Minnesota Mesothelioma Lawyers

Filing Deadlines in Minnesota

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

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

When the Clock Starts

In Minnesota, 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 Minnesota

Minnesota 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 Minnesota

Minnesota allows 3 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 Minnesota

Minnesota has 25 cities with documented asbestos exposure sites and 49 liable parties on record. Workers in these areas may have grounds for mesothelioma claims.

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

Minnesota has 2 cancer centers specializing in mesothelioma treatment. For a complete list of documented asbestos exposure sites in Minnesota, see our exposure database.

Types of Compensation in Minnesota

Families in Minnesota 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. Minnesota courts generally allow expedited scheduling for mesothelioma cases.

Asbestos Trust Funds

Over 60 bankruptcy trusts hold more than $30 billion for asbestos victims. 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 Minnesota

The state's iron ore mining industry created the bulk of asbestos exposure. Mining began on the Mesabi Range, Cuyuna Range, Vermilion Range, and Fillmore County as early as 1865. The iron ore itself contained natural asbestos and asbestos-like fibers, particularly in taconite mines that began operating in 1956.

Manufacturing facilities added to the problem. The Conwed Corporation plant in Cloquet produced asbestos ceiling tiles and mineral board from 1958 to 1974, purchasing 50 to 120 tons of asbestos monthly. Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing (3M) in St. Paul made asbestos-containing adhesives, caulks, and personal protective equipment from 1935 to 1986. The Western Mineral Products plant in northeast Minneapolis processed asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana, converting it into Zonolite insulation from the 1930s through the 1980s.

Reserve Mining Company in Silver Bay dumped hundreds of thousands of tons of taconite waste containing asbestos-like fibers into Lake Superior during the 1960s and 1970s. A federal lawsuit followed, filed between 1972 and 1980.

Documented exposure sites span six cities across five counties. Residential exposure also occurred when community members collected free contaminated waste rock for driveways and gardening. The EPA remediated roughly 260 properties in northeast Minneapolis by the early 2000s.

By the late 1990s, mesothelioma rates among northeastern Minnesota's taconite miners had risen sharply. The seven-county region showed rates over 70% higher than the statewide average for 1988 to 1994. Between 1999 and 2013, nearly 1,000 people in Minnesota died from mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. The Minnesota Department of Health began notifying affected residents in 2003. Screening studies found that 27.8% of former Conwed workers showed lung abnormalities typical of asbestos exposure.

Choosing a Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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.