Georgia Asbestos & Mesothelioma Lawyers

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Georgia is well-known for asbestos use in an array of businesses prior to the 1980s. In fact, it was the first state to commercially mine asbestos, which eventually led to a series of industries using the mineral, including power plants, manufacturing facilities, automotive companies, and many more. Thousands upon thousands of residents worked around asbestos for prolonged periods of time on a daily basis, which resulted in many of these workers developing malignant mesothelioma. A total of 444 asbestos-related deaths have occurred in the state from 1999-2008 alone, leading to numerous residents retaining a Georgia mesothelioma lawyer.

If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about top mesothelioma lawyers in Georgia, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much more.

We offer assistance to all asbestos victims and their families in Georgia, including cities such as:

Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Macon, Savannah, Athens, Sandy Springs, Roswell, Johns Creek, Albany, Warner Robins, Alpharetta, Marietta, Valdosta, Smyrna, Dunwoody, Rome, East Point, Milton, Gainesville, Hinesville, Peachtree City, Newnan, Dalton, Douglasville, Kennesaw, LaGrange, Statesboro, Lawrenceville, Duluth, Stockbridge, Woodstock, Carrollton, Canton, Griffin, McDonough, Acworth, Pooler, Union City, Decatur, Cartersville, Sugar Hill, Milledgeville, Snellville, Forest Park, Thomasville, St. Marys Tifton, Americus, Kingsland, Suwanee, Dublin, Fayetteville, Calhoun, Chamblee, Brunswick, Norcross, Riverdale, Conyers, Perry, College Park, Moultrie, Waycross, Winder, Powder Springs, Villa Rica, Fairburn, Monroe, Covington, Cusseta, Buford, Bainbridge, Lilburn, Grovetown, Dallas, Douglas, Cordele, Loganville, Vidalia, Richmond Hill, Jesup, Cairo, Cedartown, Fort Valley, Holly Springs, Jefferson, Fort Oglethorpe, Rincon, Thomaston, Fitzgerald, Garden City, Doraville, Toccoa, Braselton, Clarkston, Swainsboro, Centerville, Hampton, LaFayette, Auburn, and more.

Job Sites Associated with Asbestos in Georgia

Although Georgia has several naturally-occurring asbestos deposits, the majority of asbestos-related deaths stem directly from occupational hazard. Manufacturing plants, in particular, put thousands of workers at risk. For example, Georgia-Pacific is well-known for using asbestos-containing materials in many products, such as cardboard boxes, papers, tissues, and more. Employees handled these materials on a daily basis. Additionally, Georgia-Pacific bought out the Bestwall Gypsum Corporation during the 1960s’, another company known for manufacturing a product that contained chrysotile.

For example, Georgia-Pacific is well-known for using asbestos-containing materials in many products, such as cardboard boxes, papers, tissues, and more. Employees handled these materials on a daily basis. In addition, Georgia-Pacific bought out the Bestwall Gypsum Corporation during the 1960s’, another company known for manufacturing a product that contained chrysotile. Per a Georgia-Pacific newsroom in 2000, a total of 232,000 asbestos-related cases have been filed against the company since the mid 1980s. Although the company claimed in the same news statement that they don’t anticipate any other lawsuits, the corporation put aside an additional $221 million in 2002 for additional asbestos-related lawsuits. Furthermore, in 2002, the company had more than 62,000 pending asbestos lawsuits.

Additionally, many of Georgia’s 13 military bases, along with several Federal buildings in Atlanta have been determined to contain asbestos. Manufacturing plants have also been associated with asbestos. In 1989, the Keebler Company in Atlanta was responsible for failing to prevent thousands of workers from inhaling asbestos fibers after the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) determined that an oven in one of the company’s plants was releasing the harmful fibers into the air.

Additional Job Sites Associated with Asbestos in Georgia

There are hundreds of job sites in Georgia associated with asbestos use. Many of these sites may have played a direct part in placing employees and/or contractors at risk for developing an asbestos-related disease, including the following:

• Charmin Paper Products Company
• Coats & Clark, Inc.
• Cobb Heating & Air Conditioning
• Coil Insulation Company
• Firestone Tire and Rubber Company
• Georgia Alabama Power Company
• Georgia Growers Distilling Company
• Georgia Power Company
• Herck & Company
• J.P. Stevens and Company
• Lykes Brothers Inc
• Merck & Company, Inc.
• Merck Chemical Div
• Miller Brewing Company, Inc
• Georgia Plywood Corporation
• J. P. Stevens & Company
• Mohasco Industries Inc
• Southeast Paper Manufacturing Company
• Brumby Chair Company
• Dobbins Air Force Base
• Georgia Manufacturing and Public Service Company
• Kennesaw Mills Company
• Kerby Saunders Incorporated
• Mckenney’s, Inc.
• Mead Container Packaging
• Mead Paper Company
• Mechanical Associates
• Merillat Industries
• Metropolitan Eye Hospital
• Miss Georgia Dairies

Georgia Laws on Mesothelioma Litigation

With an abundance of job sites containing asbestos in the past few decades, a plethora of victims have came forward, filing lawsuits in Georgia. Consequently, the Georgia Supreme Court mandated new laws in 2005 on the requirements needed before victims can file an asbestos-related lawsuit.

In the past, victims had to prove that asbestos was a contributing factor to their disease. With the new laws, however, not only does asbestos have to be a contributing factor, but it must also be proven to be a substantial contributing factor. In other words, asbestos must have been the primary cause of the disease and not just a contributing factor.

Furthermore, a medical report must be presented, approved by a physician, that states the victim’s disease did indeed come from asbestos exposure. This rule applies to all asbestos-related diseases except for mesothelioma. In addition, a physician must verify that it has been at least 15 years has passed between the victim’s first exposure to asbestos and the diagnosis.

In 2007, the Georgia Supreme Court added an additional law, stating that victims can only file if they are currently a resident of Georgia and/or were a resident at the time of asbestos exposure.

Georgia’s Asbestos Laws

The Environmental Protection Division (EPD) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources is responsible for the state governing laws on asbestos and asbestos abatement projects in Georgia. The state of Georgia also follows certain federal NESHAP regulations.

391-3-1 of NESHAP’s Emission Standard for Asbestos is strictly adhered to in Georgia.
Rule 391-3-4-.04 (8) of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Rules mandates that any “asbestos-containing waste” must be transported for disposal in a state-approved vehicle that has a separate compartment area to transport the asbestos in. In addition, the asbestos must be disposed of only in permitted landfills and waste areas within the state of Georgia. Furthermore, each container with asbestos must be sealed tight with the proper warning labels on the front.
Chapter 391-3-14-.01 of the Georgia Department of Natural Resource’s EPD Rules mandates that all friable asbestos must be “wettened” before removing it from the asbestos abatement project area. The asbestos must remain wet while encapsulating it for proper disposal.
Written notification must be sent to the state within seven days prior to starting any asbestos abatement project in Georgia.
For more detailed information and addition regulations involved in Georgia asbestos abatement, contact the EPD at 404-657-5947 or toll-free at 888-373-5947.

Getting Medical Help in Georgia

Victims dealing with an asbestos-related disease and finding the best mesothelioma treatments is usually not an easy task. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) makes this process easier by appointing worthy care centers and hospitals as NCI-designated facilities.

The Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University (WCI) is a NCI-designated care center with researchers, physicians, cancer experts, and healthcare specialists that focus on mesothelioma cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. WCI is the first and the only cancer center in Georgia that’s backed by NCI.

WCI is also the recipient of over $28 million in grant funding because of its advanced research and technology in developing innovative ways in fighting cancer.

It’s important to seek mesothelioma treatment from a care center that specializes specifically in asbestos-related diseases. A typical small family clinic and/or a general practitioner usually don’t have the expertise and knowledge that a physician who specializes in asbestos cancer has.

Georgia Statute of Limitations on Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cases

Under Ga. Code Ann. § 9-3-20 et seq., plaintiffs filing an asbestos-related lawsuit in the state of Georgia must file within two years of time of diagnosis or within two years of when the illness was discovered. Wrongful death lawsuits follow the same two-rule; the lawsuit must be filed within two years of the date of the victim’s death. In addition, Georgia allows asbestos-related cases to be consolidated as defined in Rule 42 (a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.

Getting Legal Help in Georgia

As previously mentioned, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to compensatory damages. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the leading asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area. For questions and assistance, feel free to contact us at 800-793-4540. 

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