: Asbestos was widely used in building materials such as drywall, flooring, and roofing.
  • Manufacturing Facilities: Factory workers often handled asbestos-containing materials in production lines.
  • Military Bases: Veterans stationed at Maryland military facilities may have come into contact with asbestos in barracks or vehicles.

Even family members of workers could be exposed through asbestos fibers brought home on clothing or equipment.

Workplace Asbestos Exposure

Mesothelioma is most commonly associated with occupational exposure to asbestos. Industries that have historically had a higher risk of asbestos exposure and, consequently, a higher incidence of mesothelioma diagnoses include:

  • Construction: Workers in the construction industry, including carpenters, electricians, plumbers, and insulation installers, often faced asbestos exposure when working with asbestos-containing building materials and insulation.
  • Shipbuilding and Maritime: Shipyard workers, sailors, and others involved in the maritime industry were at risk due to the extensive use of asbestos in ship construction and maintenance.
  • Automotive Repair: Mechanics and auto body shop workers could be exposed to asbestos when working on vehicles that contained asbestos-containing brake pads, clutches, and gaskets.
  • Mining: Workers in asbestos mines and asbestos processing facilities were at high risk due to direct contact with asbestos fibers during extraction and processing.
  • Manufacturing: Various manufacturing industries, such as the production of asbestos-containing products like textiles, cement, and friction materials, exposed workers to asbestos.
  • Power Plants: Employees in power generation plants, including power plant operators and maintenance personnel, were at risk due to the use of asbestos in equipment and insulation.
  • Railroads: Railroad workers, particularly those involved in locomotive maintenance and repair, could encounter asbestos-containing materials in older train components.
  • Chemical Plants: Workers in chemical manufacturing facilities may have been exposed to asbestos during the production of asbestos-related chemicals and products.
  • Aerospace: Aerospace industry workers, including those involved in aircraft manufacturing and maintenance, could encounter asbestos in aircraft components.
  • Demolition and Renovation: Demolition and renovation workers may be exposed to asbestos when working on older buildings and structures containing asbestos-containing materials.

It’s important to note that while these industries have historically had higher rates of asbestos exposure, asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma can also affect individuals who had non-occupational exposure through activities such as home renovations, using asbestos-containing products, or living near asbestos-related industries.

Products Containing Asbestos

Asbestos was commonly used in a wide range of products and materials due to its heat-resistant and insulating properties. While the use of asbestos has significantly declined in many parts of the world due to its associated health risks, it can still be found in some older products and materials. Here are some examples of products and materials that may contain asbestos:

  1. Building Materials:
    • Roofing shingles
    • Roofing felt
    • Insulation (e.g., attic and wall insulation)
    • Floor tiles and adhesives
    • Ceiling tiles
    • Plaster
    • Drywall joint compound
    • Cement pipes and sheets
    • Fireproofing materials
  2. Automotive Products:
    • Brake pads and linings
    • Clutch facings
    • Gaskets
    • Heat seals
    • Hood liners
    • Automotive insulation
  3. Industrial Products:
    • Boilers and steam pipes insulation
    • Turbine insulation
    • Expansion joints
    • Refractory materials
    • Electrical insulation
    • High-temperature gaskets and packing materials
  4. Consumer Products:
    • Hairdryers (older models)
    • Ironing board covers
    • Fire-resistant gloves and aprons
    • Pot holders
    • Fireplace gloves
  5. Textiles:
    • Fire-resistant clothing and fabrics
    • Welding blankets
  6. Shipbuilding Products:
    • Ship insulation
    • Piping insulation
    • Shipyard insulation
  7. Aerospace Products:
    • Aircraft insulation
    • Aircraft brake linings
  8. Military Products:
    • Military vehicles (brakes, gaskets, insulation)
    • Navy ships (insulation, fireproofing)
  9. Asbestos-Cement Products:
    • Corrugated asbestos-cement sheets
    • Asbestos-cement pipes
    • Asbestos-cement siding
  10. Miscellaneous Products:
    • Laboratory equipment (fume hoods, gloves)
    • Art supplies (asbestos-containing crayons, modeling clay)
    • Gardening products (potting soil, vermiculite)

Why Legal Action is Critical

Filing a mesothelioma claim can provide much-needed financial compensation to cover medical treatments, lost wages, and emotional suffering. At Brown Kiely, LLP, we specialize in asbestos litigation and have successfully represented numerous mesothelioma clients in Maryland.

Our team investigates every case thoroughly to identify liable parties, including asbestos manufacturers, employers, or property owners who failed to protect workers and their families. We understand the legal landscape and can guide you through the process of filing a claim, negotiating settlements, or taking your case to court if necessary.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT ASBESTOS


These are questions often asked about asbestos, asbestos-induced disease and compensation:

Where does Asbestos come from?

Asbestos is a mineral mined from the earth. Major asbestos deposits are located in Canada, South Africa, Russia, and the United States. Asbestos is no longer mined in the United States, but asbestos was once mined in Vermont, California, and other states. The three major types of asbestos used commercially in the U.S. were chrysotile (white), amosite (brown), and crocidolite (blue). Exposure to any of these commercial fibers can cause serious illness or death.

Why was Asbestos Used?

Asbestos fibers are very strong and heat resistant. As a result asbestos was used in hundreds of commercial, industrial, and household products, ranging from building materials such as insulation, refractory materials, and fireproofing, to friction products such as brakes and clutches, to household products such as hair dryers and portable heaters.

Is Asbestos Banned?

The use of asbestos is banned in many industrialized nations. And fortunately, many asbestos products are banned in the U.S., including drywall joint compound, spray fireproofing, preformed pipe insulation and block insulation, corrugated paper, rollboard, and flooring felt. Remarkably, however, asbestos use is still permitted in limited applications in the United States. Most asbestos imported into the U.S. today is used in the chlor-alkali industry, a part of the chemical industry that makes chlorine and sodium hydroxide. Some asbestos is also still used in roofing products.

How bad is Asbestos?

The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration has stated: “OSHA is aware of no instance in which exposure to a toxic substance has more clearly demonstrated detrimental health effects on humans than has asbestos exposure.” While heavier exposures to asbestos can significantly increase health risks, the National Cancer Institute recognizes that asbestos-related diseases have been found in individuals with only brief exposures to asbestos.

What are the Health Hazards caused by Asbestos exposure?

When asbestos products are disturbed, tiny asbestos fibers are released into the air, where they can be inhaled. Once inhaled, the fibers can become trapped in the lung tissue. The three most common types of disease that result from asbestos exposure are asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma.

Asbestosis is a scarring of the lungs that can result in chronic shortness of breath, cough, and lung damage that can occasionally progress to a terminal condition.

Lung cancer can be caused by asbestos exposure by itself, or in conjunction with cigarette smoking, which has a synergistic effect on the development of the tumor.

Mesothelioma is a rare cancer of the lining of the lung, chest wall, or peritoneum. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is an aggressive tumor for which there is no known cure. Surgery or clinical trials may be available for certain patients who qualify. A mesothelioma patient should work carefully with his or her physician to explore possible treatment options.

Was I exposed to Asbestos?

When a physician suspects a patient may have mesothelioma, the most common question asked of the patient is “Did you ever work with asbestos?” Individuals who worked in the construction trade in the 1960’s through the 1970’s are frequently able to answer this question in the affirmative. Similarly, people who worked in shipyards or served in the Navy can easily recall work with or around asbestos containing materials. However, often people are exposed to asbestos in ways they did not realize. For example, many do-it-yourself homeowners installed drywall in their homes during the 1960’s and 1970’s. Much of the drywall joint compound contained asbestos in that period. Similarly, many people changed their own car brakes, which contained asbestos up until the 1980’s. Other exposures are less obvious, as hundreds of household and building products contained asbestos, often without any warning label alerting the user to the hazard. The lawyers at Brown Kiely have represented hundreds of asbestos clients, spanning many different occupations. We have also represented women and children who have suffered from mesothelioma as a result of “take home” exposure from a spouse or family member.

Some of the more common occupational exposures to asbestos occurred in the following types of employment:

  • Insulators
  • Steamfitters/Pipefitters
  • Plumbers
  • Electricians
  • Carpenters
  • Painters
  • Automobile Mechanics
  • Boilermakers
  • HVAC Workers
  • Sheet Metal Workers
  • Shipyard Workers
  • Elevator Mechanics
  • Stationary Engineers
  • Power Plant Employees
  • Maintenance Personnel
  • Laborers

How much time do I have to file a law suit?

The time limit to file a law suit, called a “statute of limitation”, can depend on several factors, including, but not limited to, the state in which you want to file your claim. Each asbestos case has its own statute of limitation, which typically starts to run from the time the injured person knows, or should have known, that his injury was caused by asbestos exposure. It is important that you speak with an attorney as soon as possible (whether it’s us or someone else) so that the attorney can determine how much time you have to file your claim.

Are all of these Asbestos cases Class Actions?

There is a common misperception that asbestos claims are part of either an ongoing class action lawsuit, or that there was a historic class action and now it is too late to file a claim. There are no asbestos injury class action cases pending, and historical efforts to create a class action have failed. It is not too late to file a claim, provided the claim is brought within the statute of limitations. Each case has its own statute of limitations, meaning the time in which to file the case from the time a person knows or should know that his injury is caused by asbestos exposure.

While there are no asbestos injury class actions, occasionally cases will proceed to court in a consolidated fashion in an effort to promote efficiency. In these consolidations, a handful or large group of cases are bundled together for consideration in front of the same judge and jury.

What is the deal with all of these TV Commercials for the Trust Funds?

Over the years, many of the manufacturers of asbestos containing products have filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection (starting with Johns-Manville) as a tool to get out of ongoing liability to asbestos victims. Generally, as part of the bankruptcy reorganization, the Bankruptcy Court requires the company that made the asbestos products, and/or its insurers, to establish a trust fund designed to compensate victims of exposure to that particular company’s asbestos products. Once the company emerges from bankruptcy, as a general rule, it can no longer be sued in court. There is no massive, single fund designed to compensate all asbestos victims. Congress has tried over the years to implement such a system but all such efforts have failed, either because the companies, the insurers or the victims believed the particular bill at issue was unfair.

The TV commercials tout billions of dollars in trust money available to compensate the victims. Unfortunately, many of the trusts are underfunded. Very few trusts pay 100% of the value of a claim. In order to qualify for virtually any of the trusts, the victim must establish a history of exposure to the particular company’s products at certain jobsites, and supply medical evidence of a specific asbestos-related disease. The compensation available to the victim depends on the disease process. Generally, mesothelioma claims receive the highest compensation levels, then lung cancer cases, then other asbestos-related cancers, and then non-malignant asbestos diseases. The claim may be rejected by the trust for a variety of reasons, and the claimant can then supplement his submission. Certain disputed claims can go to arbitration. Once a claimant is qualified for payment, the victim usually sees a fraction of the expected payout for the claim. This is called the payment percentage of the scheduled value. For example, the Johns-Manville trust currently pays victims about 6 cents on the dollar of the scheduled value. Other trusts offer 10 cents or 20 cents on the dollar of the scheduled value. Even the full scheduled values are generally less than a client would have received if his case was pending in court.

Do I have a Case?

Brown Kiely carefully evaluates each potential asbestos case. As an initial matter, the client must demonstrate a verified asbestos-related disease. In some cases, that involves a simple analysis. For example, mesothelioma is a signature disease for which asbestos is essentially the only known cause. Asbestos-related diseases all share something called a latency period. This is the period of time between exposure to asbestos and the development of disease. Most asbestos-related diseases require a 10 year or greater latency period. In fact, the average latency period for development of mesothelioma is between 30 – 40 years. So a person who was exposed to asbestos last year who now has lung cancer cannot attribute the lung cancer to last year’s exposure. A client must also have a credible historic exposure to asbestos. We work hard with clients to explore all possible sources of asbestos exposure that may have contributed to their disease. Sometimes it is hard to recall the events of 30-40 years ago, and often clients don’t realize that certain products or materials they used contained asbestos. Fortunately, we have an extensive database of asbestos-containing products as well as the locations at which asbestos was used in the Washington, D.C. and Baltimore metro areas. We have taken on very difficult cases – cases that other firms would not handle – and turned them into success stories for our clients. We are proud of the fact that the majority of our asbestos cases are referred to us by other attorneys who are aware of our track record.

Is it still Possible to be Exposed to Asbestos?

Even though most commercial asbestos use is prohibited in the United States, and has been for decades, there is still a lot of in-place asbestos found in buildings and homes. If a building was constructed prior to 1980, there is a reasonable possibility that asbestos containing building products were used in some fashion in its construction. Older homes occasionally still have asbestos associated with the heating system, including asbestos found on residential boilers or heating pipes. Landlords and homeowners need to be cautious when performing demolition and renovation work so as to avoid disturbing any in-place asbestos. If you have a question about whether a particular material in your home or building contains asbestos, you should contact a certified asbestos inspector, who can remove a bulk sample of the material and have it tested at a certified lab.

Can settling a personal injury claim affect my medicare coverage?

The answer is, it depends on the situation and the facts of your case. We will take the time to discuss the particulars of your case so that you can make the best decision on how to move forward.

Why Choose Brown Kiely, LLP?

  • Extensive Experience: With over two decades of experience, our attorneys have a deep understanding of Maryland’s asbestos laws.
  • Proven Results: We have secured significant compensation for mesothelioma victims and their families.
  • Personalized Service: Every case is unique, and we tailor our approach to meet your specific needs.
  • Compassionate Advocacy: We are dedicated to fighting for justice on behalf of those affected by asbestos-related diseases.

Get Help Today

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Maryland, don’t wait to seek legal assistance. The statute of limitations for filing a claim can vary, so acting promptly is critical. Contact Brown Kiely, LLP for a free consultation to discuss your case and learn about your options for pursuing compensation.

Your fight is our fight. Let us help you secure justice and financial security during this challenging time.

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