Fort Lauderdale, Florida, is a growing city of 180,000 north of Miami that is the home to many types of industries, including manufacturing, trade, transportation, agriculture, and construction. (Livability.com). As with other cities in Florida, asbestos has been used in many industrial areas in Fort Lauderdale that may have led to asbestos exposure among workers and residents.
The city also lies halfway between Palm and Miami Beach, and the Florida East Coast Railway goes through town. Many construction and transportation firms set up business in the city, and asbestos was used frequently in the construction of these companies’ buildings.
Some of the businesses in Fort Lauderdale that have exposed workers to asbestos include:
- Port Everglades
- Port Everglades Powerhouse
- Fort Lauderdale Airport
- Broward General Hospital
- Broward Marine
- Broward County Resource Recovery
- North Brothers
- North Shore Hospital
- Pier 66 Hotel
- Holy Cross Hospital
- Good Samaritan Hospital
High-Industries for Asbestos Exposure in Fort Lauderdale and Florida
The CDC reports there were 2,801 deaths from asbestos cancer in Florida from 1999 through 2015. The state has a slightly above-average death rate from mesothelioma of nine people per million. Union and Gadsden counties have the highest death rate from mesothelioma. (CDC.gov).
Shipyards
Because of the large coastal area for all of Florida, shipbuilding is common in Fort Lauderdale and other cities around the state. The state is the home of many naval shipyards, such as those in Jacksonville, Pensacola, and Mayport. Also, commercial shipyards near Fort Lauderdale in Miami have exposed workers to asbestos over the years.
Power Plants
Florida has extensive needs for electrical power because of its hot weather. It is no surprise that the state’s many power plants have contained high levels of asbestos to protect against heat and fire. Companies such as Florida Power and Light Company, the Lakeland Power Plant, and the Crystal River Nuclear Plant have several documented asbestos cancer cases.
Agriculture
Sugar processing is a major agricultural activity that has caused much asbestos exposure near Fort Lauderdale. Companies such as US Sugar, Florida Cane Products, and the Atlantic Sugar Association all have buildings in the state that have exposed workers to asbestos.
Oil Platforms
Florida has a 125-mile buffer protecting the state from hazardous oil platforms, but this was not always so. Starting in the 1940s, 19 oil wells were drilled into Florida coastal waters. All of them probably contained asbestos because of the fire dangers associated with oil drilling.
Fort Lauderdale and Florida Asbestos Lawsuits
Florida has various regulations related to asbestos; it also has a law that is specifically for asbestos lawsuits. It is called the Asbestos and Silica Compensation Fairness Act. The idea of the law is to cut down on the number of asbestos cases in state courts against successor companies (those that have bought out previous companies) that did not manufacture, sell, or deliver asbestos-containing products. (Flsenate.gov).
In terms of litigation, a Broward County jury awarded a worker exposed to asbestos $8 million but a Florida appeals court overturned the ruling. The appellate court stated that expert testimony from two physicians should not have been allowed because the state court lacked information to approve or disprove them as experts.
The state supreme court has been reviewing the case. If it agrees with the plaintiff, the $8 million verdict could be reinstated.
Fort Lauderdale and Florida Asbestos Attorney Information
If you were diagnosed with mesothelioma Fort Lauderdale or another city in Florida, you may have the right to mesothelioma compensation. Consider contacting one of the mesothelioma attorneys below:
Morgan & Morgan
20 North Orange Avenue, Suite 1600
Orlando, Florida, 32801
(877) 355-4323
www.forthepeople.com
Morgan & Morgan is based in Orlando but accepts asbestos exposure cases from all over Florida and the country. Their attorneys have the skills, experience, and resources to handle your asbestos exposure case in the best way possible. If necessary, their attorneys will travel to you in Fort Lauderdale to get to the bottom of your mesothelioma case.
The Lipman Law Firm
5915 Ponce de Leon Blvd. Suite 44
Coral Gables, Florida, 33146
(800) 226-2620
www.davidlipmanlaw.com
David Lipman is a skilled, experienced mesothelioma attorney who has represented more than 3,000 people who were hurt by asbestos exposure. This practice is dedicated to serving people who suffer from asbestosis, lung cancer, and mesothelioma caused by asbestos exposure. They will find the companies that exposed you to the terrible carcinogen and hold them accountable.
Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter
801 North Orange Avenue, Suite 830
Orlando, Florida, 32801
(866) 336-8563
www.thefloridafirm.com
Do you think you or a loved one has suffered a disease caused by asbestos in Florida? It is important to talk to an experienced toxic tort attorney at Colling Gilbert Wright & Carter today. You could be entitled to mesothelioma compensation for your injuries, including money for your mounting medical bills, lost earnings in the past, present, and future, and pain and suffering.
Get Mesothelioma Legal Help
With over $30 billion available for victims through the Asbestos Trust Funds, you could be entitled to financial compensations without ever filing a lawsuit. Mesothelioma & Lung Cancer victims qualify immediately. Complete the form or call us toll-free (800) 352-0871.