An individual who has developed mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure can file a lawsuit against the party responsible for the exposure. If the mesothelioma patient has already passed away, a family member can bring a claim on their behalf. In many cases, the defendant in the mesothelioma case is an employer, manufacturer or government organization.

When filing a mesothelioma claim, it is important to act quickly. Each state has a different statute of limitations (or time limit) in which to file the claim. Generally, the mesothelioma statute of limitations begins the date the individual is diagnosed. If the time period runs out, the mesothelioma patient and their family may never be able to take legal action.

The statute of limitations for a mesothelioma case in each state are as follows: