Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyer
Philadelphia ranks fourth among all U.S. jurisdictions for asbestos lawsuits, a reflection of its deep industrial history in shipbuilding, chemical manufacturing and factory work. Nemeroff Law Firm represents Philadelphia workers and families in Pennsylvania mesothelioma claims.
Do You Need a Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorney?
A skilled Philadelphia mesothelioma attorney knows Pennsylvania law, the relevant court procedures and the exposure history that makes Philadelphia cases unique. Philadelphia ranked fourth among all U.S. jurisdictions for asbestos lawsuits in 2024, according to KCIC, reflecting the city’s industrial history in shipbuilding, textile manufacturing and chemical production.
Working With Our Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorneys
- Decades of Philadelphia asbestos litigation give our team an extensive database of local job sites and the companies responsible for exposure there.
- Our attorneys file mesothelioma claims across Philadelphia and Pennsylvania and explain your rights and deadlines with no upfront costs.
- Our team reviews your work history, medical records and employment documents to identify every company responsible for your exposure.
- We file trust fund claims and lawsuits at the same time when applicable, which can increase your total compensation.
- We manage every aspect of your case, from settlement talks to trial preparation.
The Nemeroff Law Firm knows Philadelphia’s industrial history, which sets it apart from other Pennsylvania cities. Shipbuilding on the Delaware River, textile manufacturing and chemical production all created widespread asbestos exposure across the workforce for much of the 20th century. We have a strong track record of multimillion-dollar verdicts and settlements for people in Pennsylvania with mesothelioma cases like yours.
When Should You Hire a Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorney?
Contacting a Philadelphia mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible after a diagnosis gives your case the best chance of success. Building a strong claim requires tracking down employment records, medical documentation and exposure history that may span decades.
Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations is two years from receiving a mesothelioma diagnosis to file a personal injury lawsuit and in most cases, two years from the date of the loss of a loved one to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Our attorneys can determine if any exceptions or extensions apply to your situation or if your exposure was outside of Pennsylvania and your case should be filed in another state, where different deadlines may apply.
The Nemeroff Law Firm reviews every detail of your case and explains your options at no cost. The sooner you call, the more options you’re likely to have.
Philadelphia Asbestos Exposure
Manufacturing, textile production and the chemical industry relied heavily on asbestos, putting workers across trades at risk of mesothelioma for much of the 20th century. The EPA added the Keasbey & Mattison Ambler Asbestos Piles site to its Superfund National Priority List in 1986 and the nearby BoRit Asbestos Site in 2009, both tracing directly to decades of asbestos waste disposal from the plant.
Asbestos Exposure Sites in the Philadelphia Area
- Keasbey & Mattison Company, Ambler PA
- Pacor Incorporated, Philadelphia PA
- Penn Shipbuilding Company, Chester PA
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia PA
- Sun Shipbuilding & Dry Dock Company, Chester PA
- William Cramp and Sons Shipbuilding, Philadelphia PA
Philadelphia’s shipyards were among the most significant sources of exposure in the city. Pacor Incorporated, founded in Philadelphia in 1921 as the Philadelphia Asbestos Corporation, supplied asbestos insulation products to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard during World War II, when asbestos use on Navy ships was mandatory.
Workers who installed and removed these products faced a high risk of inhaling airborne fibers, and exposure spread beyond those handling materials directly to electricians, welders and plumbers working nearby. Cleanup of the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard specifically focused on asbestos abatement across its 1,455-acre complex.
Occupations and Industries Known for Asbestos Exposure in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s diverse industrial base put workers across many trades at risk of asbestos exposure. Workers in the city’s manufacturing and military facilities faced some of the highest levels of risk, often handling asbestos daily, sometimes for decades.
Higher-Risk Philadelphia Occupations
- Auto mechanics
- Boilermakers and pipefitters
- Chemical plant workers
- Construction and demolition workers
- Electricians
- Factory maintenance workers
- Insulation installers
- Nuclear power plant workers
- Plumbers and steamfitters
- Shipyard workers
- Steel and foundry workers
- Textile mill workers
- Welders
Many workers didn’t know the risks of asbestos exposure until they received a mesothelioma diagnosis decades later. It may take 20 to 60 years for an individual to develop mesothelioma after asbestos exposure. Workers who handled asbestos in the 1950s, 60s and 70s may only now be developing asbestos-related diseases.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure in Philadelphia
Not every person who developed mesothelioma in Philadelphia worked directly with asbestos. Workers at the city’s shipyards, chemical plants and factories unknowingly carried microscopic fibers home on their clothing, skin and hair, putting spouses, children and other household members at real risk.
Secondary exposure is a serious and well-documented risk for mesothelioma. Pennsylvania law allows families to file lawsuits based on secondary exposure. If a family member worked at a Philadelphia-area shipyard, plant or industrial facility and you later received a mesothelioma diagnosis, our lawyers can trace your exposure history and identify every responsible party.
Explore your legal options now with a free case review
Compensation Available for Asbestos Exposure in Philadelphia
People diagnosed with mesothelioma in Philadelphia can pursue compensation through lawsuits and other legal options, often more than one at the same time. Most mesothelioma settlements range from $1 million to $2 million. Trial verdicts average significantly higher at $20.7 million, according to the 2024 Mealey’s Litigation Report. Compensation can cover medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and wrongful death damages for families.
Compensation Options for People With Mesothelioma
- Asbestos trust fund claims: More than 60 active asbestos trust funds hold an estimated $30 billion for future claims. Trust fund claims typically process faster than lawsuits, without requiring court appearances.
- Personal injury lawsuits: Your attorney files this claim against the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure, seeking damages for medical costs, lost wages and pain and suffering.
- VA claims: Veterans who developed mesothelioma from military asbestos exposure at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard or elsewhere may qualify for VA benefits in addition to legal claims.
- Workers’ compensation claims: Pennsylvania workers’ compensation may cover medical costs and a portion of lost wages. Filing a workers’ compensation claim doesn’t prevent you from pursuing other legal options at the same time.
- Wrongful death claims: Family members file this claim to pursue compensation after losing a loved one to mesothelioma. These claims can cover medical costs, lost income, funeral expenses and the emotional toll of the loss.
Many Philadelphia mesothelioma lawsuits involve multiple liable parties across the Naval Shipyard, chemical plants and manufacturing facilities, which means more potential claims to pursue simultaneously. Trust fund claims often resolve in 90 days or less, while lawsuits typically take 12 to 18 months. The Nemeroff Law Firm evaluates your full exposure history and pursues every available compensation type on your behalf.
The Nemeroff Law Firm’s Notable Mesothelioma Settlements
The Nemeroff Law Firm has litigated and secured asbestos settlements and verdicts across Pennsylvania for more than 30 years, including cases in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas. Our results reflect the team’s experience across Pennsylvania’s court system.
Recent Pennsylvania Verdicts and Settlements from the Nemeroff Law Firm
- $10 million: Trial verdict for a mechanic
- $7.5 million: Settlement for an operator
- $7 million: Verdict for a commercial carpenter
- $6 million: Settlement for a machinist
- $5.5 million: Settlement for a steel mill worker
- $5.5 million: Settlement for a boilermaker
- $4.5 million: Settlement for a university mechanic
- $4.12 million: Settlement for a laborer
- $4 million: Settlement for a welder
- $3.9 million: Settlement for a mechanic
- $3.84 million: Settlement for a boiler and turbine engineer
- $3.3 million: Settlement for a hospital technician
Philadelphia juries have awarded significant verdicts in asbestos cases. A Philadelphia jury awarded $25 million in 2022 to an asbestosis patient and Navy veteran and his wife. A Philadelphia jury also awarded $10 million in 2010 to a mesothelioma patient who claimed Melrath Gasket’s asbestos products caused their disease. Call us for a free case review and we’ll assess how best to pursue compensation for you.
Explore your legal options now with a free case review
How to File a Mesothelioma Claim in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s standing as one of the country’s top asbestos litigation jurisdictions means the courts have developed specific procedures for handling these claims efficiently. With 267 asbestos cases filed in 2024 alone, Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas has more experience with mesothelioma claims than almost any court in the country.
Steps for Filing a Mesothelioma Claim in Philadelphia
- Free case review: An attorney evaluates your diagnosis and full exposure history at no cost and explains every legal option available to you.
- Exposure investigation: our legal team reviews your work, military and medical records. Mesothelioma litigation is the longest-running mass tort in U.S. history, and decades of Philadelphia cases have built an extensive evidence base our attorneys can draw on with your personal exposure history.
- Venue assessment: Your attorney identifies the appropriate court for your claim based on where your exposure occurred and where the responsible companies operate.
- Filing your claim: Your attorney files your lawsuit or trust fund claim within Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations, whether in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas, another Pennsylvania court or the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
- Discovery and negotiation: Both sides gather and exchange evidence. Most mesothelioma claims end with a negotiated settlement. If an agreement isn’t reached, your case may go to trial.
Trust fund claims proceed on a separate timeline from lawsuits. Every asbestos trust fund sets its own filing deadline, generally around two to three years from a mesothelioma diagnosis.
Filing trust fund claims and a lawsuit at the same time can increase your total compensation. Many people receive payments from both sources. The Nemeroff Law Firm helps Philadelphia workers and their families pursue every available avenue for compensation.
How the Nemeroff Law Firm Works With You
A mesothelioma diagnosis in Philadelphia means navigating one of the country’s most active asbestos litigation jurisdictions. Our team of Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyers has decades of experience building cases against large companies.
The Nemeroff Law Firm won landmark rulings in Pennsylvania like Tooey v. A.K. Steel, which expanded workers’ rights to sue negligent employers. Herold v. University of Pittsburgh established civil compensation rights outside of Pennsylvania’s Occupational Disease Act.
Our founding partner Rick Nemeroff is a member of the American Board of Trial Advocates. Attorneys Jennifer Black, D. Carl Money, Barrett Naman and Jeffrey O’Connell have records of success litigating mesothelioma lawsuits. Several hold Super Lawyers recognition for their work in asbestos litigation. They’ll come to you, wherever works best, and you pay nothing unless we win.
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyer FAQs
Pennsylvania’s statute of limitations is two years from the date of diagnosis to file a personal injury lawsuit. Families filing wrongful death claims also generally have two years from the date of their loved one’s death. Because the deadline isn’t set from the time of asbestos exposure, workers exposed decades ago can still file. Contact an attorney as soon as possible after a diagnosis to protect every option available to you.
You don’t need money up front to hire the Nemeroff Law Firm. We work on a contingency basis, which means we only collect a fee if we win your case. There are no out-of-pocket costs at any point in the process. We offer a free case review so you can understand your legal options before making any decisions and our team travels to meet you wherever works best.
Philadelphia’s long history as a shipbuilding, manufacturing and chemical production hub exposed thousands of workers to asbestos over many decades. Philadelphia had 267 asbestos cases in 2024, ranking fourth among all U.S. jurisdictions according to KCIC’s 2024 Year in Review report. This high volume means the local courts have developed specific procedures for handling asbestos claims. Attorneys with experience in Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas are familiar with those procedures and can use them to move your case forward efficiently.
Settlement amounts vary based on the strength of your exposure history, the number of liable defendants and other case-specific factors. Most mesothelioma settlements range from $1 million to $2 million, according to 2026 data. Trial verdicts average significantly higher at $20.7 million, according to the 2024 Mealey’s Litigation Report, but only about 5% of mesothelioma lawsuits reach a jury verdict. Philadelphia juries have awarded significant verdicts in asbestos cases. One of our experienced attorneys can evaluate your case and give you a realistic picture of what compensation may look like.
Strong Philadelphia mesothelioma cases typically rely on employment records, military service history, medical records confirming your diagnosis and witness testimony from former co-workers. Your attorney can also draw on documented asbestos exposure at Philadelphia-area sites like the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Sun Shipbuilding and the Ambler Superfund sites to help establish where and how exposure occurred. The Nemeroff Law Firm has built an extensive foundation of evidence from decades of Philadelphia and Pennsylvania asbestos litigation, giving our team a strong head start on building your case.
R. Scott Marshall
R. Scott Marshall is an attorney at the Nemeroff Law Firm with 25+ years’ experience. He leads asbestos litigation and landmark appeals for mesothelioma victims.