mesothelioma lawyers who know the law
For families facing a mesothelioma diagnosis, you need a law firm with proven experience in asbestos cases. SGB mesothelioma lawyers have represented asbestos workers and their loved ones longer than any law firm in Washington, bringing a track record of results and compassion built on decades of working with families facing a new diagnosis. We have won millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for asbestos victims.
For nearly 50 years, our compassionate, tenacious mesothelioma lawyers have served people like you. It's our team's job to lead the legal process and help you navigate these next steps.
We have the local know-how—we know judges and juries, we know the products that have resulted in asbestos exposure, and we know the Washington shipyards, refineries, paper mills, and construction sites that failed to protect their workers.
When you work with SGB, the asbestos-mesothelioma lawyer you meet on day one will be the lawyer who will be with you all the way through. Whether you live in Mount Vernon, Bellingham, Tacoma, Bremerton, Seattle, Spokane, or anywhere in Washington, we’re happy to meet you at your home or our office and get started on your case.
We work as a team with a staff of dedicated paralegals and legal assistants to ensure you get the compensation you deserve.
Known Dangers
It’s frightening to think that particles inhaled decades ago can result in a life-threatening illness. It’s even more disturbing that companies knew about the danger of asbestos dust and did nothing to protect workers from exposure. If you or a loved one has been exposed to asbestos and has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, you may be entitled to compensation, and you should contact an asbestos-mesothelioma lawyer at SGB. Funds may have already been set aside for you and other victims.
Download our free guide to understand your legal rights
Explore our asbestos-mesothelioma lawyers' history of success.
Most of the important asbestos appellate decisions in favor of asbestos victims in the state were won by SGB mesothelioma and asbestosis lawyers.
Settlements
SGB's asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers have successfully settled countless cases for victims of asbestos exposure for nearly 50 years. Settlements are almost always subject to confidentiality agreements. We therefore limit and vaguely describe just a few examples.
- SGB asbestos-mesothelioma lawyers recovered $2.5 million for an insulator.
- SGB asbestos-mesothelioma lawyers recovered over $2 million for someone who worked at a shipyard for a few months.
- SGB asbestos-mesothelioma lawyers recovered over $3 million on behalf of a woman exposed to asbestos through her father, who worked as an insulator throughout Oregon and Washington.
- SGB asbestos-mesothelioma lawyers recovered over $4 million for a boiler technician.
Trial Verdicts
We have taken nearly 30 asbestos trials to verdict. That’s the highest number of asbestos jury verdicts of any Washington law firm representing victims of asbestos exposure. Below are a few examples of our successes.
- SGB asbestos-mesothelioma lawyers obtained a $16.6 million verdict after a trial in King County, Washington, on behalf of the widow of a paper mill worker who had been exposed to asbestos on the job. This verdict is the is the largest award for a mesothelioma case in King County, Washington.
- SGB mesothelioma lawyers recovered $1.3 million. The largest asbestos jury verdict in Kitsap County, Washington in any personal injury case for the family of a pipe fitter who suffered from mesothelioma. The Washington Supreme Court affirmed the verdict and struck down a legislative cap on damages.
- SGB mesothelioma lawyers recovered over $1 million verdict in King County, Washington for a retired naval supply officer and his wife for mesothelioma caused by exposure to asbestos-containing insulation materials.
- SGB mesothelioma lawyers recovered $1.5 million verdict in King County, Washington for a ship worker diagnosed with mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos in the Seattle shipyards.
- SGB mesothelioma lawyers recovered $1.3 million settlement for a sheet metal worker who was diagnosed with mesothelioma from exposure to asbestos.
DISCLAIMER: This is the fine print, but our fine print is regular size and in clear language. These client quotes and settlement/verdict figures are examples of the results SGB mesothelioma lawyers have obtained for others. Their cases were different from yours, so your result is sure to be different. We post these results for you to see that we have a track record of hard work, client service, and trial success. We won’t guarantee the results of your case, but we will guarantee to bring the same passion, skill, and experience when we fight for you.
Referring lawyers, we’re here to help.
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or suffered from the harmful effects of asbestos, SGB mesothelioma lawyers are here to help. There is no charge for our mesothelioma lawyers to review your potential claim. If we take your case, we do so on a contingency basis, meaning that you don’t pay our fees unless we successfully resolve the claim in your favor. Contact us for a free confidential case review or call (800) 809-2234.
Mesothelioma Case Appeals
The SGB mesothelioma lawyers’ work on asbestos cases has led to the development of the standards in Washington State concerning asbestos litigation. When a case establishes a precedent or a rule that is helpful for all victims of asbestos exposure when it comes time to prove their case in court, attorneys call that “making good law.” When it comes to asbestos law in Washington, no law firm’s attorneys have made as much good law as SGB mesothelioma lawyers. All victims of asbestos exposure in Washington benefit from the establishment of this Washington asbestos law.
The following is a list of some of the occupations that have put individuals at risk of asbestos exposure:
- Aerospace mechanics
- Automobile mechanics
- Brake repairers
- Building engineers
- Boilermakers
- Carpenters
- Drywallers
- Electricians
- Iron workers
- Machinists
- Oil refinery workers
- Painters
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Production workers
- Railroad workers
- Refinery workers
- Shipyard workers
- Ship scrappers
- Steelworkers
- Tile setters
- United States Army veterans
- United States Navy veterans
- Welders
Family members of workers who are occupationally exposed to asbestos can develop mesothelioma. This may be due to the exposure of asbestos fibers brought into the home on the clothing, skin, and hair. People living close to asbestos mines and facilities that utilized asbestos have also been exposed and have brought mesothelioma lawsuits.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has placed three standards to protect workers from exposure to asbestos.
29 CFR 1926.1101 covers construction work, including alteration, repair, renovation, and demolition of structures containing asbestos.
29 CFR 1910.1001 applies to asbestos exposure in general industry, such as exposure during brake and clutch repair, custodial work, and manufacture of asbestos-containing products.
29 CFR 1915.1001 covers asbestos exposure in shipyards.
For more information, visit www.osha.gov/SLTC/asbestos/
Team Members
Thomas Breen
Luke Garrett
Colin Mieling
William Rutzick
Craig Sims
Kaitlin Cherf
“Great attention to detail, compassion and dedication”
My husband was diagnosed with mesothelioma and we reached out to Kaitlin to represent us, we are so grateful we did. Kaitlin not only knows everything about asbestos law, but she was the most caring attorney we've dealt with. This was a difficult time for us, but Kaitlin made us feel we could leave it up to her.
FAQs
Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. The aggressive form of cancer affects the lining of internal organs, most often the lungs.
General industry employees can be exposed to asbestos when they repair brakes and clutches, or during the manufacture of asbestos-containing products. Construction workers can be exposed when they disturb asbestos-containing materials while renovating or demolishing buildings. Employees in the maritime environment can be exposed when they renovate or demolish ships constructed with asbestos-containing materials. Custodial workers can be exposed when they come into contact with deteriorating asbestos-containing materials in buildings.
People who have suffered from asbestos diseases can sue for asbestos exposure. At SGB, our mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers have represented thousands of spouses and family members who have been exposed to asbestos indirectly and have suffered a disabling or terminal disease.
In Washington, companies that have manufactured or sold an asbestos product to which people have been exposed are liable for asbestos injuries. One challenge is identifying the manufacturers of the asbestos products. If you do not know the manufacturers of the asbestos products, we can identify some of the products based on the job sites where you worked. Premises owners, contractors, and others may also be liable.
SGB believes that victims affected by mesothelioma deserve justice. Many families pursue legal action to help with the costs of fighting this disease. Loss of income, along with the pain and suffering from the brutal impacts of this disease, entitle you to seek compensation.
Yes. In Washington and Oregon, companies that manufactured asbestos products and, in some cases, distributed and installed asbestos products at job sites are liable. We will assert that these companies were negligent because they knew or should have known that they were distributing a hazardous product. We will also assert a strict product liability claim because the companies manufactured and distributed a dangerous product and failed to warn of its dangers.
In Washington, a claim must be filed within three years from the date of the diagnosis of an asbestos-related occupational disease. If you don’t realize at first that the disease was caused by exposure to asbestos, the three-year period to file a lawsuit starts to run from the date you learned that asbestos caused the disease.
In Oregon, a claim must be filed within two years from the date of diagnosis of an asbestos-related occupational disease. The two-year period to file a lawsuit runs from the date an individual knew or should have known that the disease was caused by exposure to asbestos.
At SGB, we will not require you to pay for legal representation up front. Our asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys work on a contingency basis, meaning that you don't pay legal fees until your case has been successfully resolved in your favor.
SGB is a Seattle-based firm with asbestos and mesothelioma lawyers who live and work here. Our attorneys have specialized, local knowledge of not only the courts where your case may be tried, but also the history of asbestos products used in the area, and the factories and sites where workers may have been exposed. SGB's asbestos and mesothelioma team has extensive experience and deep expertise in asbestos cases, including trial lawyers who frequently handle – and win – mesothelioma cases.