Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyers handle legal actions on behalf of clients with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer as a result of negligent asbestos exposure. Between 1999 and 2017, more than 17,000 people died from asbestos-related conditions in the state.[1]
The Halpern Law Firm – Leading Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Law Firm
People in Pennsylvania who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma need strong and aggressive legal representation, and they can find it with The Halpern Law Firm.
Led by attorney Dave Halpern, Halpern has been fighting for victims of asbestos exposure for over 30 years. Halpern has represented hundreds of mesothelioma victims and won many multi-million dollar settlements and verdicts.
Dedication to Asbestos Victims
The firm has dedicated itself to Pennsylvania asbestos victims, including automotive workers, construction workers, firefighters, members of the military, miners, and factory workers, as well as the family members who those laborers unwittingly exposed to asbestos by returning home from work with it on their clothing, hair, and skin.
Through skillful representation in court and settlements, the firm has countered the emotional and financial devastation of a mesothelioma diagnosis, successfully bringing significant compensation and justice to those who have been affected.
Pennsylvania Office Location
Philadelphia Mesothelioma Law Office
9 Cricket Terrace, 2nd Floor
Ardmore, Pennsylvania 19003
Phone: 800-505-6000
Meet Featured Attorney Dave Halpern
Since graduating from Temple University in 1984 and Widener University School of Law over 30 years ago, Dave Halpern has focused his efforts on working on behalf of those affected by exposure to asbestos.
Early in his legal career, Dave clerked for Judge Michael R. Stiles. In 1988, he began his tenure at Brookman, Rosenberg, Brown, and Sandler.
His legal achievements include a verdict on behalf of two men who were both diagnosed with mesothelioma, winning a combined $18 million verdict on their behalf. Notably, he honored the memory of his late father by establishing the Parkinson Golf Classic in 2000.
Bar Admissions: Pennsylvania and New Jersey
How Was I Exposed to Asbestos in Pennsylvania?
An experienced lawyer will use your work history and other information to track down the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure. Many people encountered asbestos on the job, but it is also found in residential homes and the environment.
Asbestos Mines
According to the United States Geological Survey, eastern Pennsylvania has thirty-seven known asbestos deposits.[2] This number comes second only to New Jersey on the East Coast.
Among these deposits are four former asbestos mines. In addition to asbestos mines, the state is also home to several coal mines known to have been contaminated with asbestos.
Asbestos mines and mines contaminated with asbestos are harmful to workers and nearby residents. Over the years, many miners were exposed to asbestos. In addition, these mines also polluted surrounding areas, allowing asbestos waste into area soil, air, and water.
Some of these former mines are now Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Superfund sites requiring major cleanup.
Asbestos Superfund Site at BoRit
Former mines are not Pennsylvania’s only Superfund sites with asbestos contamination. Another Superfund site is the BoRit Asbestos Site in Ambler, Pennsylvania.[3]
This site served as a disposal location for asbestos between the early 1900s and the 1960s. During that time, waste from a nearby manufacturing plant was dumped and accumulated to dangerous levels.
The waste pile now covers more than two acres. Although the site is currently slated for cleanup, it posed major risks for nearby residents in the years it sat vacant.
Valley Forge National Historic Site
There is an Asbestos Release Site in the middle of the Valley Forge National Historic Site in King of Prussia. It is currently being remediated under EPA Superfund activities.
The area once had active limestone quarries, some of which were purchased by Ehret Magnesia Company. The company manufactured asbestos insulation at a plant here and disposed of waste in the quarries. The waste slurry contained asbestos.
The National Park Service found asbestos-contaminated soil on the site in the 1990s. The EPS completed an emergency response, and several areas of the site have been the focus of cleanup activities since then.[4]
Pennsylvania Industry and Asbestos
Pennsylvania has had industrial workplaces since the 1700s. Many industrial facilities used asbestos for insulation and fireproofing and in the components of the equipment workers used.
Some facilities even used asbestos in the products they made, putting workers at an even greater risk of getting sick. Industries that contributed to asbestos exposure include power generation, chemicals, metalworking and refineries, shipbuilding, and construction.
For many years, steel was an important industry in the state of Pennsylvania. Work in steel plants involved a lot of heat and fire risks, so they commonly used asbestos to insulate and fireproof their facilities.
Asbestos was even used in the protective gear that workers wore. Although many years have passed since steel’s heyday, some of these facilities still have asbestos.
Holmesburg Prison
The city of Philadelphia recently released an apology to former inmates at Holmesburgh Prison. The city allowed a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania to conduct harmful experiments on black prisoners.
The experiments included exposing the prisoners to viruses and fungus as well as harmful chemicals, including asbestos. The victims suffered numerous health consequences, such as asbestos illnesses.[5]
Sites in Pennsylvania with Known Asbestos
There are many specific buildings, worksites, military facilities, and other locations in Pennsylvania known to have asbestos and exposed workers. Here are just a few examples:
- Allied Chemical, Philadelphia
- Alcoa, Pittsburgh
- Hammermill Paper, Erie
- Sun Oil, Chester, Marcus, and Hook
- LTV Steel, Pittsburgh, and Aliquippa
- Reading Iron Works, Reading
- Sharon Steel Company, Sharon
- Standard Oil Company, Philadelphia
- Carnegie Natural Gas Company, Pittsburgh
- Pennsylvania Railroad Company, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Philadelphia
- Quaker State Metals, Lancaster
- Scott Paper Company, Philadelphia and Chester
- Jones and Laughlin Steel Works, Pittsburgh
- Gulf Refinery, Philadelphia
- BP Oil Refinery, Trainer
- Sunoco, Marcus Hook
- U.S. Steel, Pittsburgh
Does Asbestos Exposure Still Occur in Pennsylvania?
Yes, unfortunately, current residents and workers in Pennsylvania can still be exposed to asbestos. Abandoned industrial and Superfund sites pose a risk, but the bigger danger comes from older buildings.
The construction industry used asbestos in so many materials, that it lingers in older homes, workplaces, and public buildings. There are several examples in the news of lingering asbestos putting people in harm’s way:
- Several blighted homes in Tarentum are set to be demolished, but they were determined to contain asbestos. Residents in the area have been living near and could have been exposed to deteriorating asbestos in these older homes. The demolition could also cause harm if workers do not follow safety regulations.[6]
- In March 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice found an asbestos abatement contractor in Berwick violated the Clean Air Act. He pleaded guilty after improperly handling asbestos during an abatement project in the Berwick Area School District.[7]
It is important to know where asbestos is to protect yourself and your family from exposure.
What Are the Asbestos Laws in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania’s asbestos laws include regulations aimed at preventing ongoing or future exposure. Negligence laws regulate how asbestos claimants take legal action and recover damages.
Asbestos Safety Regulations
In 1990, Pennsylvania passed the Pennsylvania Asbestos Occupations Accreditation Act. This law allows the state’s Department of Environmental Protection to regulate how asbestos is handled, abated, and disposed of from public buildings.
Contractors who work with asbestos must be certified through the state’s Department of Labor and Industry. These contractors must notify the state before beginning any asbestos project. Although residential homes are exempt, homeowners are strongly encouraged to work with certified asbestos professionals.[8]
Statute of Limitations
If you have experienced asbestos exposure, you must take legal action quickly. Like many other states, Pennsylvania limits the time to file lawsuits against those negligent in your asbestos exposure.
You have just two years from the time of diagnosis to file that lawsuit. If you lost a loved one to any of these diseases, you also have just two years from the time of death to take legal action against those responsible.
Secondhand Asbestos Exposure and Take-Home Duty
Secondhand asbestos exposure occurs when someone brings asbestos home on their clothing or body and exposes people in the home. Many family members of people who worked with asbestos got sick this way.
Pennsylvania has no laws barring these victims from making claims against the responsible asbestos companies. However, precedents indicate that the state generally does not recognize take-home duty, the duty of the company to warn potential exposure victims in the home.
Two cases, from 1995 and 2014, set a precedent that there is no take-home duty for companies. The courts in both cases dismissed the claims because the companies could not have foreseen the risks to people in the home.[9]
The Fair Share Act
Pennsylvania passed a law in 2011 called the Fair Share Act, which limits a defendant’s liability to its proportionate share. In other words, a defendant in an asbestos lawsuit only has to pay damages based on their share in causing harm.
In cases with multiple defendants, the court can assign degrees of blame to each one. This helps determine what each owes in damages to the plaintiff.
Interestingly, a decision in a 2020 case cuts back this protection. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court found that the Fair Share Act only protects defendants if the plaintiff is assigned any degree of fault. This finding supports victims and allows them to recover more in damages.[10]
Medical Care for Mesothelioma Victims
Mesothelioma is difficult to diagnose and treat. If you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or asbestos-related lung cancer, you need the best, cutting-edge care.
You can find that care at facilities the National Cancer Institute has designated comprehensive cancer centers:[11]
- Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
- Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia
- Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute, Pittsburgh
- The Wistar Institute Cancer Center, Philadelphia
Working with a Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyer
To combat the time crunch imposed by the statute of limitations, you should hire a Pennsylvania mesothelioma lawyer or legal team. These professionals understand federal and state laws and how the justice system works. They can do the hard work while you focus on healing.
The qualified legal team at The Halpern Law Firm will help you avoid common mistakes and ensure you don’t miss out on opportunities for substantial settlement and trust fund money.
