On This Page
Overview: Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure in California
Key Facts: California Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Counties Served
- 0
- Communities Covered
- 33
- GBP Office Locations
- 9
- Key Industries
- Occupational, Mixed
- Statute of Limitations
- 1 year from diagnosis or discovery (CCP § 340.2) — SHORTEST in the country. Wrongful-death: 1 year from date of death…
- Consultation Cost
- Free — No Fee Unless We Win
Our California Office Locations
Visit one of our Google-verified offices for an in-person consultation or call for immediate assistance.
Asbestos Exposure History in California
Asbestos Exposure in California
California ranks #1 nationally in cumulative mesothelioma deaths. The state's industrial history is unmatched on the West Coast: four major naval shipyards (Mare Island, Hunters Point, Long Beach, Naval Base San Diego), Kaiser's WWII Richmond Shipyards (90,000 workers at peak), the Bay Area refinery alley (Chevron Richmond, Shell Martinez, Phillips 66 Rodeo, Valero Benicia), the LA Harbor refinery cluster (Chevron El Segundo, Marathon Wilmington), Kaiser Steel Fontana, the aerospace industry (Lockheed Burbank, Hughes Culver City, Northrop Hawthorne), and decades of construction trades work using asbestos-containing fireproofing and insulation.
Major California exposure clusters:
- Bay Area Naval Shipyards: Mare Island (Vallejo, 1854-1996, 46,000 WWII workers), Hunters Point (San Francisco, 1869-1991, EPA Superfund site).
- Kaiser Shipyards Richmond: 1940-1945, 90,000 workers building 747 Liberty/Victory ships.
- Bay Area refineries: Chevron Richmond (1902-present), Shell/PBF Martinez (1915-present), Phillips 66 Rodeo (1896-present), Valero Benicia.
- LA Harbor refinery cluster: Chevron El Segundo, Marathon Wilmington, ExxonMobil Torrance, Tesoro Carson.
- Long Beach Naval Shipyard: 1943-1997, 16,000 workers at peak.
- San Diego naval cluster: NASSCO General Dynamics, Naval Base San Diego, NAS North Island.
- Kaiser Steel Fontana: 1942-1983, only West Coast integrated steel mill.
- Aerospace cluster: Lockheed Burbank, Hughes Culver City, Northrop Hawthorne, Rockwell Downey.
California Mesothelioma Lawyers — How We Help
Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm represents California mesothelioma victims across all 58 counties. Offices in Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Sacramento; attorneys travel to clients statewide. Reviewed by Michelle Whitman, Lead Mesothelioma Attorney.
Compensation Available to California Victims
- Lawsuits — California has been one of the leading mesothelioma plaintiff venues for decades. Settlements average $1.0–$1.8 million; verdicts can exceed $10 million. Asbestos cases in California courts (Alameda County, San Francisco County, Los Angeles County, San Diego) have produced multiple eight-figure verdicts.
- Asbestos trust funds — Manville Trust, Kaiser-related trusts, and 60+ others. CA workers exposed at Naval shipyards, Kaiser Shipyards, or Bay Area refineries typically qualify for 10+ trusts simultaneously.
- VA disability — mesothelioma rated 100%. California has the largest Navy-veteran population in the country, with documented base exposure history at Mare Island, Hunters Point, Long Beach, and San Diego.
California-Specific Legal Considerations
CCP § 340.2 — 1-Year Statute of Limitations
California's 1-year statute of limitations for asbestos cases is the shortest in the United States. The clock starts at diagnosis (discovery rule), not exposure. This is critical: do not delay after diagnosis. Wrongful-death claims also carry a 1-year deadline from death.
Cal-OSHA Enforcement
California has the country's most stringent state-level OSHA enforcement (Cal-OSHA) — including specific asbestos-handling regulations beyond federal OSHA standards. Cal-OSHA citations against California refineries, shipyards, and aerospace facilities provide significant evidence in California mesothelioma cases.
Joint and Several Liability
California's Proposition 51 (Civil Code § 1431.2) modified joint and several liability — non-economic damages (pain, suffering, loss of consortium) are several only (each defendant liable only for their share). Economic damages (medical costs, lost wages) remain joint and several. This affects how cases are structured.
Sumner v. Pacific Gas & Electric — Asbestos in Service Areas
California case law has expanded asbestos premises liability to cover service-area workers, contractors, and even take-home (secondary) exposure cases. Family members of workers who brought asbestos home on their clothes have filed successful California claims.
California Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
- UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center (San Francisco) — NCI-designated; pioneering thoracic oncology mesothelioma program.
- UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center (Los Angeles) — NCI-designated.
- UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center (La Jolla) — NCI-designated.
- City of Hope (Duarte) — NCI-designated comprehensive cancer center.
- Stanford Cancer Institute (Stanford) — comprehensive thoracic oncology.
- Cedars-Sinai (Los Angeles) — thoracic oncology mesothelioma program.
Your Legal Rights in California
Understanding the legal landscape is critical when pursuing a mesothelioma or asbestos claim. Below is a summary of relevant legal information for cases involving exposure in California.
California Statute of Limitations
California Court System Overview
Legal Options for California Asbestos Victims
Mesothelioma victims and their families in California may be entitled to pursue compensation through several legal avenues:
- Personal injury lawsuits — filed against the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure
- Asbestos trust fund claims — over $30 billion remains in trust funds established by bankrupt asbestos companies
- Wrongful death claims — filed by surviving family members when a loved one has passed from mesothelioma
- Veterans benefits — additional compensation for veterans exposed to asbestos during military service
- Workers' compensation — benefits for occupational asbestos exposure, which may be pursued alongside other claims
Our attorneys handle cases involving California exposure sites and can identify all available sources of compensation. Call 1-800-875-3000 to discuss your case.
Top Asbestos Exposure Sites in California
The following facilities across California have been identified as locations where workers and residents may have been exposed to asbestos. This is a representative sample — visit individual county and community pages for complete local listings.
Chevron El Segundo Refinery
The Chevron El Segundo Refinery has operated since 1911 — over 110 years. Processes 269,000 barrels per day, making it one of the largest on the West Coast. Asbestos was used in process unit insulation, pipe lagging, and gaskets through the 1980s. Major LA-basin source of refinery-related mesothelioma claims.
Chevron Richmond Refinery
The Chevron Richmond Refinery has operated continuously since 1902 — one of the oldest petroleum refineries on the West Coast. Processes 245,000 barrels per day. Like all century-old refineries, asbestos was used pervasively for pipe insulation, gaskets, and packing in process units. Maintenance contractors disturbing legacy asbestos during turnarounds face significant exposure risk.
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
Hunters Point Naval Shipyard operated from 1869 to 1991 and was the largest dry-dock complex on the Pacific Coast. Beyond asbestos exposure, the yard was used for Navy radiological work post-WWII, making it one of the most contaminated industrial sites in California. EPA Superfund site. Hunters Point workers were exposed to crocidolite (blue) asbestos in shipboard insulation.
Kaiser Shipyards Richmond
Kaiser's Richmond Shipyards (Yards 1-4) built 747 ships during WWII — Liberty ships, Victory ships, escort carriers, and tank landing ships — at peak employing 90,000 workers including tens of thousands of women. Asbestos was used in shipboard insulation throughout. Closed at war's end. Richmond is now home to the Rosie the Riveter National Historical Park. Decades-later mesothelioma diagnoses continue among former workers and their family members.
Kaiser Steel Fontana
Kaiser Steel Fontana was the only integrated steel mill on the U.S. West Coast, operating from 1942 to 1983. Asbestos was used pervasively for furnace insulation, pipe lagging, and gaskets. The plant closed in 1983 and was demolished. Inland Empire mesothelioma cases frequently trace to this single facility.
Long Beach Naval Shipyard
Long Beach Naval Shipyard operated from 1943 to 1997. The yard built and overhauled cruisers, destroyers, and aircraft carriers. Asbestos was used pervasively in shipboard insulation. Closed in 1997 under BRAC; redeveloped as part of the Port of Long Beach. Long Beach shipyard workers and Navy veterans account for a significant share of LA-basin mesothelioma cases.
Marathon Wilmington Refinery (formerly Tesoro / ExxonMobil)
The Wilmington Refinery has operated since 1923 in the LA Harbor refinery cluster. Multiple owners over the century (Mobil, ExxonMobil, Tesoro, Andeavor, Marathon). Asbestos was used pervasively. Wilmington and the surrounding LA Harbor refinery district have documented mesothelioma clusters among former petroleum workers.
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Mare Island was the first U.S. naval base on the Pacific Coast (1854-1996). At WWII peak it employed 46,000 workers and built 17 submarines, 4 destroyer tenders, and overhauled hundreds of ships. Asbestos was used pervasively for boiler insulation, pipe lagging, and gaskets. Mare Island workers and Navy veterans account for a major share of Bay Area mesothelioma cases.
If you or a family member worked at any facility in California and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, contact our attorneys for a free case evaluation.
Next Steps for California Mesothelioma Victims
You have options. Our attorneys are ready to help you understand them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mesothelioma in California
What is the statute of limitations for mesothelioma in California?
California imposes a 1-year statute of limitations from diagnosis or discovery (CCP § 340.2) — the shortest in the country. Wrongful-death claims also carry a 1-year deadline from date of death. The discovery rule applies. Do not delay after diagnosis.
Where in California were workers exposed to asbestos?
Major California exposure sites include the four naval shipyards (Mare Island/Vallejo, Hunters Point/SF, Long Beach Naval Shipyard, NAS North Island/Coronado), Kaiser Shipyards Richmond (WWII), Bay Area refineries (Chevron Richmond, Shell Martinez, Phillips 66 Rodeo), LA Harbor refineries (Chevron El Segundo, Marathon Wilmington), Kaiser Steel Fontana, NASSCO San Diego, and the aerospace industry (Lockheed, Hughes, Northrop).
I am a Navy veteran who served at Mare Island, Hunters Point, or Long Beach Naval Shipyard. Can I file a claim?
Yes. All four California Navy shipyards used extensive asbestos in shipboard insulation, boiler rooms, and pipe systems through the 1980s. You can typically pursue: (1) VA disability — mesothelioma is rated 100%, (2) asbestos trust fund claims, and (3) product liability lawsuits against the manufacturers of the asbestos products used at the base. We help California veterans pursue all three tracks simultaneously.
How much can a California mesothelioma case be worth?
CA settlements average $1.0–$1.8 million. CA jury verdicts in Alameda, SF, LA, and San Diego counties have exceeded $10 million in multiple recent cases. California has been one of the leading plaintiff venues for asbestos cases for decades. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
I worked at Kaiser Shipyards Richmond during WWII. Can my family file a claim?
Yes — even decades later. Kaiser Richmond produced 747 ships at WWII peak with 90,000 workers, including tens of thousands of women ("Rosie the Riveter"). Mesothelioma latency is 20–50 years; family members of workers who developed mesothelioma can pursue wrongful-death claims if the diagnosis occurred within California's 1-year discovery rule. Take-home (secondary) exposure cases are also viable in California.
What is California's Proposition 51 and how does it affect my mesothelioma case?
Prop 51 (Civil Code § 1431.2) made non-economic damages (pain, suffering) several only — each defendant pays only their share. Economic damages remain joint and several. Most asbestos cases name multiple defendants, so this affects case structure but does not significantly reduce overall recovery in mesothelioma cases.
Do I need to travel to your office to file a CA mesothelioma case?
No. We have offices in Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Sacramento, but our attorneys travel to clients statewide. Most case work — discovery, trust claims, settlements — can be done remotely. Depositions can be conducted from home via video.
Have additional questions? Call 1-800-875-3000 to speak with an attorney, or submit a free case evaluation.
Cities & Communities in California
Complete directory of every city and community page served by Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm in California, grouped by county area. 33 locations across 7 areas.
Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
This website is attorney advertising.
Free consultation. No fee unless we win.
Content Reviewed & Updated: