Mesothelioma Lawyer in San Francisco, CA

Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm represents San Francisco area mesothelioma and asbestos exposure victims with 30+ years of focused asbestos litigation experience and over $2 billion recovered. We handle cases from the 7.8 million (Bay Area) 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 San Francisco

The San Francisco Bay Area has more documented asbestos exposure sites than almost any other U.S. metropolitan region. Hunters Point Naval Shipyard built, repaired, and scrapped thousands of Navy vessels. Mare Island — in Vallejo across the bay — operated from 1854 to 1996 as the oldest Navy yard on the Pacific Coast. Bethlehem Steel's San Francisco shipyard built ships during both World Wars. Chevron's Richmond Refinery, the largest on the West Coast, employed tens of thousands over its century-plus operation. Kaiser's Richmond shipyards produced Liberty ships during WWII at record pace — and exposed record numbers of workers to asbestos. This is WHITMAN's Bay Area backyard — our Santa Clara, San Francisco, and Sacramento offices serve the entire region.

Major San Francisco Area Asbestos Exposure Sites

Hunters Point Naval Shipyard
Bethlehem Steel
Mare Island Naval Shipyard
Chevron Richmond
Kaiser Shipyards (Richmond)
PG&E Potrero and Hunters Point stations

Industries Affected

Major industries with documented asbestos exposure in the San Francisco area: Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Mare Island (Vallejo), Chevron Richmond Refinery, PG&E power plants.

Legal Venue and Filing Information

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

San Francisco County Superior Court is an experienced asbestos litigation venue. Alameda County Superior Court also handles significant volume.

Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit in the San Francisco 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 San Francisco

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 — San Francisco Mesothelioma Claims

Not necessarily. Mesothelioma cases require specialized legal experience far more than local office proximity. Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm represents San Francisco 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 San Francisco area asbestos exposure sources include: Hunters Point Naval Shipyard, Bethlehem Steel, Mare Island Naval Shipyard, Chevron Richmond, Kaiser Shipyards (Richmond), 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.