Louisiana’s oil refining corridor, Gulf Coast shipyards, and petrochemical industry created decades of asbestos exposure for thousands of workers. The state has one of the highest mesothelioma rates per capita in the South.
| Region | Key Sites | Industries | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baton Rouge | ExxonMobil Baton Rouge, Shell Chemical, Dow Chemical, BASF Geismar, Georgia-Pacific, Kaiser Aluminum | Oil Refining, Chemical, Aluminum | 9+ major sites; Mississippi River corridor; Scenic Highway neighborhood |
| New Orleans | Avondale Shipyards, Higgins Industries, Marad Reserve Fleet, Murphy Oil, Canal Barge Co. | Shipbuilding, Maritime | Avondale alone generated thousands of mesothelioma cases; ongoing litigation |
| Lake Charles | Conoco Lake Charles, Citgo Lake Charles, PPG Industries, SASOL North America, Calcasieu Refining | Petrochemical, Refining | Built 1940s, expanded through 1970s; direct TX border (Orange/Lake Charles corridor) |
| Industry | Active Period | Primary Locations | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oil Refining | 1910–present | Baton Rouge, Lake Charles | Critical |
| Shipbuilding | 1940–1985 | New Orleans (Avondale), Jefferson Parish | Critical |
| Petrochemicals | 1950–present | Geismar (Cancer Alley), Lake Charles | High |
| Maritime / Longshore | 1920–1980 | New Orleans, Baton Rouge ports | High |
| Aluminum Smelting | 1940–1980 | Baton Rouge (Kaiser Aluminum) | High |
| Paper & Pulp | 1930–1990 | Bogalusa, Bastrop | Moderate |
| Power Generation | 1940–1985 | Statewide | Moderate |
| Claim Type | Deadline | Governing Law | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Injury | 1 year from diagnosis | La. Civ. Code art. 3492 | Shortest deadline in Gulf Coast; act immediately |
| Wrongful Death | 1 year from date of death | Same statute | Filed by surviving spouse, children, or parents |
| Trust Fund Claims | Varies by trust | Federal trust agreements | Independent of lawsuit; can file after SOL if applicable |
| VA Claims | No deadline | Federal | Can pursue simultaneously with lawsuit |
East Baton Rouge Parish District Court and Orleans Parish Civil District Court are the primary venues. Louisiana uses a civil law system (not common law), which affects discovery and trial procedures.
Avondale Shipyards: Avondale generated thousands of mesothelioma cases. Specialized trust funds exist for Avondale workers, and litigation is ongoing against surviving entities. Many Avondale claims have resulted in significant verdicts.