01. Maryland Law Firms
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in Maryland
Lawyers at mesothelioma law firms can pursue compensation for Maryland asbestos victims. These lawyers can handle all steps of the legal process for clients. This includes gathering evidence, filing and arguing the case in court.
The following law firms can provide representation to Maryland asbestos victims:
Choosing to work with a mesothelioma law firm offers several advantages. Lawyers at these firms have the experience and resources to build and argue mesothelioma cases. For decades, they have gone up against large asbestos companies. They have secured millions of dollars in mesothelioma compensation for their clients.
Asbestos attorneys also understand the legal nuances of filing mesothelioma lawsuits. They know how to present cases so they may result in the best possible outcome.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Filing Lawsuits in Maryland
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in Maryland
Anyone in Maryland with mesothelioma or another asbestos disease may be able to file a lawsuit. Asbestos diseases can develop after exposure to asbestos in places like work, at home or in school. As of 2017, there were more than 5,000 deaths in Maryland from various asbestos diseases.
From 1999 to 2020, more than 1,000 people in Maryland were diagnosed with mesothelioma. In that same period, the state recorded 976 deaths from this disease. Many people in Maryland have been, and continue to be, harmed by asbestos.
Mesothelioma lawyers have helped many clients win cases against liable companies for their asbestos diseases. These experienced attorneys can file lawsuits for mesothelioma patients and pursue compensation.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Maryland?
Maryland asbestos victims may be eligible to take legal action if diagnosed with related illnesses. These people may have been exposed at work or other places, like their homes or vehicles. Anyone who loses a family member to an asbestos-related illness may also be able to file a lawsuit.
Many Maryland asbestos lawsuits cite exposure in shipyards. Shipyards have a high risk of asbestos exposure, as the mineral was once popular in this industry. In Maryland, shipyard workers were exposed at various jobsites, including Curtis Bay Shipyard, Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point Shipyard in Baltimore and the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis.
Workers in asbestos industries, like manufacturing and oil, have also filed mesothelioma lawsuits.
Other lawsuits cite non-occupational exposure from products like asbestos insulation at home. Some victims also experienced secondary exposure through someone else who handled asbestos materials.
Residents from these Maryland towns and cities have filed mesothelioma lawsuits against manufacturers and distributors of asbestos:
- Annapolis, MD
- Baltimore, MD
- Brandywine, MD
- Brentwood, MD
- Chevy Chase, MD
- Clinton, MD
- Columbia, MD
- Dunkirk, MD
- Elkton, MD
- Forest Hills, MD
- Fort Washington, MD
- Frederick, MD
- Friendsville, MD
- Frostburg, MD
- Gaithersburg, MD
- Huntington, MD
- Hurlock, MD
- Ijamsville, MD
- Joppa, MD
- Landover, MD
- Laurel, MD
- Leonardtown, MD
- Middle River, MD
- New Market, MD
- North Potomac, MD
- Oakland, MD
- Poolesville, MD
- Potomac, MD
- Rock Hall, MD
- Rockville, MD
- Solomons, MD
- Sparrows Point, MD
- Timonium, MD
- Towson, MD
- Westminster, MD
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Maryland
Maryland asbestos victims can contact mesothelioma attorneys to begin the litigation process. These experienced lawyers first determine clients’ eligibility for different filing options. Then, they can help put together all the evidence and documentation for cases.
They also understand Maryland laws impacting asbestos litigation. For example, the statutes of limitations specify lawsuit filing windows. Each state has its own statutes of limitations for different types of mesothelioma lawsuits. Mesothelioma lawyers can explain these timelines to patients and help navigate them.
Lawyers may suggest some clients file for additional compensation from asbestos trust funds. Bankrupt asbestos companies set these up to compensate current and future victims. This helps guarantee compensation for victims even if a company is no longer active.
Filing VA Claims in Maryland
As of 2021, more than 300,000 veterans were living in Maryland. This is the 19th-highest veteran population in the United States. For decades, the military used significant amounts of asbestos. As a result, veterans have a high risk of asbestos exposure and related diseases. About one-third of mesothelioma diagnoses are veterans.
Beyond lawsuits, veterans have other avenues for accessing the compensation they deserve. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has benefits for veterans with mesothelioma. These benefits include medical care and financial assistance. Mesothelioma lawyers can help veterans access the aid they are due.
03. Maryland Settlements & Verdicts
Mesothelioma Settlements in Maryland
Many mesothelioma patients have filed lawsuits in Maryland against asbestos companies. Cases may result in compensation awards from settlements or verdicts. This compensation may help victims (plaintiffs) cover medical bills, loss of wages and other costs.
Often, lawyers secure this compensation through settlements with asbestos companies (defendants). Settlements are private agreements between plaintiffs and defendants to end a case. Mesothelioma lawyers work to negotiate the best settlement for their clients.
The average mesothelioma settlement is between $1 million and $1.4 million. But many mesothelioma settlements in Maryland have exceeded the average amount.
Listed below are some notable mesothelioma settlements in Maryland for asbestos victims:
- $11.5 million for a 66-year-old hairdresser with secondary exposure
- $6.2 million for a 62-year-old Navy veteran (Norfolk Naval Shipyard) and ironworker
- $4.3 million for a 63-year-old Coast Guard veteran and shipyard worker (Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Corporation)
- $4.3 million for a 54-year-old Navy veteran (Puget Sound Naval Shipyard)
- $4 million for a 78-year-old industrial painter and Merchant Marine
- $3.4 million for a 73-year-old construction worker and auto repair business owner
- $2.9 million for a 62-year-old Navy veteran and boiler repairman
- $2.7 million for an 82-year-old pipefitter (Bethlehem Steel Sparrows Point Shipyard) and Navy veteran
- $2.4 million for a 76-year-old plumber and boilermaker
Mesothelioma Verdicts in Maryland
Some mesothelioma cases may result in verdicts awarded by the judge or jury. Verdicts are a potential outcome when parties resolve the lawsuit at trial. A plaintiff may receive compensation from a verdict if courts find a defendant liable. One notable Maryland mesothelioma verdict was awarded in 2019.
In this case, the plaintiff was a former employee of Honeywell. He experienced asbestos exposure for years while working as a steamfitter. He later developed mesothelioma. He was awarded $7.2 million for his exposure and related disease.
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable Maryland mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in Maryland
Maryland Asbestos Laws & Regulations
Maryland follows federal regulations for asbestos. Various state-based departments and laws manage asbestos use, handling and removal. Primary asbestos regulatory bodies include:
- Maryland Asbestos Oversight Committee, which coordinates all state-related asbestos education and abatement activities.
- Maryland Department of the Environment’s (MDE) Asbestos Program, which oversees the state’s asbestos laws and regulations. The MDE’s duties include licensing asbestos workers, managing asbestos training providers and outlining how to safely handle asbestos. The MDE also inspects schools for asbestos.
- Maryland Occupational Safety and Health, which oversees workplace safety throughout the state. This department has specific asbestos safety guidelines and regulations it enforces. For example, it outlines rules for safety equipment and worker protection when asbestos exposure is possible.
There is currently no federal ban on asbestos. These Maryland departments help manage the ongoing risk of asbestos exposure in the state.
Maryland Laws Affecting Asbestos Litigation
Maryland has specific laws that may affect asbestos litigation. Laws that may impact mesothelioma cases include:
- Contributory negligence: If a court finds the victim (plaintiff) has any fault for their injuries, they may not recover funds. However, some mesothelioma cases may fall under exceptions to this rule.
- Statute of repose: This statute sets a timeline that begins with a plaintiff’s last exposure for specific cases. Some asbestos lawsuits may be subject to this statute. But most mesothelioma cases in Maryland will likely follow the statute of limitations timeline instead, which begins at the date of diagnosis.
Experienced mesothelioma lawyers understand the ins and outs of filing in Maryland. They can explain what options clients have and which may be best for their case.
Asbestos Litigation Trends in Maryland
From 2014 to 2017, Baltimore City was a top-ranking jurisdiction for asbestos lawsuits. Various factors led to a slowdown in lawsuit processing. In the following years, law firms began to file fewer cases in Maryland. In 2017, the courts took over scheduling for pre-trial matters from lawyers to help process more cases in a timelier manner.
Since then, the courts have been moving through asbestos cases quickly. They processed more than 1,000 cases from 2017 to 2019. They continue working through the case backlog. These changes in the state may impact future asbestos filing trends.
Asbestos victims in Maryland still have many viable options available to consider. A mesothelioma lawyer can help them successfully navigate the asbestos lawsuit landscape.
Find Mesothelioma Doctors, Lawyers and Asbestos Exposure Sites Near You
