Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer

Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in Pennsylvania

People diagnosed with mesothelioma, or their families, can work with a Pennsylvania asbestos attorney to file a personal injury lawsuit, wrongful death lawsuit or trust fund claim. High rates of asbestos-related disease in Pennsylvania result from asbestos steel mills, mining operations, power plants, refineries and shipyards. 

Philadelphia ranks among the top 10 jurisdictions in the country for mesothelioma lawsuits. These claims seek financial compensation to help families pay for medical bills and other expenses connected with asbestos-related diseases.

Key Facts About Filing in Pennsylvania

1. Asbestos lawsuits increased by 42% in Pennsylvania from 2021 to 2022, according to a KCIC Industry Report.
2. Plaintiffs with mesothelioma may submit a Case Management Order to help their lawsuits get resolved quickly.
3. In Pennsylvania, defendants are liable only for their portion of harm as determined and allocated at trial. They are not held solely responsible if other wrongdoers are also at fault. 

Experienced mesothelioma lawyers can assess your claim, the best place to file given the circumstances of your specific case and the type of claim they’ll pursue on your behalf. A statute of limitations applies in Pennsylvania, so it’s important to speak with a qualified attorney as soon as possible to receive the advice and guidance you need to move forward with your claim promptly.

Benefits of Hiring a Mesothelioma Lawyer in Pennsylvania After Asbestos Exposure

Pennsylvania asbestos attorneys understand how the state’s asbestos litigation laws apply to your case. The courts in Pennsylvania have established procedures to manage asbestos litigation. They define who can file a mesothelioma lawsuit, the procedural rules and the deferment of punitive damages. 

Also included is the extent to which a wrongdoer is liable, as well as rules for transferring liability if a company changes hands through a merger or takeover. Local attorneys can help you navigate the complex legal system and explain all aspects of your claim, from filing the lawsuit to getting compensation. 

Pennsylvania asbestos lawyers also have access to databases about asbestos jobsites in the state. They have a network of asbestos experts who can testify about exposure and how it results in mesothelioma.

Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Law Firms

Some of the top national law firms with office locations in or near Pennsylvania include Weitz & Luxenberg (Cherry Hill, New Jersey, which services Pennsylvania residents), Meirowitz & Wasserberg (Philadelphia) and Nemeroff Law (Pittsburgh).

Local firms have a track record of success in the state. They often offer free case reviews where you may ask them to discuss cases they’ve litigated with details like yours. Feel free to ask questions and ensure you’re comfortable. Excellent candidates should have good communication skills and make you feel comfortable discussing the details of your case. 

If you have received a mesothelioma diagnosis, it’s in your best interest to hire a top mesothelioma attorney. An expert lawyer can give you the best chance of obtaining the compensation you need to cover medical bills, lost wages and other expenses related to your disease. 

Nationwide Asbestos Law Firms Outside Pennsylvania

Working with Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers from top national asbestos law firms has advantages. Among these is their extensive knowledge, experience and access to extensive resources. 

Nationwide law firms offer to come to you at no cost. Top national law firms include Cooney & Conway, Nemeroff Law, Weitz & Luxenberg and Simmons Hanly Conroy.

While you may live in PA, if your exposure happened elsewhere or the company responsible has its headquarters elsewhere, your lawyer may advise you to file your claim in a state other than Pennsylvania. In these cases, there are benefits to working with a national firm with offices across the country. These attorneys can help you with each step of the process.

Asbestos Compensation in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania residents and their family members or estates have received some high verdicts from settlements and court cases. 

• S25 Million: In 2022, a Philadelphia jury awarded $25 million to asbestosis patient and Navy veteran Richard Daciw and his wife. John Crane, which manufactured asbestos packing, was the only defendant left when the case went to trial.
• $10 Million: In 2010, a Philadelphia jury awarded $10 million to a mesothelioma patient who claimed Melrath Gasket’s asbestos products caused their disease.
• $7 Million: In 2008, a Pennsylvania jury awarded $7 million to the estate of a man who died of mesothelioma after working with the asbestos products of several different manufacturers.
• $4.8 Million: In 2015, an appeals court in Pennsylvania affirmed a combined $4.8 million verdict for 2 women who filed lawsuits because their husbands died of mesothelioma after occupational exposure to asbestos.
• $2.3 Million: In 2012, a Pennsylvania jury awarded $2.3 million to the widow of a sheet metal worker and mechanic who developed mesothelioma after working with asbestos products throughout his career.
• $1.7 Million: In 2016, a Philadelphia jury awarded $1.7 million to the widow and estate of a man who died of mesothelioma after working with asbestos products from 1962 to 2001.
• $1 Million: In 2016, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld a $1 million verdict for a man who claimed asbestos in Ford Motor Co. brake pads caused his mesothelioma.

These claims seek mesothelioma compensation to help patients and their loved ones pay for medical bills and other expenses connected with asbestos-related diseases.

It’s common for top asbestos law firms to secure mesothelioma settlements of $1 million or more for clients, but most lawsuits settle out of court. Law firms can also get clients six-figure payouts from asbestos trust funds.

Regulating Asbestos in Pennsylvania

Current federal and state laws regulate asbestos in Pennsylvania. The departments that oversee Pennsylvania’s asbestos laws are the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. 

The Department of Environmental Protection oversees the removal, disposal and transportation of asbestos products in the state. It also sets the penalties for failing to meet state regulations regarding asbestos removal.

• Asbestos Occupations Accreditation and Certification Act: Requires notification of any asbestos abatement project to the state a week in advance.
• Penalties Set by Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection: Outlines the monetary fines and criminal penalties for people who fail to meet state regulations governing asbestos removal.
• Pennsylvania General Assembly Chapter 55: Defines statutes of limitations in Pennsylvania.
• Pennsylvania General Assembly Section 7102: Outlines Pennsylvania’s negligence laws.

The Department of Labor and Industry governs labor laws regarding asbestos removal and the management of asbestos lawsuits. A Pennsylvania mesothelioma attorney practicing with a nationwide firm has the training and experience to interpret how these laws impact your case.

How Asbestos Exposure Happens in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania residents may have been exposed to asbestos near the state’s naturally occurring deposits and mining areas. Anyone who worked jobs in construction, manufacturing, industrial work, power generation or the U.S. armed forces was at risk of exposure.

Ambler, Pennsylvania, a town located in Delaware County, was once considered the asbestos product manufacturing capital of the world. It held the title for three-quarters of a century with the first plant opening in 1896 and the last plant closing in 1987.  

Delaware County has some of the highest rates of malignant mesothelioma in the country. Jobsites in Ellwood City and New Castle also exposed workers to dangerous levels of asbestos. 

• Asbestos Mining: Pennsylvania is one of the few states in the country that has a long history of mining asbestos. Records from the U.S. Geological Survey show 37 asbestos deposits in the state and four asbestos mines in the southeastern region. The type of asbestos found in these mines is the highly carcinogenic amphibole. 
• Asbestos Product Manufacturing: Asbestos plants generated toxic asbestos waste that required the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to intervene. The agency found two sites, the BoRit Asbestos Site and Ambler Asbestos Piles, that qualified for Superfund designation. The EPA completed the cleanup of the Ambler Asbestos Piles Superfund Site in 1993. The agency completed remedial work at the BoRit Asbestos Site in 2018 and developed a plan for ongoing maintenance in 2020. 
• Coal Mining: Some of the most at-risk occupations were the widespread coal mines across the western part of the state. Asbestos parts and insulation on mining machinery exposed coal miners.
• Rockhill Quarry: Workers found actinolite asbestos at Rockhill Quarry in Perkasie Township in December 2018 during routine testing. The state quickly shut down mining operations at the site. Ongoing testing will determine if any portion of the quarry is safe for potential future use.
• Schools: Pennsylvania schools have a long history of asbestos contamination. It has concerned parents, teachers and administrators for decades. In September 2020, for example, 3 school district officials faced felony charges for child endangerment but were dropped in 2021. Asbestos in schools led to 11 of them closing for remediation during the 2019-2020 school year.
• Shipyards: Philadelphia and Erie were huge centers for shipbuilding until the 1970s. Locations like Penn Shipbuilding, Key Highway Shipyard and Sun Shipbuilding exposed workers to asbestos.
• Vermiculite Plants: Pennsylvania was one of the many states that received large shipments of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana, from 1948 to 1993.

Pennsylvania has numerous former jobsites known for asbestos exposure. Cases where employers knowingly put workers or students in danger of asbestos exposure continue to arise. Pennsylvania currently ranks third in the nation for mesothelioma deaths and fourth in the nation for deaths from asbestosis.

Marian Levin

Verified Asbestos.com Survivor

Survivor May Have Been Exposed to Asbestos Working in Pennsylvania Schools

Marian was diagnosed with pleurisy and had fluid around her lungs drained three times. The fourth time led to exploratory surgery and a pleural mesothelioma diagnosis. “I worked in schools where there probably was asbestos. They say it can be up to 70 years after exposure before mesothelioma is diagnosed,” she told The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com.

Marian Levin

Verified Asbestos.com Survivor

Read Marian’s Story

Occupations & Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure in Pennsylvania

Many of Pennsylvania’s job industries, from mining to railroad operations to teaching, historically have a high risk of asbestos exposure. Workers in these fields had an increased chance of developing mesothelioma or other diseases because of prolonged exposure. Their families also were at risk of secondary exposure.

Some of Pennsylvania’s most widely available jobs used products containing asbestos. It’s also one of the few states that mined asbestos. While regulations now control asbestos use and handling, people are still diagnosed each year with asbestos-related diseases.

• Shipbuilders
• Miners
• Manufacturing plant workers
• Metal workers
• Power plant workers
• Chemical plant workers
• Oil refinery workers
• Insulation installers
• Railroad workers
• Construction workers
• Teachers

Pennsylvania companies that owned shipyards, metal works and railways knew of the danger of occupational exposure but chose to put profits over the wellbeing of workers. 

Examples in Pittsburgh include LTV Steel and USX Corporation. Bethlehem Steel and its shipyard exposed residents of Bethlehem. Other shipyards known for exposure include Pennsylvania Shipyard in Philadelphia and Sun Shipbuilding in Chester. Veterans were exposed at bases and shipyards, including Philadelphia Naval Shipyard.

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