Mesothelioma Lawyers in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has one of the highest mesothelioma rates in the country, and our Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers have recovered $500M+ for people diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases. If you or a family member received a mesothelioma diagnosis, we’re here to help at no cost unless we win.
Expertise
Mr. Wasserberg is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer. He is often a featured speaker at industry summits and gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar. He is recognized by both his peers and his adversaries and is considered one of the nation’s premier mesothelioma and negligence attorneys
Content written by Dan Wasserberg
- Expertise
Mr. Wasserberg is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer. He is often a featured speaker at industry summits and gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar. He is recognized by both his peers and his adversaries and is considered one of the nation’s premier mesothelioma and negligence attorneys
Experienced Mesothelioma Attorney
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Why Choose Meirowitz & Wasserberg for Your Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Case
Our Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers, based in our Philadelphia office, have years of experience litigating asbestos cases in the state. They know Pennsylvania’s asbestos exposure sites, statute of limitations and other factors that make us the best law firm for litigating your case. We also take cases other firms won’t, and we don’t charge anything unless we win.
Here’s what sets our team apart:
- Daniel Wasserberg leads our national asbestos practice and has handled hundreds of mesothelioma cases nationwide.
- Our attorneys have handled 2,000+ mesothelioma and asbestos disease cases.
- Our firm ranks among the top 10 filers of asbestos cases nationally.
- We offer free consultations 24/7 with zero obligations.
- We serve Pennsylvania clients in English, Spanish, Russian, Ukrainian, Polish and more.
- We work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless we win.
- We’ve won significant verdicts in cases other firms declined to take.
Our clients don’t feel like case numbers to us. We stay connected to the medical professionals treating mesothelioma in Pennsylvania, and we guide families through every step of the process. You focus on your health. We’ll handle the rest.
Meirowitz & Wasserberg is a top 10 filer of asbestos cases but we still treat the law firm like we’re a boutique Law Firm. Our mesothelioma clients have to be treated like they’re the highest priority. My personal philosophy is if you don’t know your client then you don’t know who you’re fighting for and you don’t know what you’re fighting for. We try really hard to take care of our clients. I think that that is reflected in the reviews that you’ll find about us online.
When I do intake with a new client, I try to make them feel comfortable. I try to treat them or you like how I want my family to be treated, how I would want my mother or my father or sister or brother to be treated.
How Our Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyers Can Help
Pennsylvania’s industrial history means many mesothelioma cases involve multiple liable parties across shipyards, steel mills, railroads and construction sites. Pennsylvania courts have decades of experience handling asbestos litigation, and the state’s legal landscape strongly supports plaintiffs. Our Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers know how to build complex, multi-party cases and secure the mesothelioma compensation our clients deserve.
Here’s what our team does for you:
- Coordinate asbestos trust fund claims with your lawsuit to ensure you don’t leave compensation on the table.
- File your mesothelioma lawsuit in the appropriate Pennsylvania county court.
- Gather medical records, eyewitness accounts and expert testimony to build your case.
- Handle all settlement negotiations with insurers and defendant corporations.
- Investigate your full asbestos exposure history and identify all Pennsylvania-based manufacturers and jobsites responsible for your exposure.
- Manage all paperwork and court deadlines so you can focus on your health.
- Navigate Pennsylvania’s comparative negligence rules to protect the full value of your claim.
- Represent you at every hearing, and if necessary, take your case to trial.
We know this is the hardest time of your life. Our Pennsylvania mesothelioma attorneys handle every detail of your case so your family doesn’t have to.
Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Pennsylvania
Filing a mesothelioma lawsuit in Pennsylvania involves several steps, and each case is unique. People diagnosed with mesothelioma can file a personal injury claim and the family members of someone who died from mesothelioma can file a mesothelioma lawsuit after death. Here’s how the process works:
Step 1: Free Consultation
You speak with a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer at no cost. We review your diagnosis, work history and potential exposure sites to determine whether you have a claim.
Step 2: Investigation
We investigate your full asbestos exposure history. We identify every Pennsylvania jobsite, product manufacturer and contractor that contributed to your exposure.
Step 3: Filing the Complaint
We file your complaint in the appropriate Pennsylvania court. We handle every document, deadline and filing requirement.
Step 4: Discovery and Evidence Gathering
We gather medical records, employment records, expert testimony and witness accounts. We build the strongest possible case for your diagnosis and exposure history.
Step 5: Settlement Negotiations
We negotiate directly with defendant corporations and their insurers. Most Pennsylvania mesothelioma cases resolve at this stage without going to trial.
Step 6: Trial
If we can’t reach a fair and substantial settlement, we will take your case to trial. Pennsylvania courts have extensive experience with asbestos litigation, and our attorneys aren’t afraid to fight.
Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations
Pennsylvania law gives people diagnosed with mesothelioma two years from the date of diagnosis to file a personal injury claim. Under Pennsylvania’s discovery rule, the clock starts when you knew or should have known that asbestos exposure caused your illness. Missing this mesothelioma statute of limitations deadline permanently bars your claim, even if a corporation’s negligence clearly caused your illness.
Family members filing a wrongful death claim have two years from the date of death to take legal action. Don’t wait. Contact a Pennsylvania mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible to protect your right to compensation.
Pennsylvania Courts for Mesothelioma Cases
Pennsylvania courts handle a high volume of asbestos litigation, and judges in both Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have deep experience with these cases. The 2 primary courts for mesothelioma cases in Pennsylvania are:
- Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, which serves the Pittsburgh area and regularly handles industrial asbestos exposure claims.
- Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, which handles one of the highest volumes of asbestos cases in the state.
Pennsylvania courts often consolidate asbestos cases for efficiency, which can help move your case forward faster.
Compensation Available for Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Victims
People diagnosed with mesothelioma in Pennsylvania can pursue mesothelioma compensation through multiple channels including personal injury lawsuits, asbestos trust fund claims and VA benefits for veterans. National averages show mesothelioma settlements range from $1 million to $2.4 million, with trial verdicts potentially reaching higher damages. The right compensation path depends on your exposure history, diagnosis and which companies bear responsibility for your illness.
Types of Damages
A Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawsuit can recover several types of damages. Here’s what your claim may cover:
- Loss of consortium: Compensates a spouse for the loss of companionship and partnership caused by mesothelioma.
- Lost wages: Compensates for the income you lost and the future earning capacity your diagnosis has cost you.
- Medical expenses: Covers past and future costs, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and palliative care.
- Pain and suffering: Accounts for the physical pain and emotional distress your diagnosis causes you and your family.
- Punitive damages: A judge awards these when an employer shows willful disregard for worker safety.
- Travel expenses: Covers the cost of traveling to treatment centers and specialist appointments.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
When corporations that manufactured or heavily used asbestos-containing products filed for bankruptcy, the U.S. government required them to set aside money in asbestos trust funds for future claimants. More than $30 billion remains in these funds nationally. Pennsylvania residents may access funds from trusts tied to companies with significant operations in the state, including Pittsburgh Corning, Owens Corning, W.R. Grace and Johns Manville.
Trust fund claims don’t replace lawsuits. You can file asbestos trust fund claims alongside your lawsuit, and one doesn’t reduce the other. Our Pennsylvania asbestos attorneys help you identify every trust fund your exposure history qualifies you for.
VA Benefits for Veterans
Veterans who encountered asbestos at Pennsylvania military installations may qualify for VA disability compensation, health care benefits and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation for surviving family members from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. VA benefits don’t affect your lawsuit or trust fund compensation. You can pursue all 3 at the same time.
Asbestos Exposure Sites in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s long history of shipbuilding, steel production, railroads and manufacturing created widespread asbestos exposure across the state. For decades, companies used asbestos in insulation, boiler rooms, pipe fittings and construction materials without warning workers about the risks of asbestos exposure. Asbestos didn’t just affect the workers themselves. Family members who came into contact with asbestos fibers on workers’ clothing also faced serious health risks through secondary asbestos exposure.
Philadelphia Area
Philadelphia’s shipbuilding and industrial sectors put thousands of workers at risk of asbestos exposure. Some of the most significant exposure sites in the Philadelphia area include:
- Philadelphia-area oil refineries: Refinery workers handled asbestos-containing pipe insulation and equipment throughout facilities across the Philadelphia region.
- Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO) power plants: Power plant workers encountered asbestos in turbines, boilers and pipe insulation across multiple PECO facilities throughout the city.
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard: One of the largest naval shipyards in the country, where workers encountered asbestos in boiler rooms, engine rooms and insulation materials throughout the facility.
- Philadelphia’s public schools and government buildings: Many buildings constructed before the 1980s contain asbestos in insulation, floor tiles and ceiling materials, putting custodians, maintenance workers and teachers at risk.
- Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company (Chester, PA): One of the largest shipyards on the East Coast, where shipbuilders and machinists regularly worked with asbestos-containing materials.
Pittsburgh Area
Pittsburgh’s steel industry made it one of the most heavily industrialized cities in the country, and asbestos use was widespread across its mills, factories and railyards. Key exposure sites in the Pittsburgh area include:
- Bethlehem Steel (Johnstown Works): Steel workers at this major Pennsylvania facility encountered asbestos in furnace insulation, pipe coverings and protective equipment.
- Pittsburgh Corning Corporation: Headquartered in Pittsburgh, this company manufactured asbestos insulation products and exposed its own workers and workers across the country to dangerous asbestos fibers.
- Pittsburgh Railyards and Terminals: Railroad workers across Pittsburgh’s extensive rail network regularly handled asbestos-containing brake pads, insulation and engine components.
- U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works (Clairton, PA): Workers at this facility, one of the largest coke-producing plants in the world, encountered asbestos in ovens, boilers and insulation materials.
- U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson Works (Braddock, PA): One of the oldest continuously operating steel mills in the country, where workers regularly handled asbestos-containing materials in high-heat environments.
- Westinghouse Electric facilities (Pittsburgh): Westinghouse workers encountered asbestos in electrical equipment, turbines and insulation materials across multiple Pittsburgh-area facilities.
Industrial and Military Sites Across Pennsylvania
Asbestos exposure wasn’t limited to Pittsburgh. Workers across Pennsylvania encountered asbestos at industrial and military sites statewide, including:
- Atlantic Refinery Plant (Harrisburg, PA): Refinery workers at this Harrisburg facility handled asbestos-containing pipe insulation and equipment throughout operations.
- Carlisle Barracks (Carlisle, PA): One of the oldest military installations in the country, where aging buildings contain asbestos-containing construction materials.
- Keasbey and Mattison Plant (Ambler, PA): This facility housed the first asbestos textile manufacturing plant in the United States. The company dumped asbestos-containing waste openly in the town, creating two EPA Superfund sites that still exist today.
- Letterkenny Army Depot (Chambersburg, PA): Workers at this depot handled asbestos-containing materials in vehicle maintenance and facility operations.
- Penn Central and Reading Railroad Facilities: Railroad workers statewide regularly encountered asbestos in locomotive insulation, brake systems and rail yard buildings.
- PPL and GPU Power Plants (Statewide): Power plant workers across Pennsylvania’s PPL and GPU facilities encountered asbestos in boilers, turbines and electrical insulation throughout their careers.
- Tobyhanna Army Depot (Monroe County, PA): Military and civilian workers at this active Army depot encountered asbestos in older buildings and equipment maintenance operations.
If you worked at any of these sites or in a similar occupation with asbestos exposure, our Pennsylvania asbestos lawyers can help you determine whether you have a claim.
Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Settlements and Verdicts
Meirowitz & Wasserberg has recovered over $500 million in total verdicts and settlements for people diagnosed with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. You can view our full record of mesothelioma settlements and verdicts. Here are some of our notable results:
- $32,000,000+ verdict: Secondhand asbestos exposure case against Kraft Heinz and contractor Metal Masters Inc. Jurors assigned liability to both defendants in this premises exposure claim.
- $5,100,000+ settlement: Navy machinist’s mate who later worked as a civilian maintenance mechanic. Our attorneys traced asbestos exposure across both military and civilian careers to secure full compensation.
National Settlements and Verdicts
- $18,000,000 verdict: Person diagnosed with mesothelioma from talcum powder exposure. Our attorneys secured this result after building a complex product liability case.
- $5,500,000 settlement: Navy boiler tender who later worked as a power company employee. Our attorneys identified multiple liable parties across both military and civilian career phases.
- $5,400,000 settlement: Journeyman pipefitter with industrial asbestos exposure. This result reflects the type of occupational exposure common across Pennsylvania’s refineries and steel facilities.
- $4,000,000+ settlement: Puerto Rican sugar mill mechanic and laboratory equipment engineer diagnosed with mesothelioma. Another firm declined this case before our attorneys took it on and won.
- $3,150,000+ settlement: Painter and taper diagnosed with mesothelioma with exposure limited to a small number of asbestos-containing building and construction products.
Every case is different, and prior results don’t guarantee future outcomes. But our Pennsylvania mesothelioma attorneys don’t back down from complex cases, and we don’t turn away cases other firms won’t touch. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Claims
What is the statute of limitations for mesothelioma in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania law gives people diagnosed with mesothelioma two years from the date of diagnosis to file a personal injury claim under 42 Pa.C.S. Section 5524. Under Pennsylvania’s discovery rule, the clock starts when you knew or should have known that asbestos exposure caused your illness. Family members filing a wrongful death claim have 2 years from the date of death. Missing either deadline permanently bars your claim, so don’t wait to contact a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer.
How much does a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer cost?
Our Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing up front and nothing at all unless we win your case. This removes the financial barrier for families already managing significant medical expenses. You can start with a free, no-obligation consultation.
What is the average mesothelioma settlement in Pennsylvania?
National averages show mesothelioma settlements range from $1 million to $2.4 million, with trial verdicts potentially reaching higher amounts. Your specific compensation depends on your exposure history, the responsible parties, your diagnosis stage and other factors. Many Pennsylvania residents also qualify for asbestos trust fund claims, which provide additional compensation beyond any lawsuit settlement.
What are common asbestos exposure sites in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s shipbuilding, steel and railroad industries created widespread asbestos exposure across the state. Major exposure sites include the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company in Chester, Bethlehem Steel’s Johnstown Works, U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Works in Braddock, Pittsburgh Corning Corporation and the Keasbey and Mattison Plant in Ambler. If you worked at any of these sites or in a similar industry, our Pennsylvania asbestos lawyers can help you determine whether you have a claim.
Can family members file a wrongful death mesothelioma claim in Pennsylvania?
Yes. A spouse, child or parent can file a mesothelioma lawsuit after death in Pennsylvania. Family members have two years from the date of death to take legal action. A wrongful death claim can recover medical expenses, funeral costs, lost income and compensation for the loss of companionship and partnership your family experienced.
How long does a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawsuit take?
Most Pennsylvania mesothelioma cases resolve through settlement within 12 to 18 months. If a case goes to trial, Pennsylvania courts prioritize asbestos cases, which can help move things forward. Asbestos trust fund claims often resolve more quickly, sometimes within 3 to 6 months. Your Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer will give you a realistic timeline based on your specific case.
What asbestos trust funds are available for Pennsylvania residents?
More than $30 billion remains in asbestos trust funds nationally. Pennsylvania residents may qualify for funds from trusts tied to companies with significant operations in the state, including Pittsburgh Corning, Owens Corning, W.R. Grace and Johns Manville. You can file trust fund claims alongside your lawsuit, and one doesn’t reduce the other. Our Pennsylvania asbestos attorneys help you identify every trust fund your exposure history qualifies you for.
Do I need to live in Pennsylvania to file a mesothelioma lawsuit there?
No. Filing location depends on where your asbestos exposure occurred, where the defendant company operated or where you currently live. Pennsylvania courts accept cases from people who weren’t Pennsylvania residents at the time of filing but encountered asbestos in the state. Our Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers can help you determine the best filing location for your case.
Contact Our Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyers
Our Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers are available 24/7 and offer free consultations with no obligations. Call or fill out the form below to get started. We work on a contingency basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we win your case. Our Philadelphia office is at 1800 JFK Blvd, Suite 1401, Philadelphia, PA 19103, and we serve people diagnosed with mesothelioma across all of Pennsylvania.
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- 1800 John F Kennedy Blvd.,Unit 1401,Philadelphia, PA 19103
- (267) 507-9051
Incredibly grateful for the Meirowitz and Wasserberg team. As a resident of the greater Philadelphia area, I’m happy to know that there is a wonderful and caring law firm that will be able to assist me in any future situations.
Ryan Cahaly
