Florida industrial landscape

Florida Mesothelioma Lawyers

Florida ranks second nationally for mesothelioma diagnoses, with 237 new cases and 320 deaths each year. The age-adjusted rate of 0.8 per 100,000 residents exceeds the national average. Between 1999 and 2021, more than 5,125 people in Florida were diagnosed.

Filing Deadlines in Florida

Florida sets a statute of limitations on mesothelioma lawsuits. The clock starts at diagnosis, not exposure.

Personal Injury
4 Years from Diagnosis
For claims filed by mesothelioma patients
Wrongful Death
2 Years from Death
For claims filed by surviving family members

Missing these deadlines can permanently bar a family's right to compensation.

When the Clock Starts

In Florida, the statute of limitations begins on the date of diagnosis, not the date of asbestos exposure. This is called the "discovery rule."

Mesothelioma has a latency period of 20 to 50 years. Without the discovery rule, most patients would lose their right to file before they even knew they were sick.

The clock starts when:

  • A physician provides a formal mesothelioma diagnosis
  • Symptoms reasonably indicated the disease was present

Personal Injury Claims in Florida

Florida allows 4 years from diagnosis to file a personal injury claim. These claims are filed by the patient and typically seek recovery for medical expenses (past and future treatment), lost wages, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life, meaning the impact of the disease on daily activities, relationships, and ability to work.

Wrongful Death Claims in Florida

Florida allows 2 years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. These claims can be filed by:

  • Surviving spouse
  • Children (including adult children)
  • Parents (in some cases)
  • Estate representative

Wrongful death claims can recover compensation for:

  • Medical expenses incurred before death
  • Funeral and burial costs
  • Loss of financial support
  • Loss of companionship and guidance

Asbestos Exposure Sites in Florida

Florida has 46 cities with documented asbestos exposure sites and 134 liable parties on record. Workers in these areas may have grounds for mesothelioma claims.

Map of documented asbestos exposure sites in Florida

Select a city to view specific exposure sites, companies, and facilities with known asbestos exposure history.

Tampa 29 sites Jacksonville 15 sites Miami 13 sites Orlando 8 sites Mulberry 5 sites Ft. Lauderdale 4 sites Ft. Myers 4 sites Lakeland 4 sites St. Petersburg 4 sites Bartlow 3 sites Hialeah 3 sites Pensacola 3 sites Sarasota 3 sites Live Oak 2 sites Ocala 2 sites Panama City 2 sites

Florida has 3 cancer centers specializing in mesothelioma treatment. For a complete list of documented asbestos exposure sites in Florida, see our exposure database.

Recent Florida Coverage

Recent reporting from MesoWatch on asbestos exposure, litigation, and treatment relevant to Florida.

Asbestos Trust Funds for Florida Workers How Florida shipyard workers, military base personnel, and construction workers can file asbestos trust fund claims. Key trusts and process. Florida Mesothelioma Verdicts and Settlements Documented Florida mesothelioma verdicts, from J&J talc to secondhand brake dust, with Fla. Stat. § 95.11 filing deadlines and appellate status notes. Shipyards and Bases: Florida Asbestos Exposure in Jacksonville, Tampa, and Beyond How Jacksonville shipyards, Pensacola NAS, Patrick AFB, and Tampa ship repair exposed generations of Florida workers to asbestos.

Types of Compensation in Florida

Families in Florida affected by mesothelioma may qualify for multiple forms of compensation. Most cases involve a combination of trust fund claims and litigation.

Lawsuits and Settlements

Personal injury or wrongful death lawsuits can be filed against companies responsible for asbestos exposure. Most cases settle before trial, with average mesothelioma settlements ranging from amounts that vary widely by case. Total compensation can be significantly higher when combining multiple sources. Florida courts generally allow expedited scheduling for mesothelioma cases.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Over 60 bankruptcy trusts hold more than $30 billion for people harmed by asbestos exposure. These claims are separate from lawsuits and can be filed regardless of whether a company is still operating. Trust fund claims have their own deadlines and requirements.

Learn about trust fund claims →

Asbestos Exposure History in Florida

Shipbuilding, power plants, and construction drove most of the state's asbestos exposure. Shipyards like Bradford Marine, North Florida Shipyards, Tampa Shipbuilding, Atlantic Dry Dock, and Tampa Bay Shipbuilding served as major hotspots along coastal corridors from Tampa Bay southward. Power plants including St. Marks Steam Plant and Suwannee River Steam Plant relied on asbestos for insulation. Five operational asbestos processing plants added to the industrial footprint.

Florida's expansive coastline fueled shipbuilding booms. Relentless construction amid population growth spread asbestos-containing materials into buildings statewide. More than 100,000 tons of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite arrived in Tampa alone from the W.R. Grace mine in Libby, Montana. That amplified risks well beyond the state's natural deposits, since Florida lacks domestic asbestos mines.

Workers also encountered asbestos in pulp and paper mills like Smurfit-Stone Container and St. Regis-Champion-International, hospitals such as St. Francis, and NASA facilities that used fireproofing for space shuttles. Electricians, plumbers, carpenters, machinists, and veterans were affected across 104 documented sites in 16 cities spanning 13 counties.

Tampa, coastal shipyard hubs, and senior-heavy counties bore the heaviest toll. Shipyard laborers, power plant operators, and construction tradespeople faced the greatest risks during mid-20th century operations that lasted into the 1980s. Contamination lingers in older homes and public buildings today.

Choosing a Florida Mesothelioma Lawyer

Mesothelioma litigation is a focused practice area. Not every personal injury attorney has the exposure databases, product identification resources, or trial experience these cases require. Our guide to choosing a mesothelioma law firm covers this in detail.

A few things to look at when narrowing a shortlist. Attorneys who concentrate on mesothelioma and asbestos cases typically maintain databases of products, manufacturers, and job sites that most general personal injury firms don't have. A firm's past settlements and verdicts in asbestos cases say more about depth than general trial experience. Familiarity with Florida procedures, judges, and filing requirements shortens the learning curve, especially in an expedited docket. And most mesothelioma attorneys work on contingency, so the family pays nothing unless compensation is recovered.

Learn more about mesothelioma lawyer costs and how contingency fees work.

Legal Q&A

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average settlement for an asbestosis claim?

Average asbestosis settlements are usually much lower than mesothelioma settlements, with many reported ranges falling around $10,000 to $50,000 for non-malignant claims. Some sources note that trust fund payouts for mild cases can be only $2,500 to $7,500, while more severe asbestosis can reach six figures in some cases. The amount depends on factors such as the strength of exposure evidence, medical severity, work history, and how many companies are involved. Settlement figures vary widely because asbestosis claims are often valued differently from asbestos-related cancer claims.

How much does a mesothelioma lawyer cost?

Most mesothelioma attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, with no upfront costs or hourly fees for people with mesothelioma. Fees typically range from 33% to 40% of any compensation recovered through settlement or verdict, though some firms charge 33% to 45% depending on case complexity. Additional service costs, such as court filings and expert witnesses, are often covered by the firm and deducted from the award if successful. Average mesothelioma settlements range from $1 million to $2 million, while trial verdicts average $5 million to $20.7 million. People with mesothelioma retain 55% to 70% of the total compensation after fees.

Can I sue for being exposed to asbestos?

People with mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases, such as lung cancer or asbestosis, can pursue lawsuits against companies that manufactured, supplied, or installed asbestos products if they provide medical documentation of the diagnosis and evidence of exposure history. Claims may also be filed through asbestos bankruptcy trusts established by over 100 companies, often on a sliding scale based on disease severity, or as individual lawsuits requiring proof of negligence. A diagnosis is typically required, as exposure alone does not qualify for personal injury compensation. Statutes of limitations vary by state and often start upon diagnosis. Secondhand exposure, such as from family members' work clothes, has supported successful claims.

Who's the best for an asbestos lawsuit?

No single attorney or firm is universally considered “the best” for asbestos lawsuits, because outcomes often depend on factors such as where a case is filed, the person’s work and exposure history, and the firm’s experience in that specific context. Large national firms like Simmons Hanly Conroy report securing over $10 billion in asbestos verdicts and settlements, and some Texas trial lawyers such as Mark Lanier have won individual verdicts in the hundreds of millions of dollars. Other attorneys, including Ross Stomel, David Greenstone, and firms listed in rankings like Super Lawyers, highlight substantial case results or specialized asbestos dockets. People with mesothelioma often compare firms’ trial records, total compensation recovered, and experience with asbestos trust funds when evaluating who might be the best fit for their situation.