Staten Island has the highest asbestos-related death rate of any New York City borough. Richmond County recorded an estimated 312 asbestos-related deaths from 1999 to 2017, with an incidence rate of 3.3 deaths per 100,000 people. The borough’s industrial waterfront, shipyards, power plants, hospitals, schools, and dense residential construction put generations of Staten Island workers in daily contact with asbestos-containing materials. If you or someone close to you has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after living or working on Staten Island, 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 Staten Island shipyards, power plants, and construction sites across Richmond County. Attorney Williams has never lost a mesothelioma case in over 30 years of practice, and our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars 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 on Staten Island? 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 do not appear until 20 to 50 years after initial contact with asbestos fibers. According to the New York State Department of Health, over 150 new mesothelioma cases are diagnosed in New York State each year. Staten Island’s rate of 3.3 deaths per 100,000 people exceeds every other NYC borough, reflecting the intensity of industrial asbestos use throughout Richmond County’s history.
Staten Island’s waterfront industrial corridor, which included power plants, shipyards, steel operations, and heavy manufacturing along the Arthur Kill and Kill Van Kull waterways, employed thousands of workers in trades with extremely high asbestos exposure. The borough’s dense residential construction and institutional building stock from the mid-20th century also put maintenance workers, renovators, and tradespeople at risk across decades.
The following are documented asbestos exposure sites on Staten Island where workers faced elevated risk. If you worked at any of these locations, you may have a viable mesothelioma claim:
You can also view our complete New York asbestos job site inventory for a broader list across all five boroughs.
Workers in the following trades faced elevated asbestos exposure on Staten Island job sites throughout the mid-20th century:
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.
Many Staten Island mesothelioma cases involve secondary or take-home exposure, where workers at Arthur Kill, Bethlehem Steel, or construction sites throughout the borough carried asbestos fibers home on their clothing. Spouses who laundered work clothes and children who had contact with contaminated gear all faced exposure risk without ever setting foot on an industrial site. Shaking out contaminated work clothes before laundering releases concentrated asbestos dust into the air, and the fibers can remain suspended for hours before settling throughout the home. Courts in New York have long recognized secondary exposure as a valid basis for mesothelioma claims, and The Williams Law Firm has successfully recovered compensation for Staten Island family members who developed the disease through this type of indirect contact. Learn more about second-hand asbestos exposure and whether it can support a legal claim for your family.
When a Staten Island mesothelioma victim contacts The Williams Law Firm, Attorney Williams begins by thoroughly investigating your work history and exposure timeline across every Staten Island job site involved. Many Richmond County cases involve multiple worksites, multiple employers, and numerous asbestos product manufacturers, all of which must be identified and evaluated for legal liability. We provide the following for every Staten Island client:
Staten Island mesothelioma lawsuits are 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 before a New York jury. Because these cases often involve multiple defendants across decades of exposure history, the investigation and documentation process is intensive and benefits significantly from an attorney with deep familiarity with Staten Island job sites and the specific asbestos products used there.
Once liable defendants are identified, we file suit in NYCAL and pursue all available claims simultaneously, including asbestos trust fund claims against bankrupt manufacturers. Responsible parties in Staten Island cases commonly include manufacturers of asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, and pipe covering used at Arthur Kill and Bethlehem Steel; employers who failed to warn workers of known hazards; and property owners who failed to properly manage asbestos in older buildings throughout the borough. We take all Staten Island mesothelioma cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning there are no upfront costs and no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you. Learn more about your mesothelioma lawsuit options and what to expect at each stage of the process.
In New York, 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 death. New York applies the discovery rule, meaning the clock begins at diagnosis, not at the time of your original asbestos exposure decades ago. You can verify current filing deadlines through the New York Courts statute of limitations chart. Missing the deadline is irreversible, so contacting an attorney promptly after diagnosis is critical.
Staten Island mesothelioma victims may recover compensation for medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, household services, and wrongful death damages for surviving family members. In cases where manufacturers concealed known asbestos dangers, punitive damages may also apply. View our client success stories to understand the results we have achieved for New York families.
Many manufacturers whose asbestos-containing products were used at Staten Island’s power plants, shipyards, and construction sites have declared bankruptcy and established compensation trusts. Over 60 active trusts currently hold billions of dollars for mesothelioma victims. We pursue trust fund claims simultaneously with civil litigation to maximize your 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. He has represented members of nearly every New York union, including workers from Staten Island’s waterfront trades and industrial facilities. His deep familiarity with the specific worksites, employers, and asbestos products involved in Richmond County cases produces better results than a generalist firm that handles mesothelioma occasionally. Attorney Williams handles every case personally, meets clients at home, and has never lost a mesothelioma 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
Richmond County has the highest asbestos-related death rate of any NYC borough at 3.3 deaths per 100,000 people, which reflects the intensity of industrial asbestos use throughout Staten Island’s history. The combination of the Arthur Kill Powerhouse, Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, Con Edison Art Kill Plant, and numerous institutional and residential construction projects created widespread occupational exposure across multiple trades for decades.
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, so the clock starts at diagnosis, not at the time of your original asbestos exposure. These deadlines are strictly enforced.
Yes. Secondary or take-home asbestos exposure is a recognized basis for mesothelioma claims in New York. If a family member developed mesothelioma from contact with asbestos fibers carried home by a worker from Arthur Kill, Bethlehem Steel, or any other Staten Island job site, they may be entitled to compensation. 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 Staten Island homes so there are no logistical barriers to getting the representation you deserve.
The most frequently cited asbestos exposure sites in Staten Island mesothelioma claims include the Arthur Kill Powerhouse, Con Edison Art Kill Plant, Bethlehem Steel Shipyard, and various hospitals and schools throughout Richmond County. Workers in trades like boilermaking, pipefitting, and electrical work across Staten Island’s institutional and residential buildings also account for a significant portion of the claims our firm handles.
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 Staten Island 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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