Harris County Toxic Exposure and Industrial Injury Lawsuit Guide: Holding Global Corporations Accountable for Local Suffering in the Houston Ship Channel Corridor

For over half a century, the workforce across Harris County has been the engine of American energy. We know the pride you take in maintaining the massive units at the ExxonMobil Baytown complex, the intense labor of ship repair around the Port of Houston, and the precision required of pipefitters along Highway 225 in Pasadena and Deer Park. But while you were building the infrastructure of this country, the corporations you worked for were making a calculated choice. They knew that the amosite and chrysotile asbestos insulating their steam lines and the benzene vapors leaking from their process seals were lethal. They had the medical studies in their filing cabinets as early as the 1930s, yet they kept you in those units without respirators, without warnings, and without protection.

At Attorney 911, we believe that your diagnosis is not just a medical event—it is the result of a corporate betrayal that has spanned decades in Harris County. Whether you are facing a terminal mesothelioma diagnosis after years in the shipyards or battling acute myeloid leukemia (AML) from benzene exposure in a Shoreacres or La Porte refinery, we recognize that your fight for health is now a fight for justice. We are not a settlement mill. Led by Ralph Manginello, an attorney with 27+ years of experience who was part of the litigation team in the landmark BP Texas City Refinery explosion cases, our firm brings the intensity of a 911 emergency response to your legal claim.

Our unique advantage in Harris County is our associate attorney, Lupe Peña. As a former insurance defense insider, Lupe spent years inside the machine that corporate defendants use to systematically deny and undervalue toxic exposure claims. He has seen the playbook the offshore companies and petrochemical giants use to claim “it was a pre-existing condition” or “the exposure didn’t happen on our watch.” Today, we use that insider knowledge to deconstruct their defenses before they even file them. We know Harris County’s courts, we know the industrial corridor, and we know exactly how to hold these companies accountable.

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an illness following work at a Harris County industrial site, the clock is ticking. Evidence is being destroyed as facilities are decommissioned, and trust fund assets are depleting. Call us today at 1-888-ATTY-911 for a free, comprehensive evaluation of your rights.

The Science of Betrayal: How Workplace Toxins Damage Your Body at the Cellular Level

We do not just claim these substances are dangerous; we prove it using the specific clinical science that corporate defendants in Harris County try to hide from juries. Understanding what happened to your cells is the first step in proving who is responsible for your suffering.

Mesothelioma and the Failure of Frustrated Phagocytosis

Asbestos is not a poison in the traditional sense; it is a mechanical killer. When you worked in the tight quarters of a vessel at the Port of Houston or stripped insulation at a chemical plant in Galena Park, you inhaled microscopic asbestos fibers—often less than 5 micrometers in length. Because of their unique chemical structure and biopersistence, these fibers reach the alveolar regions of your lungs and eventually penetrate the pleura, the thin lining that allows your lungs to expand and contract.

Your body’s immune system recognizes these fibers as foreign invaders and sends white blood cells called macrophages to destroy them. However, because asbestos fibers are essentially indestructible, the macrophages cannot engulf them completely. This creates a state of “frustrated phagocytosis.” The macrophages rupture, releasing inflammatory cytokines—specifically Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α)—into the surrounding tissue.

Along the Houston Ship Channel, thousands of workers experienced this silent inflammatory cascade for decades. Over 20 to 50 years, this chronic inflammation generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that directly damage your DNA. Specifically, it can lead to mutations or deactivation of the BAP1 and p16 tumor suppressor genes. Once these genetic “brakes” are removed, mesothelial cells begin to divide uncontrollably, leading to the aggressive malignancy we know as mesothelioma.

Benzene Metabolism and Bone Marrow Toxicity

If you were an operator or a tank cleaner in a Harris County refinery, you were likely exposed to benzene, a clear, sweet-smelling aromatic hydrocarbon. Benzene enters the body primarily through inhalation and is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. Once it reaches the liver, it is metabolized by the enzyme CYP2E1 into benzene oxide.

The most dangerous metabolites—muconaldehyde and hydroquinone—travel through your vascular system and concentrate in your bone marrow. This is where the true damage occurs. Muconaldehyde is highly reactive and binds to the DNA of your hematopoietic stem cells—the “mother cells” that create your blood. This process causes specific chromosomal translocations, such as t(8;21) or del(5q), which are pathognomonic markers of benzene-induced Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS).

Corporate defense teams often try to blame smoking or age for these blood cancers, but at Attorney 911, we work with hematologic oncologists to identify these specific genetic “fingerprints” left by benzene. We know that if you worked on the units in Baytown or Pasadena and now have these specific chromosomal breaks, the science points directly back to your employer’s negligence.

Attorney Ralph Manginello explains the high stakes of these cases and what qualifies as a million-dollar claim on the Attorney 911 YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmMwE7GqUFI

Harris County Asbestos and Mesothelioma Litigation: The Anchor of Justice

Mesothelioma is a uniquely Harris County tragedy. Because of our deep history in shipbuilding, refining, and power generation, our community has seen some of the highest concentrations of asbestos exposure in the world.

The Dual-Path Recovery Strategy: Trust Funds vs. Civil Litigation

Many victims are told they can only file a “claim” or only “sue.” At Attorney 911, we pursue a Dual-Path strategy to maximize your recovery.

1. Asbestos Bankruptcy Trusts: Over 60 companies that operated in or supplied products to Harris County facilities—including Johns-Manville, Owens Corning, and Pittsburgh Corning—filed for bankruptcy to manage their asbestos liability. These companies were forced by the courts to set aside over $30 billion in trusts. If you worked with their products at a site like the former Todd Shipyards or the Houston Light & Power units, you may be eligible for immediate payments from multiple trusts.
2. Civil Litigation against Solvent Defendants: Many companies that caused your exposure are still in business and cannot hide behind bankruptcy. We file direct lawsuits against these entities to recover full compensatory and punitive damages.

It is vital to understand that trust fund assets are finite. Some of the largest trusts have recently reduced their payment percentages to preserve funds. For example, the Manville Trust, which once paid higher percentages, now pays roughly 5.1% of the total liquidated value of a claim. This is why we move with extreme urgency. Every delay in filing can result in a lower payout as the pool of money is shared among more victims.

Specific Harris County Exposure Sites

We have spent 27+ years building an inventory of the products and companies that poisoned workers across Harris County. If you worked at any of the following locations, your risk of asbestos-related disease is significantly elevated:

• Maritime and Shipyards: The Port of Houston, the former Todd Shipyards in Houston/Galveston, and the various naval auxiliary sites along the channel.
• Refinery Row (Hwy 225): The Shell Deer Park complex, the LyondellBasell Houston refinery, and the various Valero and Marathon units in the ship channel corridor.
• Chemical Manufacturing: The Dow Chemical La Porte site, DuPont (legacy) facilities, and the Celanese and Rohm and Haas plants.
• Power Generation: The W.A. Parish plant (Richmond/local area) and the various H.L.&P. generating stations throughout Harris County.

As Ralph Manginello explains in this episode of the Attorney 911 podcast, the statute of limitations in Texas is governed by the discovery rule—meaning your time to file may start from the day you received your diagnosis, not the day you were exposed: https://share.transistor.fm/s/bddc1426

Benzene and Chemical Exposure Cancers in the Ship Channel Industrial District

For thousands of families in Galena Park, Baytown, and Channelview, the sweet smell of aromatic chemicals was the smell of a paycheck. But it was also the smell of a hidden danger. Benzene exposure in Harris County is not just an “industrial accident”—it is a career-long health burden that was often ignored by corporate industrial hygienists.

Cancers Linked to Harris County Refining Cycles

We aggressively represent workers diagnosed with:

• Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML): The most common blood cancer linked to chronic benzene inhalation.
• Myelodysplastic Syndrome (MDS): Often a precursor to AML, where the bone marrow produces “garbage” cells.
• Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL): Linked to both benzene and various solvents used in refinery turnarounds.
• Multiple Myeloma: A cancer of the plasma cells that we frequently see in long-term chemical plant operators.

The Problem of “Compliance”

Corporate defendants frequently argue they are not liable because they “followed OSHA standards.” We know better. The current OSHA Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) for benzene is 1 part per million (ppm), but OSHA itself has admitted this level was set based on what was “technologically feasible,” not what was safe for your health. Furthermore, for decades, the limit was 10 ppm—a level the industry knew was causing leukemia as early as the 1940s.

Our firm uses industrial hygiene reconstructions to prove that during “upset” events, tank cleaning, or line breaks at Harris County plants, your exposure likely exceeded even these high limits. In 2024, a mechanic was awarded $725 million in a benzene leukemia case (results vary), proving that juries have no patience for companies that hide behind minimum regulatory standards. (Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.)

OSHA’s full benzene standard at 29 CFR 1910.1028 can be found here: https://www.osha.gov/laws-regs/regulations/standardnumber/1910/1910.1028

Maritime Injuries and the Jones Act: Protecting the Port of Houston Workforce

If you are a seaman or harbor worker in Harris County, you have protections that general workers do not. The Port of Houston is the top port in the U.S. in terms of foreign waterborne tonnage, and that volume creates a dangerous environment for crew members on tugs, barges, and tankers.

Your Rights Under 46 U.S.C. § 30104

The Jones Act allows qualifying seamen to sue their employers for negligence. This is a much higher form of protection than standard workers’ compensation because it allows you to recover for:

• Full Lost Wages and Future Earning Capacity: Especially critical if you can no longer work “offshore” or on the water.
• Pain and Suffering: Which is entirely unavailable in a standard workers’ comp claim.
• Unseaworthiness: A strict liability doctrine where you only need to prove that a piece of equipment failed or the crew was inadequate.

If you were injured in a fall off an oil rig or a crush accident on a barge near the Ship Channel, you must act before the vessel leaves the port and evidence is lost. Ralph Manginello provides a comprehensive guide to your offshore accident rights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vd_HVPtPf4

Industrial Explosions and the Legacy of the BP Texas City Disaster

In Harris County, “Process Safety Management” isn’t just a term in a textbook. It’s a standard that determined who lived and who died. Ralph Manginello’s experience in the BP Texas City Refinery explosion litigation, which resulted in a $2.1 billion total case resolution, gave our firm an intimate look at how corporations trade safety for profits.

When an explosion occurs—like the 2019 ExxonMobil Baytown olefins plant fire or the various upsets we see along Highway 225—it is almost always due to a violation of 29 CFR 1910.119. These facilities are required to perform a Process Hazard Analysis (PHA) and maintain the “mechanical integrity” of their units. When they fail to replace a corroded valve or ignore a high-pressure alarm to keep production running, they are committing gross negligence.

We represent workers who have suffered:

• Severe Blast Injuries: Including traumatic brain injury (TBI) and organ rupture from blast overpressure.
• Thermal and Chemical Burns: Which require years of reconstructive surgery and physical therapy.
• Toxic Inhalation: When an explosion releases a plume of HF acid or sulfur dioxide across East Harris County.

As one of our clients, Ken T., shared in his verified Google review: “Ralph listened intently, heard my concerns, and immediately began working to protect my rights. He treated me professionally, with respect and understanding. He communicates promptly and basically delivers!” (Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.)

PFAS “Forever Chemicals” and Community Contamination in Harris County

While workplace exposure is our primary focus, we also represent Harris County residents in communities like Deer Park, Pasadena, and Highlands whose health has been compromised by industrial discharge and firefighting foam.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are called “forever chemicals” because they do not break down in the environment or your body. They bioaccumulate, binding to proteins in your blood and disrupting your endocrine system by mimicking natural hormones.

In April 2024, the EPA finalized the first-ever national drinking water standards for PFOA and PFOS at just 4 parts per trillion—reflecting that there is essentially no safe level of these chemicals. PFAS exposure has been linked to:

• Kidney and Testicular Cancer
• Thyroid Disease and Ulcerative Colitis
• High Cholesterol and Immune System Suppression

If you live near a military site like Ellington Field or a manufacturing facility where AFFF (firefighting foam) was used, and you have these symptoms, you may have a claim against the manufacturers like 3M or DuPont. 3M recently reached a $12.5 billion global settlement with water providers, but individual personal injury claims are still very much active.

Read the EPA’s 2024 final rule on PFAS drinking water standards here: https://www.epa.gov/sdwa/and-polyfluoroalkyl-substances-pfas

Silicosis: The “Next Asbestos” Proliferating in Houston Countertop Shops

A new epidemic is hitting young workers in Harris County—accelerated silicosis. With the boom in home renovations in Houston, The Woodlands, and Katy, hundreds of small fabrication shops have opened to cut engineered stone (quartz) countertops.

Natural granite contains about 30% silica. Engineered stone contains over 93%. When workers cut this stone “dry” without proper ventilation or respirators, they inhale fine crystalline silica dust. Unlike the chronic silicosis that took decades to develop in miners, engineered stone fabricators are developing end-stage lung disease in their 20s and 30s.

If you are a stone fabricator in Harris County and you are experiencing a persistent cough or shortness of breath, do not wait. A 2024 California jury awarded $52.4 million to a young stone worker with silicosis (results vary). We pursue claims against the manufacturers of these slabs—companies like Caesarstone and Cosentino—who knew their products were hazardous and failed to provide adequate warnings to Harris County workers.

The Insider Advantage: Why Lupe Peña’s Background Matters to You

When you sue a multi-billion dollar corporation in the Southern District of Texas, you aren’t just fighting their lawyers. You are fighting an entire insurance defense infrastructure designed to save the company money.

Lupe Peña spent the early part of his career inside those defense firms. He knows the “Medical Records Raid” tactic, where defense lawyers scour your childhood medical history to find something to blame for your current cancer. He knows the “Statute of Repose” games, where they try to claim the product was sold so long ago that you’ve lost your right to sue.

“I saw how the other side evaluated these cases,” Lupe says. “I saw the spreadsheets where they calculated how little they could pay to make a human life go away. At Attorney 911, I use that same knowledge to make them pay the absolute maximum.”

Client Stephanie H. noted this difference in her 5-star Google review: “I was trying to reach out to so many firms with no luck… she immediately reassured me and took me seriously with no hesitation at all and she just really made me feel like I mattered throughout the entire process.” That is the firm culture we provide for every Harris County family. (Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.)

Bridge Scenarios: Compounding Harm for Harris County Pipefitters and Welders

In toxic tort law, we often see “Bridge Scenarios” where multiple exposures combine to destroy a worker’s health. Harris County’s industrial landscape is a textbook for these cases.

The Welder’s Triple Threat

A welder on a Houston Ship Channel project often faces:

1. Manganism: A Parkinson’s-like syndrome caused by inhaling manganese-rich welding fumes (from rods and electrodes).
2. Mesothelioma/Asbestosis: From welding in units where old asbestos insulation was disturbed by the heat of their arc.
3. Hexavalent Chromium: If they are performing stainless steel welding common in food-grade or chemical chemical applications.

The Refinery Intake Bridge

Refinery operators along Hwy 225 who survived an acute explosion or chemical release often find that their recovery is hindered by decades of “baseline” toxic exposure. A worker with benzene-primed bone marrow or asbestos-scarred lungs has a much lower survival rate after a burn or blast injury. We litigate these cases as compounded injuries, ensuring the defendant pays for the full scope of the devastation they caused over a full career.

Watch our ultimate guide to offshore and industrial accidents here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5vd_HVPtPf4

Evidence Preservation: Moving Faster Than the Corporate Shredders

In a toxic exposure case, the “scene of the crime” can be a plant that operated 30 years ago. Corporations are constantly purging records, dismantling units, and Shredding document archives.

When you hire Attorney 911, we immediately issue formal spoliation and preservation demands to:

• Preserve Occupational Health Records: Including all industrial hygiene air sampling and personal badge data from your years of service.
• Secure OSHA 300 Logs: Which document the pattern of injuries and illnesses at your specific Harris County facility.
• Track Corporate Successors: Many Harris County plants have changed hands 10 times since the 1970s. We genealogically trace the corporate liability through mergers and acquisitions to find the insurance policies that owe you money.

As Ralph explains in our guide to evidence collection, your phone can be a powerful tool for documenting your work history, co-workers, and conditions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLbpzrmogTs

Compensation Pathways: Understanding the “Full Recovery Stack”

We never settle for just one paycheck. We look for every possible source of recovery for Harris County families:

1. Personal Injury Tort Claims: Suing solvent manufacturers and premises owners for full damages.
2. Asbestos Trusts: Expedited payments from the $30 billion set aside by bankrupt companies.
3. Workers’ Compensation Third-Party Claims: If your employer has workers’ comp, you cannot sue them directly—but you CAN sue the manufacturers of the chemicals and products they used. These “third-party” claims have no damage caps.
4. Texas Non-Subscriber Claims: Texas uniquely allows employers to OPT OUT of workers’ comp. If your employer is a “non-subscriber,” we can sue them directly for negligence, and they lose most of their legal defenses.
5. VA Disability and PACT Act Benefits: For veterans who were exposed during service. These benefits are independent and do not reduce your legal award.
6. Secondary Exposure Claims: If you are a spouse or child who developed mesothelioma because a parent brought fibers home from a Baytown or Pasadena plant.

As client Greg G. wrote in his verified review: “Big thank you for this law firm staff and Lupe Pena for taking good care of me. I highly recommend this law firm.” (Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique.)

Educational Resources and Treatment Centers Near Harris County

If you have been diagnosed with a toxic-exposure illness, your medical care and your legal case are inextricably linked. The records generated at these world-class Houston-area institutions are the proof our firm uses to win your case.

Top-Tier Treatment in Houston

• MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston): Located in the Texas Medical Center, MD Anderson is consistently ranked the #1 cancer center in the world. Their thoracic oncology team specializes in mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancers. Their leukemia department is a global leader in treating benzene-induced AML and MDS. https://www.mdanderson.org
• Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center (Houston): Home to the Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, an NCI-designated facility with deep expertise in occupational cancers. https://www.stlukeshealth.org
• UTHealth Houston / Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health: One of only ~20 NIOSH-funded Education and Research Centers in the U.S. They specialize in evaluating work-related exposures and quantifying the impact on your health. https://sph.uth.edu/research/centers/swcoeh/

Support Organizations

• Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation: Helps patients find specialists and clinical trials. https://www.curemeso.org
• Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS – Texas Gulf Coast Chapter): Provides financial assistance and support for Harris County benzene victims. https://www.lls.org/texas-gulf-coast

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Harris County Workers

I worked at a refinery 30 years ago. Is it too late to file a claim in Harris County?

No. Under the Texas discovery rule, the two-year statute of limitations generally does not begin until you are diagnosed with a disease and should reasonably have known that workplace exposure was the cause. Mesothelioma has a 10-50 year latency period—if you were diagnosed today, your clock likely started today, even if your last exposure was in 1985. Call 1-888-ATTY-911 to verify your specific deadline.

My doctor said I have AML, but didn’t mention benzene. How do I know it’s a case?

Most oncologists focus on treatment, not legal causation. However, certain genetic chromosomal breaks in AML cells are pathognomonic for benzene exposure. If you worked at a refinery or chemical plant and have AML or MDS, there is a strong probability of a link. We will have your pathology reviewed by independent experts who understand the benzene “fingerprint.”

Will filing a toxic exposure lawsuit affect my Social Security or VA benefits?

No. A civil lawsuit against a corporate defendant is independent of your federal benefits. You can pursue both simultaneously. In fact, for veterans stationed at Camp Lejeune or exposed to burn pits, the PACT Act specifically encourages seeking both VA service-connection and civil damages.

What if the company I worked for is now owned by someone else?

This is extremely common in the Harris County industrial corridor. Under the doctrine of successor liability, the company that acquires an entity often inherits its legal liabilities—especially if they continued the same product lines and manufacturing processes. We perform corporate genealogy to find exactly which multi-billion dollar parent company is responsible for your claim.

How much does it cost to hire Attorney 911 for my toxic exposure case?

It costs you zero out of pocket. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning we advance all costs for expert witnesses, medical record collection, and industrial hygiene reports. If we do not win your case and recover money for you, you owe us nothing.

I am an undocumented worker in Harris County. Do I still have legal rights for workplace injuries?

Yes. Your immigration status does not change the fact that an employer or manufacturer was negligent. Federal law protects all workers, regardless of their status. Attorney Lupe Peña is fluent in Spanish and our firm takes great pride in protecting the rights of Harris County’s immigrant workforce. Hublamos Español. Llame al 1-888-ATTY-911.

What is the difference between a direct lawsuit and a trust fund claim?

A trust fund claim is filed against a bankrupt company’s designated assets. It often results in faster payment but at a reduced percentage of the total claim value. A direct lawsuit is filed against a solvent (currently in business) company for full damages. Most of our Harris County clients qualify for BOTH—multiple trust fund payments PLUS a direct lawsuit.

Can I sue for “take-home” exposure if I never worked at a plant?

Yes. If your spouse or parent worked around asbestos at a Harris County refinery and brought fibers home on their work clothes, and you were subsequently diagnosed with mesothelioma, you have a “secondary exposure” claim. Companies have been held liable for failing to provide shower facilities and laundry services to prevent these take-home poisons.

What are the first symptoms of mesothelioma I should look for?

Common early signs include a persistent dry cough, shortness of breath that worsens during exertion, and chest pain that feels “sharp” when taking deep breaths. Because these symptoms mimic pneumonia or common flu, mesothelioma is often misdiagnosed. If you have these symptoms AND a history of asbestos exposure, you must tell your doctor about your work history.

Who is responsible for PFAS water contamination in my neighborhood?

Usually, the liability falls on the manufacturers of the chemicals—companies like 3M or DuPont—or the industrial facilities that discharged the chemicals into local waterways. We look at stack emissions, groundwater plumes, and waste disposal manifests to identify the source of the contamination near your home.

How many trust funds can I file with?

The average worker in the Houston Ship Channel was exposed to products from dozens of manufacturers—pumps, valves, insulation, gaskets, and boilers. It is not uncommon for us to file claims with 5 to 15 different bankruptcy trusts for a single client, with each trust providing an additional layer of compensation.

I was a smoker but I have lung cancer from asbestos. Do I still have a case?

Yes. Asbestos and smoking have a “synergistic” effect. This means that instead of smoking + asbestos adding together (1+1=2), they multiply your risk (1+1=50). A smoker is actually harmed MORE by asbestos than a non-smoker. The defendant does not get a pass because you smoked; they are responsible for the catastrophic multiplication of your cancer risk.

What was the result of the BP Texas City Refinery litigation?

The total litigation resulted in over $2.1 billion in settlements and verdicts for the victims and their families. Ralph Manginello’s role in that team helped establish the standards for industrial accountability that we continue to enforce today across Harris County.

My father already passed away—is it too late to file?

No. You may be able to file a Wrongful Death claim (on behalf of the family) and a Survival Action (on behalf of your father’s estate). This allows you to recover for his medical bills and suffering prior to death, as well as your family’s loss of support and companionship. Typically, the statute of limitations for wrongful death in Texas is two years from the date of death.

How do I prove where I was exposed 40 years ago?

We use union dispatch records, Social Security employment histories, and co-worker testimony. Often, just one co-worker who remembers you at a plant or shipyard is enough to open the door to a claim. We have deep experience reconstructing 40-year-old work histories for Harris County tradespeople.

Are there any active Roundup lawsuits in 2026?

Yes. Despite several settlements, thousands of cases are still being litigated, and new cases are being filed as more people are diagnosed with NHL. Juries have recently returned verdicts in the billions of dollars against Monsanto/Bayer, proving that the litigation is far from over.

What if I was only exposed for a short summer job?

There is no safe level of asbestos. Just as a single bullet can kill, a single intense exposure period—like a month-long turnaround or a summer spent in a shipyard—is enough to trigger the cellular mutations that lead to mesothelioma decades later.

Why should I choose Attorney 911 over a national firm I saw on a commercial?

National firms often sign thousands of clients and refer them to other lawyers, or they treat you as a “volume” file. At Attorney 911, we are local. Ralph grew up in Houston and went to Memorial High School. Lupe is a third-generation Texan from Sugar Land. When you call 1-888-ATTY-911, you are calling our firm—not a call center. You get direct access to your attorney, including Ralph’s cell phone number.

Can I sue the railroad for asbestos or diesel exhaust?

Yes. Under the Federal Employers’ Liability Act (FELA), railroad workers have a right to sue for negligence that is much more powerful than workers’ comp. If you were a track worker, engineer, or machinist in Harris County and have cancer or lung disease, the railroad’s failure to provide a safe workplace is actionable under FELA.

Action Protocol: Your Next 24 Hours

If you or a loved one is facing a toxic exposure diagnosis, your actions in the next 24 hours can double your potential recovery.

1. Do not sign anything from your former employer. They may try to offer a small “retirement” or “severance” package that contains a liability release.
2. Contact your union. If you belonged to a Local (Pipefitters, Boilermakers, insulators), they may have records of the products and sites where your peers were exposed.
3. Call 1-888-ATTY-911. We can immediately start the process of work-history reconstruction and evidence preservation.

The corporations that profit from the industrial might of Harris County have teams of defense lawyers and insurance adjusters whose only job is to minimize your claim. You deserve an advocate with federal court experience, a former insurance-defense insider on staff, and a 27-year track record of taking on the biggest companies in the world.

Call Ralph Manginello and his team now at 1-888-ATTY-911. The consultation is free, and we take no fee unless we win. Attorney 911: Because a toxic diagnosis is a legal emergency.

Principal Office: Houston, Texas. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is unique. Reference to MD Anderson and other medical centers is for educational purposes and does not imply endorsement. Contact your physician for medical advice. Call (888) 288-9911 today.