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Overview: Mesothelioma & Asbestos Exposure in Pennsylvania
Key Facts: Pennsylvania Mesothelioma & Asbestos
- Counties Served
- 0
- Communities Covered
- 19
- GBP Office Locations
- 3
- Key Industries
- Mixed, Occupational
- Statute of Limitations
- 2 years from diagnosis or discovery (42 Pa. C.S. § 5524). Wrongful-death: 2 years from date of death.…
- Consultation Cost
- Free — No Fee Unless We Win
Our Pennsylvania Office Locations
Visit one of our Google-verified offices for an in-person consultation or call for immediate assistance.
Asbestos Exposure History in Pennsylvania
Asbestos Exposure in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania ranks #2 nationally in cumulative mesothelioma deaths. The state's industrial history is unmatched: Bethlehem Steel's flagship plant employed 30,000+ workers; US Steel Edgar Thomson Works has operated since 1875; Westinghouse East Pittsburgh was a major turbine and generator plant; Philadelphia Naval Shipyard built warships from 1801 to 1996; the Keasbey & Mattison asbestos plant in Ambler operated for 100 years and contaminated an entire community; GE Erie has built locomotives since 1907.
Major Pennsylvania exposure clusters:
- Allegheny County (Pittsburgh steel) — US Steel Edgar Thomson, Westinghouse East Pittsburgh, plus the broader Mon Valley steel corridor.
- Northampton County (Bethlehem Steel) — flagship plant, 1857-2003.
- Philadelphia / Delaware County — Naval Shipyard, Sun Oil Marcus Hook, hundreds of construction-trade exposure cases.
- Erie County — GE Erie locomotives.
- Montgomery County (Ambler) — Keasbey & Mattison asbestos plant, EPA Superfund site, environmental + occupational exposure.
Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Lawyers — How We Help
Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm represents Pennsylvania mesothelioma victims across all 67 PA counties. Reviewed by Michelle Whitman, Lead Mesothelioma Attorney.
Compensation Available to PA Victims
- Lawsuits — PA settlements average $1.0–$1.4 million; Philadelphia and Allegheny County jury verdicts have exceeded $5 million.
- Asbestos trust funds — Bethlehem Steel Trust, Westinghouse Trust, Manville Trust, and 60+ others. PA workers exposed at Bethlehem Steel, Westinghouse, or Keasbey & Mattison typically qualify for 10+ trusts simultaneously.
- VA disability — mesothelioma rated 100%. Philadelphia Naval Shipyard veterans face especially high exposure history.
PA-Specific Legal Considerations
42 Pa. C.S. § 5524 — Discovery Rule
Pennsylvania imposes a 2-year statute of limitations on mesothelioma claims. The clock starts at diagnosis (discovery rule), not exposure. Wrongful-death: 2 years from date of death.
Venue
Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas has historically been a major asbestos-litigation venue. Cases involving Pittsburgh-area exposure are often filed in Allegheny County Common Pleas. Federal cases go to E.D. Pa., M.D. Pa., or W.D. Pa.
PA Mesothelioma Treatment Centers
- UPenn Penn Medicine / Abramson Cancer Center (Philadelphia) — NCI-designated; Penn Mesothelioma Program.
- UPMC Hillman Cancer Center (Pittsburgh) — thoracic oncology mesothelioma program.
- Fox Chase Cancer Center (Philadelphia) — comprehensive cancer center.
Your Legal Rights in Pennsylvania
Understanding the legal landscape is critical when pursuing a mesothelioma or asbestos claim. Below is a summary of relevant legal information for cases involving exposure in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania Statute of Limitations
Pennsylvania Court System Overview
Legal Options for Pennsylvania Asbestos Victims
Mesothelioma victims and their families in Pennsylvania may be entitled to pursue compensation through several legal avenues:
- Personal injury lawsuits — filed against the companies responsible for your asbestos exposure
- Asbestos trust fund claims — over $30 billion remains in trust funds established by bankrupt asbestos companies
- Wrongful death claims — filed by surviving family members when a loved one has passed from mesothelioma
- Veterans benefits — additional compensation for veterans exposed to asbestos during military service
- Workers' compensation — benefits for occupational asbestos exposure, which may be pursued alongside other claims
Our attorneys handle cases involving Pennsylvania exposure sites and can identify all available sources of compensation. Call 1-800-875-3000 to discuss your case.
Top Asbestos Exposure Sites in Pennsylvania
The following facilities across Pennsylvania have been identified as locations where workers and residents may have been exposed to asbestos. This is a representative sample — visit individual county and community pages for complete local listings.
Ambler Keasbey & Mattison Asbestos Plant
The Keasbey & Mattison plant in Ambler manufactured asbestos-cement pipe, insulation, and textiles for 100 years (1881-1981). Massive asbestos waste piles — known locally as the 'White Mountains' — surrounded the plant and contaminated the entire community. The site is now an EPA Superfund site. Both occupational and environmental exposure pathways exist; Ambler residents (not just plant workers) have elevated mesothelioma rates.
Bethlehem Steel Bethlehem Plant
Bethlehem Steel's flagship Bethlehem plant operated from 1857 to 2003. The integrated steel mill produced beams for the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, Golden Gate Bridge, and countless other landmarks. Asbestos was used extensively. After 2003 closure, parts of the site became SteelStacks arts campus; mesothelioma claims continue from former workers.
GE Erie Locomotive Plant
GE Erie has built locomotives since 1907 — at peak the largest locomotive manufacturer in the world. The plant used asbestos in locomotive insulation, brake materials, and electrical equipment. Now operated by Wabtec. Erie-area mesothelioma cases frequently trace to this facility.
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard
Philadelphia Naval Shipyard built and repaired Navy ships from 1801 to 1996. At WWII peak it employed 40,000+ workers. Asbestos was used pervasively for boiler insulation, pipe lagging, gaskets, and shipboard fireproofing. The yard closed in 1996; portions are now redeveloped as the Philadelphia Navy Yard business campus. Generations of Philadelphia and South Jersey workers were exposed.
Sun Oil Marcus Hook Refinery
Sun Oil's Marcus Hook Refinery operated for 110 years on the Delaware River. Asbestos was used pervasively for pipe insulation and gaskets in process units. The refinery shut down petroleum operations in 2012 and now operates as a Sunoco LPG/ethane export terminal.
United States Steel Edgar Thomson Works
US Steel Edgar Thomson Works has operated continuously since 1875 — the oldest still-operating integrated steel mill in the country. Andrew Carnegie's flagship plant. Generations of Allegheny County (Pittsburgh-area) steelworkers handled asbestos in furnace insulation, pipe lagging, and gaskets. The Mon Valley steel corridor (Edgar Thomson + Clairton + Irvin) employs thousands and continues to drive regional mesothelioma claims.
Westinghouse East Pittsburgh
Westinghouse East Pittsburgh was the company's flagship facility, building turbines and generators from 1894 to 1989. Asbestos was used extensively in turbine insulation and electrical equipment. The plant closed in 1989; portions were demolished. Westinghouse is a major asbestos litigation defendant.
If you or a family member worked at any facility in Pennsylvania and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, contact our attorneys for a free case evaluation.
Next Steps for Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Victims
You have options. Our attorneys are ready to help you understand them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Mesothelioma in Pennsylvania
What is the statute of limitations for mesothelioma in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania imposes a 2-year statute of limitations from diagnosis or discovery (42 Pa. C.S. § 5524). Wrongful-death: 2 years from date of death. The discovery rule applies — the clock starts at diagnosis, not exposure.
Where in Pennsylvania were workers exposed to asbestos?
Major sites include US Steel Edgar Thomson and Westinghouse East Pittsburgh in Allegheny County, Bethlehem Steel's flagship plant in Northampton County, Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, Sun Oil Marcus Hook, GE Erie locomotive plant, and the Keasbey & Mattison asbestos plant in Ambler (Montgomery County) — an EPA Superfund site that contaminated the entire community.
I worked at Bethlehem Steel — can I file a claim?
Yes. Bethlehem Steel was one of the largest asbestos-using employers in the country. Workers can typically pursue: (1) lawsuits against asbestos product manufacturers used at the plant, (2) the Bethlehem Steel Trust + Manville Trust + 8-10 other trusts, and (3) VA benefits if applicable. Pennsylvania's 2-year statute of limitations runs from diagnosis under the discovery rule.
How much can a Pennsylvania mesothelioma case be worth?
PA settlements average $1.0–$1.4 million. Philadelphia and Allegheny County jury verdicts have exceeded $5 million in recent cases. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
Do I need to travel to your office to file a PA case?
No. Whitman attorneys travel to Pennsylvania clients. Most case work — discovery, trust claims, settlements — can be done remotely. Depositions can be conducted from home via video.
I lived in Ambler near the asbestos plant — am I eligible?
Yes. The Keasbey & Mattison plant contaminated the entire Ambler community. Both occupational AND environmental (residential) exposure pathways are documented. The site is an EPA Superfund site. Ambler residents who developed mesothelioma typically have viable claims even if they never worked at the plant — secondary exposure from waste piles ("White Mountains") and household contamination is well-documented.
Have additional questions? Call 1-800-875-3000 to speak with an attorney, or submit a free case evaluation.
Cities & Communities in Pennsylvania
Complete directory of every city and community page served by Whitman Mesothelioma Law Firm in Pennsylvania, grouped by county area. 19 locations across 10 areas.
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