Denver mesothelioma lawyers help victims of asbestos exposure fight for justice and compensation. Denver job sites once had so much asbestos from power plants, energy stations, mills, chemical plants, and more that former workers developed life-threatening asbestos illnesses.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may qualify for substantial compensation. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the top Denver mesothelioma lawyers, 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
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Denver and Asbestos Facts
- There were 3,214 asbestos-related deaths in Colorado between 1999 and 2017.
- The Western Minerals Company Plant in Denver received hundreds of shipments of vermiculite contaminated with asbestos from the Libby, Montana site.
- A recent incident in which several employees at Metropolitan State University were diagnosed with cancer highlights the ongoing risk of asbestos in buildings in Denver.
How Did I Get Mesothelioma?
Asbestos exposure is the leading cause of mesothelioma. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you likely came into contact with asbestos decades ago.
Many industries used asbestos until the 1970s or 1980s. If you worked with or around it, you probably inhaled the fibers. These fibers caused damage to the tissue around your lungs, leading to cancer.
Do I Need a Mesothelioma Lawyer in Denver?
If you have a diagnosis of mesothelioma, you need an experienced lawyer. Mesothelioma is mostly caused by negligent asbestos exposure. Companies that did not warn you of the risks of asbestos can be held accountable for your exposure.
The most important reason to work with a lawyer now is to seek compensation. You may be entitled to recover damages for medical expenses, lost wages, and pain or suffering. A lawyer can help you get compensation through:
- Mesothelioma personal injury lawsuits
- Mesothelioma wrongful death lawsuits
- Asbestos trust funds
- Veterans Benefits
Top Colorado mesothelioma lawyers in Colorado have national reach and are part of large firms that give you the best chance of getting the compensation you deserve.
Where Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Denver?
Most asbestos exposure in Denver and elsewhere occurs in the workplace. Until the 1970s, many companies used asbestos and didn’t warn workers of the risks. Some of the industries that used asbestos the most include:
- Construction
- Power plants
- Oil refineries
- Chemical plants
- Manufacturing plants
- Automotive repair
- The U.S. military
If you worked in one of these industries, you may have been exposed to asbestos and could be at risk for mesothelioma.
Asbestos in Denver Power Stations
Denver is home to several power stations and energy companies that have used asbestos for decades and put workers at risk of exposure:
Cherokee Power Station
Created in 1957, the Cherokee Power Station, now known as Xcel Energy, is an electrical generation facility in Denver. For many years, the power station used asbestos in its facilities.
Asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) were used in many products and machinery at the job site, including boilers, turbines, tanks, pipes, pipe coverings, and much more, placing workers at risk of inhaling asbestos fibers daily.
Gary-Williams Energy
Gary-Williams Energy Corporation is an independently-owned energy company in Denver. It was created in the 1950s, but decades later, in 1995, it purchased Oklahoma’s Wynnewood Refinery and became one of the leading crude oil producers in the area.
As with many other refineries, Gary-Williams Energy once relied on asbestos and caused exposure in workers.
The fact that asbestos did not react during chemical spills made it one of the most popular choices. Consequently, asbestos was used in many products at the energy company, including:
- Furnaces
- Pumps
- Boilers
- Tanks
- Reactors
- Pipes
- Equipment
- Machinery
In addition to the risk of routine exposure on the job, workers were seriously harmed by asbestos during two facility fires in 2007 and 2008.
The first fire permeated the air with asbestos and smoke, traveling up to 25 miles. A year later, the refinery experienced a second fire, caused when lightning struck a storage tank in the facility.
In 2012, Wynnewood Refinery faced yet another disaster after a boiler exploded.
Employees died in the explosion, prompting an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
Libby Vermiculite in Denver
The W.R. Grace mine in Libby, Montana, shipped contaminated vermiculite to processing plants nationwide.
In Denver, the Western Minerals Plant received many shipments of this mineral that contained harmful asbestos.
The Denver plant was one of the country’s largest processors of vermiculite. Thousands of workers and nearby residents risked exposure to contaminating asbestos.
Asbestos in Auraria
The Auraria campus of Denver’s Metropolitan State University recently came under scrutiny because of several cancer diagnoses in employees.
All work in the same campus area and investigators found asbestos in the West Classroom as early as 2010.
Other areas of the campus have been shut down in the last few years due to asbestos.
Whether or not the current cancer cases were caused by campus asbestos is uncertain.
Additional Denver Job Sites Associated with Asbestos Use
Other companies associated with asbestos use in Denver include, but are not limited to:
- Colorado General Hospital
- Colorado State Industrial School (currently known as the Lookout Mountain Youth Services Center )
- Denver Municipal Airport (currently known as the Stapleton International Airport)
- Denver City Hall
- ANB Bank
- Lowry Air Force Base
- Midwest Plumbing and Heating
- Colorado and Southern Railway Company
- Colorado Packing and Provision Company
- Phillips Elementary School
- VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
- University of Colorado (Denver campus)
- Fitzsimons Army Medical Center
- Johns Manville
- Arapahoe Station
Treatment for Mesothelioma Near Denver
Denver does not have a designated National Cancer Institute (NCI). In nearby Aurora, the University of Colorado’s Cancer Center (UCCC) provides innovative, in-depth treatment options for people with mesothelioma, asbestosis, and other forms of cancer caused by asbestos.
UCCC utilizes multidisciplinary clinics to treat patients. For pleural mesothelioma, the Lung Multidisciplinary Clinic provides a group of experts in different fields who consult each other for the treatment of each individual patient.
The Peritoneal Cancer Multidisciplinary Clinic provides treatment for peritoneal mesothelioma, including HIPEC.
Legal Help in Denver
If you or a loved one have been a victim of mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, keep in mind that you may qualify for significant compensation. Get our free Financial Compensation Packet for info 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.
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
- Environmental Working Group. (n.d.). Asbestos-Related Deaths in Colorado.
Retrieved from: http://www.asbestosnation.org/facts/asbestos-deaths/co/ - Butzer, S. (2019, July 25). Testing Underway After Auraria Employees Who Work in Same Area of Campus Diagnosed with Cancer. Denver 7.
Retrieved from: https://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/4-auraria-employees-who-work-in-same-office-area-diagnosed-with-cancer - Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2003, September 9). Health Consultation Former Western Minerals Denver Plant.
Retrieved from: https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/asbestos/sites/health_consultations/pdf/HCFinalDenver.pdf - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. (2023, January). Lung Cancer.
Retrieved from: https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/colorado-cancer-center/for-patients-families/cancers-we-treat/lung-cancer - University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. (n.d.). Peritoneal Cancer/HIPEC.
Retrieved from: https://medschool.cuanschutz.edu/surgery/divisions-centers-affiliates/surgical-oncology/patient-care/peritoneal-cancer-hipec