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A New Jersey mesothelioma lawsuit can help a victim of asbestos exposure get justice, hold companies accountable, and recover damages for the costs of being sick. Dave Halpern is a New Jersey Lawyer with expertise and 30-plus years of experience in asbestos and mesothelioma cases.
Find out more about Dave Halpern by reading our Meet Dave Halpern page. He represents victims of asbestos exposure and their families throughout New Jersey. Call us at (800) 505-6000 or complete our Free Consultation form to get in touch and find out what he can do for you.
Why File a New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
The asbestos-related death rate in New Jersey is 6.8 per 100,000 people, much higher than the national average of 4.9. The state has been hit hard by asbestos and mesothelioma, mostly because of industrial workplaces and construction materials, but also from natural deposits in the state and toxic superfund sites.
The companies that have allowed workers and New Jersey residents to be exposed to this harmful material should be held accountable. An important reason to file a lawsuit is to make sure those liable are forced to account for their actions.
For individuals and their families, often, the most important reason to file is to recover damages. Being sick with mesothelioma is expensive. You face high medical bills, travel expenses, and lost wages, not to mention the pain and suffering with no monetary value.
Depending on your situation, a lawsuit may be the best way to receive compensation for all these tangible and intangible costs.
Who is Eligible to File a New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawsuit?
If you have mesothelioma, chances are you can file a lawsuit. Mesothelioma is almost always caused by asbestos, and asbestos exposure is nearly always negligent. Most people suffering from asbestos-related diseases encountered it on the job. Some of the jobs at the greatest risk for asbestos exposure are:
- Auto mechanics
- Boiler workers
- Construction workers of all types
- Demolition workers
- Factory and manufacturing workers
- Firefighters and first responders
- Insulators
- Longshoreman
- Merchant marines
- Navy veterans
- Pipefitters
- Railroad workers
- Refinery workers
- Shipyard workers
- Steel mill workers
- Vermiculite processors
Certain companies in the state were particularly negligent in exposing thousands of workers and their families to asbestos. At the Johns Manville plant in Manville, N.J., workers handled asbestos to make construction materials long after the company knew how harmful it could be.
Those workers exposed their families as well, bringing asbestos fibers home on their clothing. Family members can be eligible to start a lawsuit if they suffered from asbestos exposure.
National Gypsum’s factory in Millington made asbestos wallboard and cement and exposed many workers and their families. The W.R. Grace Zonolite facility in Hamilton Township exposed workers when it operated. Today, it sits as a Superfund site with asbestos and toxins still putting residents at risk.
How Does a New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawsuit Work?
The idea of filing a lawsuit can feel daunting. You’ll need an expert lawyer to guide you, but it also helps to understand how the process works and your role in it:
- Hire a lawyer to investigate
Your first job is to find the right lawyer to represent you. They will then look over your case and do some investigating to determine if a lawsuit makes sense. They’ll look into where and how you encountered asbestos and who can be held accountable. They will prove your illness resulted from asbestos exposure. - File a complaint
With a lawyer to take on your case, they will do much of the rest of the work. This begins with filing a complaint to start the lawsuit. It notifies the defendants and triggers a discovery phase. - Build a case
During discovery, both sides build their cases. For you, this means providing your lawyer with all the information you have relating to past asbestos exposure and your medical condition. Your lawyer will collect evidence, work with experts, and hold depositions. - Negotiate a settlement
With all the information, your lawyer will try to negotiate a settlement with the defendants. This avoids a trial, which means you get compensated sooner. - Litigate in court
If your lawyer cannot get you a fair settlement, they can take the defendants to court. They will bring in witnesses, expert testimony, and evidence to prove to the jury that a company negligently exposed you to asbestos, which led to mesothelioma. You may or may not need to be in court, depending on the circumstances of your case. - Appeal
If you do not get a verdict you like, your lawyer can appeal to a higher court. The defendants may also appeal if you win. This delays compensation for you.
Finding a Lawyer for a New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawsuit
If you have a diagnosis of mesothelioma, don’t hesitate to contact a lawyer. There is likely a connection between your illness and negligent asbestos exposure.
An experienced lawyer in New Jersey can track down your exposure and the company responsible. They will give you options for recovering damages, which may include filing a lawsuit.
As you look for a lawyer, be sure to choose someone with years of experience working with asbestos victims. They should have proven wins for clients and knowledge of asbestos use in the state.
A mesothelioma lawyer should offer you a free consultation to answer questions and provide a contingency payment plan if they take your case.
Dave Halpern’s Wins in New Jersey
Dave Halpern has been representing mesothelioma clients in New Jersey for more than 30 years. He has helped clients file lawsuits, negotiate settlements, and win jury verdicts to recover damages.
His clients have included shipyard workers, steel mill workers, furnace operators, pipefitters, and other people who worked around asbestos.
One notable case from New Jersey involved a man who received a mesothelioma diagnosis at the age of 70. He was a machinist in the U.S. Navy. As a veteran, he worked in power plants and oil refineries in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Dave Halpern helped him recover $2.9 million.
Halpern worked with a man diagnosed with mesothelioma by the age of 56 and got him a $3.5 million settlement. He worked as an electrician in factories and other industrial sites in New Jersey, encountering asbestos in electrical equipment, wiring, and cables.
A lawsuit is sometimes a necessary step for victims of asbestos exposure. It holds negligent companies accountable for their actions and provides compensation for those who are sick, as well as their families. Dave Halpern can help you file a New Jersey mesothelioma lawsuit. Fill out our Free Consultation contact form or call us at (800) 505-6000 to learn more.
