Brooklyn has one of the highest concentrations of asbestos-related disease in New York City. The Brooklyn Navy Yard, one of the most significant asbestos exposure sites in the United States, employed tens of thousands of workers who were exposed to asbestos on a daily basis for decades. Combined with the density of pre-1980 construction, industrial facilities, and older residential buildings throughout the borough, Brooklyn’s mesothelioma toll remains among the highest in the state. If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after living or working in Brooklyn, you may be entitled to significant compensation from the companies responsible for your exposure.
Attorney Joseph P. Williams and The Williams Law Firm, P.C. have represented over 1,000 mesothelioma victims and their families throughout New York, including workers from the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Kings County construction sites, and industrial facilities across the borough. Attorney Williams has never lost a mesothelioma case in over 30 years of practice, and our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for clients. Learn more about your options as a New York mesothelioma victim or contact us today for a free consultation.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — New York Law Limits Your Window to File
Diagnosed with mesothelioma in Brooklyn? New York’s 3-year statute of limitations runs from your diagnosis date, not your exposure date.
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 a rare but aggressive cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs, abdomen, or heart after prolonged asbestos exposure. Symptoms typically take 20 to 50 years to appear after initial contact with asbestos fibers, which means that many Brooklyn workers who were exposed during the construction and industrial boom of the mid-20th century are only now receiving diagnoses. In Kings County, there were an estimated 604 asbestos-related deaths from 1999 to 2013 alone, with a death rate of 1.6 deaths per 100,000 people.
According to research published in the National Library of Medicine, approximately 68% of buildings in New York City contain asbestos-containing materials. Brooklyn’s older housing stock, industrial waterfront, and the legacy of the Navy Yard put the borough among the most heavily affected in the state. Exposure occurred across the following settings:
The Brooklyn Navy Yard is one of the most significant asbestos exposure sites in the United States. At its peak during World War II and the postwar period, the Navy Yard employed over 70,000 workers who built, repaired, and maintained naval vessels. Every major ship component, from boiler insulation and pipe lagging to engine room gaskets and turbine packing, contained asbestos. Workers who cut, installed, and removed these materials were exposed to dangerous fiber concentrations daily, often in confined spaces with limited ventilation.
Navy Yard workers came from virtually every trade, including shipyard workers and pipefitters, boilermakers, electricians, welders, and insulators. Many were members of New York unions, and Attorney Williams has represented members of nearly every union that had workers at the Navy Yard. He uses actual naval archive records that include complete equipment lists from ships to establish exactly which asbestos products were present on specific vessels, providing documentary evidence that most attorneys cannot access.
Workers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard who have developed mesothelioma may have claims against the manufacturers of the asbestos-containing products used on the ships, in addition to potential trust fund claims against those manufacturers that have since gone bankrupt.
The following are documented asbestos exposure sites within Brooklyn where workers faced elevated risk of asbestos-related disease. If you worked at any of these locations, you may have a viable mesothelioma claim:
This list represents a partial inventory of known Brooklyn asbestos exposure sites. You can also view our complete list of New York asbestos job sites for a broader inventory by borough and city.
Workers in the following trades and occupations faced elevated asbestos exposure rates on Brooklyn job sites throughout the mid-20th century:
Many Brooklyn mesothelioma cases involve secondary or take-home asbestos exposure, where a worker carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing, hair, or tools after working at a job site. Spouses who laundered work clothes, children who greeted their parents after work, and other household members all faced exposure risk. Shaking out contaminated work clothes before washing releases concentrated amounts of asbestos dust into the air, and the fibers can remain suspended for hours before settling on furniture and surfaces throughout the home.
Courts have long recognized secondary asbestos exposure as a valid basis for legal claims, and The Williams Law Firm has recovered compensation for Brooklyn family members who developed mesothelioma through this type of indirect contact. Learn more about second-hand asbestos exposure and whether it can support a legal claim for you or your family.
When a Brooklyn mesothelioma victim contacts The Williams Law Firm, Attorney Williams manages the entire legal process from start to finish so you can focus on your health and your family. We provide the following for every Brooklyn client:
Brooklyn mesothelioma lawsuits are typically filed through the New York City Asbestos Litigation docket, known as NYCAL, which is administered through Manhattan Supreme Court. NYCAL has specialized procedures for expediting cases involving seriously ill plaintiffs, and Attorney Williams has navigated this docket extensively throughout his career, including participation in consolidated trial groups of up to ten mesothelioma cases tried simultaneously. Learn more about your mesothelioma lawsuit options and what to expect at each stage.
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 limitations period is two years from the date of death. New York applies the discovery rule, meaning the clock begins when the victim knew or reasonably should have known that their illness was caused by asbestos exposure, rather than from the original date of exposure. You can verify current New York filing deadlines through the New York Courts statute of limitations chart. Missing the statute of limitations is one of the most common and irreversible errors in asbestos litigation, so contacting an attorney promptly after diagnosis is critical.
Brooklyn mesothelioma victims and their families may be entitled to recover significant compensation through civil litigation and asbestos trust fund claims. Recoverable damages in New York mesothelioma cases include:
View our client success stories to understand the results we have achieved for New York families.
Many of the manufacturers whose asbestos-containing products were used at Brooklyn’s Navy Yard, construction sites, and industrial facilities have declared bankruptcy and established asbestos compensation trusts. There are currently over 60 active trusts holding billions of dollars for mesothelioma victims and their families. Filing claims against multiple trusts simultaneously with civil litigation against solvent defendants can significantly increase total recovery. Learn more about asbestos trust funds and how they work alongside New York mesothelioma litigation.
Joseph P. Williams has dedicated his entire 30-year legal career to asbestos and mesothelioma litigation in New York. His track record includes representing members of nearly every New York union, giving him deep familiarity with the Brooklyn Navy Yard, the specific worksites, employers, and products that Brooklyn workers encountered across dozens of trades. That concentrated experience produces better results than a generalist personal injury firm that handles mesothelioma cases only occasionally.
The Williams Law Firm is not a generalist practice. Attorney Williams has tried cases in NYCAL, handled consolidated trial groups, and has intimate knowledge of the defendants, products, and worksites that appear repeatedly in Brooklyn and New York City mesothelioma cases. He handles your case personally from the first consultation through resolution, never assigning it to an associate after the intake call. That focus, combined with a personal commitment to every client and an undefeated record in mesothelioma cases, is what distinguishes The Williams Law Firm.
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“Joe Williams is absolutely the best lawyer I have ever seen in a courtroom. He is meticulous, organized, articulate, and has a presence about him that is very professional. He delivers such a clear picture for the jury, that the result is always in our favor.”
— Verified Client
Workers at the Brooklyn Navy Yard are among the most common mesothelioma claimants we represent at The Williams Law Firm, P.C. The Navy Yard used asbestos extensively in ship construction and repair for decades, and thousands of Brooklyn workers were exposed without adequate warnings or protection. Attorney Williams uses actual naval archive records, including complete equipment lists from ships, to build compelling cases for Navy Yard workers and their families.
Under New York law, you generally have three years from the date of your mesothelioma diagnosis to file a personal injury lawsuit. For wrongful death claims, surviving family members have two years from the date of their loved one’s passing. New York applies the discovery rule, meaning the clock starts at your diagnosis date, not at the time of your original asbestos exposure decades ago. These deadlines are strictly enforced, so contacting an attorney promptly is critical.
Yes. Secondary asbestos exposure, where a worker brings fibers home on their clothing or tools, is a recognized basis for legal claims in New York. Courts have long recognized take-home exposure claims, and The Williams Law Firm has recovered compensation for Brooklyn family members who developed mesothelioma through this type of indirect contact. Surviving family members can also file wrongful death claims if a loved one passed away from mesothelioma.
There is no upfront cost. The Williams Law Firm, P.C. handles all mesothelioma cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Attorney Williams also meets clients in their Brooklyn homes so there are no logistical barriers to getting the experienced representation you deserve.
A mesothelioma lawsuit is filed against specific companies that manufactured or used asbestos products to which you were exposed. An asbestos trust fund claim is filed against a fund established by a bankrupt asbestos manufacturer to compensate future victims. Many Brooklyn mesothelioma cases qualify for both simultaneously, and our firm pursues every available avenue at the same time to maximize your total recovery.
A mesothelioma diagnosis changes everything, but you do not have to face this challenge alone. The Williams Law Firm, P.C. provides the experienced, dedicated representation you need during this difficult time. Attorney Williams’ 30 years of experience, undefeated record in mesothelioma cases, and membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and National Trial Lawyers Top 100 reflect a career built entirely on fighting for asbestos exposure victims across New York and the country.
We handle all aspects of your case so you can focus on your health and your family. Attorney Williams will personally meet with you at your Brooklyn home to begin evaluating your case. We work on a contingency fee basis, so you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Schedule a free consultation to learn how we can help you pursue the justice and compensation you deserve.
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