Louisiana Mesothelioma Lawsuit
A mesothelioma lawsuit is a legal action through which a mesothelioma patient may seek compensation for their medical costs, pain, and suffering caused by being negligently exposed to asbestos. These suits target the companies responsible for the exposure, such as asbestos product manufacturers. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Louisiana due to asbestos exposure, you may be eligible to sue.
Last Updated:
- May 11, 2025
Key Facts on Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Louisiana
Deadline to File:
One (1) year from the date of diagnosis when alive, two (2) years from the date of death
Lawsuit Duration:
Typically, nine months to two years
Average Settlements Without Trial:
$500,000 to $10 million, depending on the circumstances of the case—results vary and are not guaranteed
Largest Verdicts for Single Plaintiffs in Louisiana:
$36.7 million and $17.6 million—both won by our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C.
Potential Liable Parties:
Employers, asbestos product manufacturers, jobsite owners, manufacturers of equipment containing asbestos, contractors, asbestos insulation installers, and more.
Types of Lawsuits:
Personal injury and wrongful death
Who Can File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Louisiana?
Anyone diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness like mesothelioma should contact a law firm to see if they may be entitled to file a personal injury claim against the party or parties responsible for their asbestos exposure. Additionally, under Louisiana law, certain family members of those who have died from an asbestos-related disease may be eligible to file a wrongful death lawsuit to recover damages they sustained as a result of the death.[1]
Do I Qualify for a Lawsuit?
Patients diagnosed with mesothelioma may be entitled to bring legal action to seek compensation.
Types of Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Louisiana law allows mesothelioma patients and their families to pursue personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits.
Personal Injury Lawsuit
Personal injury lawsuits allow patients to recover compensation for their economic and non-economic damages stemming from their illness, whether it occurs from direct or secondhand exposure to asbestos. Compensation depends on the impact of the disease on the patient’s life. If you have been sickened by asbestos exposure, you may pursue compensation for your medical expenses, treatment costs, lost income, expenses of travel for treatment, lost earning capacity, loss of quality of life, and the pain and suffering caused by the disease.
Wrongful Death Lawsuit
If a loved one dies from mesothelioma, the victim’s surviving family members may be eligible to pursue a wrongful death suit. Depending on the circumstances, the family may recover damages resulting from the death, including compensation for funeral and burial expenses, the deceased’s medical bills, lost income, loss of inheritance, counsel related to the death of a loved one, grief, emotional anguish, and loss of care and companionship.
Did You Know?
Many worry that they may die before their mesothelioma case is settled. If a patient dies before the case resolves, their loved ones can continue to litigate in their place.
When Should I File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
Most attorneys recommend that mesothelioma patients pursue compensation as soon as possible after diagnosis. There are multiple reasons to pursue legal action immediately, including the following:
- Patients must provide details about their exposure to asbestos, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment. This process may be more difficult if patients are fatigued or ill from treatment.
- Depending on their symptoms and the stage of the disease, their case may be expedited. If a patient dies before the trial date, their case may get delayed.
- Compensation aims to cover medical bills and other expenses so patients can obtain the necessary resources to manage their illnesses. The sooner the legal process begins, the sooner a patient can recover compensation.
A Son's Story
"The earlier you can get in, the better."
It is very important to get in as early as possible. In our case, we were able to do a videotape testimonial of my dad before he passed away, and because we were able to do that after he died, we were able to use that video testimony in the trial. So it’s very important to start that process earlier because you don’t know what’s going to happen down the line. You may not have that opportunity if you wait too long. So the earlier you can get in, the better.
Deadline to File in Louisiana
You Have Limited Time to File Your Claim
In Louisiana, mesothelioma patients generally have one (1) year from the date of diagnosis to file a lawsuit when alive, or two (2) years from the date of death.
Why Should I File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
After a mesothelioma diagnosis, mounting medical expenses, lost income, travel costs associated with treatment, and the costs of taking care of your needs at home can put you and your family in a precarious financial situation. A mesothelioma lawyer can potentially help you recover compensation for these costs by holding the parties responsible for your illness accountable for their negligence.
Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit helps protect your family, ensuring their financial security by providing the money they need to get through this trauma and build a better life. The compensation from the case can help defray medical costs and cover the loss of the income you provided them.
Bill's Story
"My wife is taken care of. That’s the main thing."
I was awarded the largest sum in Louisiana history on asbestos. That was $36 million. But that $36 million is not for me. My ticket’s punched. That was for Mrs. Anna. That’s going to take care of Mrs. Anna, my wife. I wanted her to make sure that she was protected and they’d done it. They substantially made me sound, which I am very proud to have Baron and Budd as my representatives.
Liable Parties for a Mesothelioma Diagnosis
With a mesothelioma lawsuit, you can stand up for your rights, your family, and your community. It can enable you to seek accountability from powerful corporations that would otherwise never hear you, potentially making a difference for future generations.
In mesothelioma lawsuits, the liable parties may include employers, contractors, asbestos product manufacturers, manufacturers of asbestos-containing equipment and components, and sometimes even insurance companies and the officers and executives of the companies responsible for the asbestos exposure. Most mesothelioma cases have multiple defendants, increasing the potential compensation you may recover.
Mesothelioma Lawsuit Payouts
In a mesothelioma lawsuit, the recoverable damages include medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and more. In a wrongful death case, funeral and burial costs may also be recoverable. Meanwhile, the results of settlements differ from trial verdicts—both in cost and reward. It’s important to remember that the facts of each case—particularly the sources of exposure and number of viable defendants—drive the results.
The two largest verdicts ever awarded in Louisiana for individual mesothelioma patients and their families were $36.7 million and $17.6 million—both won by our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C. Typically, the firm’s settlements range from $500,000 to $10 million without trial.
Some of Baron & Budd’s recent mesothelioma settlements include the following:
$8 million
for a Local 53 insulator diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma
Over $7 million
for a boilermaker who worked at many petrochemical facilities along the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge
$5.95 million
for a Local 198 pipefitter/welder exposed at petrochemical plants around Baton Rouge
Over $5 Million
for an operator and laborer at a Baton Rouge chemical plant exposed to asbestos in the 1950s and 1960s.
Baron & Budd Won the Largest Asbestos Verdict in Louisiana History
$36.7 million
The Largest Asbestos Verdict for an Individual Client in Louisiana
This verdict was the largest asbestos award ever awarded to an individual plaintiff in Louisiana. The plaintiff was a retired union member exposed to asbestos through his work as a Local 60 pipefitter. A jury found more than twenty Louisiana-based companies liable for causing his pleural mesothelioma through his work at numerous plants in the late 60s and early 70s. After a six-day trial, the jury found the companies negligently failed to warn workers about the health hazards of the asbestos products in their facilities. Results vary.
Results vary and are not guaranteed.
How Long Does a Mesothelioma Lawsuit Take?
In Louisiana, cases are generally settled or tried to verdict within nine months to two years of filing. The facts and circumstances of each case determine how long a case takes. Each case is unique, and it is difficult to determine how long the legal process will last. Your mesothelioma claim may be settled in less than a year without filing a lawsuit or going to court, but if a trial is not expedited, a resolution may take two or more years.
The Difference
Most mesothelioma cases handled by our sponsor, Baron & Budd, B.C., settle quickly because of their reputation in the legal community and respect earned in the courtrooms of Louisiana. With nearly half a century of fighting against asbestos companies, defense lawyers, corporations, insurers, and judges know and respect them. Most companies choose to settle with Baron & Budd, P.C. rather than take their chances at trial.
How to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
First, your attorney will extensively interview you and your family. They’ll spend as much time as possible with you—not talking about mesothelioma or asbestos law or compensation, but about you, what you’ve done throughout your life, and what you expected to do in the future if you hadn’t been diagnosed with the disease. From there, they will investigate the sources of your asbestos exposure, identify the defendants, and file the petition that starts the suit in the appropriate Louisiana court.
Contact the Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure, the Louisiana Mesothelioma Advocates can answer your questions and provide you with helpful information. If you desire, we will connect you with the mesothelioma lawyers at our sponsor, Baron & Budd, P.C., who may be able to pursue compensation for you and your family.
Content Reviewed by
Todd Kale
Todd Kale meets with mesothelioma patients and their families across Louisiana to investigate their asbestos exposure, providing compassionate support and guidance during a difficult time.
Cited Source
- Art. 2315.2 Wrongful death action. Louisiana laws – Louisiana State Legislature. (n.d.). https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/Law.aspx?d=109371