My motto every day is to fight the good fight. I choose to fight on the right side. My goal is to help others, those in and around my community. I believe in representing plaintiffs who are victims — people who have been hurt by others. We are dealing with large companies who chose money and greed over the health of their workers. I am giving regular people a voice, because they cannot stand up for themselves. Our clients deserve justice.”
Eduardo Sotomayor has joined Weitz & Luxenberg’s team of dedicated, experienced asbestos and mesothelioma litigators. As far back as he can remember, Mr. Sotomayor knew he wanted to help people. “I believe in representing victims and fairly holding the responsible parties accountable.”
Helping People Is My Goal
“I feel privileged to work among such talented attorneys,” Mr. Sotomayor adds. “I admire everyone here at Weitz & Luxenberg for the work they do, and their tenacity and commitment to fight for justice for each of our clients.
“Plaintiffs’ work has always been my priority. And helping our clients who have been harmed by asbestos exposure is incredibly important work.”
Asbestos Exposure Is Deadly
“Even though we’ve known for decades how dangerous asbestos is, some companies still deny the risks. Even worse, they deny responsibility,” Mr. Sotomayor points out. “And they continue to put people’s lives at risk.
“This known carcinogen robs people of their quality of life, and for those unfortunately diagnosed with mesothelioma, robs them of their very lives. There is no cure for mesothelioma,” Mr. Sotomayor continues.
“We must hold these irresponsible, reckless companies accountable,” Mr. Sotomayor explains. “You might be surprised by how many companies continue their deception despite knowing the dangers. And this deception and disregard for the lives of others must stop.”
A Natural Transition
“Right before coming to Weitz & Luxenberg, I worked for the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office. It’s not so different coming here,” Mr. Sotomayor says.
“As an assistant district attorney, I worked with victims of crimes. This included assault, child abuse, sex abuse, and domestic violence. I spent nearly two years prosecuting criminal matters involving misdemeanors and violation-level offenses,” Mr. Sotomayor continues.
“The defendants I prosecuted at the DA’s office had committed crimes. At Weitz & Luxenberg, we’re going up different kinds of offenders. The defendants are often large companies that have jeopardized our client’s health by exposing them to asbestos. These are horrific actions,” Mr. Sotomayor stresses.
Building the Client Relationship
“I worked with hundreds of victims at the DA’s office. People who were often going through one of the most difficult times in their life,” Mr. Sotomayor remembers. “At Weitz & Luxenberg, the same is true of our clients.
“More than anything, I want to build a trusting relationship,” Mr. Sotomayor continues. “The victims I worked with in the past at the DA’s office, and the clients at Weitz & Luxenberg I am now working with, need to know I am completely on their side. I need to be able to give them the courage to tell their story.
“Sometimes I need to ask very personal questions or get them to share extremely uncomfortable details about their experience. So, the relationship we develop at the beginning is the heart of the entire case.
“The message I want to get across is ‘We’re here to help you out throughout the entire process,” Mr. Sotomayor emphasizes.
Giving Someone a Voice
“When I worked at the DA’s office, one of the most meaningful parts of the entire process was encouraging victims to tell their stories. I prepared them for what lies ahead. How the legal process works,” Mr. Sotomayor explains.
“I let them know the other side will try to discourage them from opening up. The defendants hope they won’t have the courage to stand up against whoever hurt them. To convince them, I told them it’s about the defendant owning up and acknowledging the harm they’ve done.”
“I hope to help our Weitz & Luxenberg clients stand up against these companies that hurt them. To remind our clients of the importance of getting offenders to accept responsibility and not let them walk away like if it simply didn’t happen.”
Experience with the Law
Mr. Sotomayor joined Weitz & Luxenberg as an associate attorney in July 2022. Previously, while earning his J.D., he work as a law clerk for our firm. He served in our New Jersey office during the summer of 2018. His experience made such a strong impression that when the opportunity came knocking on the door, he couldn’t resist.
About other legal experiences during college, Mr. Sotomayor remembers, “I wanted the chance to help make the world a better place. I wanted to become a lawyer because I care about justice and society. I strongly believe in helping our clients get justice for what was done to them and protect their rights.”
Notable College Achievements
While working on his J.D., Mr. Sotomayor was the recipient of Nassau County Bar Association’s 2020 WE CARE Diversity Law School Scholarship. In addition, while a member of the Black Law Student Association, he was named a quarterfinalist in the 2019 Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition hosted by the Hofstra Trial Advocacy Association. Also, in 2018, he was named a finalist in the Fall Intramural Competition.
Mr. Sotomayor is licensed to practice law in New Jersey and New York. He earned his J.D. from the Maurice A. Dean School of Law at Hofstra University in Hempstead, New York. His B.A. in criminal justice is from Kean University in Union, New Jersey. He also earned an associate of science degree in criminal justice from Ocean County College in Toms River, New Jersey.
On the Personal Side
Outside the office, Mr. Sotomayor loves spending time with his family, traveling, experiencing different cultures, and trying new restaurants. He also enjoys practicing Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, hiking, and going to the beach.
