Why Should I Hire Meirowitz & Wasserberg for My Mesothelioma Case in North Carolina?
Meirowitz and Wasserberg has been advocating for people with mesothelioma for more than 15 years, serving our North Carolina clients through our Wilmington office. Our Wilmington team draws on the firm’s national resources and extensive asbestos litigation experience.
We’ve handled more than 300 mesothelioma cases nationally, including complex multi-district litigation and cases other firms declined to take. Our mesothelioma case results reflect the dedication and resources we bring to every North Carolina case.
- $32M+: Secondhand asbestos exposure verdict
- $18M: Mesothelioma recovery (talcum powder exposure)
- $5.5M: Navy boiler tender and power company employee
Every client gets personalized attention. We know mesothelioma takes a serious toll on patients and families, and we work hard to make the legal process as straightforward as possible.
Among firms that have filed the most asbestos cases in the country, we’ve also taken on the largest defendants in courts across the nation. Our North Carolina-focused team, with the support of our national team, has the experience to take on the largest asbestos defendants. There is no fee unless we win.
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Why Do You Need a Mesothelioma Lawyer?
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.
Mesothelioma Compensation Options in North Carolina
Mesothelioma treatment costs are significant, making financial assistance critical. If a doctor diagnosed you or a loved one with mesothelioma, you may have the right to pursue compensation for a range of losses. An experienced North Carolina attorney can help you identify what you qualify for.
Compensation can cover therapies like surgery, chemotherapy and immunotherapy, as well as travel costs for specialized care. You can also pursue lost wages and reduced earning capacity if your diagnosis has kept you from working.
Beyond medical and financial losses, you may also recover damages for pain and suffering. Families who’ve lost a loved one to mesothelioma can pursue wrongful death damages, including funeral costs and loss of companionship. The types of claims available to you depend on your specific situation.
Types of Mesothelioma Claims We Handle in North Carolina
Each North Carolina mesothelioma case is unique. The right type of claim depends on your specific situation. A knowledgeable attorney can assess your eligibility and empower you and your family to choose the right legal options for you.
Personal Injury Lawsuits
A personal injury lawsuit affords someone who has received a mesothelioma diagnosis the opportunity to take direct legal action against the companies responsible for their asbestos exposure. These cases can be complex, requiring detailed exposure histories with work records and medical documentation. And North Carolina is one of only four states where a defendant can use your partial fault to block your claim. Working with an experienced attorney who knows how to protect against that strategy is critical.
Asbestos Trust Fund Claims
Many asbestos companies filed for bankruptcy protection when facing mounting lawsuits. During this process, many of them established asbestos trust funds to compensate people harmed. More than $30 billion remains available nationwide in these trusts to handle future claims. You can file a trust fund claim at the same time as a mesothelioma lawsuit if multiple defendants were involved in your case. Your lawyer can assess which companies are solvent and can be sued and which bankrupt companies have established trusts.
VA Benefits for Veterans
Veterans exposed to asbestos fibers during military service may qualify for VA disability benefits, including monthly payments and free health care. North Carolina is home to several military installations with documented asbestos exposure, including Camp Lejeune and Fort Liberty.
Wrongful Death Claims
When a family loses a loved one to mesothelioma, they can file a wrongful death claim against the companies responsible for the asbestos exposure. A mesothelioma lawyer can help assess if you qualify to file. Typically, surviving spouses, adult children, parents of the deceased and personal representatives or executors qualify. In North Carolina, eligible family members must receive a court appointment as personal representative of the estate to file.
Start Your Free Case ReviewWhat Is the Statute of Limitations for Mesothelioma Claims in NC?
North Carolina law sets strict deadlines called statutes of limitations for filing mesothelioma claims. These deadlines mean it’s important to act quickly after a diagnosis.
In North Carolina, you have three years from the date of diagnosis to file a personal injury lawsuit under N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-52(16). For wrongful death lawsuits, the personal representative of the estate must file within two years of the date of death under N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-53(4).
For personal injury claims, the discovery rule applies, meaning the clock starts when a doctor diagnoses you, not when your asbestos exposure occurred. This matters because mesothelioma can take 20 to 60 years to develop after exposure. Without the discovery rule, nearly every patient would lose their right to file before they ever received a diagnosis.
In rare cases, the statute of limitations may be extended. For example, if a surviving child is among the claimants, the deadline may be tolled until that child reaches adulthood. An experienced North Carolina mesothelioma attorney can determine if any exceptions apply in your case and make sure you file on time to protect your right to compensation.
Asbestos Exposure Sites in North Carolina
North Carolina has a long history of asbestos exposure across its military bases, industrial plants, shipyards and natural geological deposits. If you or a loved one worked at high-risk sites in the state, or lived with someone who did, you may have been exposed to asbestos.
Occupational Exposure in North Carolina
Many industries across North Carolina put workers at risk of occupational asbestos exposure for decades. Military installations, industrial facilities and manufacturing plants all used asbestos heavily throughout the 20th century. Key exposure sites include military bases, industrial operations, power plants, shipbuilding facilities and port industries. If you held any of these jobs or worked at any of these facilities, contact us to discuss your potential claim.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure
Asbestos exposure doesn’t always happen on the job. Workers often carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing and skin without realizing it, putting their families at risk too. Secondary exposure can also cause mesothelioma just like primary exposure can.
If you developed mesothelioma from secondhand exposure, you also have legal rights. Our firm secured a $32M+ verdict for a person who developed mesothelioma through secondhand exposure, never having worked directly with asbestos themselves.
NC Asbestos Exposure Sites by City
North Carolina has a long industrial history, and asbestos was widely used across the state in manufacturing, military, energy and construction before federal regulations began limiting its use. Workers in nearly every region of the state faced potential exposure.
- Asheville (Western NC and mountain counties): Mining operations and natural asbestos deposits in vermiculite and serpentine rock
- Charlotte Metro: Celanese Corporation, Duke Energy Marshall Steam Station and Owens-Corning manufacturing facility
- Fayetteville / Fort Liberty: Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg), including barracks, vehicle maintenance and boiler rooms
- Jacksonville: Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base, where asbestos was documented in buildings across the base
- Raleigh-Durham: Carolina Power and Light facilities and university and hospital construction in pre-1980s buildings
- Wilmington: DuPont chemical plant (now Chemours) and NC State Port Authority and shipyard industries
- Winston-Salem: R.J. Reynolds Tobacco manufacturing facilities
These sites represent a fraction of the locations across North Carolina where asbestos exposure occurred. If you worked at any facility built before 1980, you may have had exposure.
In addition to documented asbestos exposure, Camp Lejeune is also the site of one of the largest water contamination events in U.S. history. Studies have linked this contamination to cancer and other serious health conditions for veterans and their families.
Serving Mesothelioma Clients Across North Carolina
Meirowitz and Wasserberg handles mesothelioma cases across North Carolina, from Charlotte and the Research Triangle to Wilmington, Greensboro, Fayetteville and the western mountain region. Our Wilmington office allows us to serve clients across the state with local, in-person support. No matter where you are in North Carolina, contact us for a free consultation. We handle cases statewide.
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Kim Madril – Mesothelioma Testimonial
I grew up in Los Angeles, in Baldwin Hills, and spent my elementary years there. I ended up in junior high school in Gardena. In junior high, I took art class, where we worked with different mediums—drawing, painting, and ceramics. I did that for a year and a half. I also went into auto shop when I entered high school. There, we were exposed to asbestos in the brake linings and the dust from the grinding of the brakes. For me, I was fortunate to be diagnosed early on, and it was purely by chance. I had pain in my back, and they kept saying it might be a kidney stone or that I had lifted something heavy. After a year of pain, my primary care provider suggested, “Let’s get a CAT scan and see what’s going on.” They found a nodule and told me, “You’re fine. You’re young. There’s no way you could possibly have mesothelioma.” I found a physician on the East Coast, and he ran his own tests. At the end of it, he confirmed I had mesothelioma. He knew my story and the problems I had with medical insurance, and he said, “I really think you’re going to need some compensation because you won’t be able to afford the surgery and treatment.” Then I called Meirowitz & Wasserberg. They answered immediately, and I spoke with them. Daniel said, “I’ll do my best for you. I’ll treat you like family.” I felt that he was very genuine. I knew how important it was—she had two young children and a husband. At first, we didn’t know how she had been exposed to asbestos. But we started to figure it out. We went through high school yearbooks and discovered that the students in the shop class at San Pedro High School had been using asbestos in the late ’70s. We filed the case and were able to sue the Los Angeles Unified School District. LAUSD became the target because we found out that they knew about the hazards of asbestos and allowed students to work with it, which made Kim sick. We secured $5 million for her because she trusted us. She worked with us, and we poured our heart and soul into the case. It wasn’t only me; I had a whole team of people supporting me. What differentiates our firm from the competition is that we’re in the sweet spot. Our firm isn’t so large that clients feel like they’re just a number and don’t get personalized attention, but we’re big enough to have the resources to do everything a large firm can. We can hire the best experts, take on the biggest companies, and see a case all the way through trial. Meirowitz & Wasserberg truly saved my life, emotionally and mentally—not just because of the support I received, but because they secured more than I ever expected. They ensured a future for my children, something I wouldn’t have been able to do. I knew they would be taken care of. They gave me the greatest gift.
North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer FAQs
How much does a mesothelioma lawyer cost in North Carolina?
Mesothelioma lawyers typically work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless your case results in a settlement or verdict. At Meirowitz & Wasserberg, there’s no fee unless we win your case. You can start with a free, no-obligation consultation.
Does North Carolina's contributory negligence rule affect mesothelioma cases?
North Carolina is one of only four states that uses pure contributory negligence. This means defendants may argue that a plaintiff shares some fault to try to bar the claim. An attorney who understands this rule can anticipate and counter these tactics, which is why experienced legal representation matters so much in North Carolina mesothelioma cases.
How long does a mesothelioma lawsuit take in North Carolina?
Most mesothelioma lawsuits in North Carolina resolve within 12 to 18 months and many cases settle before trial. Courts recognize the serious nature of mesothelioma diagnoses and often grant expedited scheduling to move cases forward more quickly than usual. Your attorney can give you a better sense of the likely timeline for your specific situation.
Can a family member file a mesothelioma claim in North Carolina after losing a loved one?
Yes. North Carolina allows the personal representative of the deceased’s estate, typically a spouse or family member, to file a wrongful death claim. The filing deadline is two years from the date of death under N.C. Gen. Stat. 1-53(4). Families may recover damages for medical expenses, lost income and loss of companionship.
Contact Our Experienced Mesothelioma Lawyers Today
Whether you’re in Charlotte, Raleigh, Wilmington or anywhere in North Carolina, our mesothelioma attorneys are ready to help. Our Wilmington office serves as our North Carolina home base, but we understand that mesothelioma cases are rarely simple. If you were exposed in North Carolina but now live elsewhere, or if your family is spread across multiple states, we have offices across the country to make the process as accessible as possible. No matter the circumstances, help is available.
Our Office Locations
- Wilmington, NC (North Carolina Office) — 105 N. 6th Street, Wilmington, NC 28401
- New York, NY (Main Office) — 1040 6th Avenue, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10018
- Melville, NY (Long Island) — 150 Broadhollow Rd., Suite 208-A, Melville, NY 11747
- Bronx, NY — 332 E. 149th St., Suite 201, Bronx, NY 10451
- Hackensack, NJ — 32 Mercer Street, Suite 203, Hackensack, NJ 07601
- San Francisco, CA — 95 Third Street, 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94103
- Fort Lauderdale, FL — 110 E. Broward Blvd., Suite 1060, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301
- Naples, FL — 5621 Strand Blvd., Suite 207, Naples, FL 34110
- Houston, TX — 2925 Richmond Ave., Suite 1275, Houston, TX 77098
- Chicago, IL — 55 West Monroe Street, Suite 3600, Chicago, IL 60603
- Philadelphia, PA — 1880 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 1720, Philadelphia, PA 19103
- Columbia, SC — 1722 Main Street, Suite 200, Columbia, SC 29201
Call us 24/7 for a free consultation.
Our North Carolina Mesothelioma Lawyer
Neidra Wilson
Associate
About The Author
Daniel Wasserberg
Founding Partner
Daniel Wasserberg, a founding partner of Meirowitz & Wasserberg, is a Best Lawyers-recognized and Super Lawyers-rated mesothelioma attorney with over 20 years of experience. Named a Top 100 Trial Lawyer and Top 10 Asbestos-Mesothelioma Lawyer, he leads the firm's national asbestos practice.
