
Dallas-Fort Worth Mesothelioma Lawyers
Trusted Legal Advocacy for Mesothelioma Victims in Dallas-Fort Worth
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after working in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, you are not alone. A mesothelioma diagnosis changes everything, and suddenly your family is facing medical decisions, financial uncertainty, and questions about what comes next.
At SWMW Law, we believe you deserve a legal team that treats you like family from the very first phone call, because that is exactly what we do. Our experienced Dallas-Fort Worth mesothelioma lawyers have helped victims and their families hold asbestos companies accountable, with proven results for workers across Texas.
North Texas’s aircraft plants, power plants, steel mills, fabrication shops, and decades of rapid construction meant thousands of workers were unknowingly exposed to asbestos on the job, often without ever being warned. Even today, families are learning that a diagnosis reaching them now traces back to work done decades ago.
We bring decades of experience handling mesothelioma cases tied to Texas’s industrial and manufacturing history. Whether exposure happened at a fabrication shop, a job site, or in the trades, we know how to build a strong case, and we will fight for every dollar of compensation you and your family deserve.

Why Dallas-Fort Worth is a High-Risk Area for Mesothelioma
- The former W.R. Grace vermiculite processing plant on Manila Road in West Dallas, which processed asbestos-contaminated ore from a Libby, Montana mine from 1967 to 1992. The EPA found asbestos in the surrounding neighborhood’s soil as recently as July 2022 and has been overseeing cleanup since
- Fort Worth’s Air Force Plant 4, where military aircraft have been built since 1942, first by Consolidated Aircraft (later Convair), then General Dynamics, and now Lockheed Martin
- Steel and metal fabrication: North Texas mills, foundries, and fabrication shops, including Texas Steel Company in Fort Worth, used asbestos in furnace insulation, heat shields, and gaskets for decades
- Aircraft manufacturing: the Chance Vought and LTV Vought aircraft plants in Grand Prairie and Bell Helicopter in Hurst
- The Western Electric plant in Mesquite, east of Dallas
- Carswell Air Force Base in Fort Worth, now Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth
- Power plants: the Mountain Creek and North Lake plants in Dallas County, the C.E. Newman plant in Garland, and the North Main, Eagle Mountain, and Handley plants in Fort Worth
- Meatpacking and auto plants: the Swift and Armour packing plants in Fort Worth and the General Motors assembly plant in Arlington
- Construction and building trades: Dallas-Fort Worth’s building boom from the 1950s through the 1980s meant widespread use of asbestos-containing floor tile, joint compound, roofing material, and pipe insulation
Pipefitters, insulators, electricians, boilermakers, machinists, and other tradespeople who worked in these plants and shops encountered asbestos constantly, often without ever being told what it could do to their health. Many older mills, plants, and industrial buildings across Dallas-Fort Worth still contain asbestos today, which means maintenance and demolition workers continue to face that same risk.

The Reality of Asbestos Exposure and Mesothelioma in Dallas-Fort Worth
Asbestos Exposure Across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metro Area:
- Dallas County: an average of 44 asbestos-related deaths per year
- Tarrant County: about 39 deaths per year, and the highest rate of the four counties at 2.2 per 100,000
- Collin County: around 11 deaths per year
- Denton County: about 11 deaths per year
(Source: Environmental Working Group analysis, 1999-2017)
All four counties fall below the statewide death rate of 3.3 per 100,000, well below the petrochemical corridor along the Gulf Coast. That is a real difference in exposure intensity, not a sign that the risk was small. Mesothelioma often takes 20 to 50 years to develop after exposure, meaning people are still being diagnosed today because of work done decades ago.

Asbestos Litigation in Dallas-Fort Worth
If you’re looking for hard numbers on how many asbestos cases have come out of Dallas-Fort Worth, here is what the public record actually shows. Texas has a formal case-type category for asbestos claims, but it’s rarely used at the county level, so the clearest picture for the Dallas-Fort Worth area comes from federal court, where every asbestos personal-injury lawsuit is tracked nationwide under one specific code: Nature of Suit 368.
2,681
Asbestos lawsuits filed
in the U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas (Dallas-Fort Worth division), since 1988
38
Years of federal court history
behind that number, from 1988 to today
~71
New asbestos lawsuits filed a year
on average, in Dallas-Fort Worth’s federal court over that span
Dallas County’s own state court records show almost no asbestos cases in recent years, but that’s a reporting quirk, not a sign that the harm has disappeared. Like the rest of Texas, asbestos claims rely on a self-selected checkbox that most filing attorneys skip, and Dallas County’s own online case search sits behind a CAPTCHA-gated portal that blocks any bulk look at case types. It’s also part of why SWMW Law rarely files Dallas-Fort Worth-area cases in Texas courts to begin with:
Where Asbestos Cases Actually Get Filed
New asbestos lawsuits filed per year, by venue. Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth figures are 38-year federal court averages (1988 to present); Illinois and Missouri figures are actual 2025 filings across state and federal courts, reported by KCIC. The two aren’t measured on quite the same basis, but both show how many new cases move through a venue in a typical year.
We file every case, including yours, in the venue best suited to win, and that choice never makes your case harder to pursue or requires you to travel unless a specific step calls for it.
Nationally, asbestos litigation is still growing: KCIC counted 4,244 new lawsuits filed in 2025, up 5.8% from 2024. Decades after exposure at the mills, plants, and job sites that built this region, new mesothelioma and lung cancer cases are still being diagnosed today, and we’re still here for the families facing them. SWMW Law has represented Texas clients connected to this exposure history for more than 30 years.
Sources: Federal Judicial Center, Integrated Database, interactive query by Nature of Suit code 368 (asbestos, personal injury, product liability), retrieved September 2026. Texas Office of Court Administration, county-level annual statistical reports, FY2025. KCIC, “Asbestos Litigation: 2025 Year in Review.”
What This Means for Mesothelioma Victims
What This Means for You
Legal Rights for Dallas-Fort Worth Mesothelioma Victims
- Filing a personal injury lawsuit for direct exposure.
- Filing a wrongful death claim if a family member has passed away due to mesothelioma.
- Seeking compensation from asbestos trust funds.
- Accessing workers’ compensation or veterans’ benefits when applicable.
Texas also recognizes secondary exposure claims, cases in which family members were exposed to asbestos carried home on a worker’s clothes. This is especially relevant for Dallas-Fort Worth families with ties to the region’s mills, fabrication shops, and manufacturing plants.

Examples of Our Results
Our Texas Mesothelioma Lawsuit Results
From steel mills and fabrication shops to job sites across North Texas, SWMW Law has stood beside Texas workers and their families, securing millions in compensation for the harm asbestos exposure caused them. We continue building on that record for Texas clients today.
| Amount | Occupation | Diagnosis |
|---|---|---|
| $2.4M | Laborer | Mesothelioma |
| $2.3M | Boilermaker | Mesothelioma |
| $1.6M | Mechanic | Mesothelioma |
| $1.4M | Mechanic | Lung Cancer |
| $1.4M | Mechanic | Lung Cancer |
| $1.4M | Welder | Mesothelioma |
| $1.3M | Insulator | Lung Cancer |
| $1.3M | Insulator | Lung Cancer |
| $1.1M | Laborer | Mesothelioma |
| $1.1M | Plumber/Pipefitter | Mesothelioma |
| $1.1M | Machinist | Mesothelioma |
| $1.1M | Mechanic | Mesothelioma |
| $1.0M | Mechanic | Mesothelioma |
| $1.0M | Laborer | Mesothelioma |
Steps to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Texas
We begin with a no-cost, no-obligation consultation to understand your situation. During this conversation, we review your medical diagnosis, work history, and any known or suspected sources of asbestos exposure.
Our legal team conducts a thorough investigation using Texas-specific databases, historical job site records, and SWMW Law’s internal exposure archive. If you worked at a steel mill, metal fabrication shop, manufacturing plant, or construction site in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, we can often pinpoint where and how asbestos exposure occurred, even if the facility has changed names or owners since.
To support your claim, we work closely with board-certified physicians and occupational experts who specialize in mesothelioma and asbestos exposure. Texas law requires a medical report meeting Chapter 90’s certification standards before a claim can move forward, and we coordinate this process so nothing holds your case back. We also collect your employment history and other documentation to demonstrate the link between your illness and past asbestos exposure.
Based on your exposure history, we’ll determine whether to file a personal injury lawsuit, pursue claims through asbestos trust funds, or both. We also evaluate whether additional benefits, such as VA claims or workers’ compensation, are applicable. Texas gives you 2 years to file, measured from the earlier of the date of death or the date a qualifying medical report is served under Chapter 90, so timing matters. We also file each case in the jurisdiction, often Illinois or Missouri, that gives it the strongest path forward, regardless of where you live or worked.
We strive to resolve your case efficiently and effectively. In many cases, we’re able to negotiate substantial settlements without going to trial. However, if responsible parties fail to offer fair compensation, our attorneys are fully prepared to litigate your case.
Once your case is resolved, we move swiftly to secure your compensation, whether it comes from a settlement, jury verdict, or asbestos trust fund. This financial support can help cover medical treatments, in-home care, lost wages, and the emotional and physical toll mesothelioma takes on you and your loved ones.
Dallas-Fort Worth Asbestos Exposure Sites
- W.R. Grace’s Texas Vermiculite Company plant, Manila Road, West Dallas
- Air Force Plant 4, Convair/General Dynamics/Lockheed Martin, Fort Worth
- Western Electric plant, Mesquite
- Carswell Air Force Base, Fort Worth
- Chance Vought and LTV Vought aircraft plants, Grand Prairie
- Power plants across Dallas County and Fort Worth
- Texas Steel Company and other North Texas steel mills
- Construction sites from the region’s 1950s-1980s building boom

Types of Compensation Available to Dallas-Fort Worth Residents
A mesothelioma diagnosis brings enough uncertainty without having to worry about how to cover the cost of it. Victims and their families may be eligible for several forms of financial compensation:
- Legal Settlements: Many cases are resolved through negotiated settlements that provide significant financial relief without going to trial.
- Asbestos Trust Funds: Over $30 billion remains in asbestos trust funds for victims of companies that have declared bankruptcy.
- Trial Verdicts: In cases that proceed to court, juries may award additional damages for pain, suffering, and punitive compensation.
- Veterans Benefits: Veterans exposed to asbestos during military service, wherever they served, may qualify for VA benefits, including specialized mesothelioma treatment.
- Workers’ Compensation: In select cases, employees exposed on the job may pursue benefits under Texas’s workers’ compensation system.
Because we are different
What Our Clients Say About Working With SWMW Law
At SWMW Law, we’re more than legal advocates. We’re a source of support during the most difficult times in our clients’ lives. We’re proud to be trusted by families across the country, and even prouder to share what they have to say about working with us.
Why Choose SWMW Law for Your Dallas-Fort Worth Mesothelioma Case
- Chapter 90 Experience: We navigate Texas’s medical certification requirements so your claim moves forward without unnecessary delay.
“Texas workers helped power this nation with their hands, their skill, and their sacrifice. They deserved safe workplaces, not environments that exposed them to asbestos and forever changed their lives. We are honored to stand with them and pursue the justice and compensation they rightfully deserve.”
Steve Wohlford, Member, SWMW Law
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, contact SWMW Law for a free consultation to explore your legal options and pursue the compensation you deserve.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dallas-Fort Worth Mesothelioma Claims
Texas gives you 2 years to file a personal injury claim. For asbestos-related illnesses, that 2-year period begins on the earlier of the date of death or the date a qualifying medical report is served under Chapter 90 of the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, not necessarily the date of diagnosis. Wrongful death claims must be filed within 2 years of death. Because the timing rules are technical, it is best to speak with an attorney as soon as possible after a diagnosis.
Chapter 90 is a Texas law that requires a report from a board-certified physician confirming a qualifying asbestos-related diagnosis before certain claims can proceed. SWMW Law coordinates this process as part of building your case.
Not necessarily in Texas. SWMW Law files each case in the jurisdiction that gives it the strongest path forward, which for many of our clients means filing in Illinois or Missouri, where courts have a strong track record for mesothelioma families. This does not limit your ability to recover compensation, and it does not require you to travel unless a step in the process calls for it.
Many of the mills, fabrication shops, and job sites across North Texas have changed names or owners over the decades. Our team investigates historical job site records and SWMW Law’s internal exposure archive to identify where and how exposure occurred, even at facilities that no longer exist under their original name.
Nothing upfront. We work on a contingency fee basis, which means there are no consultation fees, no retainers, and no out-of-pocket costs. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you.
