New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer
Page Written By Rod De Llano, Esquire This article has been fact checked by an experienced mesothelioma attorney. Sources of information are listed at the bottom of the article.
We make every attempt to keep our information accurate and up-to-date.
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New Jersey mesothelioma lawyers help victims of asbestos exposure seek justice from negligent companies. Between 1999 and 2017, over 11,000 people died because of asbestos exposure and resulting illnesses, including 2,037 deaths caused by mesothelioma.[1] Most of the deaths resulted from asbestos exposure in industrial workplaces.
Asbestos in New Jersey
The most common way people are exposed to asbestos anywhere is on the job. From working in a power plant to a factory line, nearly every industrial job puts workers at risk for asbestos exposure.
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New Jersey has a long history of industry, which made it an economic powerhouse, but it also sickened thousands of people. New Jersey’s many ports and shipyards have been yet another source of asbestos exposure.
Although no asbestos mining took place in the state, naturally occurring asbestos may have put residents at risk of exposure.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, there are thirty-eight recorded natural asbestos occurrences in New Jersey, more than any other state on the east coast.[2] This asbestos can cause harm if it is disturbed during construction projects or road building.
Johns Manville, Manville New Jersey
The Johns Manville Corporation used asbestos in many of its products, including insulation and construction materials. The company had factories around the country, and for decades workers in all of them worked with and around asbestos and were put at risk of becoming sick.
New Jersey was a hot spot for the company and even has a town named Manville. A large factory there employed many residents. The facility, which shut in 1986, exposed workers years ago.
The site had to be carefully cleaned up, during which some of the buildings were remodeled and reopened as new facilities, like movie theaters.[3] Today, the factory’s legacy can be seen in the many residents who now live with asbestosis, mesothelioma, and lung cancer.
In 2014, several families won a lawsuit over the wrongful deaths of loved ones who worked for Johns Manville in New Jersey or whose family members worked for the company and brought asbestos contamination home.
The families won over $90 million to be paid by the companies that provided Johns Manville with asbestos between the 1950s and the 1980s.
W.R. Grace Vermiculite Processing
Another big industry in New Jersey that led to significant asbestos exposure was vermiculite processing. This natural mineral can be used in many of the same ways as asbestos, and it often contains contaminating asbestos.
From the 1950s to the 1990s, the W.R. Grace mine in Libby, Montana, produced vermiculite containing asbestos. The company shipped it around the country to processing facilities, including seven in New Jersey, where workers were exposed to asbestos.
Hundreds of thousands of tons of this contaminated vermiculite made its way to these plants. Some of them were named Environmental Protection Agency Superfund sites, including the site at Wayne, New Jersey. It took nearly three decades to clean this site, and now it is being redeveloped into park space and public lands.[4]
Other Sites of Asbestos Exposure in New Jersey
New Jersey is a major region for industry and manufacturing. Sites like the vermiculite facilities and Johns Manville factories were among the worst for asbestos exposure.
Still, many other industrial workplaces and even public buildings in the state are known to have contained asbestos, used asbestos, and exposed people to asbestos. Some of these are:
- Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Hoboken
- Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock, Kearney
- McGuire Air Force Base, Wrightstown
- Toms River Chemical Corporation, Toms
- U.S. Naval Air Station, Lakehurst
- New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden
- New Milford High School, New Milford
- New Jersey Training School, Totowa
- Ridgewood High School, East Orange
- New Jersey State Reformatory, Bordentown
- Hercules Powder Company, Gibbstown
Asbestos Laws in New Jersey
Several state departments and agencies enforce both federal and state asbestos laws in New Jersey. The Department of Labor licenses asbestos abatement professionals. The Department of Community Affairs certifies asbestos safety technicians and regulates remediation of asbestos.
The Department of Health administers the federal Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act. State laws include guidelines for certifying asbestos professionals, surveying and removing asbestos from schools, and the proper and safe disposal of asbestos.[5]
Asbestos Cancer Care in New Jersey
Residents who were exposed to asbestos may get cancer. Regular screening is crucial to diagnose mesothelioma or lung cancer early, as is expert cancer treatment.
The Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey is designated a comprehensive cancer center by the National Cancer Institute — it provides cutting-edge treatments. It researches all types of cancer and treatments.[6]
Statute of Limitations
In New Jersey, plaintiffs have two years from the time of an asbestos-related diagnosis to file a lawsuit. This statute of limitations puts pressure on victims of asbestos exposure to act quickly. The statute of limitations is the same for those grieving the loss of a loved one to an asbestos illness.
There is a time limit of two years from the time of death to file a lawsuit. The statutes mean that victims must act quickly and carefully to seek justice for asbestos exposure.
Find a New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer
If you have been a victim of asbestos exposure in New Jersey, or if you lost a loved one because of asbestos, you have a right to file a lawsuit against the responsible parties. Too many people were exposed without knowing the risks and without being given the option of protective gear.
To make your case, rely on the help of a New Jersey mesothelioma lawyer, an experienced professional who knows what steps to take to file your lawsuit on time and with the evidence needed. Your lawyer will guide you through the process, give you advice, do the difficult legwork, and advocate for you to help you win compensation.
Page Written by Rod De Llano, Esquire
Rod De Llano was born and raised in Laredo, Texas. He graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in Economics, and earned a law degree from the University of Texas. After working for an international law firm for several years, Rod formed a law firm dedicated to representing persons injured by exposure to asbestos products. For over 20 years, Rod has fought for persons diagnosed with asbestos-related diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. His clients have recovered over $1 billion over the years.