During the postwar economic boom, Phoenix added manufacturing and high-tech industries to the area. Factories, power plants, and newly constructed housing led to significant asbestos exposure. Many people are now fighting back with the help of a Phoenix mesothelioma lawyer.
Over $30 million is currently available in asbestos trust funds. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be eligible for substantial compensation. We invite you to fill out our form today for a free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information about top Phoenix mesothelioma lawyers, how to get paid in 90 days, how to file an asbestos trust fund claim, and much 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
Phoenix and Asbestos Facts
- Between 1999 and 2017, there were 5,157 deaths related to asbestos in Arizona.
- Phoenix and Maricopa County had the most asbestos-related deaths, with 2,743.
- The Phoenix area was home to vermiculite processing plants that received large, long-term shipments of asbestos-contaminated minerals from the W.R. Grace mine in Libby, Montana.
When You Need a Phoenix Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you live in the area and received a diagnosis of an asbestos illness, you need a Phoenix mesothelioma lawyer. Mesothelioma is a devastating and expensive illness. Working with a lawyer can help you get the compensation you need.
Asbestos cases are complicated, but they often end in wins for exposure victims. It might seem like a lot of hassle, but a lawyer with experience can get you results quickly. They do all the work so you can focus on treatment and being with loved ones during this difficult time. A lawyer can help you:
- File a personal injury lawsuit for asbestos illness
- File a wrongful death suit if you lost a loved one to asbestos and mesothelioma
- Make a claim with an asbestos trust for companies that went bankrupt
- Claim veterans’ benefits from the VA
How to Find Top Phoenix Mesothelioma Lawyers
Asbestos lawsuits are complex and often involve multiple companies and states. The best lawyer to help you might be local to Phoenix, but they should be part of a large nationwide firm. They should have experience representing mesothelioma clients and proven wins.
Look for a firm to give you a free initial consultation and contingency payment. You shouldn’t have to pay anything unless they win and get you compensation.
How Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Phoenix?
Most asbestos exposure occurs in the workplace. Your lawyer has the resources to track down the companies and workplaces that caused your exposure. There are many possibilities in Phoenix, from power plants and military bases to mineral processing plants.
Vermiculite Processing in Phoenix
Vermiculite is a natural mineral with many applications, but it can sometimes be found in mines along with asbestos.
The W.R. Grace mine in Libby, Montana, mined and shipped millions of tons of contaminated vermiculite to plants around the country, including two in the Phoenix area:
- Ari-Zonolite in Glendale
- W.R. Grace/Solomon’s Mines Exfoliation Facility in Phoenix
These facilities processed asbestos-contaminated vermiculite, exposing workers to the dangerous mineral.
The exfoliation facility caused particular harm. The exfoliation process causes more asbestos to become airborne, exposing more workers and nearby residents.
West Phoenix Power Plant
Owned and operated by Arizona Public Service (APS), the state’s biggest electric utility, the West Phoenix Power Plant was one of the company’s seven natural gas-powered generation plants.
The facility has been expanded and modernized recently, but the original West Phoenix plant was ultimately demolished in 2016. It was built and began operations at a time when most power-generating stations used asbestos in large quantities.
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were used extensively in power plants to protect workers from fire and high-voltage electric currents.
This well-intended use of asbestos proved more harmful to many employees who worked at West Phoenix Power Plant before the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Until the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency limited asbestos use, power plants used it liberally.
Pipe fittings, conduits, workbenches, fire doors, and insulation were made from or contained significant amounts of asbestos.
Power plant employees were often exposed to asbestos which could be unknowingly inhaled or swallowed simply by breathing airborne fibers.
Many of these workers have been diagnosed with mesothelioma and other diseases linked to asbestos exposure that occurred decades earlier.
Other Locations in Phoenix Associated With Asbestos Exposure
Before the 1930s, Phoenix was a small agricultural town with a population of less than 50,000. The area’s climate made Phoenix a popular tourist destination, and more people settled there permanently.
With the U.S. entry into World War II and the postwar economic boom, Phoenix’s size and population grew considerably due to the establishment of several military bases and many large industrial facilities, housing developments, and the infrastructure needed to support them.
Due to this growth, Phoenix construction companies and other industries relied on asbestos materials.
Some of the places in Phoenix where asbestos is known to have been used and likely caused exposure include:
Schools
- Arizona State University, Downtown Campus
- Arizona State University, West Campus
- Carl Hayden High School
- Central High School
- Davy Crockett Elementary School
- Griffith Elementary School
- North High School
- Riverside Traditional School
- South Mountain High School
- Sunnyslope High School
Electrical, Water, and Industrial Plants
- Arizona Power Service West Phoenix Power Plant
- Arizona Packing Company
- Asbestos Engineering & Supply, Co
- Central Light & Power Company
- Cudahy Packing Company Distribution Plant
- Motorola (52nd Street Plant)
- Phoenix Light & Fuel Company (now APS)
Hotels
- Adams Hotel
Military Bases
- Luke Air Force Base
Mesothelioma Cancer Treatment Centers Near Phoenix
The Phoenix metropolitan area has two medical facilities that can provide specialized treatment for asbestos-related cancers.
The Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center’s Cancer Care Center is the largest of its type in Arizona. It offers a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options for all types of cancer and support services, such as cancer education and counseling.
The Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA) Western Regional Medical Center in Goodyear, AZ, provides comprehensive cancer care throughout most of the Western U.S.
In addition to providing various treatments, including radiation therapy, pain management, and interventional pulmonology, Western Regional Medical Center provides transportation for out-of-state patients, cancer crisis intervention, and patient education teams to help people with cancer.
Phoenix Legal Assistance
Remember that you have legal rights if you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, and there is a good chance that you may be eligible for significant compensation. Don’t forget to fill out our form to get our free Financial Compensation Packet, filled with information on the experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys in your area.
Paul Danziger
Reviewer and EditorPaul Danziger grew up in Houston, Texas and earned a law degree from Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago. For over 25 years years he has focused on representing mesothelioma cancer victims and others hurt by asbestos exposure. Paul and his law firm have represented thousands of people diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer, recovering significant compensation for injured clients. Every client is extremely important to Paul and he will take every call from clients who want to speak with him. Paul and his law firm handle mesothelioma cases throughout the United States.
References
- City of Hope. (n.d.). Phoenix Cancer Hospital.
Retrieved from: http://www.cancercenter.com/western/ - Randazzo, R. (2016, September 30). Historic APS Phoenix Power Plant Being Demolished Saturday. AZ Central.
Retrieved from: https://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/energy/2016/09/30/historic-aps-phoenix-power-plant-being-demolished-saturday/91297426/ - Environmental Working Group. (n.d.). Asbestos-Related Deaths in Arizona.
Retrieved from: http://www.asbestosnation.org/facts/asbestos-deaths/az/ - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (n.d.). Health Consultation Ari-Zonolite.
Retrieved from: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/sites/national_map/fact_sheets/pdf/Arizonolite%20HC-FINAL.pdf