What Sets Meirowitz & Wasserberg Apart for Philadelphia Families
For Philadelphia families facing a mesothelioma diagnosis, choosing the right legal team makes a real difference. Meirowitz & Wasserberg has handled hundreds of asbestos cases and recovered more than $800 million in total compensation for clients across the country, including people with exposure tied to Philadelphia’s shipyards, refineries and construction sites. Our Philadelphia office at 1800 John F Kennedy Boulevard sits in the heart of Center City, giving local clients direct access to our team every day of the week.
Samuel Meirowitz and Daniel Wasserberg hold active Pennsylvania licenses and personally handle cases here. They’ve litigated against some of the largest asbestos manufacturers in the country and won. The National Trial Lawyers named Daniel Wasserberg a Top 10 Asbestos Mesothelioma Trial Lawyer, and both partners hold Super Lawyers ratings.
Our team includes attorneys fluent in 15+ languages, so we’re able to effectively communicate about your case with you and your family, ensuring you’re comfortable throughout the legal process. What also distinguishes our firm is our willingness to take on cases other firms decline to handle. Our lawyers have won millions for clients in exactly that situation.
“$500M+ Recovered” | “Top-10 Asbestos Case Filer” | “300+ Asbestos Cases” | “24/7 Free Consultations”
Mesothelioma Compensation Results in Philadelphia
Meirowitz & Wasserberg has helped clients with ties to Pennsylvania’s industrial and maritime history secure compensation through lawsuits and understands the region’s asbestos exposure history and courts. Philadelphia had the fourth-highest number of asbestos lawsuits in 2024, including fourth place for mesothelioma lawsuits and third for asbestos lung cancer claims, reflecting the city’s deep exposure history in shipyards, steel mills and construction. Our attorneys know this landscape and know how to win in it.
National Mesothelioma Compensation Results for Meirowitz & Wasserberg
- $32M+ verdict: Our attorneys won this verdict after a trial involving secondhand exposure claims, with jurors assigning liability to both premises defendant Kraft Heinz and contractor defendant Metal Masters Inc.
- $5.1M+ settlement: Our attorneys secured this settlement for a Navy machinist’s mate who went on to work as a civilian maintenance mechanic and developed mesothelioma from asbestos exposure.
- $4M+ settlement: Our attorneys negotiated this settlement for a sugar mill mechanic and laboratory equipment engineer whose case another asbestos law firm had declined.
- $3.4M+ settlement: Our team obtained this settlement for a Navy boiler tender who later worked as a boiler-room operator and developed mesothelioma but couldn’t testify on his own behalf.
- $3.15M+ settlement: Our attorneys achieved this settlement for a painter and taper diagnosed with mesothelioma who had exposure to a limited number of asbestos-containing building and construction products.
Past case results don’t guarantee a specific outcome in a case. What they do show is that our attorneys know how to build strong claims, identify every liable party and fight for every dollar our clients deserve.
Start Your Free Consultation NowCompensation Options
People diagnosed with mesothelioma in Philadelphia may have multiple options for pursuing compensation. In many cases, you can pursue several types of claims at the same time.
Your Potential Compensation Options
- Asbestos trust funds: Many companies that made and sold asbestos products set up trust funds after filing for bankruptcy. More than 60 asbestos companies have established these funds, with an estimated $30 billion available for current and future claimants. Our attorneys identify every fund you qualify for and handle all filings.
- Personal injury lawsuits: If you have a confirmed mesothelioma diagnosis, you can file a lawsuit directly against the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure. Philadelphia’s courts have a strong track record of holding asbestos manufacturers accountable.
- VA benefits: Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma may qualify for VA disability compensation and health care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Filing a VA claim doesn’t prevent you from also pursuing a civil lawsuit. Philadelphia has one of the largest veteran populations in Pennsylvania.
- Workers’ compensation: If your asbestos exposure happened on a Pennsylvania job site, you may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. Our attorneys help clients pursue this at the same time as other claims.
- Wrongful death lawsuits: If a family member died from mesothelioma, surviving family members can file a wrongful death claim to recover compensation for medical costs, lost income and the loss itself.
Philadelphia’s courts handle a high volume of asbestos cases each year, and our attorneys know how to navigate them effectively. Whether your exposure connects to the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, a local construction site or a product you handled on the job, we’ll identify your options and pursue all of them. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Known Asbestos Exposure Locations in Philadelphia
Philadelphia’s industrial past left a legacy of asbestos exposure across the city. The Delaware River waterfront saw decades of shipbuilding, and industries ranging from manufacturing to power generation relied heavily on asbestos throughout the 20th century.
A 2018 investigation revealed alarming levels of asbestos in seven elementary elementary schools within the School District of Philadelphia, showing the reach of the problem well beyond industrial sites. Workers across construction, maritime trades and public institutions all carried significant exposure risks.
Philadelphia Asbestos Exposure Sites
- Bethlehem Steel facilities: Pennsylvania’s steel industry relied heavily on asbestos insulation throughout its facilities, putting steelworkers at significant risk of occupational exposure.
- Philadelphia area power plants: Power generation facilities across the Philadelphia region used asbestos extensively in insulation, gaskets, piping and equipment throughout the mid-20th century.
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard: The country’s first shipyard operated for almost two centuries, involving shipbuilding and repair. Shipyards historically used large amounts of asbestos, which resists corrosion and heat. The EPA and Navy undertook extensive environmental cleanup of the site, addressing asbestos abatement in buildings alongside other industrial contamination.
- School District of Philadelphia buildings: Philadelphia schools have a documented history of asbestos problems. In March 2023, the district discovered that someone had falsely labeled plaster in a North Philadelphia school building as asbestos-free since the 1990s, leading to reassessment of several school buildings.
- Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock: Sun Shipbuilding launched its first ship in 1917 during World War I and operated for decades along the Delaware River, exposing workers to asbestos in ship construction and repair.
Workers in pipefitting, electrical trades, construction and maritime industries across Philadelphia experienced some of the heaviest and prolonged asbestos exposure. Family members also faced secondhand exposure when workers brought asbestos fibers home on their clothing. If you were exposed to asbestos, our attorneys can help you trace that history and pursue every compensation option available to you.
The Mesothelioma Lawsuit Process in Philadelphia
Philadelphia ranks among the top jurisdictions in the country for asbestos litigation and its courts handle complex mesothelioma cases. Key counties including Philadelphia and Allegheny both coordinate high volumes of asbestos lawsuits and their courts have developed experience managing complex mesothelioma cases efficiently.
Step-by-Step Mesothelioma Lawsuit Process
- Free case review: We start with a no-cost consultation to review your medical records and work history, confirm your diagnosis and identify every potential source of asbestos exposure.
- Investigation: Our team builds a detailed picture of your exposure history, tracing job sites, products and companies responsible. A 2020 Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in Roverano vs. John Crane, Inc. held that when a person has exposure to multiple sources of asbestos, all defendants must pay any resulting financial judgment equally. Our attorneys understand how this ruling affects your case and use it to your advantage.
- Filing your claim: We file your lawsuit within the state’s deadlines for filing and in the appropriate Pennsylvania court. We handle all legal paperwork and documentation.
- Discovery: Both sides exchange evidence and conduct depositions. Our attorneys manage this process completely, keeping you informed at every step.
- Settlement or trial: In most cases, settlements reach resolution within one to two years. If a defendant won’t offer fair compensation in a negotiated settlement, we’re prepared to litigate your case in court.
Our attorneys handle everything from the first consultation to the final resolution. We have extensive experience in Philadelphia and will put our record of success to work for you and your family.
Meirowitz & Wasserberg’s Philadelphia Mesothelioma Attorneys
When a Philadelphia family faces a mesothelioma diagnosis, they need attorneys who know Pennsylvania’s courts, understand the state’s industrial exposure history and have the trial experience to take on major corporations. Our attorneys hold active Pennsylvania licenses and are experienced in handling cases from our Center City office.
Daniel Wasserberg
Founding Partner
Licensed in Pennsylvania
Daniel Wasserberg co-founded the firm with a single goal: holding corporations accountable for the harm their asbestos products caused. The National Trial Lawyers has recognized him as a Top 10 Asbestos Mesothelioma Trial Lawyer, one of the most competitive designations in asbestos litigation. Philadelphia clients work with an attorney who manages their case personally. Top 10 Asbestos Mesothelioma Trial Lawyer | Super Lawyers
Samuel Meirowitz
Founding Partner
Licensed in Pennsylvania
Samuel Meirowitz has a record of landmark results. In 2016, he won a historic $3.8 million verdict against a boiler manufacturer in federal court, the first multi-million dollar asbestos verdict in a New York federal court in more than 20 years. The Second Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that verdict. Sam’s approach combines meticulous case preparation with an aggressive courtroom presence that asbestos defendants know well. Top 100 Trial Lawyers | Super Lawyers
Kush Shukla
Partner
Licensed in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Florida
Partner Kush Shukla holds active bar admissions in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey and Florida, including the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York and the Eastern District of New York. He earned his law degree from Fordham University School of Law and brings experience across complex litigation including asbestos cases, product liability and toxic tort. Kush speaks English, Spanish and Portuguese fluently, extending the firm’s ability to serve Philadelphians. Fordham University School of Law | American Association for Justice
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Lawyer FAQs
What industries in Philadelphia had the highest asbestos exposure risks?
Philadelphia’s shipbuilding, steel, construction and power generation industries had the heaviest asbestos exposure risks. Workers at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Sun Shipbuilding & Drydock and Bethlehem Steel facilities were regularly exposed to asbestos in insulation, gaskets, piping and equipment. Construction workers who built or renovated Philadelphia’s buildings during the mid-20th century also faced significant risks, as did teachers and custodians who worked in older school buildings across the city.
Can I file a mesothelioma lawsuit in Philadelphia if my exposure happened in another state?
Yes. Many people who now live in Philadelphia or the surrounding area worked in other states or industries where they encountered asbestos decades ago. Our attorneys trace exposure history across multiple states and job sites.
Can Philadelphia veterans file a VA claim, a trust fund claim and a lawsuit at the same time?
Yes. Filing a VA claim doesn’t prevent you from also pursuing a personal injury lawsuit or asbestos trust fund claims. Pennsylvania veterans can pursue all three compensation options simultaneously. Our attorneys handle every claim type and make sure veterans don’t leave any available compensation unclaimed.
Does Pennsylvania law treat asbestos cases differently than other personal injury claims?
Yes. Pennsylvania law doesn’t allow people to file a claim simply for asbestos exposure. You must have a confirmed asbestos-related diagnosis first. Additionally, the 2020 Pennsylvania Supreme Court decision in Roverano v. John Crane, Inc. established that all defendants in a Pennsylvania asbestos case must share liability equally rather than paying a percentage based on fault. Our attorneys understand how this ruling affects your case and build claims accordingly.
My family member died from mesothelioma after working in Philadelphia. Can we still file a claim?
Yes. Family members can file a wrongful death claim in Pennsylvania. The statute of limitations for wrongful death claims generally allows two years from the date of death. Our attorneys can review your situation, confirm your options and file your claim before that window closes.
Will Meirowitz & Wasserberg travel to me if I can't visit the Philadelphia office?
Yes. Our attorneys travel to clients across Pennsylvania and nationwide. You don’t need to come to our Center City office to get started. Call us anytime at 267-507-9051 for a free 24/7 consultation.
Can I file a Philadelphia mesothelioma claim if I moved away from the city?
Yes. Your current location doesn’t determine where you can file. If your asbestos exposure connects to Philadelphia or Pennsylvania, you may still have a valid claim regardless of where you live now. Our attorneys handle cases for clients across the country and will come to you.
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.
