W&L has now grown into one of the largest personal injury and mass tort law firms in the Philadelphia and New York areas. Our outlook is both local and national, so our clients in Pennsylvania get the best possible representation.
Finding an Experienced Lawyer
We have a strong local presence in Pennsylvania. Some of our attorneys live and work in Pennsylvania. The local legal community knows us. W&L attorneys are in court frequently, and we have relationships with the judges and standing mediator. When we are dealing with Pennsylvania jurors, we relate to them as part of our own community.
Our mesothelioma lawyers who handle our Pennsylvania cases are fully prepared to represent people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma throughout the state and in neighboring regions.
With offices near Philadelphia, we know the region very well. Our specialized attorneys have in-depth knowledge of and experience with Pennsylvania law and asbestos regulations.
Local Expertise; Nationwide Asbestos-Exposure Experience
We also have a strong presence on the national asbestos litigation scene. W&L is the leading plaintiffs’ asbestos firm in New York City — the most-active jurisdiction in the world for asbestos cases.
The massive verdicts we get for our clients in NYC give us leverage when we are negotiating with the same offending companies in Pennsylvania. Our reputation and size lets us dominate in many legal settings.
Diagnosed with mesothelioma? Contact us now for a free consultation and more information about your legal options.
Get a Free Case ReviewVerdicts & Settlements
Attorneys from Weitz & Luxenberg have been helping clients locally for more than 20 years. We are proud to say that we have successfully obtained financial compensation for thousands of victims.
Our attorneys regularly receive millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for our clients. Firmwide, W&L settlements and verdicts total $17 billion.
Some of our Pennsylvania settlements include victories for:
- A HVAC maintenance worker living with mesothelioma.
- A former welder who died of mesothelioma.
- A worker for an asbestos cement pipe manufacturer.
- A refinery repairman continually exposed.
- A surface miner who died from exposure to asbestos.
- A millwright who died from asbestos exposure cancer.
- A mechanic who also worked on his home.
- The family of a man exposed during car repair work and construction.
- A full-time mechanic and part-time home renovator.
- Jim Kress, a construction worker, talks about what it’ is like to have W&L for a law firm.
- Family of a power plant employee.
- Family of a factory maintenance worker.
- Sue Crawford describes the help W&L gave her dad, a former steel mill worker.
Asbestos-Exposure Related Deaths in Pennsylvania
Between 1999 and 2017, more than 17,710 people in Pennsylvania died from asbestos-related diseases. Of these, 3,257 deaths were due to mesothelioma.(1)
More than 1,500 people died from a disease called asbestosis. In addition, more than 13,025 died from asbestos lung cancer.(2)
As you might suspect, the greatest number of deaths from these diseases occurred in the more industrialized regions of the state, including:(3)
- Philadelphia and surrounding counties.
- Pittsburgh and surrounding counties
Counties in Pennsylvania with the greatest number of asbestos-related deaths include:
- Allegheny County — 1,969.
- Philadelphia County — 1,576.
- Montgomery County — 1,599.
- Delaware County — 1,299.
Asbestos in Pennsylvania
Historically, many building products and insulation materials contained asbestos in homes. Most of these kinds of products made today do not contain asbestos.(4)
Common asbestos-containing products may include:
- Insulation around steam pipes, furnaces, and air ducts.
- Vinyl floor covering and adhesives.
- Roof shingles and siding.
- Patching and joint compounds.
- Gaskets in furnaces, boilers, and pipes.
- Textured paints.
- Soundproofing or decorative material sprayed on walls and ceilings.
If you have an older home, you may have some of these products in your home. However, if those products are in good condition, you are advised to leave them alone.
Problems arise when these items are damaged or disturbed. Airborne asbestos fibers that you breathe in are hazardous and can lead to some very serious diseases.
Certain parts of your car may also contain these fibers. Working on cars, and replacing certain parts, may expose you to asbestos. These automobile parts include:
- Brake pads and linings.
- Clutch facings.
- Gaskets.
Well-Known Contamination Sites
The following sites in Pennsylvania are well-known for using, processing, or exposing people to asbestos. Many are located in and around the Philadelphia area. Locations include shipyards and industrial sites such as chemical companies and manufacturing sites, power stations, and refineries.
Power Stations
- Willow Station, Philadelphia.
- Schuylkill Station, Philadelphia.
- Cromby Station, Philadelphia.
- Delaware Station, Philadelphia.
- 28th & Christian, Philadelphia.
- Edison Steam Plant, Philadelphia.
- Fuel Oil Facility, Philadelphia.
- Eddystone Station, Eddystone.
- Peach Bottom Nuclear Generating Station.
- Limerick Nuclear Generating Station.
- Susquehanna Nuclear Power Plant.
- Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, Londonderry Township.
Refineries
- Atlantic Richfield (ARCO), Philadelphia.
- Gulf Refinery, Philadelphia.
- Sun Oil Co., Marcus Hook.
- BP Oil Refinery, Trainer.
- Sunoco, Marcus Hook.
- Getty Oil, Philadelphia.
Manufacturing Sites
- Budd Company, Philadelphia.
- Pennsylvania Sugar, Philadelphia.
- Scott Paper Co., Chester.
- General Electric.
- Westinghouse Electric.
- Bethlehem Steel.
- Fairless Steel, Fairless Hills.
- Alan Wood Steel.
- Nicholson, Philadelphia.
- U.S. Steel, Pittsburgh and Fairless Hills.
- Allegheny Ludlum, Bagdad and Leechburg.
- Rohm and Hass, Bristol and Bridesburg.
- Westinghouse, Lester.
- American Can, Chambersburg.
Shipyards
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (PNSY), Philadelphia.
Chemical Companies
- Allied Chemical, Philadelphia.
Buildings
- Public Ledger Building, Philadelphia.
- U.S. Customs Building, Philadelphia.
- Wanamaker Building, Marcus Hook.
- Abington High School, Abington.
Hospitals
- Philadelphia State Hospital at Byberry.
- Philadelphia General Hospital, Philadelphia.
- Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia.
- University of Pennsylvania Hospital, Philadelphia.
Universities/Colleges
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.
- Temple University, Philadelphia.
- Drexel University, Philadelphia.
- Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.
- Girard College, Philadelphia.
Meet the Local W&L Team
The attorneys who work out of our Cherry Hill, New Jersey office are very knowledgeable about mesothelioma and asbestos exposure in Pennsylvania.
Should you decide to retain W&L to represent you, you may have the opportunity to work with one of these experienced attorneys:
Jerry Kristal, Partner
Most of the cases in which he plays an active role are those involving either asbestos exposures (mesothelioma, lung cancer, asbestosis) or injuries caused by dangerous pharmaceuticals and medical devices — with regard to the former, some of the verdicts he has obtained are among the highest ever brought in against U.S. asbestos defendants.
Leonard F. Feldman, Associate Attorney
Leonard F. Feldman runs our asbestos litigations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey from our offices in Cherry Hill, N.J.
F. Alexander Eiden, Associate Attorney
F. Alexander Eiden is an attorney in our Asbestos Litigation group.
Mary Grabish Gaffney, Associate Attorney
Mary Grabish Gaffney concentrates on representing clients suffering asbestos-related illnesses as well as those alleging other forms of personal-injury harm.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What Are the Requirements for a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Pennsylvania?
Our attorneys work with you or your family to obtain your medical records and prove your asbestos-related diagnosis. During this time, we thoroughly investigate all potential sources of asbestos exposure, including your worksites and other relevant locations, and speak with any necessary witnesses. Our attorneys diligently pursue your claims through deposition testimony and affidavits. We also request all available documents to support your claims, such as your employment records.
How Do I Make a Mesothelioma Claim in Pennsylvania?
Start your legal journey by contacting our experienced attorneys. We diligently investigate the details of your asbestos exposure to pursue all applicable claims on your behalf, ensuring you receive the justice and compensation you deserve. In Pennsylvania, defendants can include liable product manufacturers and suppliers, premises defendants, and contractors. In addition to these types of claims, plaintiffs can bring asbestos claims against their Pennsylvania employers.
How Do Mesothelioma Settlements Work in Pennsylvania?
While pursuing your lawsuit, your attorneys zealously advocate on your behalf to settle all potential claims with defendants. You can rely on your attorneys to reach an agreement with defendants and provide an opportunity for you to review and consent to settlement offers.