Mesothelioma Lawyer

Legally reviewed by Scott Hendler, Attorney, State Bar of Texas (admitted 1989) · Last updated October 20, 2026

If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may be able to recover compensation from the companies that made or sold the asbestos products behind the exposure, even if the exposure happened decades ago or the company is now bankrupt. Hendler Flores Law has represented mesothelioma families across the country since 1993. This page explains who can file, how long you have, where asbestos exposure typically happens, what compensation is available, and how our firm builds these cases. The consultation is free and confidential: call 1.800.443.6353.

Who can file a mesothelioma lawsuit?

Anyone diagnosed with mesothelioma after asbestos exposure may be able to bring a claim, no matter where they live today or where the exposure happened. When the person diagnosed has passed away, close family members or the estate may bring a wrongful death claim; exactly who qualifies depends on the law of the state where the case is filed. Because mesothelioma is caused by asbestos, the defendants are usually the manufacturers and suppliers of asbestos-containing products, not the employer where the exposure occurred. You do not need to know which products you were exposed to before you call. Identifying the exposure sources is part of the work our mesothelioma lawyers do for you, using employment records, military service records, co-worker testimony, and product databases built over three decades of asbestos litigation.

How long do you have to file a mesothelioma claim?

Every state sets its own filing deadline, called a statute of limitations. Most states allow between one and three years from the date of a mesothelioma diagnosis to file a personal injury lawsuit, and a similar period from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim. In Texas, for example, the deadline is generally two years (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003). Asbestos cases often have special rules about when the clock starts, because the disease appears 20 to 50 years after exposure, and some states, including Texas, add medical-documentation requirements for asbestos claims. Asbestos trust fund claims have their own deadlines that are separate from the court deadline. Missing any of these dates can end an otherwise strong claim, so the safest step is to speak with a lawyer as soon as you have a diagnosis.

Where does asbestos exposure happen?

Asbestos was used for decades in insulation, gaskets, pipe covering, brake parts, cement, and fireproofing, so exposure follows the country’s industrial map: oil refineries and petrochemical plants, shipyards, steel mills, power plants, chemical plants, and the construction, automotive, and insulation trades.

Military service is another major source. Many of our mesothelioma clients served in the U.S. Navy, where asbestos insulated pipes, boilers, and engine rooms on ships. Veterans can pursue claims against the product manufacturers and may also qualify for VA disability benefits for mesothelioma; the two do not cancel each other out.

Family members can be exposed too. Secondary asbestos exposure occurs when fibers come home on work clothes, and spouses and children of refinery, plant, and shipyard workers have developed mesothelioma decades later. If you never worked around asbestos yourself but a parent or spouse did, you may still have a claim.

The exposure histories we see most often

In the asbestos cases our firm has handled, the most common exposure histories are Navy shipboard service, Gulf Coast refinery and chemical-plant maintenance, power-plant work, and take-home exposure from a parent’s work clothes. Knowing where the exposure happened tells us which companies are responsible and which asbestos trust funds may apply.

What compensation can mesothelioma victims recover?

Mesothelioma compensation generally comes from three sources, and many families recover from more than one: (1) settlements or verdicts in a mesothelioma lawsuit against the companies that made or sold the asbestos products; (2) payments from asbestos trust funds set up by companies that went bankrupt because of asbestos claims; and (3) VA benefits for veterans exposed during service. Compensation may cover medical expenses, lost income, travel for treatment, in-home care, pain and suffering, and, in a wrongful death case, the family’s loss of financial support and companionship. The amount depends on the diagnosis, the exposure history, the number of responsible companies, and the strength of the evidence. No lawyer can promise a specific figure, and you should be cautious of anyone who does.

How do asbestos trust fund claims work?

An asbestos trust fund is money set aside by a company that filed for bankruptcy because of asbestos liability; the trust pays claims to people who can show exposure to that company’s products and a qualifying diagnosis. Filing a trust claim does not require a lawsuit, but each trust has its own forms, evidence rules, deadlines, and payment percentages, and most mesothelioma patients qualify for several trusts at once. Our asbestos lawyers identify every trust that matches your exposure history, prepare the medical and exposure documentation, and pursue lawsuit and trust claims side by side so one does not undercut the other. Mesothelioma clients typically file against multiple asbestos bankruptcy trusts, commonly 10 to 20. Depending on the client’s work history and the variety of asbestos-containing products or equipment they encountered, many clients file claims with 20 or more trusts.

What if my loved one has already passed away from mesothelioma?

Most states allow certain family members to bring a wrongful death claim for their own losses, and allow the estate to bring a survival claim for the losses the person suffered before death, including medical bills and pain and suffering. In Texas, for example, the surviving spouse, children, and parents may bring the wrongful death claim (Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code §§ 71.002, 71.004, 71.021). These claims can usually be filed together, and asbestos trust claims can continue after death as well. If your family member was diagnosed but had not yet filed, the claim generally does not die with them. Our firm handles mesothelioma wrongful death cases for families nationwide; you can read more about how these claims work on our wrongful death lawyer page.

Why families across the country choose Hendler Flores Law

Hendler Flores Law is a boutique trial firm based in Austin, Texas, that has handled asbestos and mesothelioma cases nationwide since 1993. Founding attorney Scott Hendler has practiced since 1989 and has tried mesothelioma cases to verdict. In one case, our firm represented the family of a Navy veteran exposed to asbestos aboard a warship during the Vietnam era; Scott Hendler and co-counsel negotiated settlements with multiple asbestos companies and won a $13.8 million jury verdict against Owens Corning Fiberglas, the maker of asbestos pipe covering used on Navy vessels. Prior results do not predict or ensure a similar outcome in any future case; every case depends on its own facts.

We do not run a settlement mill. Large firms process asbestos cases in batches; we take a limited number of mesothelioma cases and build each one from the ground up, meeting clients where they are when treatment makes travel hard, and staying with the case for as long as it takes. Our team can help clients who speak Spanish, French, Farsi, and Swahili, and clients with hearing loss.

How our mesothelioma lawyers build your case

Step 1 — Free, confidential consultation

We listen to your story, review the diagnosis, and explain your options in plain language. There is no cost or obligation, and we can meet by phone, by video, or in person, wherever you live.

Step 2 — Exposure investigation

We reconstruct your work and service history, interview co-workers, and match your exposure to specific asbestos products and companies, including bankrupt companies with trust funds.

Step 3 — Filing claims

We file the lawsuit in the court that best fits your case, which may be where you live, where the exposure happened, or where a defendant is based, and we prepare trust fund claims at the same time. When a case is best filed outside Texas, we often work with co-counsel in that state. Asbestos cases filed in Texas state courts are transferred to the statewide asbestos MDL pretrial court pursuant to Chapter 90 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code and the state’s MDL rules. We handle every deadline and every form.

Step 4 — Negotiation or trial

Most mesothelioma cases resolve through settlements with multiple defendants, but we prepare every case as if it will go to a jury, because that preparation is what produces fair offers. If a company will not pay a fair amount, we are ready to try the case.

What does it cost to hire a mesothelioma lawyer?

Hendler Flores Law handles mesothelioma cases on a contingency fee, which means there is no fee unless we recover compensation for you, and there is no charge for the consultation. If there is no recovery, you will have no obligation to reimburse Hendler Flores Law or its co-counsel for expenses and costs incurred in the litigation. We advance the costs of investigation, medical experts, and litigation while the case is pending. You will receive a written fee agreement that explains every term before you sign anything.

Frequently asked questions about mesothelioma claims

Can I sue if I was exposed to asbestos but do not know which company is responsible?

Yes. You are not expected to know the product names. Our lawyers use your work and service history, co-worker interviews, and decades of product records from prior asbestos cases to identify the responsible companies and any asbestos trust funds that apply.

How long does a mesothelioma lawsuit take?

In our experience, most mesothelioma cases resolve within 24 to 36 months. Trust fund payments can arrive sooner, and some courts move cases faster for seriously ill clients. Timing depends on where the case is filed, the number of defendants, and whether a trial is needed.

Will I have to travel to Austin or go to court?

Usually not. We meet clients by phone, by video, or in person wherever they live, and most cases resolve without a trial. If your testimony is needed, it is typically taken by deposition near your home. We plan around your treatment schedule.

Can a veteran file a mesothelioma lawsuit and still receive VA benefits?

Yes. Lawsuits and trust claims are brought against the companies that made asbestos products, not against the military or the government. Filing a claim does not affect VA disability benefits, and many of our clients pursue both.

What is the difference between an asbestos trust claim and a lawsuit?

A trust claim is filed with a fund set up by a bankrupt asbestos company and is decided on paperwork, without a judge or jury. A lawsuit is filed in court against companies that are still in business. Most mesothelioma clients have both, and we coordinate them so each is as strong as possible.

How much is a mesothelioma case worth?

There is no standard amount. Compensation depends on the diagnosis, the exposure history, the number of responsible companies and trusts, medical costs, lost income, and the family’s losses. We will give you a candid assessment after reviewing your case, and we will never quote a number before we have done that work.

What if the person with mesothelioma has already died?

Close family members can usually bring a wrongful death claim, and the estate can bring a survival claim. Who may file and how long you have depend on the state; in Texas, for example, the surviving spouse, children, and parents may file, generally within two years of the death. Trust claims can also continue. Speak with a lawyer promptly so the deadlines are protected.

Does Hendler Flores Law take mesothelioma cases outside Texas?

Yes. Our office is in Austin, and we represent mesothelioma clients nationwide, often working with co-counsel in other states when a case is best filed there.

What should I bring to the first consultation?

Bring the pathology or diagnosis report, a list of your jobs and military service with approximate dates, and any information about family members who worked around asbestos. If you do not have these, call anyway; we can help you gather them.

How do I get started?

Call 1.800.443.6353 or 512.439.3200, email info@hendlerlaw.com, or use the form on this page. A legal professional will reach out within 24 hours at the time you prefer. There is no cost or obligation.

Talk to a mesothelioma lawyer today

A mesothelioma diagnosis changes everything for a family, and the legal deadlines start running immediately. Call Hendler Flores Law at 1.800.443.6353 (toll free) or 512.439.3200 for a free, confidential consultation with a mesothelioma lawyer. Our office is at 901 S. MoPac Expressway, Bldg. 1, Suite #300, Austin, TX 78746, and we represent clients nationwide by phone, video, or in person.

For medical information about mesothelioma, see the CDC’s mesothelioma resources. You can also download our mesothelioma fact sheet.

Attorney advertising. Prior results do not predict or ensure a similar outcome. This page is for general information and is not legal advice; legal deadlines and requirements vary by state and are fact-specific. Legally reviewed by Scott Hendler.