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Mesothelioma Lawyers in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania has a long industrial history, with many residents employed in shipbuilding, metal works, and railroads. Unfortunately, many of these industries have a high risk of asbestos exposure, especially because corporations often did not properly protect their workers. Now, Pennsylvania has one of the nation’s highest rates of mesothelioma, a cancer caused by exposure to asbestos. People who were harmed by asbestos exposure at work, as well as their families, may be eligible for financial compensation. Our trusted Pennsylvania mesothelioma attorneys can help.

Content written by Dan Wasserberg

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Mr. Wasserberg is proud to call himself a Trial Lawyer. He is often a featured speaker at industry summits and gatherings of the nation’s leading attorneys, from both sides of the bar. He is recognized by both his peers and his adversaries and is considered one of the nation’s premier mesothelioma and negligence attorneys

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Content written by Dan Wasserberg

Daniel Wasserberg

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Experienced Mesothelioma Attorney

Latest Updated Date October 27, 2025

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Mesothelioma is a type of cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, a dangerous mineral that was used for many years in various industries because of its resistance to heat, flame, and corrosion. However, it’s also extremely dangerous to human health–besides mesothelioma, asbestos exposure can cause the chronic lung disease asbestosis, damage to the pleura, and a variety of other cancers, including lung cancer and colon cancer.

Because of Pennsylvania’s storied industrial history, corporations made huge profits during the era of asbestos use, but they didn’t always properly protect their workers. It takes decades for asbestos exposure to cause disease, meaning that many people who were exposed years ago are only now developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

People harmed by a corporation’s failure to provide proper protection from asbestos may be eligible to take legal action, allowing them to receive financial compensation for the many costs of their preventable disease. There are two primary types of lawsuits that can be filed in these cases:

A personal injury lawsuit is brought by a person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
A wrongful death lawsuit is brought by the heir(s) of a person who died of mesothelioma.

How Our Attorneys Can Help You File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Pennsylvania

Video Transcript

Mesothelioma attorneys know every product that asbestos may have been in, and it’s not just simply insulation or gaskets. It is also not relegated to industrial products. Asbestos was used in things as simple as a cigarette, as a filter in cigarettes, in brake pads, and in laboratory equipment.

Nobody other than a Mesothelioma attorney is going to know the different ways and places you may have come into contact with asbestos. Beyond that, a Mesothelioma attorney is connected to the community at large. We know the medical professionals who are treating this disease, we are connected to them. We can guide you and help you navigate what must be, and is, the most difficult and troubling time of your life. While you concentrate on your health, we concentrate on your case.

The process of filing a lawsuit for mesothelioma can be complex. Each case is unique, and the specific legal tasks that are necessary in a particular case may vary. In general, your mesothelioma lawyer will:

Conduct a thorough investigation of your asbestos exposure history to identify all possible liable parties.
Draft and file your mesothelioma lawsuit in the appropriate court and handle all the legal paperwork.
Gather evidence to support your claim, including medical records, eyewitness testimony, and expert testimony.
Represent you at all hearings related to your case.
Handle all correspondence and settlement negotiations with the insurance companies and other parties involved in your case.
If necessary, take your case to trial.

Compensation Available to Pennsylvania Residents Diagnosed With Mesothelioma

The amount of mesothelioma compensation you may receive from an asbestos case will depend on several factors, including:

The severity of your injuries
Your exposure history
Whether you were diagnosed with a terminal illness
Your age and health at the time of diagnosis
Your income and ability to work
The impact of your injuries on your quality of life

Based on recent mesothelioma compensation awards, the average mesothelioma settlement ranges between $1 million and $1.4 million. The average trial verdict award is about $2.4 million.

Of course, money alone can never make up for the suffering caused by asbestos exposure or bring back all that you’ve lost. However, compensation from an asbestos settlement can help you and your family cover costs related to:

Medical expenses (both past and future)
Lost wages
Funeral expenses

These costs are known as economic damages because they can be measured in dollars. However, the law recognizes that these costs don’t truly cover all of the harm caused by mesothelioma. An asbestos settlement can also cover non-economic damages, which include things like:

Pain and suffering (both physical and emotional)
Loss of quality of life
Loss of consortium (the loss of one’s life partner)

Our Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Settlements

Our attorneys have a long track record of success in bringing lawsuits related to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Some of our notable mesothelioma settlements and verdicts include:

$32,000,000+ asbestos exposure verdict after a trial involving secondhand exposure claims. Jurors assigned liability to both premises defendant Kraft Heinz and contractor defendant Metal Masters Inc.
$5,100,000+ mesothelioma settlement for a Navy machinist’s mate who went on to be a civilian maintenance mechanic and contracted mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure
$4,000,000+ mesothelioma settlement for a Puerto Rican sugar mill mechanic and laboratory equipment engineer who contracted mesothelioma from asbestos exposure; this case was initially declined by another law firm specializing in asbestos litigation.
$3,400,000+ mesothelioma settlement for a Navy boiler tender who went on to be a boiler-room operator and contracted mesothelioma, but could not testify on his own behalf.
$3,150,000+ mesothelioma settlement for a painter/taper diagnosed with mesothelioma who had exposure to a limited number of asbestos-containing building and construction products.
$2,300,000+ mesothelioma settlement for a school custodian who contracted mesothelioma but was unable to identify the manufacturers of the products containing asbestos installed in the school.

How Long Does It Take To Settle a Mesothelioma Lawsuit?

The amount of time it will take to settle your mesothelioma lawsuit will depend on various factors, including the severity of your injuries, the number of parties involved, and whether you can reach an agreement out of court. In most cases, settlements are reached within one to two years. However, if your case goes to trial, it could take several years to reach a verdict.

Who is Liable for Asbestos-Related Mesothelioma?

Corporations have a legal duty to ensure that the products they sell are reasonably safe and to warn consumers of any known dangers of these products. In addition, corporations must take reasonable actions to keep workers safe while on the job. If a corporation fails to meet these obligations, it can be held legally liable for the harm caused to its employees or consumers. A corporation may also be held legally liable for the harm it causes to workers’ families if proper decontamination practices are not followed.

Known Asbestos Sites in Pennsylvania

A study published in the International Journal of Occupational Health showed that Pennsylvania is one of five states with the highest number of mesothelioma cases. Pennsylvania has many known sites of asbestos exposure, including some major sites of asbestos contamination that the EPA is still trying to contain.

The U.S. Geological Survey has documented more than a dozen sites in Pennsylvania where significant asbestos exposure is possible. Some of these are areas of natural exposure, although there were four asbestos mines in the southeastern area of the state.

Ambler and the First Asbestos Manufacturing Plant

The town of Ambler, located in Montgomery County about 16 miles north of Philadelphia, was the site of a major asbestos operation for decades. In the 1880s, the corporation Keasbey & Mattison was formed. Having discovered that asbestos could be useful as insulation, the company began researching ways to use asbestos. In 1896, the first asbestos textile manufacturing plant in the United States was built in Ambler.

The company was not careful with the disposal of asbestos-containing materials. In 1930, it began simply dumping materials containing asbestos in an outdoor location in the town, known as the Ambler Asbestos Piles. This created a huge risk of exposure for everyone in the town because asbestos fibers could easily enter the air and water.

The asbestos manufacturing operation changed hands a few times. In 1987, the corporation that owned it was forced into bankruptcy after being faced with thousands of lawsuits related to the irresponsible use and disposal of asbestos.

Today, there are two EPA Superfund sites located in Ambler—the Ambler Asbestos Piles and the BoRit Asbestos Site. While the EPA closely monitors them and attempts to keep the asbestos contained, many people in Ambler and the surrounding area are understandably concerned about the presence of this dangerous mineral in their communities.

Harrisburg and the Cost of Industrial Growth

Harrisburg was a leading center of industry for many decades. Although this created economic opportunity and led to the rapid growth of the city, it also created health risks for many workers, including a risk of asbestos exposure.

There are several industrial sites in Harrisburg where asbestos exposure was particularly likely. Many companies, including power companies and steel mills, used asbestos in insulation materials. Some of the known sites of potential asbestos exposure in Harrisburg include:

General Electric
Harrisburg Steel
Atlantic Refinery Plant
Harrisburg Steel Mill
Dauphin County Steel
Paxton Iron and Steel Company
Harrisburg Automotive
Pennsylvania Power & Light
Harrisburg Light and Power

There are also other sites in Harrisburg where asbestos exposure is known to have occurred. Your mesothelioma lawyer will help you determine whether your workplace has a known history of causing exposure to asbestos.

Industries in Pennsylvania Known for Asbestos Exposure

Many Pennsylvania industries were known for a high risk of asbestos exposure, including:

Shipbuilding
Steel and other metalworks
Railroads
Mining
Manufacturing
Power generation
Chemical processing
Oil refining
Construction

Many homes and office buildings in Pennsylvania were built when asbestos was commonly used in construction. In fact, many public schools and government buildings across the state contain asbestos. While it poses little risk as long as it remains undisturbed, the buildings are now aging.

If asbestos-containing materials begin falling apart, asbestos can enter the building’s air, creating a health risk for anyone working or studying inside. There’s also a significant risk for asbestos to become aerosolized during maintenance or construction on these buildings. An experienced Philadelphia mesothelioma lawyer can help.

Pennsylvania Asbestos Laws and Regulations

Strict federal laws regulate the commercial use of asbestos in the United States, but some states have passed additional laws to further protect residents from asbestos exposure. In Pennsylvania, there are specific procedures for ensuring that contractors involved in asbestos abatement, or the removal of asbestos from old buildings, are trained to do so safely.

The process of filing personal injury and wrongful death lawsuits also varies from state to state. Pennsylvania law doesn’t allow people to file a claim simply for having been exposed to asbestos; you must wait until an asbestos-related disease develops to take legal action.

Statute of Limitations for Filing Your Case

In each state, a law known as the statute of limitations governs the amount of time you have to file a lawsuit after an injury, diagnosis, or death. In Pennsylvania, the statute of limitations gives you:

Two years from the date of diagnosis of mesothelioma to file a personal injury claim
Two years from the date of death from mesothelioma to file a wrongful death claim

If you wait longer than the period allowed under the Pennsylvania statute of limitation, you’ll lose your opportunity to file a lawsuit. That means you won’t be able to receive compensation, even if it’s clear that your disease was caused by a corporation’s negligence.

The period after a cancer diagnosis or a death is challenging, and many people put off taking legal action. Unfortunately, the law doesn’t always give you this option, and waiting could mean that you have to bear the costs of your disease alone. It’s important to contact a mesothelioma attorney early so you don’t lose your opportunity to file.

Pennsylvania Courts and Asbestos Litigation

A 2020 decision by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court has significantly impacted asbestos litigation in the state. In Roverano vs. John Crane, Inc., the court held that when a person is exposed to multiple sources of asbestos, all defendants must pay any resulting financial judgment equally.

Previously, a jury had to decide what percentage of the judgment each defendant should pay. This presented an extra challenge for the members of the jury and gave corporations a way to avoid paying their fair share of compensation to the plaintiff. Following the Roverano decision, this is harder for them to do.

Pennsylvania Asbestos Trust Funds

Corporations that manufactured asbestos-containing products or used them extensively in their manufacturing were exposed to a large number of lawsuits related to mesothelioma and other diseases. Some of these corporations went bankrupt due to the number of lawsuits against them.

It generally takes decades for asbestos exposure to cause mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. If a person were to develop an asbestos-related disease, but the corporation that caused the exposure had already gone bankrupt, then this person would be unable to access the compensation they deserve.

Fortunately, the U.S. government requires that a trust fund be created as part of the Chapter 11 bankruptcy process if there’s the potential for future asbestos-related lawsuits. This ensures that people harmed by the company through exposure to asbestos can get the compensation they’re entitled to, even if the company itself has gone bankrupt. Currently, an estimated $30 billion remains in asbestos trust funds in the United States.

Who is eligible to access asbestos trust funds?

Anyone who would have been eligible to file a lawsuit against a corporation for asbestos exposure may also be eligible to access funds from an asbestos trust if the corporation has undergone bankruptcy. This includes people who:

Were exposed to mesothelioma at work
Were exposed to asbestos-containing products, either in the workplace or in the home
Experienced secondary asbestos exposure as a result of a family member’s workplace asbestos exposure
Were exposed to asbestos through the environment (for example, those who live near an asbestos mine)
Have lost a loved one to mesothelioma, caused by any of the above

To access funds from an asbestos trust, you must provide certain details to demonstrate your asbestos exposure. Your Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer will help you complete all the steps correctly to ensure you get the maximum compensation you’re entitled to.

Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP—Trusted Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyers

At Meirowitz & Wasserberg, LLP, we believe in seeking justice for those harmed by corporate negligence. Many corporations treated their workers as disposable, exposing workers and their families to a significant risk of disease in order to protect their profits. Our lawyers are committed to ensuring that those harmed are compensated fairly.

Pennsylvania law has certain nuances that can affect your case, so it’s important to choose an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who knows the ins and outs of the system. Our team of Pennsylvania mesothelioma attorneys has years of experience in this field of law and a proven track record of success, recovering millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. If you or a loved one has developed mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, contact our mesothelioma lawyers today for a free consultation with no obligations.

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