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Hawaii Mesothelioma Lawyer

Until the early 1980s, ships, homes, and other structures built in Hawaii relied heavily on asbestos. Anyone who lived or worked in these structures may be at risk of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos victims can seek justice and compensation by working with a Hawaii mesothelioma attorney.

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Finding a Hawaii Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma cancer victims in Hawaii deserve compensation from the manufacturers of asbestos-based products. Asbestos is the only known cause of mesothelioma — a devastating cancer with no cure. Manufacturers knew asbestos could be deadly but hid the facts to keep making money.

Nearly 150 Hawaii residents died from mesothelioma between 1999 and 2017, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG).

If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-caused disease, working with a Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer can help you receive compensation and bring manufacturers of asbestos-based products to justice.

Hawaii Mesothelioma Lawsuits

Mesothelioma lawsuits demand that manufacturers of asbestos-based products pay for causing a victim to develop this cancer.

Successful mesothelioma lawsuits can pay out anything from $1 million to $11.4 million or more.

It’s free to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. A Hawaii mesothelioma attorney will take care of nearly all the legal burdens.

Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts in Hawaii

Mesothelioma lawsuits pay asbestos victims through settlements and trial verdicts.

  • Mesothelioma settlements occur in over 95% of cases. Settlements resolve the lawsuit before it goes to trial. Mesothelioma victims receive $1 million on average from settlements.
  • Mesothelioma trial verdicts happen only if the lawsuit is not settled. Through a trial, a jury may declare either the mesothelioma victim or the manufacturer of asbestos-based products the winner. Victims who win trials receive an average of $2.4 million.

A Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer can negotiate settlements and prepare a case for a possible trial.

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  • Over $30 billion available
  • No cost to file a claim
  • Avoid going to court

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Shara Fisher
Shara Fisher Senior Paralegal
17+ years providing legal help to mesothelioma victims

Asbestos Exposure Sites in Hawaii

Both shipyards and construction sites put Hawaii workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Ships and buildings relied on many asbestos-containing products before the 1980s.

Most pre-1975 building codes required asbestos fireproofing materials to be used when building metal frame, multi-story buildings.

A mesothelioma lawyer in Hawaii will have access to recorded locations of thousands of sites linked to asbestos in the state and the rest of the county.

Asbestos sites in Hawaii include:

  • Chevron USA, Campbell Industrial Park
  • Dole Company, Honolulu
  • Electric Automobile Company, Honolulu
  • Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company, multiple sites in the state
  • Hawaiian Electric Company, Waiau Power Plant, Honolulu
  • Honolulu Shipyard, Honolulu
  • Naval Shipyard, Ford Island
  • Paauhau Sugar Plantation, Hilo, Paauhau
  • Pearl Harbor Navy Yard, Honolulu
  • Pearl Harbor Shipyard, Oahu, Honolulu, Pearl Harbor
  • Standard Oil, Honolulu, Barbers Point
  • U.S. Navy Yard, Pearl Harbor
  • Union Oil Company of California, Lemont
  • Waiau Power Plant, Pearl Harbor

There are many other Hawaiian asbestos exposure sites not listed above, too. Reach out to a Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer to learn if a job site you worked at used asbestos. Lawyers at top mesothelioma law firms also can see if you qualify for financial benefits to cover mesothelioma expenses.

Statute of Limitations in Hawaii

A Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer goes over paperwork with a man and a woman

Statutes of limitations are laws that prevent lawsuits from being filed after a certain period of time. These laws can be hard to understand since they vary by state and other factors.

If you want to file a lawsuit within the statute of limitations, contact a Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer soon after a diagnosis or death of a loved one. A Hawaii mesothelioma attorney knows the statutes in the state.

Asbestos Trust Funds and Statutes of Limitations

If the statute of limitations in Hawaii has run out in your case, you could still seek compensation through asbestos trust funds.

Bankrupt manufacturers of asbestos-based products set up trust funds to pay mesothelioma victims and avoid lawsuits. You must file a claim with the trust to access compensation.

Asbestos trust funds set their own deadlines for filing claims as they are not subject to state law. Asbestos trust funds contain over $30 billion today.

Learn how to access this money with assistance from a Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer.

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  • More than $30 billion available
  • $300K-$400K average compensation
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Asbestos Rules and Regulations in Hawaii

Hawaii has established the Hawaii Administrative Rule (HAR) to protect residents and the environment from asbestos exposure. This rule sets standards to limit asbestos use in different products. It also puts forth guidelines on how to handle asbestos waste.

Hawaii also follows the Neutral Administrative Inspection Scheme (NAIS) developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This rule ensures that all asbestos removal and containment projects are done safely.

A Hawaii mesothelioma attorney can determine if these laws may affect your case.

Hawaii Veterans & VA Information

Hawaii is home to the world’s most famous Navy base: Pearl Harbor. This base previously housed approximately 130 ships and thousands of American service members in the 20th century.

Yet the military used asbestos to build just about every U.S. Navy ship and many military bases — including Pearl Harbor. This puts veterans who served at Pearl Harbor at risk of developing mesothelioma.

Hawaii Veterans Benefits

One-third of all mesothelioma patients today are veterans. About 6,000 veterans died from this cancer between 1999 and 2005.

Veterans with mesothelioma can get help through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The agency offers a wide range of benefits and services.

VA benefits include:

The VA also works with some of the country’s top mesothelioma doctors to treat veterans. Further, there are medical centers and offices across Hawaii to help veterans. Learn more about the offices below by visiting the VA’s official website (va.gov).

Veterans Benefits Administration

  • Honolulu Regional Office

VA Medical Centers

  • VA Pacific Islands Health Care System

Community-Based Outpatient Clinics

  • Leeward Oahu VA Clinic
  • Hilo VA Clinic
  • Kailua-Kona VA Clinic
  • Lihue VA Clinic
  • Maui VA Clinic

Veterans Centers

  • Hilo Veterans Center
  • Honolulu Veterans Center
  • Kailua-Kona Veterans Center
  • Kauai Veterans Center
  • Maui Veterans Center
  • Western Oahu Veterans Center

Veterans exposed to asbestos have the right to file a VA benefits claim. A Hawaii mesothelioma attorney can organize the details of your case and gather key documents to file a claim.

Once this paperwork is in order, veterans can contact a Veterans Service Officer (VSO) to file a VA benefits claim.

AML and VFW Service Officers in Hawaii

VSOs make applying for VA benefits easier for veterans and families.

They can help veterans:

  • Apply for federal and state benefits
  • Draft compensation and pension requests
  • Seek health care assistance
  • Learn about burial and survivor benefits

VSOs work with organizations like the American Legion (AML), Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), and the Wounded Warrior Project to better assist veterans. These organizations have nearly 30 locations throughout Hawaii.

Veteran service offices in Hawaii include:

Honolulu

  • American Legion
  • Disabled American Veterans
  • Fleet Reserve Association
  • Hawaii Office of Veterans Services
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars
  • Wounded Warrior Project

Hilo

  • Hawaii Office of Veterans Services
  • Veterans of Foreign Wars

Veterans with mesothelioma can reach out to these offices and connect with a VSO today. They can also contact a Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer to learn about other types of compensation.

Get a Free Mesothelioma Case Review
  • Over $30 billion available
  • No cost to file a claim
  • Avoid going to court

Get a Free Case Review

Shara Fisher
Shara Fisher Senior Paralegal
17+ years providing legal help to mesothelioma victims

Contacting a Hawaii Mesothelioma Lawyer

Let some of the best mesothelioma lawyers in Hawaii help you access compensation.

A Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer can:

  • Determine how, when, and where you were exposed to asbestos
  • File mesothelioma lawsuits on your behalf
  • Secure financial benefits and compensation

Get a free case review to see all the ways a Hawaii mesothelioma lawyer can assist you.

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Attorney Melissa Crowe SchopferReviewed by:Melissa Crowe Schopfer

Partner, Simmons Hanly Conroy

  • Fact-Checked
  • Legal Editor

Melissa Crowe Schopfer is a partner at Simmons Hanly Conroy. Over the past 10 years, Melissa has worked on over 500 cases and recovered more than $100 million in settlements and trial verdicts on behalf of her clients. She has represented families impacted by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases in almost every state.

  • Asbestos Trial Team Leader
  • Practicing Attorney for 15+ Years
  • Has Recovered Over $100 Million
Laura WrightWritten by:

Lead Editor

Laura Wright is a journalist and content strategist with more than 16 years of professional experience. She attended college at the University of Florida, graduating magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism in 2008. Her writing has been featured in The Gainesville Sun and other regional publications throughout Florida.

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References
  1. American Legion. “Find Service Officer Directory.” Retrieved from: https://mylegion.org/PersonifyEbusiness/Find-a-Service-Officer. Accessed on October 2, 2024.
  2. eBenefits. “Manage Your Representative for VA Claims.” Retrieved from: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits/vso-search. Accessed on October 2, 2024.
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Malignant Mesothelioma Mortality – United States, 1999–2015.” Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/66/wr/mm6608a3.htm. Accessed on October 2, 2024.
  4. Environmental Protection Agency. “EPA Actions to Protect the Public from Exposure to Asbestos.” Retrieved from: https://www.epa.gov/asbestos/epa-actions-protect-public-exposure-asbestos. Accessed on October 2, 2024.
  5. Fournier-Massey, G., Wong, G., & Hall, T. C. (1984). Retired and former asbestos workers in Hawaii. American Journal of American Medicine. 6(2), 139–153. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700060208
  6. National Mining Association. “Hawaii Mining Jobs.” Retrieved from https://nma.org/map/hawaii/. Accessed on October 2, 2024.
  7. Reuters. “Special Report: The long, lethal shadow of asbestos.” Retrieved from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-asbestos-lawsuits/special-report-the-long-lethal-shadow-of-asbestos-idUSBRE84A0J920120511. Accessed on October 2, 2024.
  8. State of Hawaii, Department of Health. “Asbestos Program.” Retrieved from: https://health.hawaii.gov/irhb/asbestos/. Accessed on October 2, 2024.
  9. ThoughtCo. “Pearl Harbor: The US Navy’s Home in the Pacific.: Retrieved from: https://www.thoughtco.com/pearl-harbor-us-navys-home-pacific-2361226. Accessed on October 2, 2024.
  10. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. “Locations.” Retrieved from: https://www.va.gov/directory/guide/state.asp?dnum=ALL&STATE=HI. Accessed on October 2, 2024.
  11. U.S. Government Accountability Office. “Asbestos Injury Compensation: The Role and Administration of Asbestos Trusts.” Retrieved from: https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-11-819. Accessed on October 2, 2024.
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Mesothelioma Hope is passionate about helping patients and families affected by this aggressive cancer. A mesothelioma diagnosis can be scary and isolating, but we’re here for you at every step. Hope is only a phone call away.

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