Leading New York Mesothelioma & Asbestos Law Firm
Legally Reviewed By: Darron Berquist
Managing Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- November 14, 2024
Legally Reviewed By: Darron Berquist
Managing Attorney | Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Page Last Updated:
- November 14, 2024
Why Choose Our New York Mesothelioma Law Firm
Our Outstanding Mesothelioma Case Results in New York
What Our New York Mesothelioma Clients Say
Our New York Mesothelioma Attorneys
How Are People Exposed to Asbestos in New York?
New York Companies that Exposed Workers to Asbestos
Compensation for Asbestos Exposure in New York
Asbestos Regulations in New York
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Mesothelioma Claim in New York?
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma in New York, you may be eligible for significant financial compensation for your medical expenses, pain, suffering, and other losses. Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma, and the companies that manufactured asbestos products during most of the 1900s are liable.
Mesothelioma claims are complex cases that should only be handled by an attorney with experience handling asbestos-exposure cases. It requires knowledge about the industry and significant financial resources to prevail against the powerful asbestos companies. Our caring and experienced New York mesothelioma lawyers have a long, successful track record you can trust. Contact us today for a free case review.
Why Choose Our New York Mesothelioma Law Firm
Our New York mesothelioma attorneys are successful trial lawyers with over 30 years of experience fearlessly standing up to some of the largest and most powerful corporations in the world on behalf of mesothelioma victims. We strive to provide honest, professional legal care to people needing serious and sound representation. We care about every client.
When you choose the Lanier Law Firm, you will get personalized service from a team of award-winning mesothelioma lawyers willing to go to whatever lengths are necessary to win you the maximum compensation available.
Standing up to powerful asbestos companies requires special knowledge, determination, and financial resources. At the Lanier Law Firm, we have what it takes, and it shows in the successful case results we achieve for our clients. To date, we have won more than $20 billion in compensation.
What Our Award-Winning New York Mesothelioma Attorneys Will Do for You
When you choose our nationally recognized New York mesothelioma law firm, you can count on us to do the following:
- Identify the companies responsible for your diagnosis.
- Call you when anything changes with your claim.
- Answer when you call us.
- Travel anywhere in New York to meet with you and represent you.
- Gather evidence and perform a private investigation if necessary.
- Negotiate for the highest compensation available.
- Fight for you in court if the defendant refuses to pay fair compensation.
We prepare every case for trial. Most large asbestos manufacturers know us by reputation. Therefore, they are often willing to settle because they do not want to face us in court.
We Help Clients in Every Part of New York State
We will travel anywhere in the state to meet with you and represent you in the jurisdiction that serves your convenience and best interests. This includes the following cities and more:
- Albany
- Amherst
- Babylon
- Buffalo
- Cheektowaga
- Clarkstown
- Greece
- Greenburgh
- Hempstead
- Huntington
- Islip
- Long Island
- Mount Vernon
- New Rochelle
- Niagara Falls
- Ramapo
- Rochester
- Schenectady
- Smithtown
- Staten Island
- Syracuse
- Oyster Bay
- Utica
- Yonkers
We Will Give Your Case the Time and Attention It Deserves
We are dedicated to recovering compensation from every available avenue. Thus. we will take the time to get to know you and your family to identify every possible source of asbestos exposure.
Our Outstanding Mesothelioma Case Results in New York
We are committed to maximizing your compensation because we understand how profoundly a mesothelioma diagnosis can impact you and your family.
We are involved in ongoing litigation in upstate New York, representing workers who have contracted mesothelioma from asbestos exposure in various industrial facilities, steel mills, and glasswork plants. We have already recovered substantial compensation in some of these cases.
What Our New York Mesothelioma Clients Say
Our dedicated New York mesothelioma lawyers regularly receive glowing reviews from our clients because we care about each client as a person and not just a case number. Many of our clients stay in contact with our mesothelioma lawyers in New York for years after their claims are resolved because of our close relationships. Below are just a few examples of our client feedback:
Our mom was diagnosed with mesothelioma a few years back. She has since passed away. The Team at Lanier Law Firm was always very easy to work with. Our family had never had to experience any type of lawsuit and settlement. We are grateful for the work that the firm did to assist our family in that period of time. Dan LaTerra…Thank You!
– Donald T.
I am eternally thankful for the Lanier Law Firm and the work they do on behalf of individuals wrongly injured by misguided corporations. Lanier lawyer, Darron Berquist, represented us after my husband contracted mesothelioma. Working with Darron during the most tragic and stressful period of our lives was a godsend. We appreciated the clout and professionalism of being represented by Lanier and the personal attention, persistence, tenancy, knowledge, and professionalism of Darron as he walked us through our lawsuit with a very good outcome. Based upon our experience, I would readily recommend The Lanier Law firm and Lanier lawyer, Darron Berquist to others in our unfortunate situation.
– Nancy K.
My family is eternally grateful to Darron Berquist of The Lanier Law Firm for his gentle and reliable handling of our legal needs. He kept us informed, answered our questions without delay, and kept all of his promises. From the first day we met, we knew we could trust and rest easier knowing—really feeling—we were in great hands. Thank you.
– Steve C.
Learn More About
Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
- Are you eligible?
- What is the average settlement?
- How long will it take?
Why Should You Trust the Lanier Law Firm to Handle your Mesothelioma Case?
Our New York Mesothelioma Attorneys
Our accomplished New York mesothelioma lawyers have won numerous state and national awards for their hard work, dedication to clients, and outstanding case results. These awards include the following and more:
- Trial Lawyer of the Year
- Most Feared Plaintiffs’ Law Firm
- Elite Trial Lawyers Award
- Best Lawyers in America
- Best Law Firms, Tier I Ranking
Mark Lanier founded the Lanier Law Firm in 1990 and has since become well-known as one of the most successful and influential lawyers in America. He has won numerous landmark verdicts and is well-known for his creativity, tech-savvy, and ability to connect with juries.
Darron Berquist
Darron Berquist is the managing attorney of the mesothelioma section of our New York law firm. He is widely acclaimed for his gentle, caring approach toward each client, yet he stands up to the asbestos defendants aggressively and effectively.
Mesothelioma in New York
From 2016 to 2020, 888 New Yorkers were diagnosed with mesothelioma, and 626 died of the disease. The highest number of new mesothelioma cases from 2016 to 2020 occurred in the heavily populated counties of Nassau, Kings, and Queens. However, 46 people in Erie County died of mesothelioma during this period, exceeding the death toll in Queens, which was 43.
Northwestern New York had some of the highest asbestos-illness rates in the state from 1999 to 2017. The Environmental Working Group found that 1,417 people died from mesothelioma in Erie County during this period, surpassing the deaths in the more populous counties in and around New York City. This is an average of 74 deaths per year.
From 1999 to 2013, Niagara County’s death rate from asbestos-related illnesses was triple the national average, and Cattaraugus County’s rate was double.
These rates are expected to come down as more years pass since widespread asbestos use, but thousands of New Yorkers continue to develop and die of asbestos-related illnesses every year. The most recent CDC data shows that Northwestern New York, the mid-Hudson Valley, Staten Island in New York City, and Long Island have the highest rates of mesothelioma, as shown in the graph below.
Note: Fewer than 16 deaths were reported in Orange and Dutchess Counties. A precise death rate is unavailable in these areas.
How Are People Exposed to Asbestos in New York?
Asbestos exposure is less common than during the mid to late 1900s. Today, most exposure occurs in buildings built before 1980. In the past, asbestos exposure primarily occurred while workers manufactured or handled products that contained asbestos. Asbestos-related illnesses typically develop long after the initial exposure. The mesothelioma latency period is 10 to 60 years.
From the 1930s until the late 1970s, asbestos was used in thousands of products throughout New York, including building components, industrial applications, adhesives, automotive brakes, and consumer goods. The industries that used asbestos heavily in New York include the following:
- Steel mills
- Automotive factories
- Paper and pulp mills
- Chemical plants
Workers experienced extensive asbestos exposure in the rest of the state while working at colleges, railroads, glass factories, construction companies, and power plants. In New York City, asbestos exposure on 9/11 is causing many first responders, workers, and area residents to contract asbestos-related diseases. Our New York City mesothelioma lawyers can help if the collapse of the World Trade Center resulted in your exposure.
Some workers still face asbestos exposure today due to its continued presence in older buildings. These workers include the following:
New York Companies that Exposed Workers to Asbestos
Companies that expose workers to asbestos are liable when the workers are diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma, asbestosis, and lung cancer. Our New York asbestos lawyers can help you identify the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure so you can pursue financial compensation from them.
The companies listed below exposed workers to asbestos. If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, one or more of these companies may be liable.
Buffalo
- American Optical
- Allied Chemical
- American Brass
- Buffalo Forge
- Donner Union Coke
- General Electric
- Lackawanna Iron & Steel
- Republic Steel
Lackawanna
- Bethlehem Steel
- Republic Steel
Lockport
- Fibre Corp.
- General Motors
Niagara Falls
- Hooker Chemical
- Bell Aerospace
Auburn
- Auburn Plastics
Caledonia
- Ruberoid
Geneva
- International Paper
Ithaca
- Cornell University
Rochester
- Bausch & Lomb
Big Flats
- Corning Glass Works
Corning
- Corning Glass Works
Cortland
- Borg Warner
Elmira
- Kennedy Valve
Endicott
- IBM
Horseheads
- Corning Glass Works
Johnson City
- Endicott Johnson
Albany
- Albany Felt
- SUNY Albany
- Westinghouse Electric Company
Fort Edward
- General Electric
- International Paper
Glens Falls
- International Paper
Green Island
- Bendix
Hadley
- Hadley Paper
Watervliet
- Allegheny Ludlum Steel
Bethphage
- Grumman Aircraft
Deer Park
- Eaton Corporation
Huntington
- Huntington Hospital
Deferiet
- St. Regist Paper
Gouverneur
- International Talc
- R.T. Vanderbilt
Lyon Falls
- Gould Paper
Massena
- Alcoa
- Chevrolet
- Pittsburgh Reduction
- Reynold’s Metals
Maspeth
- Phelps Dodge
Fulton
- Armstrong Cork
- Eureka Paper
- Black & Clawson
- Fulton Steel
- Oswego Falls Pulp & Paper
- Victoria Paper Mills
Hamilton
- Colgate University
Rennselaer
- BASF
Canajoharie
- Beech-Nut
Canastota
- Diemolding
Clinton
- Hamilton College
Ilion
- Remmington
Little Falls
- Mohawk Valley Paper
Buchanan
- Indian Point Power Plant
Chester
- Scott Paper
All boroughs
- New York City Housing Authority
Bronx
- Montefiore Hospital
Brooklyn
- American Sugar
- Brooklyn Navy Yard
- Domino Sugar
- Kentile
- New York University
- Pfizer
Manhattan
- New York University
- Bellevue Hospital
Queens
- Shea Stadium
Staten Island
- Consolidated Edison – Arthur Kill
New York City and Long Island
- Long Island Railroad
New York City to Albany
- Central Hudson Electric & Gas
Throughout the state
- Niagara Mohawk (now National Grid) Metro-North Railroad
Compensation for Asbestos Exposure in New York
If you’ve been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you were almost certainly exposed to asbestos during your lifetime. You may be eligible for mesothelioma compensation through a lawsuit or an asbestos trust fund claim.
You can file a lawsuit against the companies that supplied asbestos to your employer. You may be able to recover economic and non-economic damages in a mesothelioma lawsuit for your pain, suffering, medical expenses, and more. You may also qualify for punitive damages. Unlike other states, New York places no limits on the damages you can recover.
Some asbestos manufacturers have gone bankrupt. You cannot sue a bankrupt company. However, the Chapter 11 Federal Bankruptcy Code requires asbestos manufacturers to establish trust funds to benefit their asbestos-exposure victims.
The compensation from an asbestos trust fund claim is generally lower than that from a lawsuit, but the process is faster. The following New York companies have declared bankruptcy and established trust funds:
- Kentile
- General Motors, Inc.
Our experienced New York asbestos lawyers can often identify multiple sources of asbestos exposure. You may be able to file multiple trust fund claims or a combination of a lawsuit and trust fund claims.
Contact us now to get started.
Compensation for Surviving Family Members
If you are grieving the loss of your loved one from mesothelioma, you may be eligible to recover damages for your family’s financial losses through a wrongful death claim. Wrongful death damages may include lost income, funeral expenses, and your loved one’s pain and suffering.
Our New York mesothelioma attorneys have been actively involved in legislative efforts to allow families to recover emotional damages in wrongful death cases in New York, such as loss of companionship. We successfully supported the passage of the Grieving Families Act in both houses, but Governor Hochul vetoed it. However, we have not given up. We may still be able to help your family recover substantial compensation.
If your loved one has died of mesothelioma, contact our law firm today to learn what we can do for you.
Asbestos Regulations in New York
New York law only allows the following workers to handle asbestos:
- Asbestos handlers
- Asbestos inspectors and air samplers
- Management planners
- Operations and maintenance workers
- Supervisors and contractors
- Project monitors and designers
The New York State Department of Health provides training, which each worker must complete before handling asbestos. Asbestos must be handled and removed in compliance with state regulations to prevent it from becoming airborne.
Although asbestos is no longer used in new construction, New York buildings constructed as recently as 1990 may harbor asbestos. Asbestos in undamaged building components is generally considered safe, so state and federal asbestos regulations don’t require building owners to remove it. In fact, the removal risks are often higher than leaving it.
The New York State Department of Labor requires building owners to obtain asbestos inspections from state-certified inspectors before altering or demolishing building structures. If asbestos is found, they must hire licensed asbestos abatement contractors to remove it before starting the work.
Once asbestos has been removed, it must be properly sealed, packaged, and disposed of in a solid waste landfill. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regulates the transport and disposal of asbestos.
How Much Time Do I Have To File a Mesothelioma Claim in New York?
In most cases, New York law gives you three years from your diagnosis date to file a mesothelioma claim. However, you should discuss this with an attorney to determine whether any exceptions apply to your claim. Don’t wait to contact a reputable mesothelioma lawyer in New York. If you miss the deadline, you will lose your right to pursue compensation and hold the asbestos manufacturers accountable.
Where Will My Case Be Tried?
In many cases, our clients have a choice of where to file their mesothelioma claims. You may have been exposed to asbestos while working in one state through a product manufactured in another state. You may live in yet another state when you were diagnosed with mesothelioma.
As a nationwide mesothelioma law firm, we understand the legal landscape for mesothelioma claims in various jurisdictions. This knowledge allows us to choose the venue most likely to yield a favorable outcome.
One of the most important considerations is how well a jury can relate to your case. For example, in upstate New York, a jury is more likely to be familiar with the lifestyle and culture of manufacturing facilities.
How Long Does a Mesothelioma Case Take in New York?
Mesothelioma cases can take anywhere from several months to several years to resolve. The court system throughout New York recognizes that time is of the essence, so the courts will maneuver to get living mesothelioma plaintiffs to the front of the line.
As lawyers, it is also our job to streamline the process by gathering as much information as possible from the beginning before a client’s health declines to the point of being unable to help with the case.
Contact the Lanier Law Firm Today
If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or lost a loved one to the disease, our compassionate and talented New York mesothelioma attorneys are ready to stand up to the companies that caused it. We won’t settle for less than you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.
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