Queens has one of the densest concentrations of asbestos-related disease in the country. Decades of industrial activity, from the Navy Yard just across the borough line to the power plants, airports, and factory floors that defined Queens’ working-class neighborhoods, put generations of workers in daily contact with asbestos. If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after working in Queens, you have the right to pursue 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 Queens job sites across dozens of trades and industries. 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 Queens? 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. According to the New York State Department of Health, over 150 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed each year in New York State, with the disease disproportionately affecting workers who had occupational exposure to asbestos. Because symptoms typically take 20 to 50 years to develop after initial exposure, many Queens residents are only now receiving diagnoses from work performed decades ago.
Queens has a long history of industrial activity that created widespread asbestos exposure across multiple trades and neighborhoods. The Brooklyn Navy Yard, though technically in Brooklyn, employed thousands of Queens residents who worked on ships containing asbestos insulation, gaskets, and fireproofing materials. Construction workers built landmarks like LaGuardia Airport and the Unisphere at Flushing Meadows, both of which used asbestos-containing materials extensively during their construction and subsequent renovations. Exposure occurred in the following settings:
The following are documented asbestos exposure sites within Queens 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 Queens asbestos exposure sites. If you worked at a location not listed here, your case may still be viable. Contact The Williams Law Firm to discuss your specific exposure history and work record. 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 Queens job sites throughout the mid-20th century. If you worked in any of these roles in Queens, you may be at risk for mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease:
Family members of workers in these trades also faced secondary or take-home exposure from asbestos fibers carried home on work clothing. Learn more about second-hand asbestos exposure and whether it can support a legal claim.
Because mesothelioma takes decades to develop, many victims are unaware of the connection between their illness and past asbestos exposure until after a formal diagnosis. Common symptoms include persistent shortness of breath, chest pain or tightness, chronic cough, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, and fluid buildup around the lungs or in the abdomen. These symptoms are often mistaken for less serious respiratory conditions, which can delay diagnosis and treatment.
If you worked in any of the high-risk occupations or at any of the Queens job sites described above and are experiencing these symptoms, consulting a physician promptly and contacting an attorney can protect both your health and your legal rights. Early legal action also preserves critical evidence, including employment records, product documentation, and coworker testimony that may be more difficult to obtain as time passes.
Queens mesothelioma lawsuits are typically filed in New York Supreme Court and often proceed through the New York City Asbestos Litigation docket, known as NYCAL, which has specialized procedures for expediting cases involving seriously ill plaintiffs. NYCAL is administered through Manhattan Supreme Court and is one of the most active asbestos litigation dockets in the United States. Attorney Williams has navigated NYCAL extensively throughout his career, including participation in consolidated trial groups of up to ten mesothelioma cases tried simultaneously before a New York jury.
Once liable defendants are identified, Attorney Williams files suit in NYCAL and pursues all available claims simultaneously, including asbestos trust fund claims against bankrupt manufacturers. He identifies all responsible parties, including former employers who failed to warn workers, manufacturers of asbestos-containing products, property owners who failed to manage asbestos properly, and contractors who performed negligent asbestos removal. The Williams Law Firm takes all Queens mesothelioma cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless and until compensation is recovered for you. Learn more about your mesothelioma lawsuit options and what to expect at each stage of the process.
When a Queens mesothelioma victim contacts The Williams Law Firm, Attorney Williams begins by conducting a thorough investigation of the client’s work history and exposure timeline. Queens cases often involve multiple worksites, multiple employers, and numerous asbestos product manufacturers, all of which must be identified and evaluated for legal liability. Attorney Williams has access to historical employment records, union archives, naval archive records that include complete equipment lists from ships, and product identification resources that allow his team to reconstruct exposure timelines going back decades.
Unlike large national firms where clients are handled by case managers or associates after the intake call, Attorney Williams handles your case personally from the first consultation through resolution. He meets clients in their Queens homes so they never have to travel while managing a serious illness, and he treats every case as his personal cause rather than just another file. That commitment, combined with an undefeated record in mesothelioma cases, is what sets The Williams Law Firm apart from every other option available to Queens mesothelioma victims.
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 itself. This rule is critical for Queens mesothelioma victims, many of whom were exposed 30 to 50 years ago and are only now receiving diagnoses.
Missing the statute of limitations is one of the most common and irreversible errors in asbestos litigation. The moment a Queens resident receives a mesothelioma diagnosis, the clock is running. You can review current New York filing deadline guidance through the New York Courts statute of limitations chart. Contacting an experienced Queens mesothelioma attorney as soon as possible after diagnosis is the single most important step a victim and their family can take to protect their legal rights.
Queens 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:
The total value of a Queens mesothelioma case depends on the severity of the illness, the strength of the exposure evidence, the number of liable defendants, and the availability of trust fund claims. 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 Queens worksites 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. The Williams Law Firm has extensive experience identifying applicable trusts based on a client’s specific product and worksite exposure history. 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 specific worksites, employers, and products that Queens workers encountered across dozens of trades. That concentrated experience produces better results than a generalist personal injury firm that handles mesothelioma cases occasionally alongside other practice areas.
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 Queens and New York City mesothelioma cases. That focus, combined with a personal commitment to every client, is what distinguishes The Williams Law Firm from larger national firms that assign your case to an associate after the intake call.
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ 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
If you worked in Queens at sites like LaGuardia Airport, Con Edison power plants, the Port of New York, or industrial facilities in Astoria or Long Island City, and you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, you may have a strong legal claim. At The Williams Law Firm, P.C., we evaluate your full work history and identify every company whose asbestos products contributed to your diagnosis. Attorney Joseph P. Williams has never lost a mesothelioma case in 30 years of practice.
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. These deadlines are strictly enforced, so contacting The Williams Law Firm, P.C. as soon as possible after a diagnosis is critical to protecting your legal rights.
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. This arrangement ensures that Queens residents can access experienced legal representation regardless of their financial situation during what is already an incredibly difficult time.
Yes. Secondary asbestos exposure, where a worker brings fibers home on their clothing or tools, is a recognized basis for legal claims. If a family member living in Queens developed mesothelioma from contact with a worker’s contaminated clothing or belongings, they may be entitled to compensation. Surviving family members can also file wrongful death claims if a loved one passed away from mesothelioma within the two-year window following the death.
Some of the most frequently cited asbestos exposure sites for Queens mesothelioma claims include LaGuardia Airport, JFK Airport, Con Edison power plants, the Port of New York and New Jersey facilities, and industrial manufacturing plants throughout Long Island City and Maspeth. Workers in trades like steamfitting, electrician work, and boilermaking across Queens apartment buildings and commercial properties also account for a significant portion of the claims we handle.
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 Queens 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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