California Asbestos Lawyers

California asbestos attorneys for mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis — exposure lawsuits and bankruptcy trust fund claims statewide.

California Mesothelioma Legal Services

Experienced asbestos and mesothelioma attorneys serving all of California. We handle claims involving Navy shipyard exposure, Rocketdyne/Santa Susana Field Laboratory, oil refinery asbestos, construction worker exposure, and secondary (take-home) asbestos claims.

Asbestos Exposure Sites in California

Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Mare Island, NASSCO San Diego, Rocketdyne/Boeing Santa Susana, El Segundo refineries, Torrance refineries, Port of Los Angeles/Long Beach, Kaiser Steel Fontana, and hundreds more.

California mesothelioma statute of limitations: ONE YEAR under CCP § 340.2, measured from the later of disability or discovery — not from diagnosis. Contact us immediately at (818) 514-7680.

Fees, Costs and Case Results

Where representation is offered on a contingency basis there is no attorney fee unless we recover, and the firm advances case costs — filing fees, expert witnesses and medical records — which are then repaid out of any recovery. If there is no recovery, you owe no attorney fee. The specific terms that apply to a matter are set out in the written fee agreement for that matter.

Where this site refers to a verdict, settlement or court order, that result was dependent on the facts of that case, and results will differ if based on different facts. Past results do not predict or guarantee the outcome of any other matter, and no particular outcome is promised or guaranteed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What asbestos-related diseases qualify for a legal claim in California?
California asbestos claims cover all diseases caused by asbestos exposure, not just mesothelioma. Compensable conditions include malignant mesothelioma (pleural and peritoneal), asbestos-related lung cancer, asbestosis (lung scarring), pleural plaques and pleural thickening, and certain laryngeal and ovarian cancers linked to asbestos. If you have a confirmed diagnosis and a history of asbestos exposure, you may have a claim against manufacturers, premises owners, or asbestos bankruptcy trusts.
What is the difference between an asbestos claim and a mesothelioma claim?
A mesothelioma claim is one type of asbestos claim. "Asbestos claim" is the broader category covering every asbestos-caused illness — mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis — as well as the legal theories used to recover (product liability, negligence, premises liability, and asbestos trust fund claims). Because mesothelioma is almost exclusively caused by asbestos, those cases are often the highest value, but asbestosis and asbestos lung cancer victims have valid, compensable California claims as well.
Which California jobs and industries had the highest asbestos exposure?
The highest-exposure California occupations include shipyard and Navy workers, insulators and pipefitters, boilermakers, refinery and powerplant workers, construction trades (drywall, plaster, roofing, flooring), HVAC technicians, automotive brake and clutch mechanics, electricians, plumbers, welders, and aerospace workers. Major sites include Mare Island, Hunters Point, and Long Beach shipyards, Chevron and Tesoro refineries, and the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (Rocketdyne).
What asbestos-containing products are common in California exposure cases?
Common asbestos products named in California cases include thermal pipe and boiler insulation, sprayed-on fireproofing, gaskets and packing, joint compound and drywall, plaster and texture coatings ("popcorn" ceilings), roofing and floor tiles, cement pipe and siding (Transite), brake pads and clutches, and refractory materials. Manufacturers such as Johns Manville, Owens Corning, and Georgia-Pacific are frequent defendants and many now fund asbestos bankruptcy trusts.
How long do I have to file an asbestos claim in California?
California has a one-year statute of limitations that begins on the date you are diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease (the discovery rule), not the date of exposure. For wrongful death claims, families generally have one year from the date of death. Because these deadlines are strict and asbestos diseases progress quickly, you should contact a California asbestos attorney as soon as possible after diagnosis.
What are asbestos bankruptcy trust funds and how much is available?
When asbestos manufacturers went bankrupt, courts required many to set aside money in trusts to pay current and future victims. More than 60 asbestos bankruptcy trusts hold an estimated $30+ billion. Trust claims (Johns Manville, Owens Corning, USG, Garlock, Pittsburgh Corning, W.R. Grace, Combustion Engineering, and many more) can often be pursued in addition to lawsuits against solvent defendants, and an experienced attorney files with every trust your exposure history supports.
Can I file a claim for asbestosis or asbestos lung cancer, not just mesothelioma?
Yes. Asbestosis and asbestos-related lung cancer are both compensable in California. You do not need a mesothelioma diagnosis to recover. These claims require medical documentation linking the disease to asbestos exposure (and, for lung cancer, often addressing smoking history), and an experienced asbestos lawyer works with pulmonologists and B-readers to establish causation.
What compensation can I recover in a California asbestos lawsuit?
California asbestos compensation typically includes past and future medical expenses, lost wages and lost earning capacity, pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and — in wrongful death cases — funeral expenses and survivors' losses. Punitive damages are available where companies knowingly concealed asbestos hazards. Recovery commonly comes from multiple sources at once: civil settlements/verdicts plus several asbestos trust funds.
Can family members file take-home (secondhand) asbestos exposure claims?
Yes. California recognizes "take-home" or secondary exposure claims where a family member developed an asbestos disease from fibers carried home on a worker's clothing, hair, or vehicle. Spouses who laundered contaminated work clothes and children exposed to asbestos dust at home have valid claims under California product liability and negligence law.
Do California asbestos lawyers charge any upfront fees?
No. Reputable California asbestos attorneys work on a 100% contingency fee — you pay nothing unless we recover for you. The firm advances all case costs, including expert witnesses, industrial hygienists, medical record retrieval, depositions, and court fees. Fees are collected only as a percentage of the settlement or verdict we obtain.
Can Navy and military veterans file asbestos claims and VA benefits?
Yes, and they are independent. California veterans exposed to asbestos in service can pursue VA disability compensation AND civil lawsuits/trust claims against the asbestos product manufacturers (you cannot sue the military itself). Pursuing both maximizes recovery — VA benefits for service-connected disease plus civil compensation from the companies that made the asbestos products used aboard ships and bases.
What if the company that exposed me to asbestos is bankrupt or out of business?
You can still recover. Many asbestos manufacturers that went bankrupt were required to fund asbestos trusts specifically to pay victims after they closed, so claims continue decades later. Where a former employer or premises owner no longer exists, an asbestos attorney identifies the product manufacturers, successor companies, and applicable trusts that remain responsible for your exposure.

Contact Trembach Law Firm

Trembach Law Firm, APC

27001 Agoura Road, Suite 350, Calabasas, CA 91301

Phone: (818) 514-7680

Schedule a Free Consultation | View All Practice Areas | Attorney Profile