Montana Mesothelioma Lawyer

Montana is home to one of the worst asbestos exposure cases in American history. The W.R. Grace plant in Libby blanketed the mining town in asbestos. As a result, thousands of people now suffer from deadly illnesses like mesothelioma. If you have an asbestos-related disease, contact a Montana mesothelioma lawyer to pursue justice and financial compensation.

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Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in Montana

Mesothelioma cancer patients in Libby, Montana, and other parts of the state may qualify for financial compensation. Manufacturers of asbestos-based products were aware of the dangers of asbestos but hid the facts for decades.

Libby mines exposed thousands of residents to toxic asbestos dust. As of 2022, more than 2,400 Libby citizens have been diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer, and at least 400 people have died from these illnesses.

If you received a mesothelioma diagnosis after working or living in Montana, contact a lawyer as soon as possible. A Montana mesothelioma lawyer can file a lawsuit on your behalf so you can secure justice and compensation.

When looking for a Montana mesothelioma lawyer, it’s important to select a firm with the experience, reputation, and resources to advocate for you. Thankfully, Mesothelioma Hope has partnered with Simmons Hanly Conroy, an experienced mesothelioma law firm that can help patients like you.

Montana Mesothelioma Law Firm

As one of the nation’s largest mass tort law firms, Simmons Hanly Conroy is dedicated to helping victims of mesothelioma and other personal injuries find justice and hope.

The attorneys at Simmons Hanly Conroy have centuries of combined experience and they aim to provide their clients with first-class legal services.

Our sponsor firm has recovered over $14 million on behalf of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related disease victims in Montana alone. A few of the firm’s recent mesothelioma settlement amounts are highlighted below.

Montana Mesothelioma Settlements Recovered by Simmons Hanly Conroy

  • $3.4 millionU.S. Navy veteran
  • $3.26 millionPipefitter
  • $2 millionLaborer
  • $1 millionAuto mechanic

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Fact-Checked

All Simmons Hanly Conroy settlement amounts have been fact-checked and verified by our editorial team.

Asbestos Exposure Sites in Montana

The Libby mine remains Montana’s most notable asbestos site. Both local and national reports say the sickness and death in Libby will likely continue. The town was the nation’s longest-running asbestos cleanup project — and the cleanup did not end until late 2018.

However, Libby isn’t the only high-risk area for asbestos exposure in Montana. Exposure also occurred in thousands of Montana construction projects and other areas throughout the state.

Montana mesothelioma attorneys have compiled lists of job sites linked to asbestos in the state.

Besides Libby, examples of other asbestos sites in Montana include:

  • Amalgamated Sugar Cane Company, Missoula, Whitehall
  • Anaconda Copper Mining Company, Anaconda, Butte, Silver Lake
  • Corette Powerhouse, Billings
  • Granite-BiMetallic Consolidated Mining Company, Philipsburg
  • Montana-Dakota Utilities Steam Plant, Glendive
  • Montana Power, Billings
  • Montana State Hospital, Warm Springs
  • Moulton Mining Company, Butte
  • National Mining and Exploring Company, Helena
  • Original Butte Mining Company, Butte
  • United Sierra Division, Cyprus Mines Corporation, Three Forks
  • University of Montana, Missoula
  • U.S. Air Force, Glasgow
  • Waldorf Paper Products Company, Missoula

If you have been exposed to asbestos in Libby or another site, you can connect with an experienced Montana mesothelioma lawyer. These lawyers can help you secure financial benefits to cover treatment expenses and other bills.

Know Your Rights: Montana Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Mesothelioma lawsuits seek compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos-containing products. Victims can use compensation from a mesothelioma lawsuit to pay for medical expenses, home bills, or other costs.

Victims may receive millions of dollars from mesothelioma lawsuits.

It costs you nothing to file a lawsuit, and your Montana mesothelioma lawyer will take on most of the legal work.

Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Montana?

In addition to Montana residents, mesothelioma patients who may have been exposed to asbestos while working in, living in, or visiting the state might qualify to file a claim for financial compensation.

Additionally, anyone who’s been diagnosed with other serious asbestos-related diseases — such as lung cancer or asbestosis — may also qualify to file a claim with the help of a Montana mesothelioma attorney.

Even those who develop an asbestos-related disease later in life, such as mesothelioma, may be eligible to file a claim. Surviving family members may also be able to file a claim on behalf of a mesothelioma victim.

A Montana mesothelioma lawyer can explain how the state’s laws and regulations impact someone’s eligibility for different types of asbestos claims.

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Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts in Montana

There are thousands of victims involved in lawsuits in Libby, Montana alone. So far, millions of dollars have been paid to hundreds of victims or their survivors through settlements or a jury verdict.

A mesothelioma settlement allows an asbestos victim to access compensation without a time-consuming trial.

Over 95% of mesothelioma lawsuits end in a mesothelioma settlement.

A jury verdict happens after a jury has heard all the facts of a case. The decision (verdict) is handed down in favor of the plaintiff or defendant.

Did You Know?

The National Indemnity Company (NIC) was ordered to pay all of Montana’s $43 million settlement to Libby asbestos victims in 2018. That figure increased to nearly $98 million in 2019. In December 2021, the Montana Supreme Court upheld the $98 million figure after it was appealed by the NIC.

A Montana mesothelioma attorney can see if a settlement or trial verdict will be best for your case.

Asbestos Rules and Regulations in Montana

Asbestos in the state of Montana is regulated by both state and federal governments. The state follows the National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for asbestos.

The state regulates all asbestos removal projects and certifies workers to contain this deadly material properly.

Montana’s asbestos laws and regulations apply to:

  • All asbestos workers
  • Those in charge of asbestos removal projects
  • Those who accredit others to remove asbestos safely

State regulatory agencies that oversee asbestos activities include:

  • Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) – Permitting and Compliance Division
  • Montana Department of Labor and Industry
  • Waste and Underground Tank Management – Bureau Asbestos Control Program

A Montana mesothelioma lawyer can see if these rules will impact your lawsuit.

Statute of Limitations in Montana

A Montana mesothelioma lawyer goes over paperwork with a man and a womanA statute of limitations prevents lawsuits from being filed after a certain date. Once the statute of limitations passes, mesothelioma victims can never file a lawsuit.

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or a loved one has died from the disease, contact a mesothelioma lawyer in Montana as soon as possible. Don’t miss your chance to receive compensation.

Contact us now to learn more about statutes of limitations and working with a lawyer.

Asbestos Trust Funds in Montana

Even if the statute of limitations has passed for a lawsuit, mesothelioma victims can still receive compensation through an asbestos trust fund.

Asbestos funds were set up by manufacturers to pay those who develop mesothelioma or other illnesses. These trusts are not subject to the state’s statute limitations and establish their own deadlines.

These trusts paid $17.5 billion to asbestos victims and their families between 1988 and 2011, according to the Government Accountability Office. Today, more than $30 billion is available in these trusts for families like yours.

A Montana mesothelioma lawyer can help determine if you can access money from an asbestos trust fund.

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  • More than $30 billion available
  • $300K-$400K average compensation
  • Get money in 90 days or less

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Montana VA Information for Veterans With Mesothelioma

Montana veterans also have a higher risk of mesothelioma as every branch of the United States military relied on asbestos for decades.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 33% of all mesothelioma patients are veterans. Around 6,000 veterans died from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2005.

Montana VA Benefits

Fortunately, veterans with mesothelioma can file for benefits through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Notable VA benefits include:

  • Burial benefits
  • Disability compensation
  • Health care services
  • Pension plans

The VA also works with some of the country’s top mesothelioma doctors to treat veterans with this rare cancer.

Veterans can learn more about VA benefits by reaching out to the following offices in Montana.

Veterans Benefits Administration

  • Fort Harrison Regional Office
  • Malmstrom Air Force Base

VA Medical Centers

  • Fort Harrison VA Medical Center
  • Miles City VA Clinic and Community Living Center

Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

  • Anaconda VA Clinic
  • Benjamin Charles Steele VA Clinic
  • Cut Bank VA Clinic
  • Glasgow VA Clinic
  • Hamilton VA Clinic
  • Helena VA Clinic (VA Sleep Center)
  • Lewistown VA Clinic
  • Libby RHC
  • Merril Lundman VA Clinic
  • Plentywood VA Clinic

Veterans Centers

  • Billings Veterans Center
  • Great Falls Veterans Center
  • Helena Veterans Center
  • Kalispell Veterans Center
  • Missoula Veterans Center

To file for VA benefits, start with a Montana mesothelioma attorney who can research how you were exposed to asbestos while you served. You can then work with a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to file for VA benefits using this information.

AML and VFW Service Officers in Montana

The American Legion (AML) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars work with VSOs and provide other resources to veterans. VSOs at these organizations are trained to help veterans access VA benefits

Montana VSOs can be found in more than 100 offices across the state.

A few examples include:

  • American Legion
  • Montana Veterans Affairs Division
  • Retired Enlisted Association
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars
  • Veterans of World War I of the USA

Veterans can reach out to these offices to see how VSOs can assist them. Veterans can also contact a mesothelioma law firm in Montana to learn how to file a lawsuit. Veterans often qualify to file both mesothelioma lawsuits and VA benefits claims.

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Shara Fisher
Shara Fisher Senior Paralegal
17+ years providing legal help to mesothelioma victims

Connect With a Montana Mesothelioma Lawyer

Montana remains a hotbed for asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma. If you were diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, a Montana mesothelioma attorney is best equipped to help you seek justice and compensation.

An experienced Montana mesothelioma lawyer can:

  • Determine when and where you may have been exposed to asbestos
  • File a lawsuit within Montana’s statute of limitations
  • See what other types of compensation are available to you

Get a free case review to see all the ways a Montana mesothelioma lawyer can help you.

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Attorney Melissa Crowe SchopferReviewed by:Melissa Crowe Schopfer

Partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy

  • Fact-Checked
  • Legal Editor

Melissa Crowe Schopfer is a partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy. Over the past 10 years, Melissa has worked on over 500 cases and recovered more than $100 million in settlements and trial verdicts on behalf of her clients. She has represented families impacted by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases in almost every state.

  • Asbestos Trial Team Leader
  • Practicing Attorney for 15+ Years
  • Has Recovered Over $100 Million
Laura WrightWritten by:

Lead Editor

Laura Wright is a journalist and content strategist with more than 16 years of professional experience. She attended college at the University of Florida, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2008. Her writing has been featured in The Gainesville Sun and other regional publications throughout Florida.

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References
  1. Asbestos Nation. “Asbestos-Related Deaths in Montana.” Retrieved from: http://www.asbestosnation.org/facts/asbestos-deaths/mt/. Accessed on September 18, 2024.
  2. The Guardian. “Welcome to Libby, Montana, the town that was poisoned.” Retrieved from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/mar/08/usa-mining-libby-montana. Accessed on September 18, 2024.
  3. Naik, S. L., Lewin, M., Young, R., Dearwent, S. M., & Lee, R. (2017). Mortality from asbestos-associated disease in Libby, Montana 1979-2011. Journal of exposure science & environmental epidemiology, 27(2), 207–213. https://doi.org/10.1038/jes.2016.18
  4. U.S. Government Accountability Office. “Asbestos Injury Compensation: The Role and Administration of Asbestos Trusts.” Retrieved from: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-11-819. Accessed on September 18, 2024.
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Mesothelioma Hope is passionate about helping patients and families affected by this aggressive cancer. A mesothelioma diagnosis can be scary and isolating, but we’re here for you at every step. Hope is only a phone call away.

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