South Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyers

History of Asbestos in South Carolina

South Carolina's economy traditionally depended on agricultural crops such as cotton and tobacco, which in the early years were exported to Europe. After the Revolutionary War, in addition to export, those goods supplied an ever-growing population of United States citizens. Export depended, to some extent, on marine transport. Shipyards for both commercial and naval uses became part of the landscape.

Gradually, industry spread into the state and some of the first manufacturing plants were for textiles. Oil was discovered and refineries sprung up to process the crude oil. Power plants were built to supply the state's growing industrial hunger with energy. Chemical plants that made use of petroleum products and byproducts added a new, profitable sector to the economy.

All of these industries were affected by the widespread use of asbestos in the late 1800's and throughout much of the 1900's. The substance's resistance to heat, friction and electricity, combined with being lightweight and inexpensive, made it extremely useful for insulation and fireproofing, among other uses, in facilities, equipment, products and manufacturing processes.

Tragically, the dangers of asbestos - the fact that is causes asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, were kept quiet for decades by companies that stood to lose big money should the truth become known.

Natural asbestos deposits have been identified in the state's foothills along the eastern slope of the Appalachians as well as to the south along the Georgia border. Some of these deposits were actively mined until state and federal regulatory boards shut them down.

Companies Affected by Asbestos Exposure

These companies, among others, are believed to have asbestos present on their premises and workers and even the general public may have been exposed:

Abney Mills
Aerocox Corp.
Alexandria Dyers & Finishing
Allendale Wool
Allied Chemical
American Enka
Andrew Bearing Plant
Ashland Oil, Inc.
Avco Lycoming
B.F. Goodrich Co.
Bahan Textile
Bearing Distributors
Benfrew Bleachery
Berea Industrial Park
Berkeley Square Shopping Center
Bonitz Insulation Co.
Bowater
Braswell Services Group
C.B. Metals Co.
Camden High SchoolC
Campbell Soup Co.
Carolina Eastman
Carolina Power & Light
Carolina Shipping Company
Carotell Paperboard Corporation
Catawba Nuclear Power Plant
Catlin Parish
Celanese
Celotex
Central Electric Power Coop.
Central Laundry
Champion Paper
Charleston Naval Shipyard
Chemstrand
Chevron
Clearwater Finishing Plant
Clemson University
Coca-Cola
Collins & Aikman Corp.
Columbia College
Covil Insulation Co.
Daniel Construction
Daniel International
Delta Finishing Co.
Delta Mills
Denton Shipyard
Detyens Shipyards
Dixiana Mills
Dow Chemical
Drayton Cotton Mill
Duke Energy
Duke Power
Duke Siding
Dunlop Rubber Co
Dupont Chemical
Eastman Co.
Eastman Kodak
Ethyl Corp.
Excelsior Finishing
Excelsior Textiles
Exide Battery CO.
Exxon
Fabric Services Inc.
Fibers International
Fort Jackson
Furman Plant
Furman University
Gaffney High School
Garrett Engineering Co.
General Electric
Georgetown Veneer Co.
Georgia Pacific Corp.
Grace Bleachery
Graniteville Manufacturing Co.
Great Falls High School
Greenwood Mills
H.B. Robinson
Hercules Inc.
Hoechst Fibers Plant
Hoescht Celanese Fibers
Hystron Fibers Plant
Imperial Manufacturing
International Paper Co.
J.P. Stevens
J.R. Deans Co.
Joanna Cotton Mill
Jocassee Power Plant
Kendall Co.
Kendall Mill
Kimberly Clark Corp.
LaFrance Industries
Little Giant Cement Company
Magnolia Finishing Plant
Manetta Mills
Marine Corps Recruit DepotC
Marsh Plywood Corp.
Marshall Plant
May Plant
Mayfair Mills
McCormick Mills Corp.
Milliken Mills
Milliken Mills
Monsanto Chemical Co.
Montgomery Mills
National Distillers & Chemical
Naval Supply Depot
Niles Manufacturing Co.
North Brothers, Inc.
Nylon Industries, Inc.
Oconee Mills
Oconee Nuclear Power Plant
Owens Corning Fiberglass
Pacolet Manufacturing Co.
Parris Island Steam Distribution System
Pet Milk Plant
Port Park Naval Base
Quantum Chemical
Regal Textiles Ware
Riegel Paper
Rocky River Plant
Seaboard Park
Seaboard Railroad
Sirocco
Skyland Power Plant
Sligh Plumbing & Heating
SLN & L Railroad
Smurfit Stone Container Enterprises Inc.
Sonoco Engineering
Sonoco Paper
South Carolina Electric & Gas
South Carolina Industries Kraft Linerboard Plant
South Carolina Manufacturing
South Carolina Public Service Authority
Southern Bleachery & Printworks Inc.
Southern Brick Co.
Southern Mill Supply Co.
Southern Railway
Spartan Mills
Spartanburg High School
Spring Cotton Mills
Springs Industries Bleachery
Stafford Insulation Co.
Torrington Bearing Co.
U.S. Naval Base
U.S. Rubber Co.
Union Bleachery
Union Carbide – Daniel Construction
University of South Carolina
W.A. Lamans
Walhalla Cotton Mill
Wannamaker Chemical
Wateree Steam Plant
West Virginia Pulp & Paper
Westinghouse
Westvaco Paper
Weyerhauser Co.
White House Mill
Whitten Village
Winthrop University
Wofford College
Wylie Power Plant
York Co.

Asbestos-related Deaths in South Carolina

Estimates of mesothelioma deaths in the 22 year period of 1979 – 2001 are 326. This number should only be considered an estimate because lung cancer was often cited, rather than mesothelioma, as the cause of death on death certificates. Also, the federal government did not require mesothelioma reporting until 1999.

Asbestos use in this country became substantially regulated in the 1970s. However, because mesothelioma has such a long latency period (20 to 50 years), mesothelioma deaths from asbestos exposure in South Carolina will continue for decades.

Where to Get Help

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
MUSC Hollings Cancer Center
Thoracic Cancer Program
86 Jonathan Lucas Street
Charleston, South Carolina 29425
Patient Care: 843-792-9300
Clinical Trials: 843-792-9321

If you are seeking a firm of mesothelioma attorneys in South Carolina, we suggest you consider these recommendations:

Look for someone with experience in representing mesothelioma cases. Ask to see verdicts and recoveries.
Seek a firm with experience in South Carolina. They will have an understanding of state tort laws that specifically apply to mesothelioma.
Consider a firm that also has experience nationwide. Legal precedents in other states, expert witnesses from cases elsewhere and other factors can help the presentation of your case.
Ask what support services the firm provides. Can they connect you with treatment centers, leading doctors, clinical trials, family help, financial resources and help make going through the legal process easier while you are in treatment?

Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP are mesothelioma attorneys with experience representing South Carolina clients. We also have nationwide familiarity with asbestos litigation and offer comprehensive support to make dealing with a lawsuit as easy as possible.