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South Dakota Asbestos Exposure

Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma in South Dakota

south dakota mesothelioma law firmPrior to its ban in the 1980s, asbestos was used extensively in industries as an insulating and sealing material in South Dakota and throughout the United States. South Dakota industries that used asbestos include power plants, construction, cement factories, and military bases. Even after these industries began to phase-out asbestos, people exposed to toxic asbestos continued to get sick with mesothelioma and other serious life-changing illnesses long after their initial exposure. This is because there is a “latency period” between the time a person is exposed to asbestos and when the disease actually develops. Second-hand asbestos dust exposure of the families and loved ones of workers is also extremely common.

If you have developed mesothelioma as a result of worksite exposure to asbestos in South Dakota, you may be eligible for financial compensation for you and your family with the help of MesoLawyersCare attorneys. Some examples of South Dakota worksites that presented workers with a high risk of asbestos exposure include the following five sites:

1. Ellsworth Air Force Base – Rapid City, SD

Ellsworth Force Base in Rapid City became operational in 1941 as the United States entered World War II. During the war, Ellsworth served as a training location for B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bomber units. Thousands of pilots, navigators, radio operators, and gunners were trained at the facility. After the war, the base continued to operate, conducting all types of projects, from missile construction to aircraft maintenance. Unfortunately, during most of the 20th century, working at Air Force bases and with airplanes often led to asbestos exposure. Military planes were built with asbestos-containing materials that were used in gasket materials, clamps, and brakes, and other aircraft parts. Mechanics and other maintenance workers who worked on worn down planes were prone to exposure to asbestos dust from new and worn asbestos-containing aircraft parts. Other workers in the vicinity of this dust were also at risk of inhaling the harmful particles. These military and civilian personnel who worked at Ellsworth Air Force Bases have an elevated risk for developing mesothelioma.

2. Pathfinder Atomic Power Plant – Sioux Falls, SD

Built in the 1960s by Northern States Power Company, the Pathfinder Atomic Power Plant was to serve as an experimental plant—the company’s goal was to gain experience operating a nuclear plant before opening others like it. As a nuclear plant, Pathfinder only operated for a total of 30 minutes at full capacity. The company learned what they had done wrong and applied this knowledge to other plants, while the Pathfinder plant was converted to an oil and gas powered station in 1967. The plant operated until 2000, when one of its cooling towers collapsed and the plant was shut down. As in other power plants built prior to the 1980s, workers at Pathfinder Atomic Power Plant were regularly exposed to asbestos in insulation, gaskets, packing, piping, equipment, and protective gear as asbestos was used for its insulating and sealing qualities. These workers, who were not warned about the dangers of asbestos, are at risk for developing mesothelioma even years after their exposure.

3. Yankton State Hospital – Yankton, SD

The Yankton State Hospital is a psychiatric hospital that has been in operation for nearly 140 years. The hospital was built to meet the needs of the growing population in South Dakota area. Within the first year, the hospital had 50 patients—a number that was actually considered too high. Over the years the facility continued to grow adding programs for geriatrics, addiction recovery, and other dietary and mental health needs. Due to a fire at the hospital early on, the state took particular steps to attempt to make the buildings heat resistant. Before the 1980s, asbestos was used in building materials for its heat resistant qualities. Asbestos was used in ceiling and floor tiles, pipe insulation, even cement. As asbestos aged, it became flaky and airborne. This put those working and staying at the state hospital, particularly those conducting repairs on the older buildings, at risk for inhaling asbestos dust that can lead to fatal diseases like mesothelioma.

4. Ben French Power Plant – Rapid City, SD

Owned and operated by Black Hills Corporation, the Ben French Power Plant is a coal fired power station. The power plant was built in 1961 with the capacity to produce 25 megawatts of power. The plant was decommissioned in 2012, and torn down in 2017. As with other coal-fired power plants built before the 1980s, the Ben French Power Plant used asbestos throughout its facilities. This work site used powerful, high-heat equipment that used asbestos materials for insulation and sealing purposes. Much of the equipment in the plant required the use of asbestos to function properly. This asbestos material would often result in dusty asbestos, leaving plant workers exposed to the dangerous health hazards caused by asbestos, especially during maintenance and repair activities.

5. South Dakota Cement Plant – Rapid City, SD

The South Dakota Cement Plant is currently owned and operated by GCC Cement. The plant was originally founded by the state government and built in 1920. For years it has been a main source of jobs for the Rapid City and South Dakota economies. Before the 1980s, it was common for cement to contain asbestos. Because asbestos is a heat resistant mineral, it was used in cement for siding and roof tiles. Cement plant workers were likely exposed to asbestos while mixing, molding, or distributing cement. While the workers were at risk of inhaling the toxic dust at the plant, far too often they carried the dust home on their clothing exposing their families to the dangerous dust. Exposure to asbestos put many South Dakota Cement Plant workers and their families at risk for developing asbestos related illnesses later in life.

The attorneys from MesoLawyersCare have recovered more than $10 billion dollars for people who have developed mesothelioma. Our group has successfully represented workers exposed to asbestos at worksites in South Dakota and throughout the nation. For more information or a free consultation, complete the form on this page, have a live chat now with one of our representatives, or call us now.
 

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Did You Know?

  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The highest award of compensatory damages ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $30.3 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The largest punitive damages verdict ever upheld on appeal in a mesothelioma case is $18 million.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are over $30 billion in asbestos trust funds to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are more than 50 bankruptcy trusts accepting claims to compensate victims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are many “asbestos dockets” that permit living mesothelioma patients to obtain a jury verdict in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, more than 2000 mesothelioma cases were filed in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In some mesothelioma cases, settlements can be obtained in less than 1 year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Thousands of different companies have been defendants in mesothelioma cases over the past 40 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma cases, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 75.7 months, or over 6 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 73.8% were living after 3 years, and 65.3% were living after 5 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 77 peritoneal mesothelioma patients, 64% were treated with HIPEC and cytoreductive surgery.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of 303 pleural mesothelioma patients, the average life expectancy (median survival period) was 18.4 months.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    According to a 2015 study of pleural mesothelioma patients, 73.1% were still living after 1 year, and 22.9% were still living after 3 years.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    In 2015, the largest number of mesothelioma cases were filed in the following 10 courts: (1) Madison County, IL; (2) Cook County, IL; (3) St. Louis, MO; (4) Los Angeles, CA; (5) New York, NY; (6) Philadelphia, PA; (7) New Castle County, DE; (8) Middlesex County, MA; (9)Middlesex County, NJ; (10) Kanawha County, WV.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The states with the largest number of diagnosed mesothelioma cases are: New York, New Jersey, California, Washington, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Virginia, Florida, Texas, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    There are about 3000 mesothelioma cases diagnosed in the United States each year.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 1 in 100,000 people in the United States will be diagnosed with mesothelioma each year in the United States.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 80% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the pleura (pleural mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Less than 20% of all mesothelioma cases occur in the peritoneum (peritoneal mesothelioma).
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    About 22% of all mesothelioma cases occur in women.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    A history of asbestos exposure can be found in more than 80% of mesothelioma cases.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    More than 30% of all mesothelioma patients in the United States were exposed to asbestos in the military.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by laundering, or other household contact with, work clothing contaminated with asbestos.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma can be caused by work with (direct exposure) or around (bystander exposure) asbestos-containing products.
  • Mesothelioma Facts
    Mesothelioma Facts
    The average time between a person’s first exposure to asbestos and the development of mesothelioma (latency period) is more than 40 years.
 

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Contact MesoLawyersCare Now

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, please contact us to see if we can help you get the compensation you deserve from the billions of dollars in asbestos trust funds available now for qualified asbestos victims. With just one call, you can put all our experience and success to work for you.

We have represented thousands of victims of mesothelioma and their families in virtually every State in the country and in decades of work have recovered billions of dollars in financial compensation for our clients.

Call us now at 1-888-568-1177, fill out the form on this page or chat with a live person. The consultation is free and it costs nothing upfront to hire the lawyers behind MesoLawyersCare. We only get paid if you collect a settlement or verdict and you will never receive a bill from us.

 
 

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