NYC Mesothelioma Lawyer

Name: The Williams Law Firm, P.C.
Address: 250 Park Avenue 7th Floor, New York, NY, 10177
Telephone: (855) 575-6376
Rating: 5.0

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive and deadly type of cancer that is caused primarily due to exposure to asbestos. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or have lost a loved one due to the disease, you may be entitled to compensation for your losses. At the Williams Law Firm, we are dedicated to helping you through this difficult period. Attorney Joseph P. Williams is ready to handle all aspects of your case. When you need a New York City mesothelioma attorney, we are ready to investigate so you can recover the compensation you deserve.

Why Turn To The Williams Law Firm for a New York City Mesothelioma Lawyer

When you receive a mesothelioma diagnosis or lose a loved one to the illness, you need to turn to an attorney you can trust. At the Williams Law Firm, you can count on having a knowledgeable and experienced team by your side.

Joseph P. Williams understands these cases and has worked tirelessly on behalf of mesothelioma victims and their families.
Attorney Williams has secured millions of dollars in damages for mesothelioma victims over the last two decades.
At the Williams Law Firm, we take the time to get to know each client, understanding their needs and priorities.
We take mesothelioma cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you will not pay any out-of-pocket costs and will own no attorney fees until we recover the compensation you deserve.

How Will A Lawyer Help A Mesothelioma Case?

There are several routes your attorney will explore to secure compensation for your mesothelioma diagnosis. This can include:

Settlement or trial verdicts. A personal injury lawsuit can be filed against those responsible for your asbestos exposure. In some cases, the defendants will settle out of court. In others, it may be necessary to take the case to trial to secure a verdict.
Bankruptcy trust funds. Many companies that mined asbestos or manufactured asbestos products no longer exist. Some went out of business while others were bought out by other companies. Other declared bankruptcy. Many of these companies were ordered to establish funds to compensate asbestos victims in the future. These funds are known as mesothelioma compensation funds.
Veterans benefits. If you were exposed to mesothelioma while serving in the military, you may be entitled to veterans benefits.

Client Review: 5/5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Joseph Williams Law Office has been very kind, professional, and knowledgeable. They have helped our family through a very difficult time and I would recommend their services to anyone that needs help.

– Lindsta Ann

What Is Asbestos?

Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was widely used in the US for a variety of applications until the late 1970s. Unfortunately, the use of asbestos was continued in many products until the 1980s and 1990s.

Asbestos was once called “the magic mineral,” before it was known to be a cancer-causing carcinogen. Asbestos was very low cost and had many applications because of its heat resistance and insulating properties, as well as its durability. Some of the most commonly used construction and consumer products that contained asbestos include:

Insulation
Pipe covering
Gaskets
Asbestos packing
Refractory
Asbestos bricks
Transite boards
Joint compound
Floor tiles
Ceiling tiles
Roofing products

Understanding Mesothelioma

Mesothelioma is a rare but aggressive and deadly form of cancer. Approximately 3,000 new mesothelioma cases are diagnosed each year in the US.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos. In some cases, decades will pass from the time a person is exposed to asbestos to the development of symptoms that lead to a mesothelioma diagnosis. Most people are over 60 years of age before they are diagnosed with the illness.

Mesothelioma is the result of cell mutation that causes malignant cell growth. These tumors grow in diffuse patterns that spread across the surface of the sac covering the organ affected.

There are various types of mesothelioma, all distinguished by the organ they affect.

Pleural Mesothelioma. This is the most common type of mesothelioma and affects the lining of the lungs. Symptoms of this type of mesothelioma include shortness of breath, dry cough, fatigue, weight loss, and chest pain.
Peritoneal Mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma affects several organs in the abdominal cavity (liver, spleen, bowel). The most common symptoms of this form of the illness include severe abdominal pain, difficulty with bowel movements, nausea and vomiting, weight loss, and fatigue.
Pericardial Mesothelioma. This type of mesothelioma forms around the heart and restricts the delivery of oxygen to the body. The common symptoms of this mesothelioma include chest pain, difficulty breathing, fever or night sweats, and fatigue.
Testicular Mesothelioma. This form of mesothelioma is not as common as other types and is not usually diagnosed until lumps form on the testes.

How Have New Yorkers Been Affected By Mesothelioma?

New Yorkers have been greatly affected by mesothelioma due to asbestos exposure. The following are a list of estimated deaths in each of the following boroughs from 1999 to 2013:

Manhattan – 409
Brooklyn – 604
Bronx – 290
Staten Island – 231
Queens – 843

There have been hundreds of job sites identified that have exposed workers and residents in New York City to asbestos. Below, you will see a partial list of buildings and sites in NYC that are known to have used or continue to use asbestos:

BETHLEHEM STEEL SHIPYARDS
BROOKLYN NAVY YARD
CHRYSLER BUILDING
CON ED POWER PLANTS
DANNSKAMMER GENERATING STATION
DOMINO SUGAR PLANT
EMPIRE STATE BUILDING
GEORGIA-PACIFIC FACILITIES
GRUMMAN AEROSPACE FACILITIES
IBM BUILDINGS
INDIAN POINT POWER PLANT
JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
KEARNY GENERATING STATION
LAGUARDIA AIRPORT
LILCO POWER PLANTS
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
NEW YORK PIERS
NEW YORK WORLD’S FAIR
NEW YORK 34TH STREET POST OFFICE
ROSETON GENERATING STATION
SCHAEFER BREWING COMPANY
TODD SHIPYARDS
TOMKINS COVE
UNION CARBIDE FACILITIES
U.S. GYPSUM PLANTS
WORLD TRADE CENTER

This is only a small portion of the affected sites that have exposed people in NYC to asbestos. There are many other sites that have been identified and many others that have not been identified. A thorough investigation into your work and living history will be necessary to determine where you were exposed and who is liable for your mesothelioma.

Mesothelioma In The Home

Even though asbestos is most commonly encountered on job sites and industrial locations, many victims of mesothelioma were exposed to asbestos in their homes. Asbestos is toxic when it is friable and causes respirable dust. This usually happens when there is home renovation being completed, and homeowners are unaware of the asbestos in their dwelling.

Some of the most common places asbestos can be found in a home include:

Boilers and heating equipment insulated with asbestos
Roofing materials
Asbestos siding
Insulation in the walls
Joint compound as well as plaster walls
Textured paint and patching compounds
Protective paper, millboard, and cement sheets around wood fireplaces
Vinyl floor tiles or vinyl sheets for flooring
Hot water pipes in old houses with an asbestos coating

Treatment For Mesothelioma

If you think you have been exposed to asbestos over your lifetime, or live with someone who worked with asbestos, you should see your doctor for a thorough examination. While there is no cure for mesothelioma, early detection can increase the survival rates and quality of life in a person’s remaining years following a diagnosis.

Diagnosing mesothelioma is best done with a biopsy of the suspect area. Your doctor will likely order a complete physical exam as well as imaging tests such as a CT scan or an MRI. Treatment for mesothelioma can include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgery, or a combination of these.

What Kind Of Compensation Is Available For These Cases?

Regardless of the route you and your attorney choose to pursue to receive compensation for your illness, there are various types of damages you could be entitled to recover. This can include:

Medical expenses. Your past and future medical expenses are economic expenses due to your diagnosis. These are typically calculated using medical your medical bills and with a consultation with medical professionals about your expected future care.
Lost wages. This is another economic expense you incur if you are unable to work or return to work in the same capacity due to your mesothelioma diagnosis. These damages are typically calculated by looking at your income history. Also taken into consideration could be your lost earning potential or income you will lose by not being able to work at all.
Pain and suffering. These are considered non-economic damages that are not as easy to calculate as medical expenses or lost income. That is, they are not as easily quantifiable because they generally do not come with bills or receipts. These damages refer to a range of damages, including:
- long-term physical pain
- emotional distress
- loss of enjoyment of life
Wrongful death. Family members who have lost a loved one due to mesothelioma are also able to recover damages, including:
- Funeral and burial expenses
- Cost of pre-death medical care
- Loss of future income and benefits of the deceased
- Mental anguish damages
- Loss of consortium or companionship damages

While it is impossible to predict how much each mesothelioma case will be worth, the Williams Law Firm has had success in securing millions of dollars for victims and their families. Mesothelioma cases can each be worth a significant amount of money, and the facts of the case determine how much each client will receive.

What You Can Do Now | How a NYC Mesothelioma Lawyer can Help

If you or a loved one have received a mesothelioma diagnosis, you need to secure legal assistance as soon as possible. At the Williams Law Firm, you will have an advocate ready to help you through this process, from the beginning until a settlement or verdict is reached. We have more than two decades of experience handling these cases and can get to work today. When you need a New York City mesothelioma attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation of your case by clicking here or by calling (855) 575-6376.