New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyers

Selecting a New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer

Selecting a lawyer experienced in New Jersey asbestos litigation is crucial to securing financial assistance after a mesothelioma or asbestos lung cancer diagnosis. New Jersey ranks among the nation’s top states for filing mesothelioma claims, especially in Middlesex, Essex and Bergen counties. Legal experts familiar with local courts and asbestos job sites can navigate complex rules and deadlines, maximizing your claim’s value.

New Jersey Jurisdiction Spotlight

• Middlesex, New Jersey ranked No. 3 in the nation for talc filings in 2024, according to KCIC’s 2025 report.
• Ranking in the top 5 jurisdictions for talc filings means Middlesex County is among the jurisdictions that together saw 67% of the nation’s legal cases.
• KCIC reports Middlesex County also ranked No. 6 in the nation for mesothelioma filings in 2024.

Hiring local mesothelioma lawyers such as Weitz & Luxenberg and Meirowitz & Wasserberg means working with attorneys who know New Jersey’s asbestos history and courtroom environment. These firms have won millions for clients and handle every step of a claim. Their local knowledge helps ensure claims are filed correctly and on time. 

For example, Meirowitz & Wasserberg helped a New Jersey mesothelioma survivor who had served as a Navy machinist’s mate and later became a civilian maintenance mechanic. The firm secured a $5.1 million settlement for his asbestos exposure.

Nationwide Asbestos Law Firms Helping Clients in New Jersey

Several nationwide asbestos law firms have offices in or near New Jersey and regularly represent clients across the state. These firms combine local legal knowledge with national resources to provide comprehensive support for people with mesothelioma.

Simmons Hanly Conroy is a leading national firm with extensive experience in New Jersey, recovering more than $145 million for clients there. For example, they helped a drywall worker diagnosed with mesothelioma in Wayne, New Jersey secure $8.83 million. 

The firm is familiar with state courts, judges and local asbestos history, handling some of the largest verdicts in the region. Their team travels statewide to meet clients, provide legal guidance and build strong cases.

Compensation From Asbestos Filings in New Jersey

Top mesothelioma law firms frequently secure significant verdicts for New Jersey workers. The average national mesothelioma settlement falls between $1 million and $2 million. Most cases end in a settlement. However, those who take asbestos-exposure claims to court have secured larger sums through a jury trial.

Notable New Jersey Settlements, Verdicts or Trust Fund Payouts

• $38 Million: Romeo Maffei received a $38 million verdict in his case against Burnham, a New Jersey boiler manufacturer, in 2023.
• $30 Million: In February 2024, a court upheld a $30 million verdict against General Motors in the wrongful death case of Mark Buttitta. The original decision was rendered in 2010.

New Jersey courts have handed down awards as high as $750 million for punitive damages against companies, such as Johnson & Johnson, that repeatedly exposed individuals to dangerous products. Other New Jersey based companies hit with large penalties include Johns Manville and Union Carbide Company. 

How Does an Asbestos Lawyer Handle Your Claim in New Jersey

An experienced asbestos lawyer guides you through every step of your mesothelioma claim in New Jersey. They manage deadlines, gather evidence and file your case in the correct jurisdiction to pursue maximum compensation.

Steps to a Mesothelioma Claim

1. Initial Consultation: Meet with your lawyer to review your medical diagnosis and asbestos exposure history.
2. Gather Evidence: Your attorney collects medical records, work histories at sites like New Jersey’s vermiculite plants and other documents proving asbestos exposure and financial impact.
3. File the Claim: The lawyer files your lawsuit or asbestos trust fund claim within New Jersey’s strict 2-year filing deadline.
4. Discovery: Both sides exchange information, including depositions and witness testimony, to build strong cases.
5. Settlement or Trial: While most cases settle before trial, your New Jersey mesothelioma attorney will prepare in the event of a trial.

Throughout this process, your lawyer handles complex legal rules, works with expert witnesses and negotiates with asbestos companies. They also help family members file with asbestos trust funds. Having an attorney familiar with New Jersey asbestos law ensures your case moves smoothly and increases your chances of full, fair compensation.​

Asbestos Exposure in New Jersey

New Jersey has historically relied on industrial sectors that used asbestos. Industries such as textiles, electric power plants and iron mining eventually overtook agricultural jobs. Many New Jersey residents found employment in these occupations, where asbestos exposure was a major threat.

Sites in New Jersey Known for Asbestos Exposure

• Asbestos plants: Johns Manville opened its first asbestos insulation plant in central New Jersey in the early 1900s. Redevelopment of the former Johns Manville facility, including proper asbestos abatement, has played a role in state politics. 
• Cement production: The National Gypsum Company purchased an Abestone asbestos cement plant in Millington, New Jersey in 1954, where it manufactured cement with up to 15% asbestos. National Gypsum’s improper asbestos disposal contaminated sites on New Vernon and White Bridge Roads, leading to site contamination addressed in the early 1990s.  
• Chemical plant: A.O. Polymer produced compounds such as plastics, resins and special polymers between the 1960s and 1993. In the 1970s, the facility was cited for numerous health violations, including contaminating local drinking water and 13 air quality violations. During 1981 cleanup efforts, 61 cubic yards of asbestos was removed from the 4-acre site.
• Public Buildings: Many buildings in New Jersey still contain asbestos products. Renovating these structures could disturb asbestos and cause exposure-related illnesses. Greystone Psychiatric Hospital in Morris County, for example, is abandoned. Exploring empty buildings like this risks asbestos exposure.
• Vermiculite Plants: There were 7 plants in New Jersey that received asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana, exposing workers. The Hamilton Township plant became a Superfund site with cleanup efforts beginning in 2006.

Asbestos exposure and corresponding cases of mesothelioma occurred in multiple New Jersey locations, such as Hamilton Township, Millington, Newark and Trenton. According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, mesothelioma incidence was 1 per 100,000 people in 2022. There were 117 new mesothelioma cases reported in the state that year. 

New Jersey’s Most Well-Known Exposure Site: Johns Manville Plant

The Johns-Manville plant in Manville, New Jersey, was a major asbestos manufacturing site from 1912 until 1986. The plant produced various asbestos products, including insulation, roofing materials and textiles, using raw asbestos fiber from the company’s own mines. Many local residents and workers were exposed to asbestos fibers on-site and through environmental contamination. This exposure has led to elevated rates of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases among workers and residents.

Despite the plant’s closure, the health impact persists, with Manville still facing high asbestos-related disease rates. Asbestos waste dumps around town contributed to ongoing environmental risks. Johns-Manville was once the largest asbestos product manufacturer in the U.S. 

The company faced thousands of lawsuits over its failure to warn about asbestos dangers. This legacy made the Manville plant New Jersey’s most well-known and historically significant site for asbestos exposure and disease. Efforts to address the health and environmental consequences continue today.

Occupational Asbestos Exposure in New Jersey

Industrial job sites were the primary sources of occupational exposure in New Jersey. Boiler manufacturers, automotive companies and shipyards are frequently held accountable for their failure to protect workers. Many veterans were also exposed at the Naval Weapons Station Earle and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst.

Higher-Risk Occupations in New Jersey

• Asbestos product manufacturing jobs
• Chemical plant workers
• Manufacturing jobs
• Military jobs
• Miners
• Power generation workers
• Railway workers
• Shipyard workers
• Textile mill workers
• Vermiculite plant workers

Several prominent New Jersey companies have found themselves liable for asbestos-related injuries to workers. Examples include Union Carbide, DuPont Chemical and General Motors. Courts have held Johnson & Johnson, which is headquartered in New Jersey, responsible for asbestos in its talc products. 

Johns Manville asbestos insulation and construction products through the 1970s continued to use asbestos despite increasing rates of mesothelioma among employees and their family members. In light of mounting litigation, the company chose to declare Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1982. Johns Manville established 2 trust funds for claims as part of that process.

How Your Lawyer Supports You in New Jersey’s Changing Asbestos Litigation

New Jersey’s asbestos litigation landscape changes constantly as courts refine laws and procedures. Skilled attorneys watch for updates on filing deadlines, evidence rules and judicial decisions to shield your claim from delays or dismissal. They carefully review your medical and exposure records to make sure they meet evolving legal standards.

New Jersey Legislative Changes

• Focus on evidence of exposure: New, stricter asbestos removal rules help ensure workplaces handle and document exposure more carefully. This means future lawsuits could have stronger proof, making it easier to establish that exposure actually happened.
• Stricter licensing for contractors and employees: In New Jersey, asbestos removal companies must have state licenses, and every worker doing abatement needs a state-issued permit. This not only affects who can legally do the work but also strengthens lawsuits involving contractors who don’t follow the rules.

Lawyers who stay current on these shifts guide you strategically through a complex legal system. They assess the best place to file your claim, whether inside or outside New Jersey, to secure the strongest case possible. Their expertise ensures you get timely, skilled support that maximizes compensation opportunities in a rapidly changing legal environment.

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