Mesothelioma devastates lives without warning, often striking decades after asbestos exposure when victims least expect it. This rare but aggressive cancer leaves families searching for answers and justice while facing overwhelming medical expenses and uncertain futures. What makes this illness particularly tragic is that it was entirely preventable. Corporations knowingly exposed workers to deadly asbestos fibers despite understanding the severe health risks, prioritizing profits over human lives and safety for generations.
New York mesothelioma attorney Joseph P. Williams and the team at The Williams Law Firm understand no amount of money can make up for the physical, emotional, and monetary toll this debilitating disease takes on victims and their families. But as passionate and aggressive advocates for those who suffer from mesothelioma, we can help ensure asbestos exposure victims and their families receive the compensation they deserve. The Williams Law Firm has represented over 1,000 families affected by asbestos exposure and recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation. Attorney Williams has never lost a mesothelioma case. If you or a family member has received a diagnosis, contact us today at (855) 575-6376 for a free consultation.
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Over 1,000 families represented. Hundreds of millions recovered. Joseph P. Williams has never lost a mesothelioma case. No fees unless we win.
Mesothelioma is an asbestos-related disease and a preventable cancer caused by the inhalation of asbestos fibers. Unlike some cancers, mesothelioma is difficult to detect in its early stages. Like asbestosis, mesothelioma symptoms typically do not appear for at least 20 years and often upward of 40 years after exposure to asbestos particles. Many initial signs of mesothelioma, such as shortness of breath and chest pain, are shared with numerous other medical conditions, which complicates accurate early diagnosis. Mesothelioma victims generally do not learn they have the condition until it is in an advanced stage.
Mesothelioma develops in the mesothelium, the thin protective lining surrounding major organs. The most common form is pleural mesothelioma, which affects the lining of the lungs and accounts for roughly three out of every four diagnoses. Peritoneal mesothelioma affects the lining of the abdomen, while pericardial mesothelioma attacks the lining of the heart. Although mesothelioma treatments can help contain the spread of the disease and improve the comfort of victims, there is currently no known cure.
The symptoms of mesothelioma can take decades to develop after initial asbestos exposure, which makes early diagnosis extremely challenging. By the time most patients receive a confirmed mesothelioma diagnosis, the disease has typically progressed to an advanced stage. Common symptoms that warrant immediate medical attention include:
If you or a family member worked in an industry with known asbestos exposure and are experiencing any of these symptoms, you should see a physician who is familiar with asbestos-related diseases immediately. Early detection, while rare, can meaningfully affect treatment options and outcomes.
Mesothelioma is predominantly an occupational disease, meaning the overwhelming majority of cases are directly linked to workplace asbestos exposure. New York has one of the highest concentrations of mesothelioma cases in the country because of the state’s industrial history. Shipbuilding at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, power generation along the Hudson River, construction throughout New York City, and manufacturing in cities like Buffalo, Schenectady, and Rochester all involved extensive use of asbestos-containing materials through much of the 20th century.
Workers in the following industries and trades were among those most heavily exposed to asbestos in New York workplaces: shipyard workers, boilermakers, pipefitters, steamfitters, electricians, construction workers, insulators, auto mechanics, railroad workers, and Navy veterans. Family members of these workers also faced secondary exposure from asbestos fibers carried home on work clothing. Learn more about asbestos exposure in New York and the specific industries and worksites involved.
New York is among the hardest-hit states in the country for asbestos-related disease. An estimated 15,200 people died from asbestos-related diseases in New York between 1999 and 2017 alone, making New York the fourth-highest ranking state in the nation for asbestos-related deaths. Nassau County, Erie County, and Suffolk County recorded some of the highest per-county death tolls in the state, with each averaging close to 75 asbestos-related deaths per year during that period. Queens, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx also ranked among the most heavily affected counties.
Between 150 and 200 new mesothelioma diagnoses are recorded in New York each year. The disease disproportionately affects industrial workers and tradespeople who worked in the state’s shipyards, power plants, and manufacturing facilities during the peak decades of asbestos use. Despite the passage of time since most of that exposure occurred, new cases continue to emerge because of the disease’s long latency period.
A mesothelioma lawyer represents patients or the surviving family members of someone who died from mesothelioma during lawsuits against defendants responsible for causing the illness. These attorneys pursue compensation through the civil court system by demonstrating the defendant’s negligence or intentional conduct directly resulted in asbestos exposure and subsequent illness.
Hiring an attorney can provide answers to the legal questions you and your family face during this difficult time. Your lawyer can explain your rights, outline your legal options, and help you seek the financial compensation you need to move forward. The right mesothelioma attorney will meet with you in person, listen to your story, investigate your exposure history, identify all liable defendants, and pursue maximum damages on your behalf. At The Williams Law Firm, Attorney Williams personally handles every case and makes himself directly available to clients and their families throughout the entire process.
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“Joe was a true professional and was great to work with. He brings expert knowledge to every step of the process. Joe got my father excellent results.”
— Andrew Opel
A mesothelioma claim is a civil lawsuit alleging that one party’s negligence caused or significantly contributed to another party’s development of mesothelioma. The filing party (plaintiff) seeks monetary damages from the at-fault party (defendant) and must prove the defendant more likely than not caused the illness through the presentation of medical evidence, employment records, and testimony establishing the chain of causation between asbestos exposure and illness.
A standard mesothelioma claim is a personal injury lawsuit that aims to prove the defendant is liable for the plaintiff’s illness. These claims seek compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages directly attributable to the asbestos-related disease. The plaintiff must be living at the time the lawsuit is filed, though deposition testimony can be preserved for use at trial if the plaintiff’s condition deteriorates.
A wrongful death claim may be pursued after the death of a family member due to mesothelioma. This type of claim alleges that someone is responsible for the fatality due to negligence or a tort. Under New York law, eligible family members can pursue compensation for funeral expenses, loss of financial support, loss of consortium, and the decedent’s pain and suffering before death. These claims must be filed within three years of the date of death.
A mesothelioma trust fund claim seeks compensation from one of the many trust funds established specifically to compensate victims of asbestos exposure. This may be appropriate when the company responsible for exposure has declared bankruptcy and established a trust as part of its reorganization. These trusts contain billions of dollars set aside exclusively for asbestos injury claims and operate independently of traditional litigation, often resolving more quickly. Learn more about asbestos trust funds and how they work.
You may also have a product liability claim if you are seeking damages from the manufacturer of a product that contained asbestos, or a workers’ compensation claim if you were exposed to asbestos in the course of employment. The type of claim available to you can affect your filing deadline and recovery potential. Contact The Williams Law Firm for a free consultation about which options apply to your case.
Filing a mesothelioma claim in New York involves several critical steps, each of which requires careful execution to protect your rights and maximize your recovery. After you contact The Williams Law Firm, Attorney Williams will:
The Williams Law Firm advances all costs of litigation, including expert witness fees and investigation expenses. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you.
Any person who has been diagnosed with mesothelioma and can demonstrate a history of asbestos exposure may file a personal injury claim in New York. The mesothelioma patient files on their own behalf during their lifetime. If the patient has passed away, the executor of their estate may file a survival action on behalf of the estate, and surviving family members may file a separate wrongful death claim.
Eligible wrongful death claimants in New York typically include spouses, domestic partners, children, and others who were financially dependent on the deceased. Veterans with mesothelioma who were exposed through military service may also be eligible for VA benefits in addition to civil litigation, and The Williams Law Firm has extensive experience representing Navy veterans and other military personnel who developed mesothelioma after service aboard asbestos-laden ships.
The timeline for a mesothelioma lawsuit in New York varies depending on the complexity of the case, the number of defendants, and whether the case settles or goes to trial. Most mesothelioma cases resolve through settlement before trial, often within one to two years of filing. New York’s NYCAL docket has established procedures for expediting cases involving terminally ill plaintiffs, which can significantly shorten the timeline in urgent situations.
Cases that proceed to trial typically take longer, sometimes two to three years or more. However, when trial is necessary, The Williams Law Firm is fully prepared. Attorney Williams has tried hundreds of cases before New York juries, including over a dozen consolidated trial groups of up to ten mesothelioma cases at a time, and the firm has the financial resources to litigate aggressively against the largest asbestos defendants without settling for less than a case is worth.
In New York, the statute of limitations for mesothelioma personal injury claims is three years from the date of diagnosis. For wrongful death claims, the three-year period runs from the date of death. Critically, New York applies the discovery rule to asbestos cases, which means the clock starts when the victim knew or reasonably should have known that their illness was caused by asbestos exposure, not from the date of the original exposure. You can confirm the current statute of limitations provisions directly through the New York Courts statute of limitations chart.
Missing this deadline is one of the most common and irreversible mistakes in asbestos litigation. The moment a diagnosis is received, the clock is running. Contacting an experienced New York mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible after a diagnosis is the most important step you can take to protect your family’s rights.
The value of a mesothelioma case in New York depends on several factors, including the severity and stage of the illness, the strength of the exposure evidence, the number of liable defendants, the victim’s work history and earnings, and the availability of asbestos trust fund claims. New York mesothelioma cases historically produce some of the largest verdicts and settlements in the country, in part because of the NYCAL court’s experience with asbestos litigation and New York’s large industrial workforce.
Mesothelioma settlements in New York commonly range from hundreds of thousands to several million dollars, and jury verdicts can be substantially higher. The Williams Law Firm pursues every available avenue of recovery for its clients, including simultaneous litigation against solvent defendants and claims against multiple asbestos trust funds, to maximize the total compensation available to each family. Read about some of our client success stories to understand the results we have achieved.
The Williams Law Firm has secured significant results for mesothelioma victims and their families throughout New York. Attorney Williams has personally tried hundreds of cases before New York juries and has been involved in the recovery of hundreds of millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his clients. A few examples of the types of cases the firm has successfully resolved include:
The firm takes on cases regardless of financial circumstances and operates entirely on a contingency fee basis, meaning no fees are charged unless compensation is recovered.
Thousands of New York worksites used asbestos-containing materials throughout the 20th century. The following is a partial list of known New York asbestos exposure sites organized by city or borough. If you worked at any of these locations, you may have a viable mesothelioma claim.
Albany: Agency Building, Schaefer Brewery, Star Textile, Thruway Authority Building
Astoria: Astoria Generating Station
Brooklyn: Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Brooklyn Coastal Dry Dock, Brooklyn Naval Shipyard, Todd Shipyards Corporation, U.S. Naval Shipyard
Buchanan: Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant
Buffalo: American Brass Foundry, Chevrolet Axle Plant, Dunlop Tire & Rubber, Republic Steel, Western Electric
Lackawanna: Bethlehem Steel Corporation
Manhattan: Empire State Building, Radio City Music Hall, 40th Street Powerhouse, Bankers Trust Office Building, Chase Manhattan Bank, Con Edison, Grand Central Station, Long Island Railroad/Penn Station, Pan Am Building, Pennsylvania Central Railroad, Rockefeller Center, Seatrain Shipbuilding Corporation, Subway, World Trade Center
Massena: ALCOA Aluminum Plant, Aluminum Corporation of America, Plancor, Torrington Industries
Newburgh: Danskammer Point Powerhouse
New York City: GMD Shipyard, Glen Clove Power Plant, Mt. Sinai Hospital
Pearl River: Lederle Laboratory
Queens: Ravenswood Powerhouse
Rochester: Bausch & Lomb Building, Delco Plant, Eastman Kodak Processing Lab, Rochester Electric & Gas, Rochester Products
Schenectady: American Locomotive Plant, Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory, Old American Locomotive Works, Schenectady County Courthouse
Staten Island: Arthur Kill Powerhouse
Syracuse: Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation
Ticonderoga: International Paper Company
Utica: Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co., General Electric French Road, General Electric Plant, General Electric State Street, Utica Knitting Co.
This list represents only a fraction of the documented asbestos exposure sites in New York. If you worked at a site not listed here, your case may still be viable. View our complete list of New York asbestos job sites or contact us to discuss your specific exposure history.
New York mesothelioma victims and their families may be entitled to recover several categories of compensation, depending on the circumstances of the case.
Medical expenses: Past and future medical costs related to mesothelioma diagnosis, treatment, and ongoing care, calculated using existing bills and expert projections of future care needs.
Lost wages: Income the victim has lost and will continue to lose as a result of their mesothelioma diagnosis and treatment. Also includes lost earning potential if the victim cannot return to work at the same capacity.
Pain and suffering: Non-economic damages for the physical pain, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment of life caused by the illness and its treatment. These damages do not have a fixed dollar amount and are determined based on the totality of the victim’s experience.
Wrongful death damages: Family members who have lost a loved one to mesothelioma may recover funeral and burial expenses, the cost of pre-death medical care, loss of future income and benefits, mental anguish, and loss of consortium or companionship.
Asbestos trust fund recoveries: Separate from litigation, claims against asbestos trust funds can provide additional compensation from bankrupt manufacturers whose products caused the victim’s exposure. Many victims recover from multiple trusts simultaneously alongside their civil lawsuit.
A New York mesothelioma lawsuit is a civil action filed by a mesothelioma patient or their surviving family members against the companies responsible for the asbestos exposure that caused the illness. The lawsuit seeks monetary compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other damages. Mesothelioma lawsuits in New York are most commonly filed in the New York City Asbestos Litigation (NYCAL) docket in Manhattan Supreme Court, which has specialized procedures for handling asbestos cases.
Yes. New York’s discovery rule means the statute of limitations runs from the date of diagnosis, not the date of exposure. Because mesothelioma typically takes 20 to 50 years to develop after asbestos exposure, most cases are filed decades after the original exposure occurred. This rule was specifically designed to protect asbestos victims who had no way of knowing they were harmed until many years later.
Identifying liable defendants is one of the most important and complex aspects of a mesothelioma case. The Williams Law Firm conducts a thorough investigation of your work history, the specific jobsites where you worked, and the asbestos-containing products you were exposed to. Attorney Williams has extensive knowledge of the products and manufacturers involved in New York asbestos exposure cases, including insulation products, gaskets, pipe covering, and construction materials, and has access to historical records that establish which companies supplied asbestos to specific worksites.
No. The Williams Law Firm handles mesothelioma cases exclusively on a contingency fee basis. This means there are no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no attorney fees of any kind unless and until we recover compensation for you. The firm also advances all litigation costs including investigation expenses, expert witness fees, and court filing fees. If we do not recover compensation, you owe nothing.
In most cases, you will not need to appear in court in person. Attorney Williams can meet with you at your home, hospital, or any location convenient for you. Most depositions and legal proceedings can be accommodated around your medical schedule and physical condition. The firm handles all procedural requirements of New York mesothelioma litigation on your behalf so you can focus on your health and your family.
Many asbestos manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy, but this does not eliminate your ability to recover compensation. As part of their bankruptcy reorganization, these companies were required to establish asbestos trust funds specifically to compensate victims. There are currently over 60 active asbestos trust funds holding billions of dollars for current and future claimants. The Williams Law Firm can identify all applicable trusts and file claims on your behalf simultaneously with any litigation against solvent defendants.
The Williams Law Firm, P.C., led by founding attorney Joseph P. Williams, has spent more than 30 years fighting for mesothelioma victims and their families throughout New York and nationwide. Attorney Williams has never lost a mesothelioma case, has represented over 1,000 affected families, and has recovered hundreds of millions in compensation. His firm has the investigative depth, medical expert network, and trial experience necessary to take on even the largest asbestos defendants and win.
If you or a family member has received a mesothelioma diagnosis, the clock is running. New York’s three-year statute of limitations begins from the date of diagnosis. Early action allows the firm to investigate while witnesses and records are still available. Contact The Williams Law Firm today to schedule a free, confidential case evaluation. There are no fees unless we recover compensation for you.
The Williams Law Firm, P.C.
245 Park Ave. 39th Floor, Suite 71
New York, NY 10167
Local: (855) 575-6376
Toll Free: (855) 575-6376
✓ Legally Reviewed By
Founding Attorney & Lead Trial Lawyer, The Williams Law Firm, P.C.
Joseph P. Williams is a New York native and nationally recognized mesothelioma attorney who has represented over 1,000 asbestos exposure victims and their families, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation. He earned his J.D. from Brooklyn Law School in 1992, served as an Assistant District Attorney from 1992 to 1996, and has focused exclusively on asbestos and mesothelioma litigation since entering private practice. Attorney Williams has never lost a mesothelioma case and has personally tried hundreds of cases before New York juries, including over a dozen consolidated trial groups of up to ten mesothelioma cases at a time.
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This page was legally reviewed by Joseph P. Williams on May 7, 2026. Content is reviewed for legal accuracy and updated regularly to reflect current New York mesothelioma law.
