Mesothelioma Lawyer in Los Angeles, CA

Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm represents Los Angeles area mesothelioma and asbestos exposure victims with 30+ years of focused asbestos litigation experience and over $2 billion recovered. We handle cases from the 13.2 million metro area and throughout California. Our attorneys travel to clients — you do not need to visit an office. Depositions can be conducted from home via video. Most cases resolve in 12-18 months through settlement. California statute of limitations: 1 year (personal injury), 2 years (wrongful death).

Asbestos Exposure History in Los Angeles

Los Angeles has a deep history of industrial asbestos exposure. The Long Beach Naval Shipyard operated from 1943 until 1997, employing tens of thousands of workers exposed to asbestos on ships built and repaired there. The Chevron El Segundo Refinery — in operation since 1911 — used asbestos insulation on processing equipment for most of the 20th century. LA's aerospace industry, centered in Palmdale, El Segundo, and Long Beach, similarly exposed tens of thousands of workers to asbestos in aircraft manufacturing. Workers from these industries who now have mesothelioma may have valid legal claims against asbestos product manufacturers.

Major Los Angeles Area Asbestos Exposure Sites

Long Beach Naval Shipyard
Chevron El Segundo Refinery
Mobil Oil (ExxonMobil) Torrance
Hughes Aircraft
Lockheed Martin Palmdale
Boeing Long Beach

Industries Affected

Major industries with documented asbestos exposure in the Los Angeles area: Long Beach shipyards, El Segundo oil refineries, Vernon industrial zone, LAX maintenance facilities, aerospace (Hughes, Lockheed, Northrop).

Legal Venue and Filing Information

Statute of Limitations in California: 1 year (personal injury), 2 years (wrongful death)

Los Angeles County Superior Court is one of the most active asbestos litigation dockets in California, with experienced judges and juries familiar with asbestos cases.

Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit in the Los Angeles area can happen at the county level, federal level, or in another state where defendants do business — the strategic choice depends on case facts, defendants involved, and legal precedent. Our attorneys evaluate all viable jurisdictions when selecting the optimal filing venue.

Complete California Filing Guide →

Mesothelioma Attorneys Serving Los Angeles

Michelle Whitman

Lead mesothelioma attorney. 20+ years of focused asbestos litigation experience. Super Lawyers recognition. Texas Bar #24032914.

Paul Danziger

Founding partner, Danziger & De Llano. Northwestern Law J.D. 1993. Author of Puncture. Complex litigation focus.

Rod De Llano

Founding partner. Princeton/Northwestern. Super Lawyers. Complex multi-party and class action litigation expertise.

Frequently Asked Questions — Los Angeles Mesothelioma Claims

Not necessarily. Mesothelioma cases require specialized legal experience far more than local office proximity. Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm represents Los Angeles clients with 30+ years of focused asbestos litigation experience and over $2 billion recovered. Most case work — including depositions — can be handled remotely or at your location. Your attorney travels to you, not the other way around. That said, we have offices in Santa Clara, San Francisco, Sacramento, and Houston if you prefer in-person meetings.

In California, the statute of limitations is 1 year (personal injury), 2 years (wrongful death). The clock typically starts at diagnosis, not exposure (discovery rule). Missing the deadline permanently ends your right to file. Contact an experienced mesothelioma attorney immediately after diagnosis to preserve all your legal options.

Major Los Angeles area asbestos exposure sources include: Long Beach Naval Shipyard, Chevron El Segundo Refinery, Mobil Oil (ExxonMobil) Torrance, Hughes Aircraft, Lockheed Martin Palmdale, and others. Workers at these facilities handled asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, brakes, and other products daily, often for decades. Mesothelioma typically develops 20-50 years after exposure, meaning workers exposed in the 1960s-1980s are being diagnosed today.

Mesothelioma lawyers work on contingency — you pay no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. The firm advances all case costs (filing fees, experts, depositions, travel) which are reimbursed only from the recovery. If the case does not result in compensation, you owe nothing. There is zero financial risk to you.

Three separate compensation tracks are typically available: (1) Lawsuits against asbestos product manufacturers — settlements average $1-$1.4 million, jury verdicts can exceed $5 million. (2) Asbestos trust fund claims — 60+ active trusts hold over $30 billion; most victims qualify for 10+ trusts simultaneously. (3) VA disability benefits for veterans — typically 100% rated for mesothelioma. These tracks run in parallel and do not reduce each other. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.