A dedicated Maine mesothelioma lawyer can assist families in getting the compensation they deserve. Maine has a long history in the shipbuilding and paper industries, both of which used asbestos and put workers at risk of exposure and illness.
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, it’s important to note that you may qualify for substantial compensation. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Maine, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file a claim for the asbestos trust funds, and more.
FREE Financial Compensation Packet
- Info on law firms that will recover your HIGHEST COMPENSATION
- Learn how to get paid in 90 days
- File for your share of $30 billion in trust funds
Keep in mind that we are happy to offer assistance to residents of all Maine cities and towns, including:
Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, South Portland, Auburn, Biddeford, Sanford, Brunswick, Scarborough, Saco, Augusta, Westbrook, Windham, Gorham, Waterville, York, Falmouth, Kennebunk, Orono, Standish, Wells, Kittery, Presque Isle, Brewer, Cape Elizabeth, Lisbon, Topsham, Old Orchard Beach, Skowhegan, Yarmouth, Bath, Buxton, Freeport, Caribou, Ellsworth, Gray, Winslow, Old Town, Waterboro and Farmington, Berwick, Cumberland, Hampden, South Berwick, Rockland, Fairfield, Belfast, Eliot and Oakland, Houlton, Winthrop, Lebanon, Rumford, Turner, Gardiner, New Gloucester, Hermon, Poland, Bar Harbo,r Bridgton, Paris, Lincoln Town, Waldoboro, Norway, Bucksport, Sabattus, Camden, Jay, Madison, Harpswell, Warren, North Berwick, Glenburn, Millinocket, Raymond, Lyman, Greene, Vassalboro, Hollis, China, Sidney, Pittsfield, Dover-Foxcroft, Wilton, Oxford, Monmouth, Fort Kent, Arundel, Madawaska, Naples, Dexter, Durham, Winterport, Casco, Orrington, Limington, Wiscasset, Litchfield, North Yarmouth, Kennebunkport, Fort Fairfield, Clinton, and more.
Maine Asbestos Facts
- Between 1999 and 2017, Maine had 2,490 deaths related to asbestos exposure.
- Of those deaths, 1,788 were from lung cancer, 447 from mesothelioma, and 278 from asbestosis.
- York County has had the highest number of asbestos-related deaths.
- A study from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health determined that the ranks number one for the most asbestos deaths per capita.
- The study also stated that asbestos exposure primarily came from working in businesses such as paper mills, chemical factories, and shipyards.
Maine Has the Highest Asbestos-Related Death Rates in U.S.
Maine has a small population compared to most states. This means that the total number of deaths related to asbestos is low relative to other parts of the U.S. But, relative to its population, the number of asbestos deaths in Maine is very high, often the highest in the country.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Maine has the highest rate of asbestos deaths in the country at 22.06 per one million people from 1999 to 2015.
Several factors contribute to asbestos death rates. The first is exposure rate. Maine has long been home to industries that used asbestos heavily, like shipbuilding, lumber, and paper. Maine also has older housing stock than many other states, and older homes tend to contain asbestos.
Another issue is diagnosis and treatment. A high death rate could be explained in part by too few screenings for cancer and a lack of specialist treatment.
Am I Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Maine?
If you have a mesothelioma diagnosis, you are eligible to take legal action to seek compensation. Mesothelioma almost always results from negligent asbestos exposure on the job. The negligent companies can be held liable for your resulting expenses.
There are several ways to seek compensation from companies that caused your asbestos illness. You could be eligible for one or more of these:
How Can a Maine Mesothelioma Lawyer Help Me?
The first way that a top Maine mesothelioma lawyer can help you is by confirming that you have legal options. They will meet with you for free to evaluate your case and explain your options.
If you decide to move forward together on a case, your lawyer will do several things to help you:
- Investigate your past asbestos exposure to identify the companies responsible
- Gather evidence to make a strong case
- Provide medical experts to connect asbestos exposure to your illness
- Take all steps necessary to file a claim or make a claim
- Negotiate a settlement or litigate in court to get you the compensation you deserve
- Find all your expenses to ensure you get the maximum compensation
Maine mesothelioma lawyers provide peace of mind. They explain your options, provide expert guidance, and take action so you can rest and focus on treatment.
Local Expertise and Support
Having a lawyer who understands the specific needs of Maine residents ensures personalized attention. They are familiar with local regulations and can navigate the complexities of your case efficiently.
Comprehensive Legal Strategy
These attorneys are committed to securing the compensation you deserve. They meticulously build your case to ensure all legal avenues are explored, aiming for a favorable outcome that alleviates the financial burden on you and your family.
Emotional Understanding and Empathy
Navigating a mesothelioma claim can be emotionally challenging. Your legal team recognizes this and provides compassionate support, ensuring you and your loved ones feel heard and validated throughout the process.
Commitment to Justice
The pursuit of justice is at the forefront of their mission. By advocating fiercely for your rights, they strive to bring a sense of closure and justice to you and your family during this difficult time.
Community involvement is integral to the services offered by mesothelioma attorneys, reflecting their deep commitment to both legal advocacy and societal impact. These attorneys often engage directly with a variety of local groups, dedicating time and expertise to support charities, advocacy organizations, and educational initiatives.
Building Trust and Relationships
By actively participating in community events and programs, mesothelioma attorneys forge strong relationships with the people they serve. This connection fosters trust, allowing clients to feel more comfortable and informed when navigating the complexities of legal cases related to asbestos exposure.
Advocacy Beyond the Courtroom
These lawyers extend their advocacy efforts beyond traditional courtroom settings. Their involvement in community activities often leads them to collaborate with public health campaigns and safety awareness programs. This not only raises awareness about asbestos-related diseases but also reinforces their role as protectors of public welfare.
Education and Prevention
Mesothelioma attorneys frequently contribute to educational efforts, offering seminars and informational sessions about the risks of asbestos. Their participation helps disseminate crucial knowledge that can prevent exposure and protect future generations from this hazardous material.
Supporting Victims and Families
Being active partners in community projects allows attorneys to provide holistic support to victims of mesothelioma and their families. Whether through organizing support groups or driving fundraising initiatives, their community presence underscores a compassionate approach to legal service.
In essence, community involvement is not just a side activity for mesothelioma attorneys—it’s deeply woven into their overall mission to promote safety and justice.
How Much Compensation Can I Get From a Maine Mesothelioma Claim?
An experienced lawyer can maximize your compensation, but there are no guarantees. Asbestos and mesothelioma claims are worth varying amounts depending on individual factors:
- The severity of the illness
- Medical expenses
- Future expected medical expenses
- Home care needs
- The defendants involved
The average settlement amount in mesothelioma cases ranges between $1 and $1.4 million. Asbestos trust fund amounts average around $180,000. The trusts currently have nearly $30 billion available to compensate victims, so don’t hesitate to make a claim.
What Kind of Legal Fees Should You Expect with a Mesothelioma Attorney?
When considering legal representation for a mesothelioma case, understanding the financial implications is crucial. Here’s a breakdown of what you can typically expect in terms of legal fees:
- Contingency Fee Structure: Most mesothelioma attorneys work on a contingency fee basis. This means you won’t pay any legal fees upfront. Instead, the attorney’s fee will be a percentage of the compensation they recover for you. This aligns your attorney’s interests with yours—they only get paid when you do.
- No Win, No Fee Guarantee: With contingency-based arrangements, if your lawyer doesn’t secure a settlement or win the case, you won’t be responsible for paying attorney fees. This ensures financial risk is minimized for you.
- Additional Costs: While attorney fees are contingent, there might be some out-of-pocket expenses associated with the case. These could include costs for filing fees, expert witnesses, or other necessary investigation expenses. It’s a good idea to discuss these potential costs upfront.
- Percentage Variability: The contingency fee percentage can vary. Typically, it ranges from 25% to 40% of the settlement or award. Make sure to confirm the percentage your attorney charges and if it might change based on whether the case goes to trial or settles out of court.
- Written Agreement: Ensure that everything regarding fees is documented in a written agreement. This agreement should clearly outline the percentage fee and detail any circumstances where additional charges might be incurred.
By understanding these key elements of legal fees, you can make an informed decision and focus on what matters most: your health and recovery.
Which Industries in Maine Exposed Workers to Asbestos?
Some of Maine’s important early industries, like lumber and shipbuilding, started using asbestos early. These important industries, and others, explain the state’s high rate of asbestos-related deaths.
As a result, many individuals who worked in Maine shipyards, paper mills, and lumber yards have suffered from various asbestos-related diseases, ranging from asbestosis to malignant mesothelioma, a rare but deadly cancer.
The peak period of asbestos use in the U.S. started in the 1930s and continued to the early 1970s. By 1973, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published its first findings that asbestos was a toxic carcinogen that caused lung cancer and mesothelioma.
Before that time, any industrial workplace in the state likely put workers at risk for asbestos exposure. The mineral was used in various equipment, fireproofing, insulating materials, and machinery to reduce friction.
Asbestos Exposure in Shipbuilding
In Maine, the shipbuilding industry felt the most significant impact of asbestos. By 1941, it was standard procedure to insulate almost every part of a ship with asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). Thus, every ship made for the civilian economy or the U.S. military contained many tons of asbestos.
Some specific examples of shipping companies and locations that exposed workers to asbestos include:
- Bath Iron Works Shipyard
- Portsmouth Naval Shipyard
- Boothbay Harbor Shipyard
- Sample’s Shipyard
Asbestos in the Paper Industry
With the abundance of forests in the state, lumber, and paper-making have been big industries in Maine. Some of the companies that used asbestos are:
- Eastern Paper
- Hearst Paper Division
- Pejepscot Paper Company
- Champion Paper
- Maine Seaboard Paper Company
- St. Regis Paper Company
- Great Northern Paper Mill
- International Paper Company
- Jay Paper Mill
- Eastern Fine Paper and Pulp
- Katahdin Pulp and Paper Company
- Lincoln Pulp & Paper
- International Paper Company
- Great Northern Paper Company
- Kennebec River Pulp & Paper Company
- Madison Paper Corporation
- Northern Paper Company
- Great Northern Paper Company
- Oxford Paper Company
- Boise Cascade Paper Mill
- Mead Paper Group
- Northern Paper
- Sappi Fine Paper
- Scott Paper Company
- Georgia Pacific Paper Mill
- St. Croix Paper Company
- Androscoggin Mill
Other Locations with Asbestos
Maine’s power companies, many public buildings, and military installations have also contributed to asbestos exposure:
- Brunswick Electric Light and Power Company
- Central Maine Power Company
- Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant
- W.F Wyman Power Station
- FPL Energy
- Boardman Hall (University of Maine)
- Bowdoin College
- Mount Blue High School
- Pownal State School
- Colby College
- Mt. Mercy Academy
- Dow Air Force Base
- Brunswick Naval Air Station
- Loring Air Force Base
Each of these products contributed to the widespread exposure to asbestos, making it a significant health concern in the region.
Asbestos, a harmful mineral linked to cancer, was widely used across Maine and New England for many years. Residents faced risks from various everyday items.
Common products that contained asbestos included:
- Building Materials: Asbestos was frequently found in insulation, roofing shingles, and cement products, posing dangers in homes and commercial buildings.
- Textiles: Items such as fireproof clothing and blankets often incorporated asbestos for its heat-resistant properties.
- Automotive Components: Asbestos was used in brake pads, clutches, and other automotive parts, putting mechanics and car enthusiasts at risk.
- Shipbuilding Materials: In the shipyards, materials containing asbestos were utilized extensively in constructing naval and commercial vessels.
Each of these products contributed to the widespread exposure to asbestos, making it a significant health concern in the region.
What About Naturally-Occurring Asbestos in Maine?
Although asbestos was never mined in Maine, people were exposed to asbestos from natural deposits, particularly in the Western portion of the state. This is likely because of mines in the nearby areas of Canada. Asbestos fibers released from those mines possibly contaminated areas of Maine.
Maine also has a few locations with naturally-occurring asbestos. Most locations are along the coastlines. One area containing asbestos is on the shores of Chain Lakes, situated close to Highway SR 27. Another area lies within the coastline close to Blue Bay.
Maine Asbestos Laws
Asbestos laws in Maine include safety regulations, deadlines for filing mesothelioma claims, and restrictions on who can file a claim.
Statute of Limitations
Although Maine follows strict guidelines when it comes to filing asbestos-related claims, the time span allotted is more generous when compared to other states:
- A plaintiff must file the claim within six years of diagnosis.
- For wrongful death claims, the plaintiff must file within two years of the victim’s death.
Suing for Secondhand Asbestos Exposure
Maine does not currently allow victims of secondhand asbestos exposure to file a claim for damages. Secondhand exposure occurs when a worker brings asbestos fibers home on their clothing, exposing people in the home.
Many states recognize that companies have a so-called take-home duty in these situations. In other words, they are responsible for warning workers and their families of the risks of secondhand asbestos exposure.
The deciding case in Maine involved a woman who died from mesothelioma due to secondhand exposure through her father. He worked at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. The court decided that an asbestos company’s duty to warn does not extend to workers’ families.
Asbestos Safety Regulations
Under Title 38, Chapter 12-A of the Maine Revised Statutes, are several asbestos laws and regulations:
- Mandatory licensing and certifications for all individuals who are renovating, repairing, and/or demolition a building that contains asbestos.
- Specific landfills in which asbestos can be disposed at
- Stringent rules regarding the regular maintenance, recording, and upkeep of schools that were built with asbestos-containing materials
- Acceptable forms of work practice while working around asbestos, such as the proper protective clothing and gear.
- Mandated ways of disposing of asbestos in the proper way, handled by the state’s Waste Management Department
- Specific asbestos management regulations as defined in Chapter 425 of the Maine Waste Management Rules.
- Off-Site OSHA asbestos rules and regulations must be followed at all times.
For more information and any questions regarding asbestos in Maine, contact the Maine Department of Environmental Protection’s Waste Management Department or the Asbestos Hazards Prevention Program’s staff members at 207-287-2651.
How Do I Get Mesothelioma Treatment in Maine?
It’s important to find a physician that specializes in asbestos-related diseases.
The National Cancer Institute (NCI) makes this process easier by appointing the best hospitals as NCI-designated facilities. An NCI designation means that the care center has been recognized for specialists with in-depth knowledge and experience dealing with cancer.
The Maine Medical Care Institute (MMCI) is an NCI-designated care center with some of the most comprehensive technology and resources for mesothelioma patients.
MMCI also received a $3.5 million grant from NCI to help physicians and healthcare professionals research, develop new programs, and provide treatment to cancer patients who otherwise couldn’t afford it.
When my husband was diagnosed we had no idea what to do. Our doctor said we should reach out to an attorney to talk about compensation. After talking to several firms we found the mesothelioma lawyer center and were grateful we did. They helped with every step of the way. If you need a meso attorney then I would recommend contacting them
– Isabelle D.
Legal Help in Maine
Remember, if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for significant compensation. Get our free Financial Compensation Packet for information on the top mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers in your area. If you have questions or need assistance, contact us toll-free at 800-793-4540.
References
View All ReferencesHow Much Is a Mesothelioma Claim Worth?
Compensation depends on your diagnosis, exposure history, and the type of claim. The table below shows the main paths and typical ranges.
| Claim type | What it covers | Typical range / source | Claim needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos trust funds | Claims paid from bankrupt asbestos manufacturers’ trust funds | $30B+ available across active trusts; each trust sets its own payout schedule | No — filed directly, often in months. Trust fund payouts → |
| Mesothelioma settlement | Negotiated recovery from solvent companies that caused the exposure | Averages ~$1M–$1.4M (varies widely by case) | Yes — a claim is filed; most cases settle before trial |
| Wrongful-death claim | Filed by a surviving spouse or family after the patient has passed | Medical bills, lost income, and loss of companionship | Yes — must be filed within the state deadline. Wrongful death → |
| VA benefits | For veterans with an asbestos-related disease from military service | VA disability compensation plus health care (not a claim) | No — a separate VA claim. Veterans benefits → |