01. Laws and Regulations
Pennsylvania Asbestos Laws and Regulations
Pennsylvania has passed a number of laws that regulate the manufacture, use, and distribution of asbestos products. Many of these laws focus on improving air quality, asbestos abatement, and litigation in state courts.
Asbestos Litigation in Pennsylvania
Historically, Pennsylvania has had a high number of mesothelioma lawsuits go through its court system, with one estimate suggesting approximately half of all asbestos cases in the United States were filed in the Keystone State. Because such a large number of asbestos cases are handled by Pennsylvania courts, the commonwealth set up a designated courthouse to handle complex mass tort cases filed by multiple parties, and the Complex Litigation Center to handle cases filed from outside of Pennsylvania. More recently, in 2015 the Superior Court of Pennsylvania adopted the Frye standard, in which scientific claims are admissible in court only if they are “generally accepted” by the relevant scientific community at large, effectively ending use of the “any exposure” theory for future asbestos claims.
Asbestos Safety Regulations in Pennsylvania
As with other states, Pennsylvania has implemented the EPA’s National Emissions Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP), giving authority to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to oversee those standards. In addition, Philadelphia County and Allegheny County have implemented their own standards related to asbestos. The Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry oversees the occupational use of asbestos. In particular, the Asbestos Occupations Abatement Accreditation and Certification Act, passed in 1990, includes various work-related rules and regulations with regard to asbestos, including training and certification standards for inspectors, licensing of asbestos abatement professionals, and notification requirements for contractors who work with asbestos when renovating or demolishing buildings and structures. Chapter 299 of the Pennsylvania Code provides for the storage, containment, and transportation of asbestos within the state.
02. Asbestos Jobsites
Pennsylvania Sites Where Mesothelioma Victims Worked
Hundreds of commercial and military work sites throughout Pennsylvania have exposed unsuspecting workers to asbestos. We have listed below some of the most egregious jobsites and employers who have been named as defendants in mesothelioma lawsuits filed in Pennsylvania.
Commercial and Military Asbestos Exposure in Pennsylvania
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Aliquippa
- Jones and Loughlin Steel Corporation
- Ltv Steel
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Bethlehem
- Bethlehem Steel Company
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Butler
- AK Steel
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Chester
- Scott Paper Company
- Sun Oil
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Clairton
- United States Steel Corporation
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Duquesne
- United States Steel Corporation
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Erie
- Hammermill Paper Company
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Homestead
- Homestead Works Us Steel
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Lancaster
- Armstrong Cork Company
- Quaker State Metals Company
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Marcus Hook
- Sun Oil Plant
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Philadelphia
- A.P. Green Refractory Company
- Allied Chemical
- Pennsylvania Railroad Company
- Philadelphia Electric Company
- Philadelphia Naval Shipyard (Navy Yard)
- Scott Paper Company
- Standard Oil Company
- Sun Shipbuilding and Drydock Company
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Pittsburgh
- Alcoa Research Labs
- ARMCO. Inc.
- Carnegie Natural Gas Company
- Ltv Steel
- Pennsylvania Railroad Company
- Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Reading
- Reading Iron Works
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Sharon
- Sharon Steel Company
Beyond the list above, asbestos exposure was prevalent at many other work sites in Pennsylvania as well. If the site where you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos is not on the list above, contact a lawyer to see if the job site where you worked had a history of exposing workers to asbestos.
03. Lawsuits
Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawsuits
Residents of Pennsylvania who lived in the following cities and towns have filed mesothelioma lawsuits to protect their rights and to seek compensation from negligent manufacturers and distributers of asbestos.
- Allentown, PA
- Allison Park, PA
- Barto, PA
- Beaver, PA
- Beaver Falls, PA
- Bellafonte, PA
- Bellefonte, PA
- Bethel Park, PA
- Bethlehem, PA
- Boiling Springs, PA
- Bradford, PA
- Bulger, PA
- Butler, PA
- Clifton Township, PA
- Coal Center, PA
- Conneaut Lake, PA
- Corry, PA
- Cranberry Township, PA
- Dalton, PA
- Drums, PA
- Eagleville, PA
- Edinboro, PA
- Erie, PA
- Fairless Hills, PA
- Fogelsville, PA
- Franklin, PA
- Gettysburg, PA
- Gladwyne, PA
- Glen Mills, PA
- Glenshaw, PA
- Greensburg, PA
- Hanover, PA
- Harding, PA
- Harleysville, PA
- Harrisburg, PA
- Hauston, PA
- Havertown, PA
- Hazleton, PA
- Hollsopple, PA
- Homer City, PA
- Hopwood, PA
- Horsham, PA
- Indiana, PA
- Johnstown, PA
- Kennett Square, PA
- Lafayette Hill, PA
- Lancaster, PA
- Langhorne, PA
- Latrobe, PA
- Lattimer, PA
- Lebanon, PA
- Lititz, PA
- Mainsburg, PA
- Manheim, PA
- Matamoras, PA
- McDonald, PA
- McKean, PA
- McMurray, PA
- Mercer, PA
- Milford, PA
- Milton, PA
- Nescopeck, PA
- New Brighton, PA
- New Paris, PA
- Nicholson, PA
- Norristown, PA
- Northampton, PA
- Old Forge, PA
- Orrtanna, PA
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenixville, PA
- Pittsburgh, PA
- Plains, PA
- Plymouth, PA
- Port Carbon, PA
- Pottstown, PA
- Quakertown, PA
- Quarryville, PA
- Ralston, PA
- S. Abington Twp, PA
- Sayre, PA
- Schnecksville, PA
- Seven Valleys, PA
- Shamokin, PA
- Snow Shoe, PA
- South Gibson, PA
- Spring Grove, PA
- Sugarloaf, PA
- Tionesta, PA
- Union City, PA
- Wapwallopen, PA
- Warren, PA
- West Chester, PA
- Whitehall, PA
- Windber, PA
- Wyomissing, PA
- York, PA
04. Settlements
Mesothelioma Settlements Obtained for Pennsylvania Workers
We have listed below a few of the verdicts and settlements compensating victims of asbestos exposure in Pennsylvania.
- $3.7 MILLION: Plumber – 79 years old
- $3.4 MILLION: Construction/Sales – 55 years old
- $3.1 MILLION: Navy/Plantworker – 80 years old
- $2.8 MILLION: Engineer – 57 years old
- $2.8 MILLION: Plantworker/Household – 60 years old
- $2.6 MILLION: Railroad/Civilian Employee – 78 years old
- $2.5 MILLION: Navy – 75 years old
- $2.5 MILLION: Mechanic – 76 years old
- $2.4 MILLION: Shipyard – 54 years old
- $2.4 MILLION: Plantworker – 67 years old
- $2.3 MILLION: Construction – 85 years old
- $2.2 MILLION: Merchant Marine – 85 years old
- $2.2 MILLION: Merchant Marine/Laborer – 85 years old
Note: Every case is different, and prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact a reputable Pennsylvania lawyer to understand how much compensation you may be eligible to receive.
05. Law Firms
Pennsylvania Mesothelioma and Asbestos Law Firms
The following law firms have attorneys with significant experience in litigating mesothelioma cases. These law firms either have offices in Pennsylvania or have filed mesothelioma lawsuits on behalf of Pennsylvania residents. They have extensive knowledge of asbestos manufacturers and distributers that have caused exposure to asbestos to unsuspecting workers.
Early, Lucarelli, Sweeney and Meisenkothen is a national mesothelioma law firm recognized for its representation of over 3,000 hardworking men and women who have been exposed to asbestos and diagnosed with mesothelioma. ELSM’s experience in asbestos litigation spans four decades.
At The Gori Law Firm, we have handled hundreds of mesothelioma lawsuits on behalf of people throughout the United States. This experience allows us to choose jurisdiction in which to file your case based on many factors including but not limited to state of residence, jobsites, and previous and current employers.
If you are looking for an expert asbestos exposure and mesothelioma attorney, look no further than Shein Law. With offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, a mesothelioma attorney from our legal team will fight for clients’ rights in order to achieve justice.
As one of the nation’s leading mesothelioma law firms, Simmons Hanly Conroy has a proven track record. Every mesothelioma lawyer at the firm is committed to helping families affected by mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.
06. Filing Deadlines
Mesothelioma Statute of Limitations in Pennsylvania
The length of time an individual has to file a mesothelioma lawsuit varies from state to state. The length of time also will vary depending on whether you are filing a personal injury lawsuit or a wrongful death lawsuit. The deadlines for filing a mesothelioma lawsuit in the state of Pennsylvania are stated in the table below.
To avoid missing a filing deadline, one must begin to gather evidence and file a claim quickly. The best way to do so is to hire a lawyer who is experienced with asbestos-related claims. Failing to act before the statute of limitations runs out could result in a loss of the right to compensation for you or your family.