Legally Reviewed by Joseph P. Williams on June 9, 2026
A mesothelioma diagnosis doesn’t arrive with warning, and for workers and families in Paterson, New Jersey, where industrial labor has shaped the city’s identity for more than a century, the questions that follow a diagnosis can be overwhelming. Paterson’s long manufacturing history — from its textile mills and locomotive factories to its machine shops and construction trades — placed generations of workers in regular contact with asbestos, often without any knowledge of the danger involved.
At The Williams Law Firm, P.C., founding partner and New Jersey mesothelioma attorney Joseph P. Williams has represented over 1,000 asbestos exposure victims and their families, recovering hundreds of millions of dollars on their behalf. Attorney Williams has never lost a mesothelioma case in more than 30 years of practice. He personally handles every case, meets clients in their homes, and treats every claim as our cause — not just another case.
⚠ Time-Sensitive — New Jersey Law Limits Your Window to File
Diagnosed with mesothelioma in Paterson? New Jersey’s 2-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.
Paterson, long known as the “Silk City,” developed one of the most diversified industrial economies in the northeastern United States. Textile manufacturing, locomotive production, machine fabrication, and large-scale construction all relied heavily on asbestos-containing materials for insulation, fireproofing, gaskets, and equipment components throughout the mid-20th century. Workers who spent their careers in these industries were regularly exposed to airborne asbestos fibers, often for decades, before federal restrictions on asbestos use took effect.
According to the New Jersey Department of Health, New Jersey diagnoses more than 100 residents with mesothelioma annually, and the state has historically recorded rates of asbestos-related disease above the national average. Mesothelioma’s latency period of 20 to 50 years means workers who were exposed during Paterson’s industrial prime in the 1950s and 1960s may only now be receiving diagnoses. Learn more about asbestos exposure across the tri-state area and the industries most affected.
The following locations in Paterson and Passaic County are documented asbestos exposure sites where workers faced elevated risk. If you worked at any of these locations, you may have a viable mesothelioma claim:
This is a partial inventory of known Paterson asbestos exposure sites. View our broader inventory of regional asbestos job sites — if your specific worksite is not listed, your case may still be viable.
Workers in the following trades faced disproportionate asbestos exposure across Paterson’s industrial facilities and construction sites. If you worked in any of these roles in Paterson or elsewhere in Passaic County, you may be entitled to compensation for a mesothelioma diagnosis:
Asbestos exposure was not limited to those who worked directly with the material. Spouses, children, and household members who came into contact with work clothing may have experienced secondary asbestos exposure that also puts them at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Mesothelioma cases for New Jersey residents are typically filed in New Jersey Superior Court, though some cases involving multi-state defendants are pursued simultaneously in New Jersey and New York courts depending on where specific defendants are best pursued. Attorney Williams is admitted to practice in New Jersey and has the resources and courtroom experience to take on the largest asbestos manufacturers and their insurers. The legal process begins with identifying the specific products and manufacturers responsible for the asbestos exposure, which requires detailed reconstruction of the client’s occupational history.
Once liable defendants are identified, Attorney Williams pursues civil litigation alongside asbestos trust fund claims against manufacturers who have filed for bankruptcy. For Navy veterans and workers with maritime exposure histories, Attorney Williams uses actual naval archive records that include complete equipment manifests for specific vessels, providing a level of documentation that few attorneys can match. Learn more about the mesothelioma lawsuit process and what to expect at each stage.
Attorney Williams does not delegate mesothelioma cases to less experienced staff. When you contact The Williams Law Firm, Attorney Williams personally meets with you — often in your home — and takes a hands-on approach to every aspect of investigation, strategy, and litigation. He will thoroughly review your occupational history in Paterson and throughout Passaic County, tracing your exposure back to specific job sites, employers, and asbestos-containing products over the course of your career.
For clients who served in the Navy or worked in shipyard environments, Attorney Williams has access to actual naval archive records documenting the specific asbestos-containing equipment installed on individual vessels. These records have proven decisive in securing results for clients whose exposure occurred along the New Jersey waterfront or aboard military ships. Every case is handled personally, and every client receives Attorney Williams’ full attention from the initial consultation through final resolution.
In New Jersey, the statute of limitations for mesothelioma personal injury claims is two years from the date of diagnosis. For wrongful death claims filed by surviving family members, the two-year deadline begins on the date of the victim’s death. New Jersey applies the discovery rule, meaning the limitations period begins when the victim knew or reasonably should have known that their illness was caused by asbestos exposure, rather than from the date of original exposure.
Missing this deadline is one of the most common and irreversible errors in asbestos litigation. The moment a Paterson or Passaic County resident receives a mesothelioma diagnosis, the clock is running. Contacting an experienced New Jersey mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible after diagnosis is the single most important step you can take to protect your legal rights and those of your family.
Paterson mesothelioma victims and their families may be entitled to recover significant compensation through civil litigation and asbestos trust fund claims. Recoverable damages in New Jersey mesothelioma cases typically include:
View our mesothelioma compensation page to learn more about the financial relief that may be available to Paterson victims and their families.
Many of the manufacturers whose asbestos-containing products were used at Paterson and Passaic County industrial facilities have declared bankruptcy and established asbestos compensation trusts. There are currently more than 60 active trusts holding billions of dollars specifically for mesothelioma victims and their families. Filing claims against multiple trusts alongside civil litigation can significantly increase total recovery for Paterson mesothelioma victims. Learn more about asbestos trust funds and how they work as part of a comprehensive legal strategy.
Paterson and Passaic County mesothelioma cases demand an attorney with deep knowledge of both New Jersey and New York asbestos litigation, access to the historical product and occupational documentation needed to build a strong case, and the trial experience to take a case to verdict when necessary. The Williams Law Firm is not a generalist personal injury practice. Attorney Williams has focused his entire 30-year career exclusively on asbestos and mesothelioma litigation throughout the tri-state area.
He has represented workers from Paterson’s textile mills, locomotive factories, and construction trades, and he has the resources to cross state lines when pursuing the manufacturers responsible for Passaic County workers’ asbestos exposure. Attorney Williams has never lost a mesothelioma case, and every client receives his direct personal attention from the first conversation through the final resolution of their case.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Client Review: 5/5
“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 Paterson’s textile mills, locomotive manufacturing facilities, and machine shops have strong grounds for mesothelioma claims because these industries relied heavily on asbestos-containing materials throughout the mid-20th century. Asbestos was standard in steam system insulation, boiler equipment, gaskets, and pipe coverings at virtually every major Paterson industrial facility. Attorney Williams has the product identification resources and industrial history knowledge needed to connect your specific occupational history to liable defendants, and he offers a free consultation to evaluate your case.
New Jersey’s statute of limitations for mesothelioma personal injury claims is two years from the date of diagnosis. For wrongful death claims, the two-year deadline runs from the date of death. New Jersey applies the discovery rule, so the clock begins when you knew or should have known that your illness was caused by asbestos exposure. Given mesothelioma’s long latency period, many Paterson workers exposed in the 1950s and 1960s are still within the filing window. Acting quickly after diagnosis is essential.
The Williams Law Firm handles all mesothelioma and asbestos cases on a contingency fee basis. There are no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no attorney fees of any kind unless and until compensation is recovered for you. The firm also advances all litigation costs including investigation, expert witnesses, and court filing fees. If no compensation is recovered, you owe nothing. Attorney Williams will come to your home in Paterson or anywhere in New Jersey to meet with you at no charge.
Yes. Surviving family members may file a wrongful death claim in New Jersey within two years of the victim’s date of death. Recoverable damages may include funeral and burial costs, loss of the deceased’s financial support to the household, and loss of companionship and guidance. In some cases, if the victim filed a personal injury claim before their passing, the estate may continue pursuing that claim as well. Attorney Williams has represented many New Jersey families in wrongful death actions arising from asbestos exposure.
The most frequently cited Paterson asbestos exposure sites in mesothelioma litigation include the American Locomotive Company facilities, textile and silk mills throughout the city, machine shops and metalworking facilities in Passaic County, and pre-1980 commercial and institutional construction projects across the region. Workers in plumbing, pipe insulation, boilermaking, and construction trades at these and other Passaic County locations have successfully pursued claims arising from their asbestos exposure history. If your specific worksite is not listed, contact us for a free evaluation.
If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after working in Paterson or anywhere in Passaic County, The Williams Law Firm, P.C. is prepared to fight for the compensation you deserve. Attorney Joseph P. Williams brings over 30 years of exclusive mesothelioma litigation experience, an undefeated track record, and a personal commitment to every client he represents. He will come to you, evaluate your case at no cost, and handle every aspect of the legal process with the urgency and dedication your diagnosis demands.
With over 1,000 families represented and hundreds of millions of dollars recovered on behalf of New Jersey and New York asbestos exposure victims, The Williams Law Firm has the resources and experience to pursue every available avenue of compensation for Paterson mesothelioma victims and their families. To schedule your free consultation, please contact The Williams Law Firm, P.C. today.
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