Editing Settlement Values by State (section)

== What Are the Statute of Limitations Deadlines by State? ==

=== Critical One-Year Deadline States ===

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| style="padding:15px; color:#721c24;" | '''⛔ Critical Deadline:''' Missing the statute of limitations eliminates '''ALL''' compensation rights regardless of case merit. California, Kentucky, Louisiana, and Tennessee enforce '''one-year deadlines'''—contact an attorney immediately after diagnosis.
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[https://www.mesotheliomalawyercenter.org/mesothelioma-lawyer/california/ California mesothelioma filing requirements] demand immediate action to preserve compensation rights.

{| style="width:90%; margin:1.5em auto; background:#f8f9fa; border-left:4px solid #1a5276; border-radius:0 4px 4px 0;"
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| style="padding:20px 25px 15px; font-style:italic; font-size:1.05em; line-height:1.6;" | "The one-year deadline in states like California catches many families off-guard during an already overwhelming time. We've seen families lose all rights to substantial compensation simply because they delayed seeking legal guidance while processing the initial diagnosis shock."
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| style="padding:5px 25px 20px; text-align:right;" | '''— Yvette Abrego,''' Client Advocate, Danziger & De Llano
|}

=== Statute of Limitations by State ===

{| class="wikitable" style="width:100%; margin:1em 0; border-collapse:collapse;"
|-
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Deadline
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | States
! style="background:#1a5276; color:white; padding:12px; text-align:left;" | Urgency Level
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#f8d7da; color:#721c24;" | 1 Year
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8d7da;" | California, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee
| style="padding:12px; background:#f8d7da; color:#721c24; font-weight:bold;" | IMMEDIATE ACTION REQUIRED
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#fff3cd;" | 2 Years
| style="padding:12px; background:#fff3cd;" | Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, many others
| style="padding:12px; background:#fff3cd; color:#856404;" | Act promptly
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#e8f4f8;" | 3 Years
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | New York, Illinois, Massachusetts
| style="padding:12px; background:#e8f4f8;" | Standard timeline
|-
| style="padding:12px; font-weight:bold; background:#d4edda;" | 4-6 Years
| style="padding:12px; background:#d4edda;" | Minnesota (4), Missouri (5), North Dakota (6), Maine (6)
| style="padding:12px; background:#d4edda; color:#155724;" | Extended time available
|}

=== Discovery Rule Variations ===

Most states apply a "discovery rule" starting the limitations clock when victims learn or reasonably should have learned about their diagnosis and its connection to asbestos exposure. This rule recognizes mesothelioma's 20-50 year latency period between exposure and disease manifestation. [https://dandell.com/mesothelioma/mesothelioma-wrongful-death-texas/ Wrongful death filing deadlines] often differ from personal injury deadlines, requiring family members to understand both timelines.

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