Contact an experienced Tulsa mesothelioma lawyer to learn about your legal options if you have an asbestos-related illness. The timing of construction and oil booms in Tulsa coincided with heavy asbestos use. Workplace exposure put people at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses.
If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestos-related lung cancer, or asbestosis, you may be entitled to substantial compensation. Fill out our form to get a free Financial Compensation Packet. You’ll learn about the experienced mesothelioma lawyers in Tulsa, 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
Tulsa Asbestos Facts
- Between 1999 and 2017, there were over 2,600 asbestos-related deaths in Oklahoma.
- Tulsa and Tulsa County had the second-highest number of deaths in that period, with 396.
- The long history of the energy industry in Tulsa has contributed to significant asbestos exposure in the area.
About Mesothelioma
Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly cancer caused by asbestos exposure. Most people with mesothelioma were negligently exposed to asbestos at work. Many industries and workplaces in Tulsa used asbestos and put workers at risk.
Asbestos can cause a couple of different types of mesothelioma. Pleural mesothelioma develops in the chest and causes symptoms like shortness of breath, coughing, and chest pains. Peritoneal mesothelioma occurs in the abdomen and causes pain, bloating, and digestive symptoms.
Asbestos in the workplace causes mesothelioma by shedding fibers into the air. Workers then inadvertently inhale or ingest the fibers. The fibers cause inflammation and damage inside the body, which causes mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis in some people.
Do I Need a Tulsa Mesothelioma Lawyer?
If you have mesothelioma, you need an experienced mesothelioma and asbestos lawyer. Asbestos exposure is negligent, so you can hold companies accountable for your illness. They should have protected you from asbestos and didn’t.
A top Tulsa, Oklahoma, mesothelioma lawyer can help you take legal action to seek compensation from asbestos companies. They can investigate your past asbestos exposure and determine which companies are responsible.
The right asbestos lawyer will find evidence to prove your case, explain your options, and give you the best chance of recovering damages.
How to Choose a Tulsa Mesothelioma Lawyer
Asbestos cases are very complicated. Winning them requires experience, expertise, and extensive resources. When hiring a mesothelioma lawyer in Tulsa, look for these characteristics:
- A lawyer with experience handling and winning mesothelioma lawsuits and claims
- A lawyer who is part of a larger firm with investigators, medical experts, and adequate resources to take your case
- Free initial consultations and contingency payment, so you pay nothing until they win
- The ability to come to you if you are too sick to travel
- Nationwide reach and jurisdiction in other states, as asbestos cases often cross state lines
How Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Tulsa, Oklahoma?
Many industries and workplaces in Tusla used asbestos and exposed workers. These are just a few examples of where you might have encountered asbestos in the city.
Sinclair Oil Corporation
Sinclair Oil is a petroleum corporation with fueling stations throughout the Midwest and Western parts of the U.S. Sinclair Oil also operated refineries in Tulsa.
Before the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) strict regulations on asbestos use in the 1970s, Sinclair Oil used asbestos-containing materials (ACMs) in equipment, machinery, products, and construction materials.
Since amphibole asbestos is heat-proof, a fire retardant, and helps block reactive chemicals, it was one of the leading choices of asbestos for oil companies.
Common uses of asbestos in oil refineries, like Sinclair’s, included:
- Thermal insulation and insulation materials, such as pipes, gaskets, and conduits
- Refinery equipment, such as sealants, sheets, and metal gaskets
- Construction products, such as floor, ceiling, and roofing tiles, as well as work surfaces and walls
- Protective clothing and equipment, such as gloves, masks, work uniforms, textile cloths, and aprons
Skelly Building
The Skelly Building, the headquarters of Skelly Oil, was a major contributor to asbestos-related diseases among the people who built it. The former 9-story building was constructed in 1921, with several renovations over subsequent decades.
Although the building was demolished to make room for a new parking lot, this only happened after workers had been exposed to asbestos for years.
In 1960, a Tulsa carpenter, whose name wasn’t made public, was assigned to re-size drywall sheets at the Skelly building. As he cut and re-sized the drywall sheets, he exposed asbestos fibers but had no idea he was inhaling them.
Decades later, the building worker was diagnosed with mesothelioma. He was never made aware of the risks.
Remediating Tulsa Buildings
Tulsa’s rapid growth in population and construction came when the industry used asbestos in insulation and many other building materials.
Now, many of those aging buildings pose exposure risks for workers and residents.
In 2019 the EPA awarded Tulsa a Brownfield grant of $500,000 to clean up asbestos and toxic sites within older buildings and industrial sites.
The city plans to use the funds to remediate asbestos and other toxic substances in Air Force Plant #3 at the Tulsa International Airport and to renovate an old oil company building downtown.
In 2020, the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality and the city of Tulsa agreed to partner on major asbestos remediation in the Abundant Life Building.
Constructed in the 1950s, the building contains a lot of asbestos. Remediating the building, which is currently vacant, will take over $2 million to complete.
Other Job Sites Associated with Asbestos in Tulsa
The case of the worker at the Skelly Building is just one of many tragic examples of Tulsa workers and residents exposed to asbestos. Many other buildings and workplaces in the city used asbestos and put workers at risk.
Schools, Churches, and Hospitals
- Mcclain High School
- University of Tulsa
- Oral Roberts University
- St. Francis Hospital
- St. John’s Hospital
- First Baptist Church
- Edison Middle School
- Hillcrest Medical Center
Banks
- First National Bank
- National Bank of Tulsa
Oil Companies
- Bareco Oil Company
- City Services Oil Company
- Sunray Oil Refinery
- Humble Oil
- Skelly Oil
- Stanolind Oil and Gas Company
Petroleum Companies
- Mid-Continent Petroleum Corporation
- Warren Petroleum Corporation
Additional Companies and Buildings
- American Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO)
- Douglas Aircraft Company
- American Airlines
- McDonnnell Douglas Aircraft Company
- Armstrong World Industries
- Bryant Refractory Company
- Tulsa City Hall
- Douglas Aircraft Company
- Carpenter’s Union (Local 943)
- Tulsa City-County Library (downtown)
- Gulf Pipe Line Company
- Jones & Laughlin Steel Company
- Lone Star Pressure Precision Company
- Oklahoma Gas & Electric Company
- Owens-Corning Fiberglass Corporation
- Tulsa Assembly Center
- Thermal Systems Incorporated
- Tulsa Ice and Packing Company
- Tulsa International Airport
- Union Carbide Corporation
- Waite Phillips Building
- The Thorpe Company
- Tulsa Rig and Steel
- Trigen Oklahoma
- Wheeler Drywall
- Maloney Crawford Tank Company
Cancer Treatment in Tulsa
The nearest cancer treatment centers to Tulsa are in Oklahoma City:
- Stephenson Cancer Center. Part of the University of Oklahoma, the Stephenson Cancer Center is recognized by the National Cancer Institute as a Cancer Center. It provides comprehensive, cutting-edge care and access to clinical trials.
- INTEGRIS Health Cancer Center. INTEGRIS also offers treatment for a variety of cancer types. There are five locations, including two in Oklahoma City and one each in Yukon, Enid, and Grove.
This firm was extremely professional and responsive. If you have any meso questions, I’d highly recommend them.
– Michael L.
Legal Help in Tulsa
Get our free Financial Compensation Packet for information on the top mesothelioma and asbestos lawyers in your area. Fill out our form today. For additional assistance, contact us at 800-793-4540.
