Questions patients and families ask
These are general answers. The facts of an individual case determine what exposure pathways, companies, trusts, jurisdictions, or claims may apply.
I have mesothelioma but do not know where I was exposed. Can you still investigate?
Yes. The investigation can begin with employers, jobsites, trades, tasks, equipment, coworkers, household history, personal talc use, and approximate years.
Do I need to know the asbestos product name before calling?
No. A product category, machine, task, supplier, workplace, package, or approximate date can be enough to begin narrowing the possibilities.
Can personal or cosmetic talc be investigated separately from occupational asbestos exposure?
Yes. Personal talc can be investigated as its own exposure pathway based on the product, manner of use, frequency, time period, and other details remembered.
Can household or take-home exposure matter?
Yes. A household member's job, work clothing, laundry routine, tools, vehicles, and approximate years can be relevant to a take-home exposure investigation.
Can family members and coworkers help reconstruct exposure?
Yes. Other people may remember brands, equipment, jobsites, contractors, household routines, or dates that the patient does not.
What documents should I gather before calling?
You do not need records before the first call. Employment records, union or military records, photographs, old resumes, pay records, and ordinary family documents can be helpful later.
What if I worked many different jobs?
List them all if you can. Short jobs, shutdowns, renovations, temporary assignments, and department changes can still matter.
Why do approximate years matter?
Products, manufacturers, formulations, suppliers, ownership, and workplace conditions can change over time, so approximate dates can help narrow the investigation.
How are asbestos bankruptcy trust claims different from a lawsuit?
Trust claims arise from asbestos bankruptcy trusts and have their own exposure and proof requirements. Litigation and trust claims may need to be coordinated depending on the individual case.
What happens on the first call?
The first call is a starting point. We generally begin with the diagnosis and a rough chronology of work, products, equipment, household history, and other details you remember.
Do advertised past results guarantee what will happen in my case?
No. Every matter is different, and past results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome.
Will another law firm ever be involved?
Some matters may benefit from co-counsel or local trial counsel. The client should be told who is involved and why.