Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer

Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in Pennsylvania

People diagnosed with mesothelioma, or their families, can work with a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer to file a personal injury lawsuit, wrongful death lawsuit or asbestos trust fund claim. High rates of asbestos-related disease in Pennsylvania result from asbestos exposure at steel mills, coal mines, power plants, oil refineries and shipyards across the state.

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.

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. 

Philadelphia ranks No. 4 among the top jurisdictions in the country for all types of asbestos lawsuits, according to KCIC’s latest industry report, Asbestos Litigation: 2024 Year in Review. Philadelphia also ranks No. 4 for mesothelioma lawsuits and No. 3 for asbestos lung cancer lawsuits.

Allegheny, PA ranks No. 11 for overall asbestos lawsuits and No. 10 for both mesothelioma and asbestos lung cancer lawsuits. These claims seek financial compensation to help families pay for medical bills and other expenses connected with asbestos-related diseases.

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 calculation of 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 mesothelioma lawyers have access to databases of asbestos job sites across the state, including steel mills, refineries and power plants. They also work with medical and occupational experts who can testify about asbestos exposure and its link to mesothelioma.

Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Law Firms

Some of the top national asbestos law firms with 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 mesothelioma attorneys have helped residents, family members and estates secure substantial compensation through settlements and court verdicts against asbestos companies responsible for exposure. These claims seek mesothelioma compensation to help patients and their loved ones pay for medical bills and other expenses connected with asbestos-related diseases.

• $25 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.

It’s common for top asbestos law firms to secure mesothelioma settlements of $1 million or more for clients. Law firms can also get clients 6-figure payouts from asbestos trust funds. The national average asbestos trial verdict amount is $20.7 million.

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 Pennsylvania’s Department of Environmental Protection Set: 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. 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. Pennsylvania currently ranks third in the nation for mesothelioma deaths and fourth in the nation for deaths from asbestosis.

Pennsylvania Sites Known for Asbestos Exposure

• Asbestos mines: There were 4 asbestos mines in the southeastern region of Pennsylvania. U.S. Geological Survey records show 37 asbestos deposits in the state. Highly carcinogenic amphibole asbestos was found in these mines. 
• Ambler Asbestos Piles: Asbestos plants generated toxic asbestos waste that required the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to intervene. The EPA completed cleanup of the Ambler Asbestos Piles Superfund Site in 1993.
• BoRit Asbestos Site: The site qualified for Superfund designation. The EPA completed remedial work at the BoRit Asbestos Site in 2018 and developed a plan for ongoing maintenance in 2020. 
• 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.
• Vermiculite Plants: There are multiple vermiculite plants in the state. Pennsylvania was one of the many states that received large shipments of asbestos-contaminated vermiculite from Libby, Montana from 1948 to 1993.

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 the charges were dropped in 2021. Asbestos in schools led to 11 of them closing for remediation during the 2019-2020 school year.

Shipyards in the state are also sites known for asbestos exposure. 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. Veterans were exposed at bases and shipyards, including Philadelphia Naval Shipyard. Other shipyards known for exposure include Pennsylvania Shipyard in Philadelphia and Sun Shipbuilding in Chester.

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

Anyone who worked jobs in construction, manufacturing, industrial work, power generation or the U.S. armed forces was at risk of exposure. Many of Pennsylvania’s industries historically have a higher risk of developing asbestos-related diseases because of prolonged exposure. Their families were also at risk of secondary exposure.

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.

Higher-Risk Jobs in Pennsylvania

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

Cases where defendants knowingly put workers in danger of asbestos exposure continue to arise. Pennsylvania companies that owned shipyards, metal works and railways created the danger of occupational exposure. Examples in Pittsburgh include LTV Steel and USX Corporation. Bethlehem Steel and its shipyard exposed residents of Bethlehem.

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