New Jersey Mesothelioma Lawyer

History of Asbestos in New Jersey

New Jersey is a highly industrialized state and has been for more than a century. Located along the Eastern seaboard, the state is adjacent to other industrial states as well as the Atlantic Ocean, making it ideal for export of commercial products.

Johns-Manville/Raybestos Conspiracy

New Jersey has several naturally occurring asbestos deposits. It is also home to the Johns-Manville Corporation, a company infamous for its wake of asbestos and mesothelioma victims.

In the 1850s, Johns-Manville pioneered numerous uses for asbestos and delved heavily into the asbestos industry. For years, workers were attacked by various lung diseases, but the company denied any knowledge of what could be causing them. When it became widely known that asbestos caused several diseases including asbestosis and mesothelioma, the company was hit with a landslide of lawsuits.

For some time, Johns-Manville's legal team was able to fend off these lawsuits by claiming that the company had no knowledge that asbestos was dangerous when the majority of workers were exposed. Then, in 1983, New Jersey mesothelioma lawyer Karl Asch made a monumental discovery: documentation, called the “Sumner Simpson Papers,” from within asbestos company Raybestos Manhattan, that was proof of a conspiracy between Raybestos and Johns-Manville to cover up their knowledge that asbestos was deadly so that they could continue their profit making activities.

This proof was solid evidence and a new landslide of lawsuits against the company emerged. The company eventually went bankrupt and victims were left to receive compensation from a company trust.

Asbestos Exposure in New Jersey Companies

Numerous industries commonly associated with asbestos exposure are located in New Jersey. Asbestos was typically used as insulation and flame retardant/fireproofing in equipment or facilities or as an ingredient in products produced in these New Jersey industries, among others:

Oil refineries such as California Oil Co., Esso Standard Oil Co., Texaco Oil Co., and others.
Chemical plants such as DuPont Chemical, Celanese Plastics, Berkeley Chemical Corp., Allied Chemical Corp. and others.
Power plants such as Public Service Electric & Gas, Oyster Creek Nuclear Power Plant, Hudson Generating Station, and others.
Shipyards such as Naval Weapons Station Earle, New York Shipbuilding Corporation / “Yorkship,” Port of New York Authority, Federal Shipbuilding and Dry Dock and others.
Construction—companies such as Joyce Construction and Jim Rogers Construction, among others.
Auto parts and assembly—Goodyear Tire and Rubber and Ford Motor Company, among others.

More than a thousand New Jersey companies, organizations, buildings or facilities are suspected of having had asbestos present. If you believe you were exposed to asbestos, schedule an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible to discuss your exposure and see if periodic mesothelioma screenings are recommended.

Asbestos-related Deaths in New Jersey

The Environmental Working Group reports that New Jersey has some of the highest asbestos related deaths in the country. Between 1979 and 2001, their report shows 2828 asbestos related deaths: 1045 attributed to mesothelioma.

However, it is important to note that these figures are believed to be significantly lower than the actual number of deaths. This is because mesothelioma can often be mistaken for lung cancer, and the Centers for Disease Control did not mandate reporting of mesothelioma deaths until 1999, when national figures for the disease roughly doubled.

Where to Find Help

Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
There are several mesothelioma treatment centers located in New Jersey as well as in nearby New York and New Hampshire:

Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Albert Einstein Cancer Research Center
1300 Morris Park Avenue
Bronx, New York 10461
718-430-2302

Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
1275 York Avenue
New York, New York 10021
212-639-2000 or 800-525-2225

Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
Norris Cotton Cancer Center
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
One Medical Center Drive
Lebanon, New Hampshire 03756

NYU Cancer Institute
New York University Medical Center
550 First Avenue
New York, New York 10016
212-263-6485

Somerset Medical Center
Steeplechase Cancer Center
Mesothelioma Treatment Section
110 Rehill Ave.
Somerville, New Jersey 08876
866-742-5762

University of Medicine & Dentistry of New Jersey
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
The Cancer Institute of New Jersey
195 Little Albany Street
New Brunswick, New Jersey 08903
732-235-8064

Why is it important to speak with a New Jersey mesothelioma lawyer as soon as possible after your mesothelioma diagnosis? There are several reasons:

The law limits how long after diagnosis you may file a lawsuit.
You may be able to receive financial compensation from the company/companies that are responsible for your mesothelioma. This compensation can help with medical bills, loss of income, and much more. Your family's financial security could be in jeopardy as a result of their actions.
The legal process can take months or even years. Your story about your exposure, given during a deposition, is very important to your case and it's a good idea to give it while you are still well enough.
Simon, Eddins & Greenstone, LLP, are mesothelioma lawyers with experience representing asbestos victims in New Jersey. Our nationwide presence in asbestos litigation has familiarized us with mesothelioma laws and landmark trials that could make a difference for you.* We can also connect you with numerous resources that can make this difficult time a bit easier, such as support groups, family help, leading mesothelioma doctors, tips for managing your finances, and much more.