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Mesothelioma Lawyers
North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyers
The mesothelioma lawyers at the Simmons firm represent victims of mesothelioma cancer throughout the United States including the state of North Carolina. We have represented thousands of families affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancer and have seen the suffering it causes firsthand. The Simmons firm is dedicated to giving our clients the respect and attention they deserve, no matter where they live. If you or someone you love has mesothelioma, we will come to you. Over the past decade, we've represented many clients throughout North Carolina, including the cities of Asheville, Burlington, Charlotte, Greensboro, Raleigh, Salem and Wilmington.
As a nationwide firm, our asbestos attorneys have the resources and experience necessary to represent individuals and families against large companies in this complex area of litigation. Our firm has recovered over $3 billion in verdicts and settlements for thousands of families dealing with mesothelioma. Our lawyers have recovered $45 million for mesothelioma victims in the state of North Carolina alone.*
You should know that North Carolina has a unique set of laws that could impact your ability to file a claim. For example, North Carolina has statute of limitation laws that restrict the time frame in which mesothelioma victims and family members can file a lawsuit. Rest assured our mesothelioma lawyers are prepared to help you understand the process for filing an asbestos lawsuit and guide you through the legal system. Contact the Simmons firm if you have a question about a potential case.
If you have mesothelioma or lung cancer due to asbestos exposure, please contact our mesothelioma lawyers for a free case evaluation.
An Introduction to Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Asbestos is a deadly mineral that has been used in thousands of products. When microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can cause a number of diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Of the diseases caused by asbestos, mesothelioma is the most aggressive, attacking the internal lining of the lungs and abdomen. Mesothelioma typically does not develop until decades after the asbestos exposure occurred.
Asbestos in North Carolina
The shipbuilding industry has long been associated with asbestos exposure. Like many East Coast states, North Carolina has strong roots in this industry. One of the state's strongest shipbuilding efforts came during World War II at the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company. During its five years of production between 1941 and 1946, the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company constructed nearly 250 ships. At its peak, the company employed 15,000 people.1
The ships built by the North Carolina Shipbuilding Company contained large amounts of asbestos used as insulation especially around pipes and boilers. This asbestos was extremely dangerous to shipbuilders who worked with asbestos in a loose form that could be inhaled or digested. If you or a loved one worked in the shipbuilding industry before 1980, let your doctor know. Asbestos-related diseases often take a long time to develop, and could still become a problem.
A number of other work sites throughout North Carolina are linked to asbestos exposure including:
Charlotte
Southern Asbestos
Duke Power Company Building
Bell Telephone Building
Allstate Insurance Company Building
Barhardt Manufacturing
Riverbend Steam Plant
Westinghouse Turbine Plant
General Tire Plant
Cliffside
Cliffside Nuclear Plant
Cone Mills Textile Mill
Cliffside Steam Plant
Fayetteville
Methodist College
Kelly Springfield Tire
Burlington Textile Mill
Fort Bragg
U.S. Army
Fort Bragg
Greensboro
Burlington Textile Mill
Proximity Plant
Moses Cone Hospital
Shelby
Celanese Fiber Plant
Fiber Industries Textile Plant
Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) Chemical Plant
Wilmington
General Electric Plant
North Carolina Shipbuilding & Drydock Company
Sutton Power Plant
Dupont Chemical Plant – Cape Fear
Hercules Chemical Plant
Carolina Power & Light (CP&L) Sutton Power Plant
Winston – Salem
Hanes Printables
Schlitz Brewery
Haynes Hosiery Mill
Belews Creek Steam Plant
R.J. Reynolds Office Building
Bailey Power Plant
If you or a loved one has suffered from an asbestos-related disease, please contact us today for a free legal consultation.
Learn More About Mesothelioma:
» Mesothelioma Diagnosis Information
» Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
* 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
The majority of individuals who have been exposed to asbestos encounter the so-called "magic mineral" in their line of work, often due to inadequate safety precautions. Others are exposed to asbestos indirectly when they come in contact with the clothing of a family member involved in a high-risk asbestos occupation.
Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. When microscopic asbestos dust particles becomes airborne, they can be inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health issues.
Common work environments where a mesothelioma or cancer patient may have encountered asbestos include shipyards, oil refineries, sheet metal plants, automotive plants, construction sites, and many more. Click here to view a complete list of occupations that have been linked to asbestos exposure.
Giving Back to Mesothelioma Patients & Families
In 2010, the Simmons firm established the Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting research and advancing awareness about this rare cancer. The Foundation partners with established experts and thought-leaders in the mesothelioma research field. Learn more about the Foundation's current mesothelioma research partners.
As a long-time supporter of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, the Simmons firm has an extensive history of supporting the fight against mesothelioma and cancer. The firm has also pledged over $10 million to establish the Simmons Cancer Institute at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The institute provides extraordinary new resources to enhance treatments and implement the continuing search for a permanent cure. It is the largest single gift in the history of SIU and establishes the university as home to one of the leading cancer facilities in the United States.
Asbestos Exposure in North Carolina Today
Asbestos has not yet been banned in the United States. Its use is regulated, but it is still used in products today. Asbestos has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a human carcinogen. This assessment is supported by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), both of which believe that the future use of asbestos should be banned.
The following chart shows the higher-risk occupations for malignant mesothelioma along with their corresponding North Carolina employment numbers.
| Occupation | Number Employed in North Carolina, 20062 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters | 13,060 |
| Mechanical engineers | 4,700 |
| Electricians | 19,680 |
| Teachers, elementary school | 36,580 |
North Carolina continues to be affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases. Consider the following:
- The Environmental Working Group reported that there were up to 917 mesothelioma cases in North Carolina from 1979 to 2001.3
- CDC statistics show North Carolina's age-adjusted death rate for malignant mesothelioma to be 8.8 deaths per million per year.4
- The National Cancer Institute and CDC's state cancer profiles show North Carolina's 2006 annual incidence rate for lung and bronchus cancers was 75.3 deaths per 100,000. The U.S. average is 66.8 per 100,000, meaning North Carolina's statistics are 12.7% higher than the nation's average.5
For more information about asbestos in North Carolina and throughout the U.S., visit the Environmental Protection Agency's website.