Call Us :216-575-0777
Call Us :216-575-0777
Facing a mesothelioma diagnosis is one of the hardest challenges a family can endure. If you or someone you love in South Carolina has been exposed to asbestos, our legal team is here to walk beside you.
At Kelley Ferraro, LLC, we represent individuals and families in Columbia, Charleston, Rock Hill, Greenville, and across the nation. With over $1 billion recovered for asbestos victims, we fight tirelessly so you can cover medical bills, ease financial stress, and protect your family’s future.
Let us carry the legal burden while you focus on care and healing. Reach out to our South Carolina Mesothelioma attorneys today to schedule an initial consultation.
Mesothelioma is a rare cancer that forms in the thin tissue that lines the lungs, the belly and other organs. The CDC reported 2,669 new cases in the United States in 2022, and it says asbestos exposure causes most cases.
Asbestos fibers are tiny. A person can breathe them in or swallow them without knowing it. The fibers can stay in the body and cause harm slowly. In fact, symptoms may not appear until 20 to 40 years or longer after exposure. That is why many people learn they are sick long after they left a job.
Mesothelioma has two main forms. Pleural mesothelioma affects the lining of the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the belly. Our pages on each type explain the signs and how a claim works.
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Documentation of jobsites known to have been contaminated with asbestos products allows us to determine when and where someone was probably exposed to this dangerous substance at:
Asbestos products were used in many South Carolina workplaces over the years, including shipyards, power plants, textile mills, paper mills and chemical plants. In Charleston County, the Charleston Naval Shipyard operated from 1901 until 1996, and people who repaired ships, boilers and pipes there may have been exposed.
If you worked in one of these places, please tell us. Our pages on shipyard workers, power plant workers, construction workers, plumbers and pipefitters and electricians describe jobs where exposure was common.
Family members can be exposed too. Dust on a worker’s clothes or hair can reach people at home. Tell us if someone in your household worked with asbestos.
Once we determine where your asbestos exposure probably occurred, we can begin building a case for compensation for your expenses and losses.
Because deadlines apply, please contact us as soon as you can after you have become aware that you are suffering from mesothelioma. In many cases, it does not matter if you begin your case years or decades after you were exposed to asbestos. What matters is whether you file a claim in a timely manner after you learn that you have mesothelioma. Asbestos exposure is the main known cause of this disease.
For more information about asbestos, mesothelioma and types of help available to sufferers of mesothelioma in the Palmetto State and elsewhere, see the following pages of this website:
South Carolina sets deadlines for filing lawsuits. These deadlines are called statutes of limitations. A statute of limitations is a law that limits how long you have to file a claim.
For most injury claims, S.C. Code Ann. § 15-3-530(5) gives you three years, and they generally start on the date you knew, or reasonably should have known, that you had a claim. That date can differ from the date of your diagnosis, and it can depend on the facts of your case.
If a person dies from mesothelioma, the family may have a wrongful death claim. Under § 15-3-530(6) and the South Carolina wrongful death statutes, §§ 15-51-10 to 15-51-60, the three-year period generally starts on the date of death. Other rules can change these deadlines in some cases. A lawyer can tell you which deadline applies to you, so please do not wait to ask.
A mesothelioma claim may seek money for the costs and losses the illness causes. These may include:
Every case is different, and no lawyer can promise a result. We can explain which losses may apply to you.
Some companies that made asbestos products went bankrupt and set up trust funds to pay claims. We can look at whether you may also file claims with these trusts.
Our page on Medicare reimbursement explains how Medicare payments can affect a recovery.
Many veterans worked in or around ships, boilers and engine rooms where asbestos was used. If you have a health condition caused by contact with asbestos during your service, you may be eligible for VA disability compensation.
In most cases, veterans cannot sue the military for injuries from service. You may still be able to file a claim against the companies that made the asbestos products. We can review your service record and work history with you.
Every case starts with your story. We explain each step in plain language. In general, the work includes:
Our pages on proving the source of asbestos and the legal process give more detail.
A diagnosis is hard news. These steps can help you protect your rights while you focus on your health:
You can also fill out our asbestos exposure questionnaire or read Where Do You Go From Here?
A mesothelioma lawsuit may be filed in South Carolina or in another state. The right court depends on where you were exposed and where the companies can be sued.
In South Carolina state court, civil cases go to the Court of Common Pleas in the county. For example, the Charleston County Clerk of Court handles Common Pleas filings at 100 Broad Street in Charleston.
After we review your history, we can explain which court may be the right one for your claim.
Kelley Ferraro, LLC was founded in 1997 and handles asbestos and mesothelioma cases for clients across the country. In 2021, a Cuyahoga County jury returned a $10.6 million verdict for the widow of a mechanic who developed mesothelioma after exposure to asbestos in brakes. Equity Partners James L. Ferraro and John Martin Murphy oversaw the trial team, and Shawn M. Acton served as lead counsel. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in your case.
In most cases, you have three years from the date you knew, or should have known, that you had a claim. A wrongful death claim generally has three years from the date of death.
Often, yes. The deadline usually runs from when you learn of the illness and its cause, not from the year of exposure.
Asbestos exposure causes most cases, according to the CDC. People can breathe in or swallow the fibers.
Symptoms may not appear until 20 to 40 years or longer after exposure. See a doctor if you have symptoms and a history of asbestos exposure.
Asbestos products were used in shipyards, power plants, textile mills, paper mills, chemical plants and many older buildings. We review your work history to find where and when your exposure may have happened.
In most cases, you cannot sue the military, but you may qualify for VA benefits. You may also be able to file against the companies that made the asbestos products.
A wrongful death claim is generally brought by the personal representative of the estate for certain family members. A lawyer can tell you who may file.
Some companies that made asbestos products set up bankruptcy trust funds to pay claims. We can check whether you may file a trust claim.
Not completely. The EPA finalized a rule in 2024 to prohibit certain uses of chrysotile asbestos, and that rule faces court challenges.
A lawsuit is filed in court against a company that can still be sued. A trust claim is filed with a fund that a bankrupt company created to pay asbestos claims.
Bring what you have, such as your diagnosis, a list of past employers and job sites, and the names of coworkers. If you are missing records, we can help you look for them.
No. We represent clients throughout the United States from our Cleveland, Ohio office.
We offer free initial consultations by phone or in person. You can read how attorneys’ fees and costs work on our website.
Our plaintiffs’ law firm represents clients in mesothelioma cases in South Carolina and in other states, including:
We offer free initial in-person or phone consultations to mesothelioma victims in South Carolina and nationwide. Please schedule a free consultation with an attorney.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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