Tennessee Paper Mill Asbestos Lawyer

Paper Mill Asbestos Attorney in Tennessee, GA

A Tennessee paper mill asbestos lawyer can assist workers and families who were exposed to asbestos as they powered the state’s paper industry. Throughout Tennessee, from Kingsport to Chattanooga, mills sustained the state’s economy by employing skilled laborers who were proud of their work for many generations.

Many of those same mills also used asbestos to insulate boilers, pipes, and machinery, putting workers at risk of inhaling toxic fibers every day. Decades later, former employees are being diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases tied to those mills. If you or a family member is one of those workers, Wallace & Graham, P.A., can help.

Hire a Paper Mill Asbestos Lawyer

Wallace & Graham, P.A., attorneys have decades of national asbestos litigation experience, and they apply that to cases in Tennessee’s paper industry. Founding partners Mona Lisa Wallace and Bill Graham have more than 30 years of experience uncovering how and where exposure occurred in Southern mills.

We know how to combine detailed investigation, medical evidence, and compassionate guidance to help families secure financial recovery and hold manufacturers accountable for the lasting harm caused by asbestos contamination.

How Paper Mill Workers Were Exposed to Asbestos

Asbestos was a common material in Tennessee paper mills for decades. It was used to line boilers, insulate high-temperature pipes, and coat drying machines used to process pulp and paper. Workers were often cutting, mixing, or removing asbestos materials without masks or ventilation, unknowingly breathing in harmful fibers.

Mills in Kingsport, Calhoun, Chattanooga, and other Tennessee communities all used asbestos products supplied by the major manufacturers. Employees who neither handled insulation materials nor worked as insulation installers faced daily risks of exposure from airborne dust that contaminated their tools and work attire.

The Human Cost of Asbestos Exposure in Tennessee Paper Mills

Millers worked long hours in hot, humid, and fiber-laden plants without realizing they were inhaling asbestos with each breath. It was only after years, sometimes decades, that the exposures resulted in chronic respiratory conditions, chest pain, or mesothelioma.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that about 2,600 Americans were newly diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2022, but as industrial workers continue to age, that number will only increase.

In towns like Calhoun and Kingsport, those statistics feel personal. Each case represents a life shaped by years of hard work in mills that never warned employees of the dangers around them.

Holding Manufacturers and Employers Accountable

Suppliers and equipment manufacturers were likely also aware of the potential hazards of their products, but did not inform paper mill owners or workers. Fortunately, manufacturers are still held liable for their products today.

Wallace & Graham, P.A., pores through supply chains, product records, and maintenance records to determine which companies played a role in your exposure. We then file claims directly against negligent manufacturers instead of the mill you worked for, so that you can seek recovery without putting your former employer at risk. That means the negligence of a paper mill that occurred decades ago can lead to justice and financial recovery for victims and their families.

Financial Recovery and Support for Tennessee Families

The compensation that comes with a successful asbestos claim is about more than just paying medical bills. It can also help your family regain financial security that has been decimated by long-term illness. Recovery is possible through a claim, asbestos trust fund, or veterans’ benefits if you served in the military before working for a paper mill.

At Wallace & Graham, P.A., our attorneys help our clients throughout Tennessee access these resources with care and skill. We pursue every avenue of coverage so that you have help with long-term care, lost income, and pain and suffering. No one who helped build Tennessee’s industries should have to shoulder the burden of corporate greed by themselves.

FAQs

What Made Paper Mills in Tennessee So Dangerous for Workers?

Paper mills produce high heat to treat pulp, and they use asbestos to contain the heat. Maintenance workers who repair boilers, turbines, and steam pipes release toxic fibers into the air without knowing it.

In fact, Tennessee paper mills continued using national brands of asbestos products well into the 1980s. Thousands of paper mill employees were at risk in these facilities without warnings or protection.

Can Retired Paper Mill Workers Still File a Mesothelioma Claim?

Since mesothelioma and other asbestos illnesses may not appear for 20, 30, or more years, Tennessee law allows workers to file a claim after diagnosis, not after exposure. Retired paper mill workers (or surviving family members) may have grounds for a claim or asbestos trust fund claim even decades after the exposure.

The critical piece is identifying the illness source to a specific product or facility. This process requires detail-oriented documentation and professional investigation.

How Does a Tennessee Mesothelioma Lawyer Help Families Recover Compensation?

An experienced Tennessee mesothelioma lawyer determines where and how exposure occurred, identifies the responsible manufacturers, and navigates every step of the legal process.

We also work with medical providers to document treatment costs and file every eligible claim, whether it’s a claim, an asbestos trust fund, or veterans’ benefits. For families facing financial uncertainty after a diagnosis, legal representation can help create accountability and a foundation for long-term recovery.

How Many People in Tennessee Are Diagnosed With Mesothelioma Each Year?

The CDC estimates that approximately 2,600 Americans were newly diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2022. Many of these cases involve former industrial or construction workers. Tennessee follows that national trend and ranks 19th in the U.S. for asbestos-related deaths, according to statewide health data.

Many of these victims worked in paper mills, power plants, and manufacturing facilities years ago, long before asbestos dangers were understood or regulated.

Contact a Tennessee Paper Mill Asbestos Lawyer

For decades, paper mills churned through raw materials to produce newsprint, packaging, and other products. In the process, Tennessee’s mills quietly exposed employees to asbestos, which put their families at risk of disease.

Today, Wallace & Graham, P.A., combines national litigation experience with local knowledge to track down where and how asbestos exposure occurred. We work with families across the state to demand justice, accountability, and full financial recovery for those whose health was put at risk for corporate profit. Contact our office today to hire a paper mill asbestos lawyer.