Asbestos / Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Illinois

Time limits apply in Illinois. Find out if you still qualify.

Free Case Review

Check your eligibility — free

Answer 2-3 quick questions to review your potential case.

People's Justice Research TeamUpdated June 12, 2026Fact-checked

Verified against court and regulatory records · No upfront fees · Your information is never sold

Statute of limitations — Illinois

735 ILCS 5/13-202 provides a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims with the discovery rule applying for latent asbestos diseases from date of diagnosis. Madison County Circuit Court (Third Judicial Circuit) is a national hub for asbestos litigation. Illinois uses modified comparative negligence with a 51% bar.

2 years from diagnosis

Filing venue

Where to File in Illinois

Illinois mesothelioma claims are filed primarily in Cook County Circuit Court (Chicago) and Madison County Circuit Court (Edwardsville), both of which have historically maintained active asbestos dockets. Madison County was once the nation's busiest asbestos litigation venue before tort reform reduced out-of-state filings. Illinois plaintiffs also submit claims against asbestos bankruptcy trusts including the Owens Corning/Fibreboard Trust, the H.K. Porter Trust, and the United States Gypsum Trust.

Illinois provides a 2-year statute of limitations for mesothelioma personal injury claims from the date of diagnosis or discovery that the disease is asbestos-related. Wrongful death claims must also be filed within 2 years of death. Illinois follows the discovery rule, and courts have consistently held that the clock begins at diagnosis rather than at the time of original exposure decades earlier.

Madison County's asbestos docket grew dramatically in the 1990s and 2000s, attracting out-of-state plaintiffs due to liberal venue rules and plaintiff-friendly juries — at its peak it was the single busiest asbestos court in the country. Illinois Supreme Court venue reforms in 2015 and the U.S. Supreme Court's Bristol-Myers decision significantly restricted this practice, redirecting most filings back to plaintiffs' home counties.

Illinois asbestos exposure is concentrated in Chicago-area steel mills (U.S. Steel South Works, Inland Steel), oil refineries (Standard Oil/Amoco in Whiting, Indiana border), the extensive Union Pacific and Illinois Central railroad yards, and commercial construction throughout the metro area. The Calumet industrial corridor and Chicago's building trades unions represent the core claimant population.

Illinois data

Exposure in Illinois

Annual mesothelioma diagnoses in Illinois — one of the highest nationally

~420

Source: Illinois State Cancer Registry 2024

Primary historical asbestos exposure industries in Illinois

Steel mills, refineries, construction, railroad shops

Source: NIOSH Illinois Occupational Data

One of the top 3 asbestos litigation venues in the United States

Madison County

Source: RAND Asbestos Litigation Report 2024

Medical resources

Clinics & Specialists in Illinois

University of Chicago Medicine — Thoracic Surgery and Oncology

Northwestern Memorial Hospital — Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

12 QUESTIONS

Mesothelioma is a cancer of the mesothelium — the thin membrane lining the lungs (pleura), abdomen (peritoneum), or heart (pericardium). It is distinct from lung cancer, which originates in the lung tissue itself. Mesothelioma is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure and does not arise from smoking. Lung cancer, while also caused by asbestos in some cases, is far more commonly caused by tobacco smoking. Both are compensable through asbestos trust funds and litigation, but mesothelioma claims typically produce higher compensation because the disease is more directly and singularly attributable to asbestos.

When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed — cut, sanded, sawed, or drilled — they release microscopic fibers that are inhaled or ingested. These fibers are too small to see with the naked eye and cannot be detected without specialized equipment. Once inhaled, the fibers lodge in the pleural lining of the lungs and cannot be broken down or expelled by the body. Over 20 to 50 years, the embedded fibers cause chronic inflammation and DNA damage that eventually transform normal mesothelial cells into cancerous cells. Even a single high-intensity exposure event has been documented to cause mesothelioma decades later.

Anyone with a history of asbestos exposure is at risk, but occupational risk groups include construction workers (insulators, drywall workers, roofers, electricians), Navy veterans and shipyard workers, industrial plant workers (power plants, refineries, steel mills), auto mechanics who handled asbestos-containing brake pads and clutch plates, and railroad workers. Family members of these workers were exposed to asbestos fibers brought home on clothing and hair — called secondary or household exposure — and have also developed mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is diagnosed in approximately 3,000 Americans per year, with incidence concentrated in states with historically heavy industrial and shipbuilding activity.

The latency period — the time between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma diagnosis — is typically 20 to 50 years, with an average of approximately 35 years. This means a worker exposed to asbestos in the 1970s or 1980s may only now be receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis. This long latency period is why the statute of limitations runs from the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure — applying the exposure date would bar virtually every mesothelioma claim. The long latency also explains why mesothelioma is most commonly diagnosed in individuals aged 65 to 75.

Mesothelioma victims can pursue compensation through four overlapping avenues: (1) Asbestos trust funds — over $30 billion established by bankrupt manufacturers, paying claims independently of litigation; (2) Civil lawsuits against solvent defendants — manufacturers, suppliers, and premises owners still in business who bear responsibility; (3) VA disability compensation — for veterans with service-connected asbestos exposure; (4) Workers' compensation — for occupational disease in states where this avenue is available. Average combined recoveries range from $1 million to $2.4 million, with exceptional cases reaching $10 million or more at trial. An experienced attorney pursues all applicable avenues simultaneously.

Asbestos trust funds were established when more than 60 major asbestos companies filed for bankruptcy under Chapter 11 and were required to create permanently funded trusts to pay future asbestos injury claims. These trusts — including those for Johns Manville, Owens Corning, W.R. Grace, Armstrong World Industries, Pittsburgh Corning, and dozens of others — collectively hold over $30 billion. Each trust has specific criteria for eligible diseases (mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis) and eligible exposure (documented use of that company's specific product). An attorney researches your work history and identifies which trusts apply. Claims are filed with documentation and typically resolve in 6-18 months.

Yes. The VA recognizes mesothelioma as a service-connected disability for veterans who were exposed to asbestos during military service, particularly Navy veterans who worked in shipyards, engine rooms, and boiler rooms where asbestos was extensively used. Eligible veterans can receive monthly tax-free disability compensation (up to 100% disability rating for mesothelioma), free VA healthcare, and Aid and Attendance benefits. Surviving family members may receive Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC). VA claims do not affect the right to also pursue trust fund claims and civil lawsuits — veterans can and should pursue all avenues simultaneously.

You do not need to have a perfect memory of every employer. An experienced mesothelioma attorney has extensive resources for reconstructing your occupational history — including Social Security earnings records, union membership records, military service records (for veterans), coworker testimony, historical product identification databases, and industry-specific exposure information compiled over decades of asbestos litigation. Your attorney will conduct a detailed interview about every job, worksite, and product you can recall and use research tools to fill in gaps. Many trust fund claims are supported by historical exposure evidence even when clients cannot precisely recall product brand names.

The mesothelioma legal process moves faster than typical personal injury litigation because courts recognize the terminal nature of the disease. Trust fund claims typically resolve in 6 to 18 months. Civil lawsuits in active asbestos jurisdictions (N.D. California, E.D. Pennsylvania, Madison County IL, New York Supreme Court) can reach trial in 6 to 12 months for priority-status mesothelioma cases. Total case resolution — combining trust fund distributions and civil settlements — often occurs within 12 to 24 months of filing. If a client passes away during litigation, the case converts to a wrongful death claim and continues on behalf of surviving family members.

Bankruptcy does not eliminate your ability to recover from that company. When asbestos manufacturers file for bankruptcy, they are required to establish a trust fund to pay future mesothelioma claims. You file a claim directly with the trust — there is no lawsuit required against the bankrupt company itself. Moreover, most mesothelioma victims were exposed to products from multiple manufacturers, many of whom remain solvent (still in business) and can be sued directly. The combination of trust fund claims from bankrupt companies plus lawsuits against solvent defendants typically produces a much larger total recovery than either avenue alone.

In virtually every case, yes. Malignant mesothelioma is caused by asbestos exposure in approximately 80-90% of cases, with rare cases attributed to radiation therapy or BAP1 gene mutations. There is no established link between smoking and mesothelioma (unlike lung cancer). The near-exclusive association of mesothelioma with asbestos is why plaintiffs' attorneys can build a strong causation case even when the specific exposure source is difficult to pinpoint — the medical and scientific consensus is unambiguous that mesothelioma is an asbestos disease.

Mesothelioma SOL periods by state (from date of diagnosis): 1 year: Louisiana, Tennessee, Kentucky; 2 years: most states including California, Texas, Florida, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Virginia, Washington, Colorado, Arizona, and many others; 3 years: Maine, Massachusetts, New Jersey (may be longer in some scenarios), Montana; some states have specific asbestos disease statutes. VA claims have no statute of limitations. Trust fund deadlines vary by trust and are managed separately. Because SOLs differ significantly and overlap with trust fund deadlines, contact an attorney in your state immediately after diagnosis — even if you believe you are within the deadline, delays cost money and options.

Keep reading

← Back to Asbestos / Mesothelioma Lawsuit Overview Track the Asbestos / Mesothelioma litigation timeline →

Quick Eligibility Review

Check your eligibility — free

Where to File in Illinois

Exposure in Illinois

Clinics & Specialists in Illinois

University of Chicago Medicine — Thoracic Surgery and Oncology

Northwestern Memorial Hospital — Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mesothelioma and how is it different from lung cancer?

How does asbestos cause mesothelioma?

Who is at risk for mesothelioma?

How long after asbestos exposure does mesothelioma develop?

What compensation is available for mesothelioma victims?

What are asbestos trust funds and how do I file a claim?

Can veterans file mesothelioma claims through the VA?

Do I need to identify every company I worked for?

How long does the mesothelioma legal process take?

What if the company that exposed me to asbestos has gone bankrupt?

Does mesothelioma always come from asbestos exposure?

What is the statute of limitations for mesothelioma in my state?