Illinois Mesothelioma Lawyer

Skilled Mesothelioma Attorney in Illinois

Mesothelioma is a terminal cancer caused by asbestos exposure, and over the past several decades, thousands of people throughout Illinois have been exposed to this substance. If you or a family member is diagnosed with mesothelioma, it is crucial that you speak with an experienced Illinois mesothelioma lawyer at your first opportunity. The right attorney can help you prove liability for your condition and claim compensation for your damages.

Representing Mesothelioma Cases in Illinois

The attorneys at Kelley Ferraro, LLC have almost 30 years of experience representing clients in mesothelioma cases nationwide. We have successfully resolved more than 40,000 of these cases and have recovered more than $1 billion in compensation for our clients. 

We have built our practice specifically around the depth of experience these cases demand.

When you hire a mesothelioma lawyer at Kelley Ferraro, LLC, you will have a dedicated legal advocate ready to help you with each stage of your case. We will investigate your work history and other records, cross-referencing with known asbestos exposure risks throughout Illinois to determine the most likely source of your exposure. Once we determine the most likely source, this will inform us of your legal options.

Whether you or a loved one is diagnosed with mesothelioma, this is life-changing news for any family. You’re likely to have many difficult legal questions that only a skilled attorney can answer. 

The team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC is ready to assist you, and time matters when building a strong case. Contact us as soon as possible so we can start working on your behalf.

Understanding Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma

Throughout the US, asbestos was used in various applications for many years because of its insulating and fireproofing properties. Mining operations, construction, manufacturing, pipefitting, and steelwork are just a few of the highest-risk industries. Many were exposed to asbestos on the job, worked in buildings constructed with asbestos-containing materials, and some lived in homes containing asbestos.

Asbestos fibers are thin, sharp, and very small. When they are released into the air, they are light enough to remain suspended for long periods. If these fibers enter the body, they can become embedded in various tissues, most commonly in the pleura of the lungs, and they will gradually cause mesothelioma to develop over time. There is no known safe level of asbestos exposure. In rare cases, even a single, short exposure has been enough to cause mesothelioma years later, though most people diagnosed with mesothelioma had repeated or long-term exposure.

Pleural mesothelioma is the most common form of this cancer, resulting from fibers entering the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma forms in the abdominal organs after asbestos fibers are ingested. People who work with or near asbestos may not only be exposed regularly, but they could also bring fibers home on their skin and clothing, potentially affecting their family members. Over time, this repeated exposure can cause mesothelioma.

While the cause of mesothelioma is widely known, one of the most challenging aspects of this disease is its very long latency period. It often takes decades after asbestos exposure for noticeable symptoms of mesothelioma to appear. Only about 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are diagnosed throughout the US each year, and the health risks of asbestos exposure are now widely understood, but new cases continue appearing because of exposure that happened decades ago.

The early symptoms of mesothelioma typically mimic those of other, less serious illnesses, and this can sometimes delay treatment. Once someone is diagnosed with mesothelioma, treatment will focus on managing their symptoms, maintaining their quality of life, and preserving life expectancy as much as possible. However, mesothelioma is inevitably a terminal and incurable cancer.

According to the National Cancer Institute, the five-year survival rate for pleural mesothelioma is about 23% when localized, 15% if it has spread to nearby areas, and 11% if it has spread further.

Mesothelioma treatment may include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation treatment. Many patients also receive additional therapy to manage symptoms, but eventually will need to transition to palliative care.

Determining Your Legal Options for Your Mesothelioma Case in Illinois

You may have multiple options for claiming compensation for your mesothelioma diagnosis, depending on how and where you were exposed. Many US companies have been required to establish mesothelioma injury trusts to compensate those affected by their asbestos products, and you may qualify to file a claim to one of these trusts.

If you were exposed to asbestos at your current job, you may be able to claim compensation from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance under Illinois’s Workers’ Occupational Diseases Act, 820 ILCS 310/1 et seq. This insurance can apply to work-related illness or injury, and most regular workers are covered. 

This coverage is limited in a couple of ways: it generally only pays for specific medical expenses and a portion of your lost income. It used to also carry a strict 25-year deadline, but Illinois changed that rule in 2019: if your mesothelioma or other latent illness shows up more than 25 years after your exposure at work, you may now be able to sue your employer directly in court. In some cases, this lets you go around the usual workers’ compensation limits. The Illinois Supreme Court approved this rule on January 24, 2025, in a case called Martin v. Goodrich. But the court said the rule only applies going forward from 2019. It does not automatically bring back every old claim. Whether it helps your case depends on your specific facts. This option is still worth exploring if it applies to your situation.

When a specific party is directly responsible for your mesothelioma diagnosis, this can form grounds for a personal injury case. Success with any personal injury case in Illinois hinges on the plaintiff’s ability to prove that a defendant is directly responsible for causing their claimed damages. Your Illinois mesothelioma lawyer can gather the evidence needed to establish liability and then calculate the full extent of the damages you are eligible to claim.

Illinois’ Two-Year Deadline to File a Claim

Illinois law sets a strict deadline for asbestos lawsuits. Under the state’s personal injury statute, 735 ILCS 5/13-202, and under the discovery rule established in Nolan v. Johns-Manville Asbestos (1981), you generally have two years to file a personal injury claim, starting from when you were diagnosed or reasonably should have known you were sick, not from when the exposure happened. Because mesothelioma often does not appear until decades after exposure, this discovery rule gives many victims a fair chance to sue even though their exposure took place many years earlier.

A wrongful death claim works differently: under 740 ILCS 180/2, that two-year clock starts on the date your loved one died, not on the date they were diagnosed.

Still, missing the deadline can end your case for good, so it is best to speak with a lawyer as soon as you are diagnosed.

Where Illinois Asbestos Cases Are Filed

Illinois is one of the busiest states in the country for asbestos litigation. Madison County alone saw more asbestos lawsuits filed in 2024 than any other county in the nation, and neighboring St. Clair County ranked among the top jurisdictions as well. Cases in the Chicago area are handled in the Law Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County, which hears all local asbestos personal injury, wrongful death, and trust fund claims on a dedicated docket. Because each of these courts has its own scheduling rules, discovery deadlines, and case management orders, having a lawyer who is familiar with the specific court where your case will be filed can make a real difference in how quickly your claim moves and how it is ultimately resolved.

Claiming Compensation for Mesothelioma

When you are eligible to file a mesothelioma personal injury case, your attorney can help you calculate all of the damages you could recover from the defendant. Economic damages in these cases often include medical expenses and lost income. You can seek compensation for the cost of all the medical treatment you will need for this diagnosis. Many mesothelioma diagnoses occur later in life, but if your diagnosis forces you to quit work, you can claim lost earning capacity.

Aside from economic damages, a plaintiff also has the right to seek compensation for their pain and suffering. Receiving a terminal diagnosis is difficult to process, and mesothelioma causes painful and debilitating symptoms. Your Illinois mesothelioma attorney can determine a suitable amount of compensation to claim from the defendant that reflects the severity of the pain and suffering you have experienced.

In some of these cases, defendants are required to pay punitive damages. The court may order this if the facts show that the defendant was egregiously negligent, willfully neglected asbestos safety regulations, or acted illegally in any way that contributed to your diagnosis. Your attorney can explain how any such factors could influence your case.

Even if your case seems straightforward and you believe you have a firm grasp of the damages you are eligible to claim, the reality is that any mesothelioma case is likely to be far more challenging than it initially appears. It’s crucial to hire an attorney who has proven experience with cases like yours, and the team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC is ready to assist you through this challenging situation.

What to Expect From Your Illinois Mesothelioma Lawyer?

At Kelley Ferraro, LLC, we take time to learn as much as possible about each client’s unique situation, so we can identify the party or parties most likely liable for your diagnosis. 

We can help you file a claim with a mesothelioma injury trust if you are eligible. We can also assist you with filing a claim for workers’ compensation benefits if you were exposed to asbestos at your job. If you have grounds to file a mesothelioma personal injury case, you can trust our team to pursue as much compensation as state law allows for your economic and non-economic damages.

We can also provide compassionate legal counsel when a family member has died from mesothelioma, assisting you with a wrongful death case. We will explain how you can hold a defendant accountable for your loved one’s death from asbestos exposure and assist you with resolving this case as efficiently as possible.

We prepare for litigation in the cases we accept. We are trial attorneys and will be ready to represent you in the courtroom if necessary, which can also strengthen a client’s negotiating position. We will explore every legal avenue available to you, including trust fund claims, workers’ compensation, and personal injury or wrongful death litigation.

If you are concerned about paying for legal counsel, we accept most of these cases on a contingency basis. This means there is no upfront cost to hire our firm, and we charge no attorney fees unless we succeed in securing compensation for you.

The first steps you take after a mesothelioma diagnosis in Illinois are crucial. The team at Kelley Ferraro, LLC is ready to put our skills, resources, and experience to work in helping you pursue accountability and compensation for your damages. You have a limited time to build this case, so contact us today and schedule a free consultation with an experienced Illinois mesothelioma lawyer you can trust.