As a child of small business owners and blue-collar workers, I have witnessed the importance of working hard firsthand. My parents are small business owners for over 40 years. I have seen what it is like to work exceptionally hard your entire life. I know the sacrifices our clients have made for their families. The biggest fear our clients have is, “What is going to happen to my family?” They have enough to worry about — I want to take that off their plate and make sure their families are provided for.”
Weitz & Luxenberg welcomes Jamie Mattera to our team of mesothelioma and asbestos-experienced trial litigators. “I’ve known since I was young, that I wanted to be an attorney,” Ms. Mattera says. “And if you want to do plaintiff’s work, Weitz & Luxenberg is the premier law firm.”
“The work I am doing here is an extension of the type of work I did at the Nassau County District Attorney’s office,” Ms. Mattera continues. “My work in advocating for victims will continue here and I feel that it is a natural progression in my legal career. Our clients are true victims, their lives have forever been changed by the actions of these companies, they deserve justice.”
She points out, “Here, our clients have been subjected to some of the worst kinds of deception and cover-up possible. There is no excusing these companies having lied for years while putting our clients’ health at risk.
“Our clients trusted their employers and they were loyal employees who just wanted to provide for their families. They have experienced the ultimate betrayal.”
Dangers of Asbestos Are Known
“The scientific world has known about the dangers of asbestos for over 100 years. The use of asbestos has been documented as hazardous as early as 1898. It is well-documented asbestos wreaks havoc on a person’s body,” Ms. Mattera explains.
“For asbestos companies to claim they didn’t know how destructive asbestos is to a person’s health is an outright lie. To this day, they will say just about anything to avoid taking responsibility for their actions.”
Taking Asbestos and Mesothelioma Personally
“Both my grandfather and uncle were blue-collar professionals — one in the tool and die industry, the other in steamfitting. They were lucky,” Ms. Mattera says. “But many family friends were not so fortunate, they were exposed to asbestos and died from this exposure.
“Going after the asbestos companies that knowingly put people’s lives at risk is something I look forward to doing,” Ms. Mattera adds. “I want to make sure these companies are held accountable. They are not going to get away with their actions if I have anything to say about it.”
Working for the District Attorney’s Office
From March 2018 until January 2022, Ms. Mattera served as Assistant District Attorney for the Nassau County District Attorney in Mineola, New York. She prosecuted over 15 jury and bench trials while working at the Nassau County District Attorney’s Office, with a record of 14-1.
Ms. Mattera handled sex offenses, animal crimes, vehicular offenses, reckless endangerment, assault, larceny, financial fraud, drug offenses, and domestic violence. She also conducted multiple Sexual Offender Registry Act hearings and over 50 preliminary trial hearings.
She was given the distinguished honor of being chosen to prosecute animal crimes in Nassau County. Ms. Mattera investigated and litigated multiple animal abuse and neglect incidents.
Overall, Ms. Mattera managed thousands of misdemeanor and felony cases from intake to disposition. She has handled high-profile press cases. She has also spearheaded investigations into financial fraud relating to the illegal sale and breeding of animals, resulting in multiple arrests.
Big-Money Wins
In 2017, Ms. Mattera helped secured a settlement of over $25 million. She was on the team for a high-profile municipality lawsuit against Nassau County for a client who was severely injured.
“I had the privilege of working on this lawsuit related to defective roadway design,” she details. “The municipality was found liable for the victim’s traumatic brain injuries due to its failure to remedy a defective and dangerous intersection.”
Ms. Mattera is licensed to practice law in New York. She earned her J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law in Queens, New York, and her B.S. from the same university, in its College of Professional Studies.
On the Personal Side
Outside the office, Ms. Mattera enjoys traveling and spending time with her fiancé, kitten Berlioz, and her “loud Italian family.”
Ms. Mattera enjoys indulging in the arts and loves to visit museums and concerts. In addition, she is a classically trained singer who was privileged to sing before Pope Francis in 2014 at the New Year’s Day Papal Mass in Rome, Italy.
