Find a Mesothelioma Lawyer in Manhattan, New York
Asbestos exposure is the single cause of mesothelioma, meaning to develop this cancer you were once exposed to the cancer-causing mineral. Victims of asbestos exposure are also victims of unethical business practices and should seek out a top mesothelioma lawyer with a lot of experience in these types of claims. If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, look for an attorney with resources, experience and knowledge to guide you through the legal process and guarantee you are compensated properly.
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Top Mesothelioma Lawyers and Law Firms in Manhattan
Manhattan is home to thousands of professional and experienced attorneys. A fraction of them focus solely on asbestos litigation. Many local personal injury attorneys will accept cancer claims originating from exposure to asbestos.
It has been proven that local law firms are not always the best option for mesothelioma claims or asbestos litigation. National law firms with rights to practice in multiple states often have the most success in asbestos claims. A national mesothelioma law firm such as Bullock Campbell Bullock & Harris, PC has the expertise to successfully help victims of malignant mesothelioma.
Importance of Finding a National Asbestos Law Firm Licensed in Manhattan
Asbestos exposure victims often turn to local lawyers or law firms when searching for representation in their mesothelioma claim against an unethical asbestos manufacturing company. However, corporate headquarters for the organization in question are sometimes located in a different state than where you, the claimant, may live – meaning the mesothelioma claim needs to be filed by an asbestos attorney licensed in that state. Asbestos might be manufactured or sold in a different state than where you live, another reason to have a national lawyer.
On your search for a mesothelioma attorney, focus on the attorney’s experience with asbestos exposure claims and asbestos diseases. There is a distinct difference between an experienced asbestos lawyer and a personal injury attorney who accepts asbestos cases. Prioritize lawyers whose specialty is asbestos litigation.
Top Asbestos Lawsuit Verdicts in Manhattan
2013: $190M in occupational asbestos exposure suit
Five men, formerly working as steamfitters, plumbers and construction workers, filed an asbestos claim against two separate boiler companies – Burnham Commercial and Cleaver-Brooks. They claimed the companies were responsible for their cancers. A Manhattan Supreme Court jury declared the national companies acted with reckless regard for human life and ordered them to pay $190 million in damages to the victims and their families. At the time, this was the largest asbestos verdict in the city.
2018: $60M in occupational asbestos exposure suit
A man, who worked on demolition projects of single-family homes in Brooklyn during the 1970s and 80s, sued three companies – A.O. Smith Corp., Burnham Commercial and Peerless – claiming they were responsible for his pleural mesothelioma. The demolition work included ripping out boilers coated with highly toxic asbestos fibers manufactured by the three companies. A Manhattan jury delivered the $60 million verdict for the mesothelioma lawsuit after nine weeks of courtroom litigation.
2019: $325M in talc and asbestos suit
A former Brooklyn woman sued Johnson & Johnson alleging the use of their Baby Powder product led her to develop mesothelioma. The victim was not well enough to attend the trial, but her husband testified, stating she lathered on the famous Baby Powder daily for decades. She stopped using Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder when the couple saw a TV commercial about potential links between talc and cancer in 2015. Eliminating the Baby Powder from her routine did not deter her cancer, as she was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 2016. After filing the lawsuit in 2017, a Manhattan jury delivered the $325 million verdict in May of 2019 – awarding $25 million in compensatory damages and $300 million in punitive damages.
How to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Manhattan
The first step to filing a mesothelioma claim in Manhattan, New York is finding a qualified lawyer to handle the case. Finding an experienced attorney relieves much of the stress from the victim. Your attorney will handle the paperwork, communicate with the lawyers for the defendant companies, and move your claim through the legal process.
The first step of filing a mesothelioma claim in Manhattan, New York is filing the case at the local courthouse. New York City Civil Court is located in the civic center of lower Manhattan.
The full steps of mesothelioma claims are:
- Find a mesothelioma lawyer
- Meet with your legal team
- Go through your history of exposure to asbestos
- File your mesothelioma claim
- Go through a full review of your work history, exposures, and evidence of malpractice from at-fault companies
- Provide a deposition
- Discuss a potential mesothelioma settlement
- Take the case to trial, hopefully for a favorable verdict
Many lawsuits end in a mesothelioma settlement. The companies at fault often don’t want to pay a multi-million-dollar verdict, so they prefer settling for less money. This benefits the victim, who gets financial help quicker and doesn’t have to endure a long court battle.
Asbestos Exposure in Manhattan, New York City
Asbestos was used in a majority of construction projects throughout the United States during the 20th century. With New York City being the most populated city in the country, many buildings were constructed during this century as the city boomed with expansion. These buildings were mostly built with chrysotile asbestos.
Exposure to the toxic mineral asbestos is known to cause mesothelioma or types of lung cancer. The cancer takes 20-50 years before symptoms develop due to exposure to asbestos.
Some of the confirmed asbestos exposure sites in Manhattan, New York are:
- 65th Street Gas Plant
- Central Union Gas Company – 138th St. Gas Works
- Columbia University
- Con Edison – 59th Street Powerhouse
- Con Edison – 74th Street Powerhouse
- Con Edison – East River Power Plant
- Con Edison – Waterside Power Plant
- Con Edison – Waterside Power Plant – Station 2
- Con Edison, 14th Street Powerhouse
- Consolidated Edison Company Of New York, Incorporated, 65 St. Plant
- Consolidated Edison Company Of New York, Incorporated, East River Plant
- Consolidated Gas Company – 21st St. Station
- Edison Electric Illuminating Company – Duane St. Station
- Edison Electric Illuminating Company – Pearl St. Power Station
- Empire State Building
- Harlem Lighting Company – Power Plant
- Metropolitan Traction Company – 25th Street Station
- Metropolitan Traction Company – 50th Street Station
- Municipal Asphalt Plant
- New York City Board Of Transportation – 59th Street Powerhouse
- New York Gas Electric Light Heat And Power Company – First Avenue Power Plant
- New York Telephone Company – East 37th St. Building
- New York Telephone Company – John Street Exchange
- New York Telephone Company – Walker Lispenard Building
- Radio City Music Hall
- Standard Gas Light Company – East 115th St Gas Plant
- Waterside Power House
Asbestos Exposure During 9/11
The construction of the Twin Towers was an asbestos-heavy project. As the asbestos mineral was valued for its durability and resistance to heat, it was the perfect element to include in building materials for two of the tallest buildings in New York City.
Unfortunately, 9/11 asbestos exposure left thousands at risk of a future cancer. When the terrorist attack occurred in downtown New York City and the towers fell, clouds of asbestos dust blanketed lower Manhattan and reached as far as the Empire State Building – exposing anyone in the area. First responders, bystanders and survivors were exposed to the high volume of cancer-causing asbestos concealed within the Twin Towers.
9/11 First Responders
First responders on the scene of the collapsed Twin Towers are at an unprecedented high-risk for developing mesothelioma. The dense asbestos dust covering the city that day was a huge hazard many overlooked due to the chaos and uncertainty at Ground Zero.
Although first responders are required to complete in-depth safety training to protect themselves from safety hazards and provide medical assistance to those in need, there were not many safety precautions in place to protect anyone from the hazardous dust and debris consuming the city’s atmosphere.
According to FEMA, nearly three-quarters of 9/11 first responders suffer from 9/11-linked illnesses. The FDNY World Trade Center Health Program reports that 11,300 firefighters and emergency medical responders out of 15,500 first responders have a World Trade Center‑related condition. Another report said 9/11 first responders were 15% more likely than other first responders to develop cancer.
The mass amounts of asbestos built into the towers and the absence of asbestos-proof safety equipment for 9/11 first responders creates an extreme risk for the development of mesothelioma, other asbestos diseases or any 9/11-linked illness.
Firefighters are most often connected to asbestos exposure and mesothelioma. They are naturally at risk of asbestos illnesses even before major events like the 9/11 terrorist attacks. When the Twin Towers fell, their danger was amplified.
In 2019, the first 9/11 first responder died of mesothelioma. The 52‑year‑old Pennsylvania man was a volunteer firefighter. He died of pleural mesothelioma.
9/11 Survivors
As the unimaginable force of the planes struck the towers, many office floors were engulfed in flames, causing explosions and immediate deterioration of the 110-story tall asbestos-containing buildings. The impact the terrorist attacks had on the Twin Towers left thousands of World Trade Center employees stranded on their respective office floors or in stairwells attempting to escape.
The horrific events that took place on the morning of September 11th, 2001 claimed the lives of nearly 3,000 New Yorkers. Miraculously, there are survivors.
Sixteen people attempting to escape the North Tower via Stairwell B survived the collapse of the building. After both towers fell, 23 people were rescued from debris and rubble, including 15 first responders.
In the 102 minutes it took for the North Tower to fall, World Trade Center employees were trapped in an extremely dangerous asbestos environment, inhaling and ingesting mass amounts of asbestos fibers with every breath.
9/11 survivors are at high-risk for developing asbestos illnesses, such as mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, lung cancer and others. Signs of the first 9/11-linked diseases and deaths are being reported, with numbers expected to rise in the next several decades.
Bystanders
The attacks on the Twin Towers sent everyone in America into a panicked-state. Local New Yorkers in lower Manhattan took cover wherever possible. As thick clouds of asbestos dust covered the city, bystanders ducked into restaurants and businesses in the near blocks hoping to find protection from the harmful dust spewing from the Twin Towers.
Unfortunately, the asbestos dust fibers are microscopic and can enter the body by simply breathing. With the high volume of asbestos consuming the air, there was no possible way to avoid inhaling or ingesting the toxic cancer-causing fibers.
At-Risk Occupations for Manhattan Workforce
Asbestos fueled the industrial revolution across the United States and the rest of the world. With New York City as the face of America, the industrialization of the country was spearheaded in the heart of the city: Manhattan. New construction consisted of cement, piping, insulation, wiring and many other asbestos-heavy components. The people who worked in the construction industry or manufactured the asbestos-containing products were at risk of exposure.
High-risk occupations for Manhattan residents include:
- Construction workers
- Insulation workers
- Railroad workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Pipefitters
- Electrical plant workers
- Gas plant workers
- Power plant workers
- Telephone company workers
Manhattan Asbestos Laws and Regulations
As recently as the beginning of 2024, companies were importing asbestos into the United States. Chrysotile asbestos, the type of asbestos most often linked to cases of mesothelioma and lung cancer, was the only of the six types of asbestos reportedly still in use in select industries, namely in chlor-alkali plants for the making of diaphragms for chlorine production.
However, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in March 2024 banned the use of chrysotile asbestos, marking a significant moment in the country’s ongoing war with asbestos exposure. The EPA’s ban prevents companies from importing, manufacturing, selling, distributing, or using chrysotile asbestos. The ban allows chlor-alkali plants still using chrysotile asbestos a few years to transition to an alternative for chlorine production.
All other industries – including construction and automotive assembly – have found substitutes for asbestos. The mineral was valued for its durability and resistance to heat, which protected wires, insulation and other building components from damage.
The other five types are not banned through the EPA’s ruling, but they are heavily regulated. The EPA requires companies to report the import and use of these types, and the agency either allows or denies the use on a case-by-case basis. According to the EPA, there have not been any recent reports of companies importing or using these types, leaving chrysotile asbestos as the last-remaining asbestos type still holding a presence in U.S. industrial practices.
There are no additional asbestos laws or regulations in Manhattan, New York. The state of New York only lists one regulation for asbestos: all work disturbing asbestos must be performed by trained and certified professionals. Asbestos professionals must abide by the official guidelines for asbestos containment and abatement.
The full New York State Asbestos Regulation is accessible on the State Department of Health website at https://dol.ny.gov/forms-and-publications.
Governing Bodies Overseeing Asbestos in Manhattan, New York City
New York’s State Department of Health is the primary governing body supervising the use of asbestos in Manhattan and the other New York City boroughs. The national regulatory body for asbestos is the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Other governing bodies overseeing asbestos in Manhattan, New York are:
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration – Protects workers by defining limits on how much asbestos can be in a workplace’s air
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation – Oversees the transportation and disposal of debris to nearby solid waste landfills after asbestos abatement and removal
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection – Governs asbestos abatement and removal in New York City
- New York State Department of Labor – Licenses and certifies companies and their employees to perform asbestos work, and keeps a record of all asbestos projects in Manhattan, New York
According to the Department of Health, the following professionals are certified to handle asbestos:
- Asbestos handler
- Restricted asbestos handler
- Air sampling technician
- Inspector
- Management planner
- Operations and maintenance
- Supervisor/contractor
- Project monitor
- Project designer
Statute of Limitations for Asbestos Claims in Manhattan, New York City
Statute of limitations is a law limiting the amount of time a victim has to file a claim. In New York, the statute of limitations for personal injury cases is three (3) years. The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims is two (2) years.
Typically, the time window begins immediately after someone is wronged. Mesothelioma and asbestos cases are an exception as the cancer does not develop until decades after exposure. With mesothelioma and asbestos claims, the statute of limitations begins once the victim is diagnosed with mesothelioma, or after the victim dies and the family can file a wrongful death mesothelioma lawsuit.
Delaying any type of legal action risks the window for the statute of limitations closing. The best way to ensure the process runs smoothly is to find a national mesothelioma lawyer to take on the case. Your attorney will initiate the process as soon as possible to ensure you receive proper compensation.
A local lawyer might not know the specific statute of limitations or how it differs for mesothelioma cases. Find a lawyer with experience working with asbestos exposure victims; even better, prioritize a law firm dedicated to mesothelioma cases.
The national law firm of Bullock Campbell Bullock & Harris is accepting new mesothelioma cases and available to discuss your diagnosis and exposure history. The attorneys at this top mesothelioma law firm are licensed to help people living in Manhattan, New York.
Contact the mesothelioma attorneys at BCBH Law for legal guidance in your Manhattan asbestos claim.
New York Mesothelioma Laws & Law Firms by City
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