01. New Jersey Law Firms
Top Mesothelioma Law Firms in New Jersey
New Jersey residents harmed by asbestos-related illnesses can seek help from dedicated mesothelioma law firms. Experienced lawyers understand the history and impact of asbestos exposure in New Jersey. This can help them trace the companies responsible for victims’ exposures and diseases.
Hundreds of people have filed asbestos lawsuits in New Jersey. Mesothelioma law firms offer free consultations with no obligation to hire them. This can help asbestos victims find legal representation they feel comfortable with. The following law firms have helped people living in New Jersey receive compensation:
Experienced mesothelioma law firms offer several advantages for asbestos victims. These firms have years of experience building successful cases. They have used their resources to secure verdicts and mesothelioma settlements for many clients.
Mesothelioma lawyers work diligently to secure compensation for patients and their families. They also help provide a sense of reassurance and peace of mind. Law firms can take the legal concerns of asbestos illness off victims’ shoulders. This allows them to put their energy into treatment and spending time with loved ones.
Resources for Mesothelioma Patients
02. Filing Lawsuits in New Jersey
Filing Mesothelioma Lawsuits in New Jersey
Accomplished mesothelioma law firms can help asbestos victims in New Jersey. Lawyers can assist with filing lawsuits and asbestos trust fund claims. Bankrupt companies created these trust funds to compensate people harmed by asbestos.
Mesothelioma diagnoses and deaths in New Jersey are among the highest in the nation. For example, 2,749 mesothelioma diagnoses occurred in New Jersey from 1999 to 2019.
Other asbestos cancers and illnesses also affect New Jersey residents. For instance, nearly 1,300 asbestosis deaths occurred in the state from 1999 to 2017.
Because of these high rates of asbestos-related diseases, many New Jersey residents have filed related claims. For instance, Middlesex County is one of the top 10 jurisdictions in the country for mesothelioma filings. There were 77 mesothelioma lawsuits filed in Middlesex in 2022, up almost 20% from 2021.
Residents in more than 100 New Jersey cities have filed lawsuits against asbestos companies. These cases relate to the manufacture, use or sale of products that contained asbestos fibers.
Who Is Eligible to File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in New Jersey?
New Jersey manufacturing plants, shipyards, oil refineries and power plants posed asbestos risks for workers. Those who develop asbestos illnesses can file personal injury lawsuits. Even people who had secondary exposure, like from asbestos coming home on another person’s coat, may be able to file. Families can also file wrongful death lawsuits because of loved ones who passed away from mesothelioma.
One of the biggest sites for asbestos exposure in New Jersey was the Johns-Manville factory. The asbestos manufacturing facility opened in 1912, and the town of Manville was named after it. At the company’s peak during World War II, around 4,500 people worked at the plant.
The average employee had 30 years of service with Johns-Manville. Many breathed asbestos fibers into their lungs regularly. More than 16,000 lawsuits were pending against the asbestos producer when it filed for bankruptcy in 1982.
New Jersey residents living in the following towns and cities have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to seek compensation from manufacturers and distributors of asbestos:
- Asbury Park, NJ
- Basking Ridge, NJ
- Bayonne, NJ
- Belford, NJ
- Bellmawr, NJ
- Belvidere, NJ
- Bergenfield, NJ
- Bernardsville, NJ
- Bloomfield, NJ
- Boonton, NJ
- Brick, NJ
- Carneys Point, NJ
- Chatham, NJ
- Cherry Hill, NJ
- Clifton, NJ
- Columbus, NJ
- Cranford, NJ
- Deptford, NJ
- Dover, NJ
- East Brunswick, NJ
- Edgewater Park, NJ
- Edison, NJ
- Egg Harbor Township, NJ
- Emerson, NJ
- Flemington, NJ
- Forked River, NJ
- Franklinville, NJ
- Galloway, NJ
- Gloucester City, NJ
- Great Meadows, NJ
- Hackensack, NJ
- Hamilton, NJ
- Hammonton, NJ
- Harrington Park, NJ
- Harrison, NJ
- Hightstown, NJ
- Hoboken, NJ
- Howell, NJ
- Iselin, NJ
- Jersey City, NJ
- Kearny, NJ
- Lakewood, NJ
- Linden, NJ
- Little Falls, NJ
- Little Silver, NJ
- Lumberton, NJ
- Lyndhurst, NJ
- Manasquan, NJ
- Manchester, NJ
- Manchester Tw., NJ
- Mantua, NJ
- Marlboro, NJ
- Marlton, NJ
- Medford, NJ
- Mercerville, NJ
- Middlesex, NJ
- Middletown, NJ
- Midland Park, NJ
- Millville, NJ
- Monroe Township, NJ
- Montclair, NJ
- National Park, NJ
- Newark, NJ
- North Arlington, NJ
- North Bergen, NJ
- Northvale, NJ
- Ocean City, NJ
- Ocean Grove, NJ
- Paulsboro, NJ
- Pemberton, NJ
- Perth Amboy, NJ
- Pittsgrove, NJ
- Randolph, NJ
- Red Bank, NJ
- Ringoes, NJ
- Rutherford, NJ
- Saddle Brook, NJ
- Saddle River, NJ
- Sewell, NJ
- Shiloh, NJ
- Somers Point, NJ
- Swedesboro, NJ
- Teaneck, NJ
- Toms River, NJ
- Trenton, NJ
- Turnersville, NJ
- Union, NJ
- Upper Saddle River, NJ
- Ventnor City, NJ
- Warren, NJ
- Westville, NJ
- Whiting, NJ
- Woodstown, NJ
- Wrightstown, NJ
Deadlines for Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in New Jersey
To file an asbestos lawsuit, individuals should first speak to an experienced lawyer. A lawyer can help people meet any deadlines to preserve their claims. Mesothelioma attorneys can also do the time-consuming work of lawsuit preparation. This includes investigating claims, gathering evidence and recommending compensation options.
This legal assistance can help residents affected by asbestos file a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. The state does have statutes of limitations that affect these types of lawsuits. This means a lawsuit must be filed within a certain amount of time after diagnosis or death.
Asbestos victims who miss their lawsuit filing window may still be able to file lawsuits in other states. They may also be able to claim compensation from asbestos trust funds. These funds are established by bankrupt companies to compensate current and future asbestos victims. A New Jersey mesothelioma law firm can help identify appropriate funds, determine eligibility and file claims.
Filing VA Claims in New Jersey
In 2021, more than 280,000 veterans were living in New Jersey. Historically, military service has carried significant asbestos exposure risks. As a result, service members from the Navy, Marines and other military branches have developed asbestos illnesses.
Veterans with service-related asbestos diseases may qualify for monthly benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). They may also be able to file lawsuits against asbestos companies or make trust fund claims. Asbestos law firms can help veterans and their loved ones understand their options and handle the filing process for both benefits and lawsuits.
03. New Jersey Settlements & Verdicts
Mesothelioma Settlements in New Jersey
New Jersey mesothelioma lawyers have secured compensation for many asbestos victims. Lawsuit settlements can help cover the costs of treatment for asbestos cancers and conditions.
A settlement is an agreement between a victim and an asbestos company that ends the lawsuit against the company. Other companies being sued may also choose to settle as part of a separate agreement. Parties can agree to a settlement before, during or after trial. New Jersey residents have received millions in compensation through lawsuit settlements.
Some details from New Jersey mesothelioma settlements include:
- $6 million for a 64-year-old Navy veteran and plumber
- $4.6 million for a 66-year-old Navy veteran and insulator
- $4.6 million for a 68-year-old boilermaker
- $4.3 million for an 81-year-old Army veteran, foreman and yard worker
- $4 million for a 52-year-old machine operator
- $3.8 million for a 54-year-old steel worker
- $3.6 million for a 65-year-old Navy veteran and boiler operator (Bethlehem Steel Shipyard)
- $3.5 million for an 81-year-old construction worker and contractor
- $2.9 million for an 82-year-old Army veteran and plumbing/heating business owner
- $2.9 million for a 60-year-old steamfitter and mechanical engineer (World Trade Center)
Mesothelioma Verdicts in New Jersey
Asbestos victims have obtained compensation through verdicts in New Jersey. A judge or jury determines the verdict amount at the end of a trial.
One New Jersey mesothelioma verdict involved a man who worked at a Union Carbide plant that used asbestos. He worked at the facility for 40 years and later died of mesothelioma. His wife filed a wrongful death lawsuit that resulted in a jury verdict of $2.4 million.
In another case, a New Jersey court heard testimony about 11 families whose loved ones died of mesothelioma. Their cancers were linked to asbestos used at Johns-Manville. The judge awarded the families a total of $90.5 million for their asbestos-related losses.
Note: Each lawsuit is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in the future. Contact a reputable New Jersey mesothelioma lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
04. Asbestos Laws in New Jersey
New Jersey Asbestos Laws & Regulations
Despite health hazards, asbestos use has not been completely banned in the United States. While some federal laws are in place, New Jersey has implemented its own laws to regulate asbestos.
Several state agencies have specific powers to monitor asbestos removal and handling. New Jersey legislators also enacted a state asbestos ban in 2019. The law, enacted as NJ A4416, prohibits the sale and distribution of products containing asbestos in New Jersey.
New Jersey Laws Affecting Asbestos Litigation
New Jersey also has laws and protocols related to asbestos litigation:
- Components made by third parties: In 2020, the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that equipment manufacturers and distributors can be liable if they don’t issue warnings about asbestos in product components. This includes components that are part of the equipment as well as replacement components, even if made or supplied by a third party.
- Take-home exposure liability: Take-home exposure refers to asbestos dust and particles brought home on a worker’s clothing and skin, putting people in the household at risk. States differ on the extent of an employer’s responsibility in this situation. Some jurisdictions may limit liability to a worker’s spouse. But the New Jersey Supreme Court ruled that it may extend beyond a spouse in certain circumstances. This ruling may empower more people to pursue compensation going forward.
An experienced asbestos lawyer in New Jersey can explain how these laws may apply to individual cases.
Find Mesothelioma Doctors, Lawyers and Asbestos Exposure Sites Near You
