Wisconsin · Illinois · Missouri · Great Lakes
Third Coast Lawyers is a woman- and minority-owned personal injury law firm specializing in toxic exposure and medically intensive injury claims across the Great Lakes region — with the capacity to co-counsel complex cases nationwide.
Woman & Minority Owned
Licensed: WI · IL · MO
No Fee Unless You Recover
WHO WE ARE
Educate
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Third Coast Lawyers is a woman and minority owned personal injury law firm licensed in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri, with a nationwide network of attorneys. The firm specializes in toxic exposure and medically intensive injury claims where expert medical causation proof determines the outcome.
Founded by Anna O’Connor, a trial attorney with extensive experience trying jury cases across state courts, federal, and multi-district proceedings, Third Coast Lawyers serves personal injury and toxic exposure victims throughout the Great Lakes region, with the capacity to co-counsel complex cases nationwide.
The firm also handles defective medical devices, medical malpractice, wrongful death, car accidents, sexual assault, and on-the-job injuries. From day one, Third Coast Lawyers locks in the timeline, identifies responsible parties, and maps the records needed to move the case forward while evidence is still available.
If your situation involves serious injury, documented exposure, or a fatality, contact Third Coast Lawyers for a free consultation. We do not charge attorney fees unless there is a recovery.
Evidence & Documentation
The records that decide most personal injury claims in Wisconsin, Illinois, and other jurisdictions are medical documentation, incident reports, and a dated exposure or treatment timeline assembled early — before evidence disappears.
Exposure timeline, medical records, plus work history or jobsite records. Expert medical causation review is required to connect exposure to diagnosis.
Police report plus scene photos. Medical bills and lost wages form the foundation of the damages calculation.
Hazard photos plus incident report details. Store video request timing is critical — footage is often overwritten within days.
Full chart review plus expert screening. A causation proof plan must be established before the claim can proceed.
Pharmacy history plus prescribing records. Warning and label analysis establishes whether the manufacturer withheld known risks.
Device identifiers plus operative notes. Recall and adverse event timeline links the specific device lot to documented harm.
What We Handle
We build an evidence-backed case file that supports negotiation and, if needed, litigation — starting with timelines, records, and preservation steps.
Exposure-driven illness, asbestos, jobsite contamination, industrial chemical exposure, and environmental release claims. Medical causation proof is the center of every case.
Medication harms, failed warnings, and prescribing record analysis. Includes cases where a manufacturer withheld known risks or a prescriber deviated from the standard of care.
Device identifiers, operative notes, recall timelines, and adverse event documentation. Covers implant failures and recalled hardware tied to a specific device lot or manufacturer.
Chart review, expert screening, and causation analysis for surgical errors, diagnostic failures, and hospital-acquired harm where the standard of care is disputed.
Estate authority, loss documentation, and claim deadlines. Includes cases where a surviving family member must establish standing before evidence or claim windows close.
Police reports and scene documentation as the foundation of the proof file for collision claims, combined with medical billing and lost wage records.
Jobsite liability and federal regulatory frameworks, including FELA claims for railroad workers injured in the course of employment.
Premises liability documentation and incident report timing for property hazard claims. Hazard photos and video preservation are time-critical.
Privacy-first communication and sealed filing options where available. Sensitive matters are handled with strict confidentiality throughout the process.
Building an evidence-backed case file that supports negotiation and, if needed, litigation starts with timelines, records, and preservation steps secured as early as possible. Cases handled through this process reach negotiation with a complete, documented proof file that gives clients the strongest possible position before a single demand letter is sent.
Toxic Exposure Claims
Toxic exposure cases in Wisconsin, Illinois, Missouri, and other Great Lakes jurisdictions turn on two things: a documented exposure timeline and expert medical causation proof connecting that exposure to a confirmed diagnosis.
Whether the source is a contaminated jobsite, a building water system, an industrial chemical, or an environmental release, the claim requires records establishing what you were exposed to, for how long, and what harm resulted.
Under federal CERCLA standards and applicable state tort law, responsible parties include employers, property owners, manufacturers, and governmental entities.
Wisconsin: Personal injury claims are subject to a three-year statute of limitations under Wis. Stat. 893.54.
Illinois: A two-year deadline applies under 735 ILCS 5/13-202.
Missouri Statue of Limitations
In toxic exposure cases, the clock may start at the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure — making early legal review essential in every matter.
Process: Intake to Resolution
Every case follows a disciplined, evidence-first process — from the first call through final resolution.
1
We review the facts, identify the type of claim, and explain the legal framework that applies. No charge, no obligation.
2
We immediately identify and secure time-sensitive evidence — scene photos, surveillance footage, medical records, and exposure documentation — before it disappears.
3
We build the complete proof file: responsible parties, applicable statutes, expert medical causation review, and a documented timeline of harm.
4
With a complete, documented case file, we present a demand to the responsible parties and negotiate from a position of strength.
5
If a fair settlement is not reached, we file suit and take the case through state, federal, or multi-district proceedings.
6
Whether through settlement or verdict, we pursue the maximum recovery available under the law. You pay nothing unless we win.
The First 14 Days
The decisions made in the first two weeks after an injury or exposure event have a disproportionate impact on the strength of the final claim.
1
The first task is establishing a precise, dated record of the injury or exposure event. Gaps in the timeline are the most common reason claims fail at the causation stage. We document everything from day one.
2
In complex claims — toxic exposure, defective devices, multi-vehicle crashes — more than one party may bear legal responsibility. Early identification prevents missed defendants and preserves all recovery options.
3
Surveillance footage is overwritten in days. Medical records can be amended. Jobsite logs disappear after inspections. The first 14 days determine what evidence exists to build the case — and what is lost forever.
If you are reading this within 14 days of an injury or exposure event: contact Third Coast Lawyers today. The consultation is free, and the steps we take in the first two weeks can determine whether a strong case is possible.
Evidence Checklist
You do not need everything on this list to schedule a consultation. But the more you can bring, the faster we can assess the strength of your claim and identify what additional records need to be preserved.
Special Note: Exposure-Related Illness
If your claim involves toxic exposure or an occupational illness, the most important document is a written diagnosis from a treating physician that identifies the condition. Without a confirmed diagnosis, the causation chain cannot be established. If you have not yet received a formal diagnosis, we can help identify the right medical specialists and guide the documentation process.
Founder & Lead Trial Attorney
Licensed: WI, IL, MO
State · Federal · MDL
Anna Gonis O’Connor is a founding member and managing partner with the Third Coast Lawyers who has extensive experience trying jury cases across state courts. As an advocate for those in need, Anna focuses her practice on general litigation, real estate, personal injury, nursing home, family law and toxic tort matters. She has extensive experience in all phases of litigation involving disputes in state, federal and multi-district proceedings.
Client Testimonials
"Third Coast Lawyers has helped a number of our members with legal advice."
"Respectful, professional, and caring."
"Annie is a top notch attorney who cares about her clients self interests! She will go the extra mile for you to make sure all your concerns are addressed."
"Anna and her team helped our family during a very difficult time. She navigated us through the legal process with her intellect and her heart."
Third Coast has always been very accommodating to Local 19. They have gone above and beyond helping Local 19’s membership with the utmost professionalism. Annie O’Connor ‘s expertise advise to our members has been invaluable. Local 19 Heat and Frost Insulators are grateful for the services Third Coast provides.
Why Choose Us
Serious injury cases require a law firm with the experience, resources, and commitment to build a complete, evidence-backed case file — and the trial record to take it to verdict if needed.
01
Anna O'Connor has extensive experience trying jury cases across state, federal, and multi-district proceedings. When a case needs to go to trial, Third Coast Lawyers has the experience to take it there.
02
Toxic exposure, defective medical devices, and dangerous drug cases require expert medical causation proof. This is the core of what Third Coast Lawyers does — not a sideline.
03
From the first consultation, we lock in the timeline, identify responsible parties, and map the records needed to build the strongest possible case — before evidence disappears.
04
Every client works directly with Anna O'Connor and the Third Coast Lawyers team from intake through resolution. You will not be handed off to a paralegal or a case manager.
05
Third Coast Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf.
Geographic Reach
Third Coast Lawyers is licensed in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri, and serves clients throughout the Great Lakes region. For complex matters outside these jurisdictions, the firm has the capacity to co-counsel with attorneys across the country.
Wisconsin
Primary jurisdiction
Illinois
Primary jurisdiction
Missouri
Primary jurisdiction
Michigan
Great Lakes region
Indiana
Great Lakes region
Ohio
Great Lakes region
Minnesota
Great Lakes region
Iowa
Midwest region
Nationwide
Co-counsel capacity
Co-Counsel Capacity: Third Coast Lawyers regularly co-counsels on complex toxic exposure, pharmaceutical, and medical device matters with attorneys in states where the firm is not licensed. If you are an attorney with a complex case that requires trial experience in toxic exposure or medically intensive injury law, contact us to discuss co-counsel arrangements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Third Coast Lawyers works on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation on your behalf. If there is no recovery, you owe nothing. The contingency percentage and any case costs will be explained clearly at the start of the engagement.
In Wisconsin, most personal injury claims are subject to a three-year statute of limitations under Wis. Stat. § 893.54. In Illinois, a two-year deadline applies under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. In toxic exposure cases, the clock may start at the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure. Wrongful death claims and claims against government entities have different deadlines. Contact us as soon as possible — waiting reduces the options available to you.
Third Coast Lawyers handles toxic exposure, dangerous drug injuries, defective medical device cases, medical malpractice, wrongful death, car accidents, construction and railroad injuries, slip and fall claims, and sexual abuse matters. The firm’s core specialty is medically intensive injury claims where expert medical causation proof determines the outcome.
Bring whatever you have. The most useful documents are medical records or a written diagnosis, incident or accident reports, photographs of the scene or injury, witness contact information, and any correspondence with insurance companies or the responsible party. For toxic exposure claims, work history and jobsite records are particularly important. You do not need everything — the consultation is free and we can help identify what additional records need to be gathered.
Third Coast Lawyers is licensed in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri and serves clients throughout the Great Lakes region. For complex matters in other states, the firm has the capacity to co-counsel with attorneys in those jurisdictions. If you have a serious injury claim outside the firm’s primary states, contact us to discuss whether co-counsel arrangements are appropriate for your situation.
Free Consultation
If you or a family member has been seriously injured — through toxic exposure, a defective product, medical negligence, or an accident — the time to act is now. The consultation is free. There are no attorney fees unless we recover on your behalf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Mesothelioma is caused by the inhalation or ingestion of asbestos fibers, which become permanently lodged in the mesothelial lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart and trigger chronic inflammation, cellular mutation, and tumor development over decades. Asbestos is the only established cause of pleural mesothelioma and a definitive causative agent in the overwhelming majority of peritoneal mesothelioma cases as well.
Mesothelioma is a malignant cancer that develops in the mesothelium, the thin protective tissue lining the lungs, abdomen, heart, and testes. Pleural mesothelioma accounts for approximately 80 percent of diagnosed cases. The disease is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure, is not the same disease as lung cancer, and carries a median survival of under two years from diagnosis.
Mesothelioma is diagnosed through imaging studies, tissue biopsy, and pathological analysis by a specialist experienced in the disease. A CT scan or chest X-ray identifies pleural thickening or fluid accumulation, and a surgical or needle biopsy provides tissue for immunohistochemistry analysis to distinguish mesothelioma from lung adenocarcinoma. Patients should seek confirmation from a dedicated mesothelioma center before beginning treatment or pursuing a legal claim.
Common symptoms of pleural mesothelioma include persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, a dry or painful cough, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, and pleural effusion — fluid accumulation around the lungs. Peritoneal mesothelioma typically presents with abdominal pain, swelling, and nausea. Anyone with a known asbestos exposure history who develops these symptoms should inform their physician immediately and request evaluation by a specialist.
Mesothelioma has a latency period — the time between initial asbestos exposure and diagnosis — that typically ranges from 20 to 50 years. This extended latency explains why individuals exposed during peak industrial asbestos use in the 1960s and 1970s continue to receive new diagnoses today. Symptoms often do not appear until the disease has reached an advanced stage, limiting treatment options at the time of discovery.
Mesothelioma can go into partial or, in rare cases, complete remission, particularly in patients with epithelioid cell type who undergo aggressive multimodal treatment at a specialized cancer center. The FDA approved nivolumab plus ipilimumab for unresectable pleural mesothelioma in 2020, and partial remission is achievable with this regimen. Remission does not constitute a cure, and recurrence remains a significant risk requiring ongoing monitoring.
Mesothelioma survival depends on stage at diagnosis, cell type, tumor location, and overall patient health, with median survival ranging from 12 to 21 months from diagnosis according to data published in the Journal of Thoracic Oncology. Patients with epithelioid cell type diagnosed at an early stage who receive multimodal treatment at a specialized mesothelioma center have achieved survival beyond five years in clinical settings.
No established safe level of asbestos exposure exists. Mesothelioma has been diagnosed in individuals with brief or low-level asbestos exposure, including household members of workers who brought fibers home on clothing. Legal causation in asbestos litigation does not require proof of prolonged exposure — it requires proof that a specific exposure was a substantial contributing factor to the diagnosis under applicable tort standards.
Asbestos-containing materials cannot be identified by visual inspection alone because the fibers are microscopic. Materials suspected to contain asbestos — including floor tiles, ceiling tiles, pipe insulation, joint compounds, and textured coatings in buildings constructed before 1980 — must be tested by a certified asbestos inspector using accredited laboratory analysis. Do not sand, scrape, drill, or cut any suspect material before professional testing is completed.
Asbestos is not fully banned in the United States. The EPA issued a final rule in March 2024 under the Toxic Substances Control Act banning chrysotile asbestos in most remaining applications, but other asbestos fiber types are not subject to a comprehensive federal prohibition. More than 50 countries have enacted full bans. Workers in certain industries and individuals in buildings with deteriorating asbestos-containing materials continue to face exposure risk in the United States today.
Asbestos was incorporated into more than 3,000 commercial and industrial products throughout the twentieth century because of its heat resistance, tensile strength, and low cost. Common applications included pipe insulation, floor and ceiling tiles, roofing shingles, fireproofing spray, brake linings, boiler insulation, gaskets, and shipbuilding materials. The EPA has identified asbestos-containing materials in schools, commercial buildings, and pre-1980 residential housing stock as ongoing sources of exposure when those materials deteriorate or are disturbed.
Asbestos is a group of naturally occurring silicate minerals composed of thin, durable fibers resistant to heat, electricity, and chemical corrosion. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies all six regulated asbestos mineral types — chrysotile, amosite, crocidolite, tremolite, anthophyllite, and actinolite — as known human carcinogens. When asbestos-containing materials are disturbed, microscopic fibers are released into the air, inhaled or ingested, and permanently lodged in human tissue, causing irreversible disease over time.
A mesothelioma claim typically moves through intake, evidence preservation, defendant identification, complaint filing, discovery, expert causation review, and settlement negotiation over a period of six months to two or more years, depending on jurisdiction and the number of defendants. Many cases settle before trial. Expedited trial tracks are available in some jurisdictions for plaintiffs with terminal diagnoses, and courts in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Missouri each apply different docket management rules that affect case timing.
Malignant mesothelioma is a rare cancer, with the American Cancer Society estimating approximately 3,000 new diagnoses in the United States each year. Pleural mesothelioma accounts for roughly 75 to 80 percent of all cases. The annual diagnosis rate has remained relatively stable despite declining asbestos use because of the disease’s 20-to-50-year latency period, meaning exposures from peak industrial use decades ago continue to produce new cases today.
Mesothelioma and lung cancer are distinct diseases that originate in different tissues and require different treatment protocols. Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium — the protective lining surrounding the lungs, abdomen, or heart — and is caused almost exclusively by asbestos exposure. Lung cancer originates in lung tissue itself and has multiple causes, including smoking and radon. A confirmed mesothelioma diagnosis, as opposed to lung cancer, significantly affects both treatment planning and the strength of an asbestos exposure claim.
The highest risk of mesothelioma is among individuals with documented occupational asbestos exposure, particularly insulators, shipyard workers, boilermakers, electricians, pipefitters, auto mechanics, and construction workers employed before the 1980s. U.S. Navy veterans face an elevated risk because naval vessels were heavily insulated with asbestos-containing materials. According to the National Cancer Institute, men over age 65 with 20 or more years of occupational exposure account for the largest share of diagnosed cases nationally.
Yes, every state imposes a statute of limitations on mesothelioma and asbestos injury claims, and missing that deadline permanently bars recovery. In Wisconsin, the deadline is three years under Wis. Stat. § 893.54. In Illinois, two years apply under 735 ILCS 5/13-202. In Missouri, five years apply under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 516.120. The limitations period in asbestos cases typically begins at the date of diagnosis, not the date of exposure. Contact a mesothelioma attorney immediately after diagnosis to protect all filing options.
Treatment options for mesothelioma depend on disease stage, cell type, and tumor location, and typically involve surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination of all three. The FDA has approved immunotherapy regimens — including nivolumab plus ipilimumab — for certain mesothelioma patients, and clinical trials at specialized cancer centers provide access to emerging targeted therapies. A mesothelioma specialist, not a general oncologist, should direct the treatment plan because the disease responds differently than standard lung cancer.
Anyone who suspects asbestos exposure should consult a physician and request a pulmonary evaluation, including chest imaging, to establish a documented baseline of lung health. Preserve all records identifying the worksite, employer, products involved, and the dates and duration of exposure. Contact a toxic exposure attorney promptly because Wisconsin allows 3 years under Wis. Stat. § 893.54, and Illinois allows 2 years under 735 ILCS 5/13-202, with the clock typically starting on the date of diagnosis rather than the date of exposure.
Workers in construction, shipbuilding, insulation, roofing, plumbing, and manufacturing face the highest risk of asbestos exposure because those industries used asbestos-containing materials extensively before federal restrictions took effect. U.S. Navy veterans bear a disproportionately high burden of exposure due to the widespread use of asbestos insulation on naval vessels. Family members of workers can also develop asbestos-related disease through secondary exposure to fibers carried home on clothing and equipment.
Third Coast Lawyers empower clients through education, experience, and advocacy — helping injury victims understand their rights and pursue the legal remedies they deserve.
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