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Mesothelioma Lawyers
New York Mesothelioma Lawyers
The mesothelioma lawyers at the Simmons firm represent victims of mesothelioma cancer throughout the United States including the state of New York. We have represented thousands of families affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related cancer and have seen the suffering it causes firsthand. The Simmons firm is dedicated to giving our clients the respect and attention they deserve, no matter where they live. If you or someone you love has mesothelioma, we will come to you. Over the past decade, we've represented many clients throughout New York, including the cities of:
- New York City
- Albany
- Brooklyn Heights
- Buffalo
- Rochester
- Syracuse
- Utica
- Westbury
- Yonkers
As a nationwide firm, our asbestos attorneys have the resources and experience necessary to represent individuals and families against large companies in this complex area of litigation. Our firm has recovered over $3 billion in verdicts and settlements for thousands of families dealing with mesothelioma. Our lawyers have recovered $75 million for mesothelioma victims in the state of New York alone.*
You should know that New York has a unique set of laws that could impact your ability to file a claim. For example, New York has statute of limitation laws that restrict the time frame in which mesothelioma victims and family members can file a lawsuit. Rest assured our mesothelioma lawyers are prepared to help you understand the process for filing an asbestos lawsuit and guide you through the legal system. Contact the Simmons firm if you have a question about a potential case.
If you have mesothelioma or lung cancer due to asbestos exposure, please contact our mesothelioma lawyers for a free case evaluation.
An Introduction to Asbestos and Mesothelioma
Asbestos is a deadly mineral that has been used in thousands of products. When microscopic asbestos fibers are inhaled or ingested, they can cause a number of diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. Of the diseases caused by asbestos, mesothelioma is the most aggressive, attacking the internal lining of the lungs and abdomen. Mesothelioma typically does not develop until decades after the asbestos exposure occurred.
Asbestos in New York
When the World Trade Center was built between 1968 and 1972, it was sprayed with thousands of tons of asbestos insulation. While some of this insulation was removed in cleanup efforts throughout the years, much of the asbestos remained in the buildings until the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001.1
When the two towers collapsed on September 11, 2001, they sent up a plume of dust that could be seen from space. Subsequent EPA studies of this dust showed that it contained up to three times the acceptable amount of asbestos particles. Another study by the Virginia firm HP Environmental showed that there could have easily been even more asbestos in the air, since the impact would have pulverized the mineral into particles too small for the EPA's tests to detect.2
People at high risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases from the 9/11 attacks include emergency personnel, Manhattan residents and office workers, and disaster cleanup crews. Some of these people have already begun to develop medical problems stemming from the attacks, including one New York paramedic who died from mesothelioma in 2006.3 A World Trade Center Medical Monitoring and Treatment program has been established for New York workers who are at risk for medical problems caused by the terrorist attack.
A number of work sites throughout New York are linked to asbestos exposure, including:
Albany
Star Textile
Schaefer Brewery
Agency Building
Thruway Authority Building
Brooklyn
U.S. Naval Shipyard
Brooklyn Naval Shipyard
Brooklyn Coastal Dry Dock
Bethlehem Steel Shipyard
Buffalo
Republic Steel
Western Electric
Dunlop Tire & Rubber
Chevrolet Axle Plant
American Brass Foundry
Manhattan
Radio City Music Hall
Empire State Building
Massena
Torrington Industries
Plancor
ALCOA Aluminum Plant
New York City
Subway
Seatrain Shipbuilding Corporation
Long Island Railroad/Penn Station
Western Electric
World Trade Center
Pan Am Building
Rockefeller Center
Glen Clove Power Plant
Bankers Trust Office Building
40th Street Powerhouse
Rochester
Rochester Electric & Gas
Eastman Kodak Processing Lab
Rochester Products
Bausch & Lomb Building
Delco Plant
Schenectady
Schenectady County Courthouse
Old American Locomotive Works
American Locomotive Plant
Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory
Utica
Chicago Pneumatic Tool Co.
General Electric Plant
Utica Knitting Co.
General Electric State Street
General Electric French Road
If you or a loved one has suffered from an asbestos-related disease, please contact us today for a free legal consultation.
Learn More About Mesothelioma:
» Mesothelioma Diagnosis Information
» Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit
* Please note that recovery results vary per client. The recovery amounts in each case reflect the specific facts of that case. Further, recovery amounts in past cases are not a guarantee of future results
The majority of individuals who have been exposed to asbestos encounter the so-called "magic mineral" in their line of work, often due to inadequate safety precautions. Others are exposed to asbestos indirectly when they come in contact with the clothing of a family member involved in a high-risk asbestos occupation.
Asbestos has been widely used in many industrial products including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation. When microscopic asbestos dust particles becomes airborne, they can be inhaled or swallowed and can cause serious health issues.
Common work environments where a mesothelioma or cancer patient may have encountered asbestos include shipyards, oil refineries, sheet metal plants, automotive plants, construction sites, and many more. Click here to view a complete list of occupations that have been linked to asbestos exposure.
Giving Back to Mesothelioma Patients & Families
In 2010, the Simmons firm established the Simmons Mesothelioma Foundation, a private, non-profit organization dedicated to supporting research and advancing awareness about this rare cancer. The Foundation partners with established experts and thought-leaders in the mesothelioma research field. Learn more about the Foundation's current mesothelioma research partners.
As a long-time supporter of the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation and the Asbestos Disease Awareness Organization, the Simmons firm has an extensive history of supporting the fight against mesothelioma and cancer. The firm has also pledged over $10 million to establish the Simmons Cancer Institute at the Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. The institute provides extraordinary new resources to enhance treatments and implement the continuing search for a permanent cure. It is the largest single gift in the history of SIU and establishes the university as home to one of the leading cancer facilities in the United States.
Asbestos Exposure in New York Today
Asbestos has not yet been banned in the United States. Its use is regulated, but it is still used in products today. Asbestos has been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer as a human carcinogen. This assessment is supported by the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), both of which believe that the future use of asbestos should be banned.
The following chart shows the higher-risk occupations for malignant mesothelioma along with their corresponding New York employment numbers.
| Occupation | Number Employed in New York, 20064 |
| Plumbers, pipefitters, steamfitters | 28,040 |
| Mechanical engineers | 9,480 |
| Electricians | 40,000 |
| Teachers, elementary school | 97,210 |
New York continues to be affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases. Consider the following:
- CDC statistics show New York's age-adjusted death rate for malignant mesothelioma to be 9.6 deaths per million per year.5
- The National Cancer Institute and CDC's state cancer profiles show New York's 2006 annual incidence rate for lung and bronchus cancers was 63 deaths per 100,000.6
For more information about asbestos in New York and throughout the U.S., visit the Environmental Protection Agency's website.