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California Mesothelioma Lawyers
The mesothelioma lawyers at the Simmons firm represent victims of mesothelioma cancer throughout the United States, including the state of California. We provide legal representation and counsel to families pursuing or considering the pursuit of mesothelioma litigation. Californians concerned about their exposure to asbestos can find valuable mesothelioma information and resources on this page and throughout this site.
According to the CDC's Worker Health Chartbook 2004, the age-adjusted mortality rate for malignant mesothelioma in California residents in 1999 was 10.1 to 15.0 per million.1 This rate places California at 1.5 to 2 times the national average.
The majority of individuals who have been exposed to asbestos find it at their workplaces, often due to a lack of safety precautions by the employer. Asbestos exposure can also be found in some areas as a result from breathing contaminated air near an asbestos site, of which California has several that are naturally occurring. Close proximity to workers who have taken the fibers home with them on their clothing may also lead to exposure and contamination.
Asbestos Exposure in California
The U.S. EPA has cited the following sites for asbestos contamination in its Superfund program for hazardous waste cleanup:
| Location | Site Name |
| Alviso | South Bay Asbestos Area |
| Fresno County | Coalinga Asbestos Mine |
| Fresno/San Benito Counties | Atlas Asbestos Mine |
| Victorville | George Air Force Base |
As noted previously, California is also home to multiple naturally occurring asbestos sites. El Dorado County contains asbestos in its ultramafic rock formations. It occurs naturally in soils in El Dorado Hills, and even non-native soils that constitute an "infield mix" on some of its playing fields may also contain asbestos.2 According to the EPA (PDF, pg. 16), "Exposure risk from naturally occurring asbestos, particularly an exposure occurring as a result of construction activities, has been a concern in El Dorado County for some time." Additionally, The Clear Creek Management Area (CCMA) in San Benito and Fresno Counties is, in the EPA's words, "located on one of the largest naturally occurring asbestos deposits in the world." The Atlas Asbestos Mine Superfund site lies within the CCMA's boundaries. The CCMA is regularly frequented by off-road motorcyclists and camping families. This particular mix of people and activities is potentially problematic because of the dust kicked up by all-terrain vehicles is significant, and EPA-conducted asbestos air samples in the area have shown that exposure in children tends to be higher.
Another asbestos link to California comes in the form of San Diego Naval Station. This naval base had active ship repair basins until 1945.3 After 1945 and up to 1972, members of the Navy used the basins to dispose "solid waste, scrap metal, demolition debris, lubricants and oils, and paint sludge." Shipyards have long been associated with asbestos-related diseases, and evidence reported by U.S. shipyard workers employed during and after World War II appears in a 1983 hearing before a House of Representatives subcommittee of the Committee on Government Operations.4 Furthermore, after the SS Morro Castle burned down in 1934, government regulations mandated greater fire safety and use of fire-retardant materials like asbestos.
California Mesothelioma Lawyers with Experience
At the Simmons firm, our California mesothelioma lawyers have been working with clients suffering from diseases associated with asbestos exposure for more than ten years. Our experience, resources and dedication to personal client service have helped us recover over $3 billion in verdicts and settlements for thousands of families dealing with mesothelioma in its various forms.*
The Simmons firm is one of the nation's leading supporters of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and has pledged $10 million to support cancer research at the SimmonsCooper Cancer Institute at Southern Illinois University.
If you believe you may have contracted mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure, please contact our mesothelioma lawyers for a free case evaluation.
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* Please note that recovery results vary per client. The recovery amounts in each case reflect the specific facts of that case. Further, recovery amounts in past cases are not a guarantee of future results.