New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyers

Request a referral to an oncologist or pulmonologist specializing in mesothelioma. Bring your complete medical records and pathology reports. A CT scan, PET scan, and tissue biopsy are typically required to confirm diagnosis, determine type (pleural, peritoneal, pericardial), and establish stage — all of which affect both treatment options and legal claim documentation.

Gather every document that establishes where you worked and what products you handled: employment records, union cards, pay stubs, work orders, product labels, OSHA complaint records, and photographs. These records are the foundation of product identification in asbestos litigation — the link between your exposure and a specific defendant. CPR Law maintains extensive databases of asbestos products, company records, and ship histories, and can help locate co-workers and historical records if your own documentation is incomplete.

If you worked in an asbestos-intensive industry, family members who lived with you during those years — particularly spouses and children — may have been exposed to asbestos fibers carried home on clothing and equipment. They should be evaluated by a physician and may have independent legal claims. Under Whelan v. Armstrong International, Inc. (2020), New Jersey employers owe a duty of care to household members of exposed workers.

New Jersey’s statute of limitations (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2) gives you two years from diagnosis to file — but from our experience, evidence becomes harder to find over time, documents get destroyed, and witnesses’ memories fade. Early attorney contact preserves your options. CPR Law offers free, confidential consultations with no obligation: call (888) 572-7388 or contact us online.

Depending on your exposure history and circumstances, you may have rights to: a personal injury lawsuit against solvent manufacturers and employers, claims against multiple asbestos bankruptcy trust funds (which can be pursued simultaneously with a lawsuit against solvent companies), VA disability benefits if you are a veteran with service-connected exposure, and workers’ compensation (you can still sue third-party product manufacturers even if you file a workers’ comp claim). An experienced mesothelioma attorney will assess every available pathway and pursue them simultaneously where possible.

A person diagnosed with mesothelioma may file a personal injury lawsuit in New Jersey against the companies whose asbestos-containing products caused their illness. If the patient has died, surviving family members — including a spouse, children, or parents — or the estate administrator may file a wrongful death action under N.J.S.A. 2A:31-1. New Jersey’s statute of limitations is two years from the date of diagnosis for personal injury claims and two years from the date of death for wrongful death claims (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2).

Because mesothelioma often develops 15 to 50 years after asbestos exposure, the discovery rule applies: the clock starts when the diagnosis is or should reasonably have been made, not when the asbestos exposure occurred. This means workers exposed in New Jersey’s shipyards and industrial plants decades ago retain valid legal rights today.

In New Jersey, a mesothelioma wrongful death settlement may be received by the surviving spouse, children, parents, or the administrator of the deceased’s estate on behalf of the statutory beneficiaries under N.J.S.A. 2A:31-1. Recoverable damages include: loss of financial support to the family, loss of companionship and consortium (the spouse’s loss of companionship, intimacy, and support), the patient’s pain and suffering before death, loss of guidance and nurturing (especially when children survive), and funeral and burial expenses. Both New Jersey and Pennsylvania (42 Pa. C.S. §8301) impose a two-year limitations period running from the date of death.

Due to the volume of asbestos lawsuits, many companies that manufactured or used asbestos filed for bankruptcy protection. As part of those proceedings, courts required them to establish trust funds to compensate current and future victims. Over 60 asbestos bankruptcy trusts exist, holding over $30 billion. Major trusts include the Johns-Manville Personal Injury Settlement Trust, the W.R. Grace Asbestos PI Trust, and the Owens Corning/Fibreboard Asbestos PI Trust.

Each trust has its own criteria and payment schedules. Claims are often resolved more quickly than lawsuits — typically 6 to 12 months. You can file claims with multiple trusts if you were exposed to products from multiple companies. Trust fund claims and civil lawsuits are independent legal pathways — trust fund claims can be pursued simultaneously with lawsuits against solvent companies.

CPR Law’s attorneys have filed claims with dozens of asbestos trusts on behalf of New Jersey clients and are familiar with the documentation requirements and payment percentages for each.

Yes. Veterans — especially Navy veterans — are among the largest groups of people affected by mesothelioma. Veterans diagnosed with mesothelioma have two distinct legal paths: a VA disability claim through the Department of Veterans Affairs, and a civil lawsuit against the manufacturers of the asbestos-containing products that caused their exposure. VA benefits don’t prevent you from seeking legal compensation from the companies whose products caused your disease — these are separate paths and many veterans pursue both.

Virtually every Navy ship built before 1980 contained extensive asbestos — in boiler rooms, engine rooms, pipe insulation, and throughout every compartment. Navy veterans, shipyard workers, and those who served in boiler, insulation, or construction military occupational specialties face the highest documented exposure rates. CPR Law has 40+ years of experience representing veterans in both civil litigation and trust fund claims.

Mesothelioma often develops 15 to 50 years after asbestos exposure. This unusually long latency period means many New Jersey workers first exposed in the 1960s, 1970s, or 1980s are receiving their diagnoses today. Many people diagnosed today were first exposed while working in shipyards, construction sites, manufacturing plants, or other industrial environments.

Because the disease is typically diagnosed at an advanced stage due to this delay, treatment options may be limited — which is why contacting an attorney promptly after diagnosis is critical to preserve evidence and meet legal deadlines.

From our 40+ years of experience handling these cases, typical timeframes are: settlement before trial usually takes 12 to 24 months on average, with some cases resolving faster (6 to 9 months) and complex cases taking longer. Cases that go to trial may take 18 to 36 months from filing.

Once a settlement agreement is signed and any required court approval is obtained, payment is typically made within 30 to 60 days. Asbestos trust fund claim payments typically resolve in 6 to 12 months per trust — and many victims file claims with multiple trusts simultaneously.

New Jersey courts give mesothelioma cases priority because of the serious nature of the illness. Ask your attorney about requesting expedited scheduling.

New Jersey has a high concentration of documented asbestos exposure sites owing to its industrial history. The highest-risk industries include shipyards in Bayonne, Kearny, and Port Newark; oil refineries and chemical plants in Linden and Perth Amboy; power generation facilities operated by PSE&G; commercial and industrial construction statewide; and schools and hospitals built before 1980 (OSHA). Workers in these industries and their family members (secondary/take-home exposure) may have valid mesothelioma claims. Manufacturers knew asbestos was dangerous — internal documents show companies knew of health risks since the 1930s but failed to warn workers or the military.

Yes. Cohen, Placitella & Roth accepts mesothelioma and asbestos cases from clients throughout the United States. The firm is headquartered in Philadelphia and has New Jersey offices in Red Bank and Cherry Hill. CPR, along with qualified co-counsel, represents clients throughout the United States — the firm has deep knowledge of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and national asbestos litigation built over 40+ years of practice.

There is no upfront cost to you. CPR Law and most reputable asbestos attorneys work on a contingency fee basis — meaning no upfront cost and no hourly billing. We only get paid if we recover compensation for you. The firm advances all litigation costs — expert witnesses, depositions, court filing fees, and document retrieval. These costs are reimbursed from your recovery when the case settles or wins at trial. If we don’t win, you owe nothing for attorney fees. The consultation is free. Call (888) 572-7388.

Yes. New Jersey’s discovery rule sets the statute of limitations clock from the date of diagnosis — not the date of exposure (N.J.S.A. 2A:14-2). Mesothelioma often develops 15 to 50 years after asbestos exposure, and many New Jersey workers exposed in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s are only now being diagnosed. The discovery rule was specifically designed to protect victims of long-latency diseases. Additionally, New Jersey recognizes a separate statute of limitations for each distinct disease arising from asbestos exposure — meaning a patient with a prior asbestosis claim who is later diagnosed with mesothelioma may still file a new claim. Contact an attorney promptly after diagnosis.