Statute of Limitations
Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 16.003 provides a 2-year statute of limitations for personal injury claims. Texas courts apply the discovery rule from date of mesothelioma diagnosis. Harris County District Court handles the largest asbestos litigation caseload of any Texas venue — and arguably any U.S. county. Texas uses modified comparative fault with a 51% bar.
2 years from diagnosis
Where to File in Texas
Texas mesothelioma cases are filed in state district courts — Harris County (Houston), Jefferson County (Beaumont), and Dallas County attract the heaviest dockets due to proximity to petrochemical and shipbuilding industries. Texas also channels claims through the national network of 60+ asbestos bankruptcy trusts, including Johns Manville, Owens Corning, and the Combustion Engineering 524(g) Trust.
Texas applies a 2-year statute of limitations for mesothelioma claims, running from the date of diagnosis. This is one of the shorter windows in the country, making prompt legal consultation critical. Wrongful death actions must also be filed within 2 years of the decedent's death. Texas courts apply the discovery rule, but a confirmed mesothelioma diagnosis is generally treated as the triggering date.
Jefferson County (Beaumont) developed a reputation in the 1990s and 2000s as a plaintiff-friendly asbestos venue, though tort reform legislation in 2003 and 2005 significantly tightened venue and causation requirements. Harris County courts remain active, particularly for cases tied to the Houston Ship Channel refineries and petrochemical corridor.
Texas exposure hotspots include the Gulf Coast petrochemical complex (Port Arthur, Beaumont, Texas City, Houston Ship Channel), offshore oil platforms, power generation plants, and commercial construction throughout Dallas–Fort Worth. Major employers with documented asbestos use include ExxonMobil, Shell, Chevron Phillips, and Union Carbide's Texas operations.
Exposure in Texas
Source: Texas Cancer Registry 2024
Source: RAND Asbestos Litigation Report 2024
Source: NIOSH Texas Occupational Data
Clinics & Specialists in Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center — Mesothelioma Program
UT Southwestern Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center
Your Legal Team
Robert Hargrove
Senior Partner
Houston, TX
Robert Hargrove has dedicated his 25-year career exclusively to representing mesothelioma victims and their families. With a background in chemical engineering, he brings a technical depth to asbestos exposure analysis that few attorneys can match — understanding the industrial environments, product chemistries, and occupational hygiene standards that form the backbone of every asbestos liability case. He has recovered over $400 million for his clients through a combination of trust fund claims, civil litigation, and VA benefit advocacy. Robert is a founding member of the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization's legal advisory council and serves on the faculty of the annual National Asbestos Litigation Conference. His practice spans all Texas asbestos jurisdictions, with particular depth in Harris County, the nation's busiest asbestos litigation venue.
Education
- J.D., University of Texas School of Law (2001)
- B.S., Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University (1998)