Centralia Mesothelioma Lawyer
Centralia is home to numerous industries that exposed workers to asbestos, including railroads, paper mills, lumber mills, power plants, and construction companies. Asbestos was a versatile product that insulated against extreme temperatures, resisted fire, strengthened compounds, and improved the sealing capabilities of gaskets. If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma in Centralia or the surrounding areas, our Washington mesothelioma lawyers can help you recover substantial compensation.
Chandler H. Udo, Partner, Bergman Oslund Udo Little Last Updated: August 21, 2024
- Workers in Centralia and Lewis County diagnosed with mesothelioma may have been exposed to asbestos while working on numerous job sites throughout the region.
- Lewis County workers with the highest risk of asbestos exposure include railroad workers, lumber mill workers, paper mill workers, plumbers, pipefitters, construction workers, and power plant personnel.
- Products that contain asbestos in the workplace include machinery, electrical wiring, building materials, adhesives, paint, automotive brakes, and engines.
- We have a proven track record of recovering substantial compensation for clients with asbestos-related illnesses, with over $1 billion in successful settlements and verdicts.
- If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, our Centralia asbestos attorneys can help you recover the compensation you deserve with no upfront costs or risk because you only pay if and when you win.
Asbestos Law Firm Serving Centralia & Lewis County
Our Centralia mesothelioma cancer attorneys accept cases in Centralia and throughout Lewis County. Our Washington office is in Seattle, but we are committed to making the legal process as easy for you as possible. We will travel to you and try your case in Lewis County. We have proudly represented clients in Centralia and the surrounding areas, including:
- Bucoda
- Chehalis
- Fords Prairie
- Galvin
- Grand Mound
- Rochester
- Wabash
We charge no upfront fees for our services, and you only pay if we successfully recover compensation for you.
Speak to a Mesothelioma Attorney Today
Millions Recovered for Asbestos Exposure Victims in Lewis County
We are the Pacific Northwest’s Premier mesothelioma law firm. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, we can help you pursue compensation through a mesothelioma lawsuit and, in some cases, an asbestos trust fund claim. If your loved one has died from mesothelioma, you may be entitled to pursue a mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuit.
Our Centralia asbestos cancer attorneys understand the toll a mesothelioma diagnosis has on a family and are committed to guiding you through the legal process with patience, mutual trust, and compassion. We have been fighting for those with mesothelioma since 1995 and have recovered over $1 billion in compensation for our clients.
- We represented a pipefitter who worked at the Centralia Steam Plant as a pipefitter doing shutdowns on and around piping, boilers and other equipment. We ultimately recovered $8.3 million in total settlements for the client based on his work at this site and many others.
- We represented a boiler maker how performed work at the Centralia Steam Plant. His work included work with and around refractory cements used on boilers. We recoved over $10 million dollars in that case based on work at this site and many others.
- We have recovered millions in settlements for numerous clients who worked with Pryor Giggey refractory cements and insulation. Pryor Giggey maintained a manufacturing facility in Chehalis, Washington.
Asbestos Exposure in Lewis County, Washington
Until the late 1970s, asbestos was widely used in a variety of products to which workers were exposed. For decades, asbestos product manufacturers knew about the harms caused by asbestos but concealed the truth from the public and failed to warn workers about the dangers. Meanwhile, they continued manufacturing asbestos products and raked in millions in profits.
By 1980, the dangers of asbestos finally became public. Although the EPA and the state of Washington began regulating asbestos at this time, occupational asbestos exposure has continued to plague workers on job sites throughout the country, including in Lewis County, Washington. Some workers are still exposed to asbestos today. Lewis County is home to numerous industries where asbestos exposure has occurred.
Power Plant Workers
Power plants use technology with high-heat and high-pressure applications that require extensive fire and heat protection. Asbestos has long been the preferred substance in power plants for these uses, including in the Centralia Steamr plant, where inspectors began identifying and ordering the removal of asbestos in 1985. They found asbestos in the following products:
- Adhesives
- Acoustic plaster
- Asbestos blankets
- Boilers
- Insulation and Refractory Cement
- Fireproof electrical covers
- Pipe coverings
Over the years, many tradespeople – including insulators, pipefitters, boilermakers, electricians, millwrights, laborers, and others performed work on shutdowns at the Centralia Steam Plant. During that time, they performed work on and around asbestos insulation, refractory, gaskets, and packing.
This work continued until 2000. However, officials have yet to declare the Centralia Power Plant asbestos-free. As a result, workers may still be at risk of asbestos exposure at the Centralia generation station.
Railroad Workers
Centralia’s location on Interstate 5 between Seattle and Portland has made rail transport an important industry, moving freight and passengers to these cities and beyond. The Puget Sound & Pacific Railroad continues to offer rail freight service, while the revived Chehalis-Centralia Railroad provides recreational passenger travel.
If you have ever worked on the railroad, you may have experienced asbestos exposure on the job, whether you worked as an engineer, yardmaster, switch operator, or nearly any other position. Railroads regularly hauled asbestos-containing products containing asbestos, which contaminated the railcars. The railroad industry also widely used asbestos in numerous applications, including insulation, fire prevention, and more. You may have been exposed to asbestos on the railroad through the following products:
- Railroad ties
- Railroad cars that hauled asbestos products
- Insulation
- Turbines
- Steam pipes
- Engine gaskets
- Insulation in railcars
- Brakes
Lumbermill Workers
Lumber mills harbored asbestos in machinery, boiler insulation, building insulation, paperboard, adhesives, particle board, and other manufactured products. Lincoln Creek Lumber has been serving the Centralia area since 1903 and operated throughout the period when asbestos use was common.
Paper Mill Workers
Paper mill workers handled asbestos directly, converting raw asbestos fibers into saleable paper products. Dust from asbestos-laden pulp filled the work area, even affecting workers who did not handle asbestos.
Paper mill machinery also contained asbestos in gaskets, packings, electrical wiring, and boiler insulation. Building materials used to construct paper mills could also contain asbestos in the insulation, flooring, roofing, and drywall. When these materials become damaged through puncturing, drilling, or daily wear, they could release asbestos into the surrounding environment.
There are no paper mills in Lewis County today. The Centralia Pulp and Paper Mill closed in 1912 due to a fire and never reopened. However, the following paper mills are within an hour of Centralia:
- North Pacific Paper Corp (NORPAC) and Nippon Dynawave Packaging Company in Longview
- Sonoco Products Company in Sumner
- Caraustar Industries and Westrock Company in Tacoma
If you have ever commuted to any of these job sites, you may have encountered asbestos without your knowledge. If you lived with someone who worked at these locations, your family member may have unknowingly carried asbestos fibers home, exposing you to asbestos. This is known as secondary asbestos exposure.
Plumbers and Pipefitters
Plumbers and pipefitters handled pipe insulation and cement water pipes that contained asbestos while installing plumbing systems in commercial buildings and residences until the EPA restricted asbestos in these products. However, many buildings in Lewis County still contain the original plumbing.
When plumbers and pipefitters cut into the plumbing to repair or replace it, the asbestos becomes airborne, and they can inhale it. The concentrations of asbestos can be significant in this circumstance because pipes are often located in tight spaces with limited ventilation.
Construction Workers
Construction workers handled asbestos products directly during building construction when asbestos was in popular use until as late as the 1990s. They continue to experience a risk of exposure when renovating or demolishing older buildings. They may be exposed to asbestos through materials ranging from building foundations to rooftops. Construction worker asbestos exposure may occur from contact with the following:
- Roof shingles
- Roofing underlayment
- Floor tiles
- Concrete pipes
- Cement
- Building insulation
- Electrical insulation
- Plaster
- Drywall compounds
- Paint
- Adhesives
Get a Free Consultation With a Centralia Mesothelioma Attorney
If you or your loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos exposure is almost certainly the cause. Our nationally recognized Centralia mesothelioma lawyers can pursue substantial compensation on your behalf, including lost wages, medical expenses, and pain and suffering.
Call Bergman Oslund Udo Little today at (206) 957-9510 to schedule your free consultation or contact us online.
Get Help with Your Mesothelioma Compensation Options
520 Pike St. #1125
Seattle, WA 98101
206-957-9510
1355 NW Everett St.
Suite 100
Portland, OR 97204
503-447-6230
