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What Legal Options Are Available for You or Your Loved One with Mesothelioma in Dallas?

If you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma, this likely feels very overwhelming. The most important consideration is how you will plan for treatment. This page lists a number of medical options that may be available to you and your family, including mesothelioma treatment centers, VA hospitals and clinical trials. Once you have a plan for your care in place, you may want to contact an experienced lawyer who can help you seek compensation to pay for your medical care. Our lawyers are more than just legal counsel; we are strong advocates for our clients who can help explain options available for handling your medical expenses and other overwhelming issues that come with a mesothelioma diagnosis. Contact our Texas mesothelioma advocates today to get started.

Why Should You File a Mesothelioma Claim or Lawsuit?

Receiving treatment for mesothelioma is often very costly. You also may be unable to work while undergoing serious medical treatment. Filing a mesothelioma claim or lawsuit can help you receive money to get back medical costs and address other financial burdens. Also, you or your family can help get justice against a company that knew the dangers of asbestos exposure.

In Texas, you only have two years to bring forth a personal injury or wrongful death claim caused by asbestos exposure, so it is important that you act quickly to protect your legal rights. Our experienced Dallas mesothelioma attorneys can get started on your claim immediately and pursue the compensation you deserve.

Does Your Mesothelioma Attorney Need to be in Dallas?

Your mesothelioma attorney may not need to be in Dallas. In many situations, a case is filed in a county that is not where the defendant lives, such as in the location where the business is headquartered or where the employee worked. Therefore, your attorney may not need to be in Dallas. However, having an attorney located in Dallas will ensure that he or she is familiar with the court system and the judges. In any event, a qualified mesothelioma attorney will come to you. He or she can attend Dallas courts on your behalf if the case goes to trial.

What to Look for in a Dallas Mesothelioma Lawyer

When selecting your Dallas mesothelioma lawyer, look for the following important characteristics:

• Experience with mesothelioma cases — It is probably not in your best interest to use an attorney who has never tried a mesothelioma case. Asbestos and mesothelioma cases are quite complex, so it is important to select a lawyer who understands these nuances.
• Experience with asbestos trust fund claims — In many situations, you may be able to file a claim with an asbestos trust fund rather than having to go to trial. Look for an attorney who has successfully secured compensation through these claims.
• Proven track record — Look for a qualified mesothelioma attorney who has a proven track record of success, including successful verdicts and settlements. Look for a mesothelioma attorney who has a successful record of bringing cases to trial. This will show the defendant and insurance companies that you are serious about the case.
• Willing to travel — Mesothelioma attorneys can represent your interests and should be willing to travel to you so that you can concentrate on your recovery.
• Familiarity with Veterans Administration — If you are a veteran, it is important that you select an attorney who can fully examine your options for recovery with the VA.
• Understanding — You will need to disclose intimate details of your life to your attorney. Choose a compassionate and understanding attorney who treats you with dignity and respect.
• Knowledgeable — A knowledgeable attorney can give you a realistic idea of the potential compensation available for your case based on the specific circumstances surrounding it.

Where to Find Treatment in Dallas for Mesothelioma?

There are several locations throughout Dallas where people can receive treatment for mesothelioma, including the following:

UT Southwestern Medical Center

This institution is one of only a handful in the country that has a treatment and research program exclusively dedicated to mesothelioma. UT Southwestern Medical Center is the only National Cancer Institute designated as a comprehensive center in North Texas. It constantly works on developing new treatments and offers a variety of clinical trials. It also allows patients to have access to therapies that other facilities do not offer. The center focuses on providing a multidisciplinary approach to patients’ care.

Baylor University Medical Center

The Baylor University Medical Center is part of the Baylor Scott & White Health system. It is recognized as one of the best medical facilities in the country. It provides treatment for patients with malignant mesothelioma. It has a variety of doctors in various specialties, including oncologists, thoracic surgeons and radiation oncologists. The center provides a personalized treatment plan based on a patient’s age, medical history, stage and type of mesothelioma. Treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, pain management, paracentesis, thoracentesis and other options. Specialists from its Chest Cancer Research and Treatment Center provide advanced techniques to mesothelioma victims.

University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center was a pioneer in the multidisciplinary approach. It continues this legacy today. Surgeons, psychiatrists and specialists collaborate and decide on the patient’s best course of treatment. The center also uses the latest advances in genetic testing in order to develop the most effective treatments for its patients. While surgery may be an option, the center also offers patients minimally invasive surgery as an option. The center also focuses on cutting edge research, allowing it to offer new and advanced treatment options to patients.

Dallas Mesothelioma Clinical Trials

The UT Southwestern Medical Center conducts clinical trials that are aimed at improving the care and extending the lifetime of patients with mesothelioma when appropriate. Patients are advised to speak to their physician to determine if a clinical trial is appropriate for them. Various factors are considered, such as the cause and stage of the disease.

Baylor Hospital also offers clinical trials in a number of medical specialties. It conducts these trials in North Texas and Central Texas.

Veterans Diagnosed with Mesothelioma in Dallas

The only military base in Dallas is the Naval Air Station Fort Worth, Joint Reserve Base at Carswell. The VA North Texas Health Care System is the VA’s second largest health care system. It serves over 113,000 veterans and delivers over a million outpatient services every year to individuals in 38 counties and Texas. It has over 4,700 employees, in addition to another 1,700 volunteers.

Dallas Courts Where Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cases Are Settled and Tried

Dallas mesothelioma cases are usually brought in the Dallas County Court’s civil division. If the case is brought in federal court, it is heard in the United States District Court Northern District of Texas. If either party believes that a mistake was made on the trial level, they can appeal the decision to the Fifth District Court of Appeals, also located in Dallas.

Example Mesothelioma Verdicts and Settlements in Dallas

Dallas families have seen their fair share of sizable verdicts and settlements. Some notable cases reported in the news involving unaffiliated law firms include:

• The family of a man who worked at the Kelly Springfield/Goodyear plant was awarded a colossal sum of money by a Dallas County jury in 2014. He worked for 30 years for the plant as a tire builder. He was exposed to asbestos during this job and while maintenance work was being done in the plant to wrap piping in asbestos. He was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2008 and died a year later. The award included $15 million in punitive damages against the defendant.
• The family of a Dallas painter was awarded a massive amount of money in July 2012. Several defendants were named after exposing him to asbestos throughout his career from products that contained asbestos, such as textured paint and drywall compounds. The man worked on constructing stirp, malls, skyscrapers and private residences.
• In March 2011, a Dallas jury returned a gigantic verdict for the family of a refinery worker in a wrongful death action against Dow Chemical. The decedent worked as a contract employee for Dow Chemical, during which time he was exposed to asbestos-containing insulators. He developed mesothelioma and later died from the disease.
• The widow of a mesothelioma victim was awarded a very large sum of money by a Dallas County jury in January 2012. The jury found Ashland, Inc. and its subsidiary liable for the wrongful death of a man who was exposed to asbestos at a Dow Chemical refinery where he handled pipe products laced with asbestos.

Dallas Job Sites Reported to Use Asbestos

Oil refineries, steel mills, foundries, automotive factories, chemical plants and power plants are industries that are associated with asbestos use in Dallas. Some job sites that may have exposed Dallas workers to dangerous asbestos include the following:

• A H Belo and Company
• F. Holman Boiler Works, Inc.
• Acme Insulation & Supply Company
• Alamo Manufacturing Company
• American Airlines/Dallas-Ft. Worth International Airport
• American Etching
• American Permanent Ware
• Anderson Elementary
• Ap Green Refractories Company
• APG Firebrick of Texas
• Aramark Corp
• Armstrong Cork Company
• Atlantic Refining
• Austin Contracting
• B & B Engineering & Supply Company
• Babcock & Wilcox
• Bayles School
• Blair Elementary
• Blue Diamond
• Browne Middle School
• C Wallace Plumbing Company
• City of Dallas Water Department
• Clevepak Corp
• Cliff Ice and Cold Storage Company
• Combustion Engineering
• Comstock Middle School
• Continental Supply Company
• Dallas Ceramic
• Dallas Consolidated Electric Street Railway Company
• Dallas Dressed Beef & Packing Company
• Dallas Electric Light and Power Company
• Dallas Gas Company
• Dallas Ice Factory Light and Power Company
• Dallas Independent School District
• Dallas Lightweight Aggregate
• Dallas Railway Company
• Dallas Steam Laundry and Dye Works
• Dearborne Heater Company
• Dominy Heat Treating Company
• Dorsey Elementary
• Pepper Bottling
• Dresser Industries Inc.
• Earl B. Doolin Machine Shop
• Eastman Kodak Company
• Empire Insulation & Supply Company
• Essary Insulation
• Exelon Power
• W. Glitsch & Sons
• Ferris Brick Company
• Frito-Lay, Inc.
• Fuller-Austin Insulation Company
• Gaf Building Materials Corp
• Garland Heat Treating
• General Portland Cement
• Graham Power Plant
• Gulf Oil Company
• Hawthorne Elementary
• Holman Boiler Works Inc
• Holmes School
• Hydro Conduit Company
• International Paper Company Container Division
• Iola Portland Cement Works
• Jefferson High
• Johnson and Johnson
• Jones Blair Paint Company
• Kiest School
• L G Pinkston High School
• Lake Lavon Power Plant
• Lake Ray Hubbard Powerhouse
• Lone Star Cement Corporation
• Lone Star Steel Company
• Love Field Air Terminal
• Love Field Terminal Power Plant
• LTV Vought Aeronautics
• Magnolia Petroleum Company
• Marcus Elementary
• Marsalis Elementary
• Master Tank & Welding
• Methodist Hospital
• Morton Foods Inc
• North Lake Powerhouse
• North Texas Clinic Association
• Northway Christian Church
• Notre Dame of Dallas
• Oak Cliff Paper Mills
• Oriental Laundry Company
• Parkdale Powerhouse
• Parker-Fallis Insulation
• Parkland Memorial Hospital
• Pearson Plumbing
• Peden Iron and Steel Company
• Polk Elementary
• Pollock Paper Corporation
• Presbyterian Hospital of Dallas
• Procter & Gamble Manufacturing. Company
• Restland Memorial Park
• Ruberoid Company
• Saint Paul Medical Center
• Sears Roebuck & Company
• Security Engineering Division
• Shahan Painting
• Smith and Whitney
• Southern Lead Company
• Southwest Laboratories
• Southwestern Bell Telephone
• Spalding A K & Company
• Standard Asbestos Manufacturing & Insulating Company
• Stemmons Elementary
• Stokely Foods Inc.
• Sun Oil Company
• Sunshine Biscuits Inc.
• Texas Bitulithic Company
• Texas Instruments Inc.
• Texas Portland Cement and Lime Company
• Texas Power & Light Company
• Texas Tank Inc.
• Texas Utilities Generating Company
• Trinity Cotton Oil Company
• Trinity Steel
• Truett Hospital
• Union Carbide Corporation
• Union Terminal Company
• United Tile Company
• University of Texas
• Verson Manufacturing Company
• Vought Aircraft
• T. White High School
• Weiss Elementary
• Williams Davis Boiler Company
• World Trade Center
• Wyatt Industries Inc