Find a Mesothelioma Lawyer in Staten Island, New York
Exposure to asbestos has the unfortunate possibility of leading to a cancer diagnosis. One of the deadly cancers caused by asbestos is mesothelioma. Fortunately, there are legal options for patients and their families. If you previously worked in Staten Island, New York or live there currently, we can help you find a top mesothelioma lawyer for your case.
JUMP TO A TOPIC
Top Mesothelioma Lawyers and Law Firms in Staten Island, New York
There are quite a few local law firms in Staten Island, one of the five boroughs of New York City. One website lists close to 50 personal injury lawyers in the borough. Many personal injury lawyers will say they can handle mesothelioma claims and represent victims of asbestos exposure. Asbestos can also cause lung cancer and ovarian cancer.
Despite the number of local law firms in Staten Island, your best chances of receiving financial help is through a national law firm. The top mesothelioma lawyers work at national firms and devote their time to asbestos cases. One example is Bullock Campbell Bullock & Harris, which is a national firm that has helped mesothelioma patients for more than two decades.
Importance of Finding a National Asbestos Law Firm Licensed in Staten Island
Your top priority as someone diagnosed with mesothelioma should be finding the best possible doctor to treat this cancer. You shouldn’t restrict yourself to just local doctors, as they might not be the best option for performing surgery or suggesting innovative new treatments. Therefore, your best bet is going to one of the best cancer centers to receive treatment from a top mesothelioma surgeon, oncologist, and nurse staff.
The same is true for finding a mesothelioma lawyer. You shouldn’t limit your options just to local attorneys. The ones nearby might not know the protocol or procedure for asbestos claims. The national law firms are similar to the top cancer centers: They have the incredible lawyers and the resources available to help you and improve your chances of a positive outcome.
Your Mesothelioma Claim Likely Not Limited to Staten Island
Even if you live in Staten Island or worked in the borough, your case might not be limited to this area or even the state of New York. Local lawyers are often limited to cases in a specific area. National law firms can file cases all across New York City, the state of New York, and the United States.
This is why you should find a national mesothelioma lawyer. They’ll identify the best location to file your mesothelioma claim. In some cases, you’ll file where the company’s headquarters are. In others, you’ll file where the asbestos was manufactured. There are instances where you’ll file a claim based on where you were exposed, which might be Staten Island, New York.
Devotion to Helping Mesothelioma Victims and Families
Mesothelioma is a rare type of cancer, with only 2,500 new diagnoses each year in the United States. This low number of cancer cases means local law firms in Staten Island only see a couple of cases a year, if any at all.
Local personal injury lawyers generally focus on other types of personal injury claims and work with very few mesothelioma victims. While they will do their best to help you, they likely won’t have the experience or knowledge to represent you in the best way possible.
National mesothelioma law firms work solely with the victims of asbestos exposure. Law firms like Bullock Campbell Bullock & Harris only represent victims of asbestos diseases. They handle dozens of cases each year and have for more than 20 years, which sets them apart from other firms.
This type of devotion to one area of personal injury law means the lawyers know every aspect of these cases. They’re better-equipped than local law firms to take the fight to asbestos companies.
Knowledge of Where Asbestos Exposure Occurred
The top mesothelioma lawyers have an edge on local lawyers in terms of knowing where people are exposed to asbestos. Dedicated mesothelioma law firms have a full database of each known exposure location – plants, shipyards, entertainment venues, office buildings, landfills and more.
This information helps narrow down the possible causes of your cancer by reviewing your work history and residential history. Local law firms don’t have this information available immediately, which makes the process slower and more difficult.
In Staten Island, New York, the top lawyers can identify the most likely places where you were exposed. They can then connect this location to a company involved in asbestos manufacturing. Once this connection is made, the mesothelioma lawsuit process becomes clearer.
No Travel or Upfront Payment Required of You
The top law firms for mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases make everything easier for you, the victim.
First, they won’t ask you to get on a plane or take a long road trip for meetings. If the meeting can be handled over a phone call or video conference call, they’ll set this up for you. If the meeting should be in-person, they’ll come to you. They travel to meet you at your home or a place of your choosing.
Second, the best mesothelioma lawyers won’t require any upfront hiring costs. They work on what’s called a “contingency basis.” This means the lawyers only receive a percentage of whatever you receive from a settlement, verdict, or asbestos trust fund payment – nothing more.
If you don’t receive any compensation, the lawyer won’t receive any payment. You won’t be on the hook for any hiring fees even after the fact.
Bullock Campbell Bullock & Harris are a top mesothelioma law firm that follows these principles. They will avoid asking their clients to travel for meetings and won’t ask for any upfront out-of-pocket costs to begin handling your case.
Top Asbestos Lawsuit Verdicts in Staten Island, New York
There have been many multi-million-dollar asbestos verdicts from New York City. Each of the five boroughs is part of a New York county. Staten Island is in Richmond County, which has Richmond Civil Court and Richmond County Supreme Court. Richmond County Civil Court is where mesothelioma lawsuits would be filed.
There have been a few asbestos verdicts in Staten Island. For example, one mesothelioma lawsuit led to a $16.5 million verdict in 2016. The victim developed mesothelioma and died one year before the verdict. However, this verdict was overturned during an appeal.
Another mesothelioma verdict was awarded to a part-time construction worker. The $22 million verdict developed malignant mesothelioma and sued Burnham LLC, a manufacturer of boilers. These boilers had insulation ridden with asbestos, which exposed the victim during his 20 years as a construction worker.
The victim of mesothelioma performed home renovations, including drywall and floor tile insulation, in basements. During these projects, he worked close to boilers that were removed from the basements.
However, most claims do not go to trial. Many lawsuits reach asbestos settlements between the victim and the at-fault companies.
The other type of ending to asbestos claims is with asbestos trust funds. Many companies involved in asbestos mining, manufacturing and sale have filed for bankruptcy. Most filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which allows the company to reorganize assets and shelve asbestos legal liabilities to a new LLC. This new LLC goes bankrupt immediately.
The U.S. court system required these companies to create asbestos trust funds, which pay future claimants of asbestos exposure and asbestos diseases. The majority of mesothelioma claims go to asbestos trust funds.
How to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Staten Island Borough
The first step in filing a mesothelioma claim in Staten Island, New York is choosing a lawyer to take on your case. This is the most important step as it makes every step afterward much easier.
The other steps of filing a mesothelioma claim in Staten Island are:
- Meet with your lawyer and law firm
- Review your exposure to asbestos
- File your mesothelioma claim
- Compile evidence of wrongdoing by companies based on your work and residential histories and likely exposures to asbestos
- Provide a deposition (recorded testimony)
- Discuss a potential settlement with the defendant company or companies
- Take the case to trial, hopefully for a favorable verdict
If the company has filed for bankruptcy and has an asbestos trust fund, the process usually ends before a deposition. You won’t have to go to court or discuss any settlement. The asbestos trust fund process is determined ahead of time.
Asbestos Exposure in Staten Island, New York
One of the first steps to a mesothelioma lawsuit is learning where you were exposed. Most people don’t naturally know when they were exposed as asbestos is so small that it’s undetectable, even when floating in the air. Many companies didn’t even let workers know they were handling asbestos or working near the mineral.
Unfortunately, this exposure led to thousands of people dying of mesothelioma. From 1999-2017, the state of New York accounted for close to 3,000 deaths from this cancer. There were approximately 11,000 deaths from asbestos lung cancer.
Staten Island has many asbestos exposure sites. They include a manufacturing company, gas plant, park, pumping station, brewery, power plant, shipyard, harbor, hospital and oil company.
One or more of these locations might be where you were exposed. You also may have used Johnson & Johnson Baby Powder or another talc cosmetic. Talc and asbestos coexist in the same geographical regions and often mix together. This mixture contaminates talc cosmetics with loose, sharp asbestos fibers.
Here are the known asbestos exposure sites in Staten Island, New York:
- American Linoleum Manufacturing Company
- Borough of Richmond Garbage Destructor
- Arthur Kill Powerhouse
- Bethlehem Steel Corporation
- Bethlehem Steel Shipyard
- Ansbacher Siegel Corporation
- Con Edison (Arthur Kill generating station)
- Consolidated Edison Company of New York, Incorporated, Arthur Kill
- Distrigas of New York Corporation (gas plant)
- New York and Staten Island Electric Company (power plant)
- Elin Park
- Grant City Pumping Station
- Manor Brewing Company
- Milliken Brothers
- National Drydock and Repair Company
- New Method Service Company
- New York and Richmond Gas Company
- Eger Lutheran Nursing Home
- Nrg Energy Incorporated
- Rockwell International Con Ed
- Rubsam & Horrman Brewing Company
- Sailors Snug Harbor
- Seaview Hospital
- Socony Mobil Oil Company
- St. George and New Brighton
- Sun Chemical
- Sun Chemical Corporation, Chemical Products Division
- Travis Powerhouse
- Travis Powerhouse (Con Edison)
- Wallerstein Company, Incorporated
- Witte’s Yard
At-Risk Occupations for Workers in Staten Island
Anyone can be exposed to asbestos. The mineral was one of the most popular parts of American industrialism during the 20th century. Even if you didn’t work a job connected to asbestos, you might’ve had a family member exposed. They might have entered your home with asbestos stuck to their clothes, hair or skin, putting you at risk of exposure.
You also might’ve been exposed if you lived in Staten Island. If your home was located near an asbestos exposure site, you might’ve been exposed just from close proximity. Some companies got rid of asbestos improperly and may have contaminated the environment near your home.
A few occupations are most at risk of exposure. Staten Island workers in these jobs were likely exposed to asbestos and may have inhaled or swallowed the mineral while working:
- Construction workers
- Insulation workers
- Electricians
- Automobile repair workers
- Chemical plant workers
- Oil company workers
- Gas plant workers
- Workers at shipyards or harbors
- Linoleum manufacturing workers
- Power plant workers
Staten Island, New York Asbestos Laws and Regulations
The only unique regulation of note regarding asbestos in Staten Island applies to the entire state of New York. All work disturbing asbestos must be done by trained workers, who must follow the official guidelines for abatement and removal.
Since chrysotile asbestos is officially banned in the United States, commercial or industrial use is nearly impossible. The other five types are not banned but are heavily regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
The EPA’s ruling in March 2024 banned ongoing uses of chrysotile asbestos, which was still used as recently as the ban by the chlor-alkali industry in diaphragms to produce chemicals such as chlorine and sodium hydroxide. The few plants using chrysotile asbestos have a few years to transition to an alternative process.
The massive amount of mesothelioma lawsuits from the 1980s through the 2010s led many companies to find substitutes for asbestos in construction, insulation, electrical, automobile parts and more jobs. While asbestos was durable and resistant to heat, its notoriety for causing cancer led many companies to face multi-million-dollar lawsuits. They either went bankrupt or pivoted to alternatives in manufacturing.
Governing Bodies Overseeing Asbestos in Staten Island, New York
The two main governing bodies overseeing asbestos in Staten Island, New York are the New York State Department of Health and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The New York Department of Health website lists the full New York State Asbestos Regulation.
Other governing bodies overseeing asbestos in Staten Island, New York are:
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration – This government agency safeguards workers from asbestos exposure by limiting how much asbestos can be in any workplace environment.
- New York State Department of Environmental Conservation – This department oversees the transportation and disposal of asbestos debris to Staten Island solid waste landfills after asbestos abatement and asbestos removal projects.
- New York City Department of Environmental Protection – The state department of environmental protection manages all businesses and employees who handle asbestos in New York City boroughs such as Staten Island. This includes removing asbestos from buildings for renovation work in the borough.
- New York State Department of Labor – This department licenses and certifies companies and workers to perform asbestos work. It also keeps track of all asbestos projects in Staten Island, New York City.
The state Department of Health lists specific occupations that can handle asbestos on job sites. Aside from an official “asbestos handler” occupation, the licensed jobs include:
- Air sampling technician
- Inspector
- Management planner
- Operations and maintenance
- Supervisor
- Project monitor and project designer
Statute of Limitations for Asbestos Claims in Staten Island
Statute of limitations is a law regulating how long victims have to file lawsuits in civil court. Each state sets its own length of time for different types of legal claims.
In the state of New York, personal injury lawsuits have a statute of limitations of three (3) years. Wrongful death claims have a statute of limitations of two (2) years.
Usually, the statute of limitations begins once the victim is wronged. This would theoretically be when someone is exposed to asbestos due to a company’s business practices. However, mesothelioma and other asbestos diseases take 20-50 years to begin showing signs.
The U.S. court system determined that the statute of limitations for personal injury mesothelioma claims begins once the victim is diagnosed with cancer. The statute of limitations for wrongful death mesothelioma claims begins once an autopsy confirms mesothelioma as the cause of the victim’s death.
Any delay in hiring a lawyer and beginning your claim runs the risk of your time expiring. By choosing one of the top national law firms, you’re absolved of most responsibilities and can feel secure knowing an experienced lawyer is filing your claim on time and representing your case appropriately.
The lawyers at Bullock Campbell Bullock & Harris have served mesothelioma victims for more than 20 years. They can help anyone affected by asbestos exposure in Staten Island, New York. Please reach out to the team at BCBH Law for further assistance with your case.
New York Mesothelioma Laws & Law Firms by City
Sources & Author
