Mesothelioma in Maine

Asbestos Exposure in Maine

Maine’s history with asbestos includes:

• Shipbuilding
• Paper manufacturing
• Power generation
• Work in older buildings
• Industrial maintenance
• Construction

Shipbuilding is one of the clearest documented examples of asbestos exposure in Maine. In Bernier v. Raymark Industries, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court described a Bath Iron Works boilermaker who inhaled asbestos dust while employed at the Bath shipyard during the 1940s and was later diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma.

Other Maine court records have addressed asbestos claims involving Bath Iron Works employees and asbestos-containing insulation, adhesives, gaskets and related materials.

Paper manufacturing presents another documented pathway. Court records concerning Great Northern Paper’s East Millinocket mill describe a longtime mason removing and replacing insulation on pipes, pumps and valves.

If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma following exposure in Maine, you may be eligible for multiple forms of compensation.

Mesothelioma Compensation Options in Maine

People diagnosed with mesothelioma in Maine may have more than one potential source of compensation.

Which options apply can depend on where exposure occurred, the companies or products involved, employment or military history, and the laws governing the claim.

Different compensation routes have different evidence requirements and procedures:

• Personal-Injury Lawsuit: A person diagnosed with mesothelioma may be able to pursue claims against companies that are legally responsible for asbestos exposure when the evidence and filing requirements support a case.
• Wrongful-Death Claim: After a death, Maine law generally provides for a wrongful-death case to be brought by the executor or administrator of the deceased person’s estate.
• Asbestos Trust Fund Claim: Some companies that entered bankruptcy established trusts for qualifying asbestos claims, and each trust has its own exposure and medical criteria.
• VA Disability Compensation: Veterans may be eligible when they have a health condition caused by asbestos exposure and had contact with asbestos during military service. VA asks for medical records, service records, and evidence connecting the condition to military asbestos exposure.
• Workers’ Compensation: A work-related occupational disease may support a Maine workers’ compensation claim, subject to separate filing and causation requirements.

Our dedicated patient advocates can help you determine your potential compensation and identify your options, based on your unique circumstances and exposure history.

Contact us today for a free case evaluation.

Eligibility Requirements for Compensation in Maine

Injured workers and their loves ones must meet general eligibility requirements to qualify for compensation in the state of Maine.

The requirements can vary depending on the type of compensation and other factors you choose to pursue.

However, there are general eligibility requirements that most types of compensation share:

• Proof of Exposure: Documentation showing exposure to specific asbestos-containing products or presence at work sites where asbestos was used
• Medical Eligibility: An asbestos-related illness diagnosis backed by documentation and testing that links the condition to the patient’s exposure history
• Statute of limitations: The deadline to file is two years for personal injury and three years for wrongful death claimis.

Proving eligibility requires significant documentation, and the burden of proof is on the victim. The following forms of documentation can provide critical support for your claim.

• Medical records
• Proven diagnosis
• Death certificate
• Employment records
• Eyewitness accounts
• Paystubs

Finding the documents you need to build a strong claim can be challenging, especially in mesothelioma cases, where it can take decades to develop symptoms after asbestos exposure.

It’s okay if you don’t have every form of documentation listed above. Asbestos litigation experts can help you find the information you need. If you think you have a claim, reach out to us now and let us help determine your eligibility.

Mesothelioma Settlements & Verdicts in Maine

Claimants in Maine have secured multiple large settlements and verdicts worth several million in compensation.

An average mesothelioma settlement claim in Maine is $1 million to $1.4 million, per Mealey’s Litigation Report.

Settlement and verdict amounts can widely depending on the circumstances of the case.

Asbestos Exposure Risks in Maine

Maine exposure risks reflect the state’s long history of shipbuilding, paper manufacturing, power generation and construction.

Risk depended on the work being performed and whether asbestos-containing materials were disturbed.

Shipbuilding and Ship Repair

Bath Iron Works has figured prominently in Maine asbestos litigation. Court records describe workers encountering asbestos dust and materials during historical shipyard work.

Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Kittery is another significant industrial location. EPA records identify asbestos insulation among historic industrial wastes at the shipyard, which has supported naval construction, repair and overhaul operations.

Jobs potentially associated with shipyard exposure included:

• Boilermakers
• Pipefitters
• Electricians
• Insulators
• Machinists
• Welders
• Maintenance workers
• Shipbuilders and repair workers

Paper Mills

Paper mills relied on boilers, steam systems, pumps, valves and extensive pipe networks. At Great Northern Paper’s East Millinocket mill, court records specifically document historical asbestos-containing insulation around industrial equipment and piping.

Power Generation

Older power facilities commonly contained extensive high-temperature equipment. NRC-related records regarding Maine Yankee in Wiscasset document large quantities of asbestos-containing material removed during decommissioning.

Construction, Renovation and Demolition

Maine DEP warns that demolition and renovation can disturb asbestos-containing materials.

The agency identifies products including pipe insulation, boiler breeching, floor tile, cement board, siding and roofing and requires regulated handling for qualifying asbestos work.

Secondary Exposure

Family members could historically encounter asbestos fibers carried home on contaminated work clothing or equipment.

Reconstructing a secondary-exposure claim generally requires evidence showing the worker’s asbestos exposure and how fibers could have reached the household.

Top Exposure Sites

The locations below have Maine-specific records documenting asbestos materials, asbestos exposure allegations or asbestos-containing waste.

Listing a site does not establish that every worker was exposed or that a particular company is legally responsible.

• Bath Iron Works: Maine court records describe asbestos exposure involving historical shipyard workers and asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets and other materials.
• Great Northern Paper: Court records describe asbestos-containing insulation on pipes, pumps and valves and dust generated during insulation work.
• Portsmouth Naval Shipyard: EPA records identify asbestos insulation among industrial wastes historically present at the shipyard.
• Maine Yankee Atomic Power Plant: Decommissioning records cited in NRC materials report extensive removal of asbestos-containing material.

How to File for Mesothelioma Compensation in Maine

The exact process depends on the type of compensation being pursued. Lawsuits, asbestos trusts, VA claims, and workers’ compensation claims each follow different procedures.

1. Meet With a Mesothelioma Attorney

An attorney familiar with asbestos litigation can review the diagnosis, exposure history, potential defendants, filing jurisdictions, and applicable deadlines.

Because asbestos exposure may have occurred decades before diagnosis, early investigation can also help preserve employment, product, and witness evidence.

2. Gather Evidence and Documentation

Useful documents can include:

• Medical and pathology records
• Employment and Social Security records
• Union records
• Military service records
• Worksite information
• Product or equipment records
• Coworker statements
• Residence history
• Death certificates and estate documents when applicable

3. File the Appropriate Claims

Depending on eligibility, this could involve a personal-injury or wrongful-death lawsuit, asbestos trust claims, a VA disability claim, workers’ compensation, or a combination of different options.

Each uses its own eligibility standards and paperwork.

4. Complete Claim Discovery or Review

A civil lawsuit may involve written discovery, document production, depositions, and other court procedures.

Trust funds use their own review processes. VA claims are developed and reviewed under federal benefits procedures, while workers’ compensation claims follow Maine’s administrative process.

5. Settlement, Trial, Liquidation, or Benefit Decision

A lawsuit may resolve through settlement or trial. An asbestos trust may issue a payment under its applicable review and liquidation procedures. VA and workers’ compensation claims result in administrative benefit decisions.

The path and timeline depend on the individual claim.

Maine Asbestos Litigation Rules

Maine has several laws that can affect asbestos-related compensation claims. Which rule applies depends on the type of claim, the claimant, the defendant and other facts.

Personal-Injury Filing Period

Maine’s general limitations statute states that civil actions generally must be commenced within six years after the cause of action accrues unless another law provides otherwise.

Asbestos diseases can emerge long after the underlying exposure. In Bernier v. Raymark Industries, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court concluded that inhalation of asbestos alone was not sufficient to create a judicially recognizable product-liability injury and discussed the later manifestation of asbestos disease.

The court did not establish a universal discovery rule for every asbestos limitations question.

Because accrual can be fact-specific, readers should not calculate an individual deadline from the general six-year rule alone.

Wrongful-Death Claims

Maine law generally requires a wrongful-death claim to be filed within three years after the decedent’s death. The claim must be brought by the personal representative or special administrator.

Workers’ Compensation and Asbestos Disease

Maine’s Workers’ Compensation Act contains special provisions for asbestos-related diseases.

Among other provisions, the statute states that the general three-year limit described in section 609 does not apply to asbestos-related diseases. Other notice, employment and procedural requirements can still matter.

Jurisdiction and Multiple Claims

Asbestos exposure may have occurred at several employers, jobsites or states. Lawsuits, bankruptcy-trust claims, VA benefits and workers’ compensation can also have separate rules.

An attorney familiar with asbestos litigation can determine which jurisdictions and filing procedures apply without relying on a single generalized deadline.

Treatment for Mesothelioma in Maine

People diagnosed with mesothelioma in Maine can access thoracic cancer expertise through MaineHealth. Its thoracic oncology program specifically lists mesothelioma among the conditions treated and uses a multidisciplinary team that includes thoracic surgery, medical oncology, radiation oncology, pulmonology, pathology and other specialties.

MaineHealth Thoracic Surgery in Scarborough works with Maine Medical Center’s thoracic oncology program. Gary M. Hochheiser, MD, director of thoracic surgery and thoracic oncology at Maine Medical Center, lists mesothelioma among his areas of clinical focus.

A person’s treatment plan should be determined with qualified medical professionals based on the type, location and stage of mesothelioma and the patient’s overall health.

How We Can Help

A mesothelioma diagnosis can leave families trying to reconstruct employment history from decades ago while also making decisions about treatment and finances.

Mesothelioma Fund can help you organize a possible asbestos exposure history, understand the compensation options that may be available, identify useful records and prepare questions for legal and medical professionals.

Eligibility and case outcomes depend on individual circumstances, but you do not need to determine every detail before asking for help.

Frequently Asked Questions