Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower: Asbestos Exposure & Mesothelioma Risk

URGENT FILING DEADLINE WARNING FOR TEXAS ASBESTOS VICTIMS: If you or a loved one worked at the Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower construction site and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease, you have a limited time to file a claim. In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003) is two years from the date of diagnosis. For wrongful death claims (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003), it’s two years from the date of death. Do not delay — contact an experienced mesothelioma lawyer Texas residents trust today to protect your rights.

Construction workers on the Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower, now known as JPMorgan Chase Tower, in Houston, Texas, may have been exposed to asbestos-containing materials (ACMs). This exposure may lead to serious health conditions such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis decades later. Workers must understand their risks and legal options under Texas law. For a list of asbestos-containing products and their manufacturers relevant to facilities like this, refer to the AsbestosIndex Product Crosswalk. An asbestos attorney Texas specializing in toxic torts can help navigate these complex claims. If you are seeking an asbestos cancer lawyer Houston based, ensure they have extensive experience with large-scale commercial construction claims.

Facility History: Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower Construction (1979-1982)

Construction of the Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower, a 75-story skyscraper in downtown Houston, Texas, took place between 1979 and 1982. Asbestos was widely used in commercial building materials during this period across Texas and the United States. It offered fire resistance, insulation, and durability. Despite growing awareness of its health hazards, ACMs were commonly specified in large-scale construction projects, including major Texas facilities such as the ExxonMobil Baytown Refinery, Shell Deer Park Complex, and Dow Chemical Freeport.

Asbestos-containing materials were reportedly incorporated into many aspects of the Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower’s construction. This met fire safety codes and provided thermal and acoustic insulation. This widespread use means many tradespeople working on the project may have encountered and disturbed these materials, similar to those working at the Texaco Port Arthur Refinery or the Bethlehem Steel Beaumont Shipyard. Understanding potential asbestos exposure Texas residents faced at such sites is crucial for legal action.

Occupations at Risk: Trades Allegedly Exposed to Asbestos

Many construction trades on the Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower construction site may have been exposed to asbestos. Their work often involved cutting, disturbing, or removing asbestos-containing products. This work released microscopic fibers into the air. Workers who regularly handled or worked near these materials faced higher risk, a common scenario at industrial and commercial construction sites throughout the Texas Gulf Coast.

Trades reportedly exposed include:

  • Insulators: Allegedly applied and removed pipe covering, block insulation, and insulating cements around mechanical systems. Members of unions such as Heat and Frost Insulators Local 22 in Houston may have performed this work.
  • Pipefitters: May have disturbed asbestos pipe covering or handled asbestos-containing gaskets and packing materials during piping installation. UA Pipefitters Local 211 Houston members often worked on such projects.
  • Boilermakers: Reportedly worked with refractory materials, gaskets, and insulation during the installation or maintenance of boiler systems, potentially including members of Boilermakers Local 587 or Boilermakers Local 74 Beaumont. This work was also common at Texas power plants like the Luminant Martin Lake Plant.
  • Electricians: May have worked near other trades disturbing asbestos or encountered asbestos-containing electrical components such as wiring insulation or electrical panel components. IBEW Local 66 members often worked on large commercial projects in Houston.
  • Drywallers: Allegedly worked with joint compounds and textured finishes that may have contained asbestos.
  • Plasterers: May have mixed and applied plaster and stucco products that incorporated asbestos.
  • Laborers: Reportedly assisted various trades, swept debris, and performed demolition tasks, potentially disturbing asbestos.
  • HVAC Workers: May have worked with insulated ducts, air handling units, and cooling towers containing asbestos-containing components.
  • Fireproofers: Allegedly applied spray fireproofing materials to structural steel, which frequently contained asbestos, a common practice in high-rise construction across Texas.

Asbestos-Containing Materials Allegedly Present During Construction

Various categories of asbestos-containing materials are alleged to have been present during the construction of the Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower:

  • Pipe covering and block insulation: Reportedly used on pipes, boilers, and other heated equipment throughout the building’s mechanical systems, a common application at many large Texas industrial sites.
  • Insulating cement: Allegedly applied to seal gaps and provide insulation around piping and equipment.
  • Gaskets and packing: Reportedly utilized in pumps, valves, and flanges within the building’s plumbing and HVAC systems.
  • Spray fireproofing: Allegedly applied to structural steel components for fire resistance, a common practice in high-rise construction in Houston and other major Texas cities during this era.
  • Joint compound and drywall: Some formulations of joint compound used in finishing interior walls may have contained asbestos.
  • Floor tiles and mastics: Asbestos was often incorporated into resilient floor tiles and their adhesive, reportedly used in various areas of the tower.
  • Roofing materials: Certain roofing felts, mastics, and coatings used on the building’s roof may have contained asbestos.
  • Electrical components: Some wire insulation, electrical panels, and conduit sealants may have contained asbestos.

For detailed information on manufacturers of asbestos-containing products that may have been present at a facility of this type, consult the AsbestosIndex Product Crosswalk.

Asbestos fiber exposure, even for a short duration, causes serious and often fatal diseases. These diseases typically have long latency periods. Symptoms may not appear until decades after the initial exposure.

The primary diseases associated with asbestos exposure include:

  • Mesothelioma: A rare and aggressive cancer affecting the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart, almost exclusively caused by asbestos exposure.
  • Asbestosis: A chronic, non-cancerous lung disease caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers, leading to scarring of the lung tissue.
  • Lung Cancer: Asbestos exposure significantly increases the risk of developing lung cancer.
  • Other Cancers: Studies suggest a link between asbestos exposure and an increased risk of cancers of the larynx, pharynx, stomach, and colon.

If you or a loved one worked at the Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower construction site and received an asbestos-related disease diagnosis, understand your legal options under Texas law.

Individuals diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or other asbestos-related diseases after working at the Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower construction site may recover compensation. Legal avenues in Texas include:

  • Asbestos Trust Fund Claims: Many asbestos manufacturers established trust funds to compensate victims without requiring individual lawsuits. Most asbestos trusts do not have strict time limits, but their assets can deplete over time, making it crucial to file promptly. Texas residents can file trust fund claims simultaneously with civil lawsuits. This can contribute to a Texas mesothelioma settlement.
  • Civil Lawsuits: Victims may file personal injury lawsuits against negligent asbestos product manufacturers. If the exposed individual has passed away, family members may file a wrongful death lawsuit. Trust fund claims and civil lawsuits pursued simultaneously. These lawsuits are often filed in Texas venues such as the Jefferson County District Court (Beaumont, a top asbestos docket), leading to a Jefferson County asbestos lawsuit, Harris County District Court (Houston), potentially resulting in a Harris County asbestos lawsuit, or Bexar County District Court (San Antonio). An experienced asbestos trust fund Texas attorney can help you explore these options.

Act quickly – your time to file is limited. Texas has specific statutes of limitations for filing asbestos-related claims, which establish the Texas asbestos statute of limitations:

  • Personal Injury: You must file a personal injury lawsuit within two years from the date of diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003).
  • Wrongful Death: You must file a wrongful death lawsuit within two years from the date of the victim’s death (Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003).

Missing this asbestos lawsuit Texas filing deadline can permanently bar your right to compensation.

Contact an Experienced Asbestos Attorney Today

If you or a family member developed an asbestos-related disease after working at the Texas Commerce Bank Houston Tower construction site, time is precious. Unfortunately, many of the coworkers who shared shifts with you in the earlier years of your career may no longer be reachable. An experienced mesothelioma lawyer Texas litigation firm can help you understand your rights, identify potential sources of exposure, and secure the compensation you deserve.

Call today for a free consultation. Discuss your specific situation and legal options immediately to ensure your claim is filed within Texas’s strict deadlines.

Data Sources

Information about facility equipment, industrial materials, and occupational records referenced on this page is drawn from publicly available sources where applicable, including:

If specific equipment or product claims in this article are sourced from a non-public database, the source is identified parenthetically within the text above.

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