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Filing a Mesothelioma Union Members Lawsuit
Union Workers & Asbestos Exposure Risks
This year, thousands of Americans will be diagnosed with mesothelioma, a rare and aggressive cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. As union workers, you and your family have a higher risk of exposure.
The sad truth is that companies knew about the dangers of asbestos exposure — but stayed silent. Since mesothelioma takes 10 to 50 years to develop, union workers are now being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Similarly, their family members are falling ill due to secondhand exposures from the workers bringing asbestos dust home on their clothes and skin.
Many American workers have been led to believe that asbestos is no longer a threat and that, if you become sick, you have no medical or legal options. That’s simply not true. Help is available.
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, our asbestos exposure lawyers have represented hundreds of union members and their families across the United States.
Asbestos & Union Members
Asbestos exposure is a unique medical and legal matter. Have an open conversation with your doctor about your work history with asbestos and the possible risks — especially if you experience a persistent cough, weight loss and shortness of breath. These could be signs of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease.
Who Is at Risk?
Asbestos was used in thousands of products at job sites across the United States. Bricklayers, cement masons, steelworkers, carpenters, military veterans and other union trades were unnecessarily put at risk. When older buildings burn or are destroyed in disasters, first responders like firefighters may also be exposed to asbestos.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, put the resources and the results of Simmons Hanly Conroy on your side. Our mesothelioma attorneys have seen the effects of asbestos diseases firsthand and will give you and your family the respect and personal attention you deserve.
Learn more about asbestos sites and our results in your state by selecting your location below.
Simmons Hanly Conroy Helps Union Workers with Mesothelioma
Experience
Our mesothelioma attorneys have represented thousands of clients nationwide. Our team has a proven track record of helping families affected by asbestos exposure. We’ve even set the record for the highest asbestos verdict ever — $250 million.
Reputation
We work with leading medical experts throughout the country. The firm has an A+ rating with the BBB and has been peer reviewed by other lawyers and given the highest possible rating. Both our results and our attorneys have also won various awards.
Location
Headquartered in Alton, Illinois, Simmons Hanly Conroy has a nationwide presence with law offices in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and St. Louis. Our attorneys will come to you, whenever and wherever it’s convenient, at no cost if you have a case.
A Friend to Labor
Our firm is a proud member of the St. Louis Labor Council. We’ve regularly supported charitable and political causes that are friendly to organized labor in addition to funding various mesothelioma and cancer research efforts across the country.
Our Past Mesothelioma Results for Union Members
At Simmons Hanly Conroy, we’ve secured over $9.9 billion for our mesothelioma clients — including more than $1.2 billion for union workers affected by asbestos exposure and their families.
Some of our past mesothelioma settlements and verdicts for union workers include:
- $8.2 million for a U.S. Air Force veteran, union pipefitter and plumber in Texas
- $4.3 million for a sheetmetal worker with mesothelioma in St. Louis
- $6.9 million for a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and shipbuilder in Arkansas
- $4.2 million for a welder in Indiana
- $7.5 million for a union pipefitter in Wisconsin
- $4.3 million for a union electrician’s daughter who was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma after being exposed secondhand in Missouri
- $6.9 million for a union laborer and insulator in Arizona
- $3.9 million for a union laborer in Illinois with pleural mesothelioma
- $6.4 million for a union plumber and HVAC worker
- $3.4 million for an Illinois ironworker with pleural mesothelioma
- $5 million for a union electrician in Missouri
- $3.5 million for a carpenter in California with mesothelioma
- $5.2 million for a union electrician in North Carolina
- $3.4 million for a U.S. Navy veteran and carpenter in Tennessee with pleural mesothelioma
- $5.6 million for a teamster in Missouri
- $3.1 million for a union plasterer with pleural mesothelioma in Florida
- $5 million for a union steamfitter and welder in California
- $2.8 million for an Arizona union pipefitter and home remodeler with mesothelioma
- $4.8 million for a machinist in Iowa
- $2.7 million for a plumber and iron worker in South Carolina with pleural mesothelioma
- $4.9 million for a union asbestos worker in Iowa
- $2.7 million for a plasterer in Chicago with mesothelioma
- $4 million for a son of a union pipefitter
- $2.6 million for an asbestos worker and contractor in Wisconsin
- $4.1 million for a union electrician and motor repairman
- $2.4 million for a millwright and carpenter in Pennsylvania with mesothelioma
- $4 million for a union bricklayer in Illinois
- $2.3 million for a U.S. Army veteran and boilermaker with mesothelioma in Ohio
- $4.2 million for a Pennsylvanian union bricklayer
- $2 million for a West Virginia roofer with mesothelioma
While there’s never a guarantee of success with any claim, we’ll fight hard to get you the compensation you deserve. Results will vary from case to case depending on the individual’s exposure, age, diagnosis and several other factors.
Get a free legal consultation now by calling (800) 326-8900 or filling out our contact form.
Labor Unions and Asbestos Exposure
Simmons Hanly Conroy has helped hundreds of union members who were diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure due to their work with organized labor.
We’ve helped mesothelioma clients in the following unions and more:
- Carpenters Local #5 St. Louis, MO
- Lockheed Allied Industrial Workers Union Local #105
- American Federal of Labor
- AFL-CIO New York Local 66
- International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
- Asbestos Workers Local #1 St. Louis, MO
- IAFF
- Boeing-Aero Mechanics: Local #751
- AFL-CIO New York Local 66
- Carpenters Local #106 Des Moines, Iowa
- Electrical Workers’ Union Local #48 Portland, OR
- Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers Union
- Firefighters Union Local #1285 Las Vegas
- Carpenters Local #4 Sioux City, IA
- Boilermakers Local #101 Denver, CO
- Electrical Workers’ Union Local #494 Milwaukee, MI
- UAW Furniture Manufacturing 57-61 Philadelphia, PA
- International Ladies Garment Workers
- Glassbottle Blowers Association
- Carpenters Union Local #377 Wood River, IL
- IBEW Local #15, Chicago
- United Mine Workers of America
- Heat & Frost Insulators
- International Union of Elevator Constructors
- Laborers Union Local #282 Jefferson, MO
- International Longshoreman’s Association
- Bricklayers Union Local #25
- Cement Mason Local #920 Fort Worth, TX
- LACERA
- Energy and Chemical Workers Union
- Frosty Root Beer Local #56
- Fireman & Oilers Local #78 Kalamazoo, MI
- IBEW
- ILW Local #13
- International Woodworkers Union
- IOWU Local #10 San Francisco, CA
- Iron Workers Local #290 Dayton, OH
- Plumbers & Pipefitters Local #636
- Longshoreman Local #1986
- Local #6 Asbestos Workers Boston, MA
- Machinists Union Alton, IL
- Longshoreman’s Union
- Sheet Metal Workers Local #6 Toledo, OH
- Local IEOU #642
- Meatcutters Union Local #427
- Metal Lathers Local #46 New York
- National Maritime Union
- Steel Workers Union Local #1063 Granite City, IL
- Millwrights, Conveyor & Machinery Erectors Local #1102 Warren, MI
- National Union of Hospital & Healthcare Employees Local #1199 Newark, NJ
- Operators Union Local #148
- National Writers Union
- New England Telephone & Telegraph Company Union
- OCAW Local #241 El Dorado, KS
- Oil Chemical & Atomic Workers
- Operating Engineers Local #9 Denver, CO
- Brotherhood of Railway Carmen Division TCU
- Carpenters & Joiners of America Union Local #311 Joplin, MO
- Pattern Makers League
- Pipefitters Local #562 St. Louis
- Plumbers Union Local #519 Miami, FL
- Retail Clerks International Toledo, OH
- Roofers Union
- Rubber Workers Union Local #746 Tyler, TX
- Sheet Metal Workers Local #110
- Shipbuilders Local #61
- SPEA
- Teachers Union IEA
- Structural Ironworkers Union Local #433
- Teamsters Local #120 St. Paul, MN
- Teamsters Local #525 Alton, IL
- Teamsters Local #600 St. Louis
- Textile Workers Local #1374
- Transportation Communication Union
- UA Local #393
- UAW Local #2250 Wentzville, MO
- UAW Local #1648 Chicago
- United Steel Workers Detroit, MI
- United Mine Workers
- United Postal Workers Union
- United Electrical Workers Local #1392
- United Pulp & Paper Association of Western Pulp & Paper Workers Union
- United Glassworkers Local #9
- United Food Commercial Workers
- United Steel Workers of America Local #3643 Alton, IL
- United Rubber Workers Local #351 Tuscaloosa, AL
- United States Seafarers Union
- United Textile Workers
- United Transportation Union
- Wood, Wire & Metal Lathers International Union Local #205 Alberta, Canada
- Steelworkers Union for Combustion Engineering
- New York City District Council of Carpenters Local
- US Steel Workers
- AFL-CIO U.S. Sugar
- Amalgamated Clothing & Textile Workers Union
- Cement & Gypsum Workers Local #106 Mason City, IA
- Carpenters Union Local #94 Providence, RI
- Cannery Union Local #740 Oakland, CA
- International Aerospace & Machinist Union Local #141 Romulus, MI
- Insulators Union Local #46
- International Brotherhood of Pipefitters Boston, MA
- Labors Union Local #534 Hamilton, OH
- Local IEOU #642
- National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 14 Louisville, KY
- Operating Engineers Local #302 Seattle, WA
- Papers Allied International Chemical & Energy Workers AFLCIO Local #449
- Painters & Allied Trades Union Local #184 Chicago
- Painters & Janitorial Local #1176
- Pipecovers Union Local
- Cement and Gypsum Workers #106 Mason City, IA Carpenters Local #5
MORE THAN
$20 MILLION
DONATED TO CANCER RESEARCH
Nearly $200,000 to "$5 for the Fight"
In addition to our various cancer research donations, Simmons Hanly Conroy is also committed to supporting union workers and their families facing other hardships as well.
As part of an effort called “$5 for the Fight,” we’ve given nearly $200,000 to union families facing financial difficulties due to lack of work.
Call (800) 326-8900 now to learn more about how we can help your family if you’re facing a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Helping Asbestos Workers in Unions
After a mesothelioma diagnosis, patients and their families can face unexpected emotional and financial hardships. As a leading mesothelioma law firm, Simmons Hanly Conroy is uniquely equipped to support families during this time — and fight for the compensation they need for treatment.
Mesothelioma compensation options can often include:
- Filing an asbestos exposure lawsuit for a settlement or verdict
- Claiming part of the estimated $30 billion in trust funds set up by bankrupt asbestos companies
- VA financial and health care benefits for union workers who also served in the military
Our mesothelioma lawyers can determine which options you’re eligible for and pursue compensation on your behalf, so you can focus on your family and health.
Hear from Our Union Member Clients
Dennis
As a young boy, Dennis was thrilled to have the opportunity to work with his father and grandfather at their automotive repair shop. He preferred spending his time in the garage instead of hanging out with his friends.
Dennis was proud to later become a mechanic and enjoyed his work. Sadly, his career was cut short by an unexpected mesothelioma diagnosis — at only 52.
“We knew asbestos was in things,” Dennis said, “but we didn’t know it was dangerous or that it could cause cancer or kill you.”
No longer being able to work made Dennis worry about how he was going to provide for his family.
Thankfully, his union’s benefits administrator (BA) reached out and urged him to contact Simmons Hanly Conroy.
“He said I think you need to call them because they help victims like yourself and they help you get benefits,” Dennis recalled. “The firm made the legal process for my family and me very easy, and I was very comfortable.”
Julie
For over 40 years, Julie’s dad Greg was a commercial electrician for IBEW Local 1 in St. Louis.
When she was growing up, he’d return home from work covered in asbestos dust from installing electrical systems in commercial facilities and powerplants.
“My father would come home covered in dust from a worksite,” Julie said. “When my mother washed his clothes in the laundry room that doubled as my playroom and shook out the dust, she had no idea she was spreading asbestos fibers throughout our house.”
A year after losing her dad to asbestos-related lung cancer, Julie was diagnosed with peritoneal mesothelioma and given only 6-12 months to live.
After working with the firm to secure compensation for treatment, she’s still fighting today — and speaking out about what happened to her family.
“The asbestos industry does not want you to know that it is still in products,” she said. “They don’t want those products labeled, because they want to keep everyone ignorant.”
Mesothelioma Legal & Financial Resources
Mesothelioma & Union Members FAQs
Isn’t asbestos banned?
No. It was banned in 1989 under the Toxic Substances Control Act, but the U.S. Fifth District Appellate Court overturned it in 1991. Hundreds of metric tons of asbestos are imported into the United States every year still.
However, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did introduce a ban on white or chrysotile asbestos in April 2022, but it has not been passed yet. This ban would limit importing, processing or distributing products containing chrysotile asbestos.
Why should I get screened for mesothelioma?
Getting screened for mesothelioma is the only way to get an official diagnosis, which is the first step to starting a treatment plan. Mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer with no cure, but there are options available that can help lessen symptoms and extend someone’s life expectancy.
Once you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you can also start the process of pursuing compensation for your illness and holding the company responsible for your asbestos exposure accountable.
Mesothelioma financial compensation can help patients afford the treatment they need and stay financially afloat while unable to work.
Aren’t all the companies that used asbestos decades ago bankrupt and out of business?
No. When companies go bankrupt in the United States, it doesn’t necessarily mean they go out of business. In some cases, a bankruptcy judge approves a plan for them to restructure their debt, which allows them to continue with business as usual.
Many asbestos companies tried to file for bankruptcy as a way of avoiding paying out lawsuits. However, the court systems mandated that these companies had to set aside money for current and future asbestos exposure victims.
Currently, there’s an estimated $30 billion available in these asbestos trust funds. Clients are often able to access money from multiple trusts — without having to go to court.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our asbestos attorneys can help determine your legal options and pursue compensation on your behalf. Call (800) 326-8900 now to get started.
Why should I file a lawsuit?
Filing a lawsuit can help you afford the mesothelioma treatments you need and ease any worries about the medical costs draining your family budget.
Asbestos companies knew about the dangers of using asbestos in their products — but they hid the risks from their employees. Taking legal action sends a powerful message to these companies that their actions were wrong and their negligence won’t go unpunished.
Will I be filing a claim against my current or former employer?
Not necessarily. It’s common for workers to want to be loyal to their current or former employer — or to the people they worked with. It’s possible to file a claim without naming an employer.
Instead, we would file claims against the companies that made the asbestos products and sold them to your employer to use.
It’s also important to note that in cases of military asbestos exposure, we do not file claims against the U.S. government or military.
I know an attorney — can I just talk to them?
Potentially — but it’s important to find an attorney who has experience representing mesothelioma victims. Asbestos litigation falls under a type of law that requires years of experience to develop the knowledge necessary to handle it successfully.
You need to be confident that the firm you choose is the best fit for your family’s goals. We have over 40 asbestos attorneys who focus solely on helping people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
Our team of attorneys also has experience helping trade workers and their families specifically. Union mesothelioma cases have their own unique legal considerations, so we encourage you to contact us regarding the specifics of your potential case.
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Reviewed by:John Simmons- Fact-Checked
- Legal Reviewer
John Simmons is a founder and Chairman of Simmons Hanly Conroy. After serving in the U.S. Army, he went on to earn his Doctor of Law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law. He has helped recover some of the biggest verdicts and settlements in asbestos litigation history and is rated as one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers.