Calling this number connects you with a Patient Advocate at The Mesothelioma Center, the nation's most trusted mesothelioma resource.
Our Patient Advocates can help guide you or your loved one through the steps to take after a mesothelioma diagnosis. Our team has a combined experience of more than 30 years in assisting cancer patients, and includes a medical doctor, an oncology registered nurse and a U.S. Navy veteran.
Philadelphia is one of the top jurisdictions in the country in which to file a mesothelioma lawsuit. Top national law firms help mesothelioma patients throughout the state of Pennsylvania. Asbestos exposure in shipyards, steel mills and military bases caused mesothelioma in Pennsylvania residents.
Our fact-checking process begins with a thorough review of all sources to ensure they are high quality. Then we cross-check the facts with original medical or scientific reports published by those sources, or we validate the facts with reputable news organizations, medical and scientific experts and other health experts. Each page includes all sources for full transparency.
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Asbestos.com is the nation’s most trusted mesothelioma resource
The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com has provided patients and their loved ones the most updated and reliable information on mesothelioma and asbestos exposure since 2006.
Our team of Patient Advocates includes a medical doctor, a registered nurse, health services administrators, veterans, VA-accredited Claims Agents, an oncology patient navigator and hospice care expert. Their combined expertise means we help any mesothelioma patient or loved one through every step of their cancer journey.
More than 30 contributors, including mesothelioma doctors, survivors, health care professionals and other experts, have peer-reviewed our website and written unique research-driven articles to ensure you get the highest-quality medical and health information.
About The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com
Assisting mesothelioma patients and their loved ones since 2006.
Helps more than 50% of mesothelioma patients diagnosed annually in the U.S.
A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau.
5-star reviewed mesothelioma and support organization.
My family has only the highest compliment for the assistance and support that we received from The Mesothelioma Center. This is a staff of compassionate and knowledgeable individuals who respect what your family is experiencing and who go the extra mile to make an unfortunate diagnosis less stressful. Information and assistance were provided by The Mesothelioma Center at no cost to our family.
Lahav, J. (2023, May 16). Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyers. Asbestos.com. Retrieved June 8, 2023, from https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma-lawyer/pennsylvania/
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Lahav, Joe. "Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyers." Asbestos.com, 16 May 2023, https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma-lawyer/pennsylvania/.
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Lahav, Joe. "Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyers." Asbestos.com. Last modified May 16, 2023. https://www.asbestos.com/mesothelioma-lawyer/pennsylvania/.
Widespread use of asbestos in Pennsylvania’s shipyards, refineries, power plants, steel mills and mining operations placed workers at high risk for developing asbestos-related diseases.
Veterans in Pennsylvania have been diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure that occurred in the state’s shipyards and military bases. They may file a VA claim for benefits, and they have access to VA health care in the state.
Pennsylvania law has a statute of limitations that sets deadlines for filing mesothelioma claims. A qualified Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer can explain how these deadlines impact your individual case.
You should not rely on any information herein to make a determination about your legal rights. Please speak to an attorney licensed to practice law in your area to best understand your legal options.
Find a Mesothelioma Attorney in Pennsylvania
Get help finding an attorney who knows the process and can get you and your family the compensation you deserve.
Pennsylvania ranks No. 3 in the U.S. for mesothelioma and asbestosis deaths. The state’s high ranking is largely attributed to its naturally occurring asbestos deposits and its industrial history.
There are 37 asbestos deposits located in the eastern and southeastern regions of the state. Four asbestos mines operated in these areas in the early 1900s mining amphibole asbestos fibers.
Products containing asbestos were used in the construction and operation of many factories, plants and other industrial job sites throughout Pennsylvania.
Asbestos was also used in the construction of schools throughout the state. Approximately 11 schools in Philadelphia were shut down during the 2019-20 school year to remediate damaged asbestos products.
Pennsylvania Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure
Ambler: The Asbestos Manufacturing Capital of the World
The town of Ambler, Pennsylvania, was considered the asbestos manufacturing capital of the world for three-quarters of a century.
The first asbestos manufacturing plant in Ambler opened in 1896 and the last one closed down in 1987. Asbestos waste contaminated the town and residents now suffer with high rates of mesothelioma.
Two sites in Ambler, which is located in Delaware County, were added to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund list: The BoRit Asbestos Site and Ambler Asbestos Piles.
According to a 2006 study by the International Journal of Occupational Environmental Health, some of the country’s highest occurrences of malignant mesothelioma are concentrated in Delaware County, Pennsylvania.
Outside of Ambler, data from the federal Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry shows that workers at job sites in Ellwood City and New Castle, Pennsylvania, experienced dangerous levels of asbestos exposure. Communities surrounding these facilities have become concerned about the health risks.
Firms that practice nationwide have tried cases in practically every state. They have firsthand experience in taking on large asbestos corporations.
In 2022, Weitz & Luxenburg secured $43 million for a mesothelioma patient after a jury found Algoma Hardwoods, Inc. responsible for asbestos exposure.
Several nationwide mesothelioma law firms have office locations in or near Pennsylvania:
Cooney & Conway has an office in Philadelphia.
Nemeroff Law has an office in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Weitz & Luxenberg has an office just outside of Philadelphia in Cherry Hill, New Jersey.
Additionally, Simmons Hanly Conroy has an office in New York City, which is a reasonable drive for residents in eastern Pennsylvania.
One of the perks of hiring a nationwide firm is that they will come to you if you can’t travel to one of their offices. These firms travel all over the country to meet their client’s needs, and they won’t charge you for their travel expenses.
If your family would benefit from compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages and other financial concerns, then it’s in your best interest to hire a top mesothelioma attorney. These attorneys have the experience to get you the highest compensation for your case.
$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: A Pennsylvania Supreme Court upheld a $1 million verdict for a man who claimed his mesothelioma was caused by exposure to asbestos in Ford Motor Co. brake pads.
$4.8 Million in 2015: An appeals court in Pennsylvania affirmed a combined $4.8 million verdict for two 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.
$14.5 Million in 2011: A Philadelphia jury awarded $14.5 million to the estate of a former asbestos worker who died of mesothelioma. The verdict was later vacated and a new trial was ordered.
$10 Million in 2010: A Philadelphia jury awarded $10 million to a mesothelioma patient who claimed their disease was caused by asbestos products made by Melrath Gasket.
$7 Million in 2008: A Pennsylvania jury awarded $7 million to the estate of a man who died of mesothelioma after working with asbestos products made by several different manufacturers.
These verdicts are among the highest awarded in Pennsylvania, but the vast majority of mesothelioma lawsuits reach a settlement out of court. Mesothelioma law firms regularly secure mesothelioma settlements at more than a million dollars for their clients.
Additionally, experienced law firms can get six-figure payouts from asbestos trust funds for their clients.
Federal and state laws regulate asbestos in Pennsylvania to protect the public from exposure.
The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection oversees the removal, disposal and transportation of asbestos products. Other departments and laws govern labor laws around the safety of asbestos removal and the management of asbestos lawsuits.
Regulations Governing Asbestos in Pennsylvania
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.
State Departments Overseeing Pennsylvania’s Asbestos Laws
Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
Pennsylvania Laws Affecting Asbestos Lawsuits
Pennsylvania General Assembly Chapter 55: Defines statutes of limitations in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania General Assembly Section 7102: Outlines Pennsylvania’s negligence laws.
A Pennsylvania mesothelioma attorney practicing with a nationwide firm has the training and experience to interpret how these laws impact your case.
Asbestos Litigation Trends in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania courts have established the following procedures and rulings to manage asbestos litigation within the state.
Evidence of Physical Impairment
Pennsylvania state law allows plaintiffs with nonmalignant asbestos-related diseases to file a second lawsuit and recover damages if they later develop an asbestos-related cancer. In Simon v. Pacor, however, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that plaintiffs are not entitled to compensation for asymptomatic pleural thickening without physical impairment.
In other words, pleural thickening alone is not enough to bring a claim for asbestos-related injury in Pennsylvania courts. A plaintiff must also have a symptomatic physical impairment in order to commence a lawsuit.
Case Management Orders
Certain procedural rules allow flexibility to facilitate quick resolution of lawsuits. These Case Management Orders are subject to court approval. If the plaintiff or defendant does not offer a Case Management Order, the court sets out its own default order.
For example, the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas has issued a case management order for all asbestos cases that:
Simplified court filings
Created an inactive docket for claimants who do not yet have physical impairments
Established requirements for reactivating inactive cases
Scheduled discovery and trials
Grouped cases for trial based on similarities (e.g., plaintiff’s law firm, work site, disease)
Deferring Punitive Damages
In the late 1980s, Judge Richard Klein of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas observed increases in new asbestos case filings. Meanwhile, asbestos case defendants were increasingly declaring bankruptcy and significantly reducing their settlement payments to plaintiffs.
In response, Judge Klein began a practice of separating and deferring consideration of punitive damages while other damages claims in an asbestos case were resolved.
Punitive damages awards, which aim to discourage future wrongdoing, can increase verdicts substantially. Some judges take a view that limiting punitive damages awards leaves more money available to pay other claimants’ actual damages (e.g. medical bills).
Klein’s decision to defer punitive damages eventually became the practice of the court’s Complex Litigation Center, thereby substantially reducing the award of punitive damages.
Several Liability
Recent changes to Pennsylvania law impose several liability on wrongdoers. Several liability is the notion that a person or company is only liable for its portion of harm or damages, and no more. The essential concept is that liability can be shared.
Under this theory, a defendant’s liability is limited to the portion of harm allocated to it at trial. Often, plaintiffs file a claim against multiple asbestos companies. Levels of blame, if appropriate, can be assigned to each defendant after a trial or in a settlement agreement.
Successor Liability
Successor liability is the notion that after a merger or takeover, the new company inherits the obligations of the previous entity.
If Company A buys Company B, and Company B is found to be liable in a future claim, Company A must accept that liability. Pennsylvania law limits the extent to which successor companies are responsible for asbestos liabilities acquired from another company.
