If you or a loved one was recently diagnosed with mesothelioma in New York, you may be facing expensive medical treatments, immense emotional distress and uncertainty about your future. At Bailey & Glasser, LLP, the New York mesothelioma attorneys in our asbestos and lung disease team understand how devastating this type of diagnosis is for patients and their families.
Our law firm is dedicated to connecting mesothelioma victims to vital resources and helping them secure the financial compensation that they need to move forward. We can help you understand your rights and take the necessary steps to collect compensation for your losses. Contact us using our online contact form or call (877) 852-0342 for a mesothelioma case consultation.
Why Choose Us?
- We are a full-service law firm with offices across the country. We collaborate with lawyers inside and outside of our firm to handle even the most challenging mesothelioma cases.
- Our attorneys have a proven track record of success. We have handled national high-stakes litigation in a wide range of practice areas, including many mesothelioma cases.
- Your lawyer will fight for you. We work closely with our mesothelioma clients and treat them like family. We love the work we do and are passionate about pursuing justice.
Meet Our Attorneys
Michael “Mickey” Robb
Michael “Mickey” Robb has over 20 years of experience handling asbestos litigation cases on behalf of men and women who have contracted asbestos-related diseases including Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Esophageal Cancer and Asbestosis. Michael has secured more than $90 million in court awards for his clients.
In March of 2020, the Wall Street Journal reported on one of Michael’s cases where he represents a retired college professor who contracted mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos-contaminated buildings at the Pennsylvania State University in State College, Pennsylvania.
Michael’s extensive investigation into Pennsylvania State University has shown that not only were the buildings his client worked in contaminated with asbestos but so are hundreds of other buildings on the university’s main campus and satellite branch campuses located throughout Pennsylvania.
Asbestos cases are very complicated and Michael has an incredible drive and passion to bring justice on behalf of his clients and their families. If you or a family member have been diagnosed with Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, Esophageal Cancer and Asbestosis call Michael today for a free consultation.
Jackalyn A. Olinger Rochelle
Jackalyn “Jackie” Rochelle has dedicated her career to the effective and conscientious representation of individuals and families affected by asbestos-related diseases.
She has over 17 years of experience and leadership handling matters for people all over the country whose lives have been impacted by the carcinogen asbestos. She sees cases through from intake to trial, and has secured millions of dollars in settlements and awards for her clients and their families.
Jackie continues her advocacy outside of the courtroom by volunteering with various organizations to help protect the civil justice system and the vulnerable in our communities. For example, Jackie serves on several leadership positions within the American Association for Justice (AAJ). She is also an active member of the Board of Directors at the Foster & Adoptive Care Coalition which works to create a safe and loving home for all foster children in the St. Louis region. She is also a frequent presenter and faculty member around the country for attorneys’ continuing legal education classes and was an adjunct professor at the Washington University School of Law. Jackie is barred in Illinois, Missouri, and California.
Our Experience with Asbestos and Mesothelioma Claims
Bailey & Glasser, LLP has been representing clients with mesothelioma and other asbestos-related cancers and illnesses for many years. Our mesothelioma attorneys understand how these cases work and how to secure the best possible outcome for each client. Our law firm has the resources and experience that your case needs.
Our past case results in this practice area include:
- $50 million verdict for a steel mill worker who died from mesothelioma after being exposed to asbestos on the job.
- Over $20.8 million in settlements for workers who were exposed to asbestos and passed away from mesothelioma.
- Over $22 million in settlements for workers who were exposed to asbestos on the job and died from lung cancer (many of which were cigarette smokers).
- Over $1 million in settlements for workers who were exposed to asbestos and developed asbestosis, a non-malignant scarring of the lungs.
Our law firm has the experience in asbestos and mesothelioma law to handle any case, no matter how complicated. We are not afraid to go to trial, if necessary, on behalf of our clients – although the majority of mesothelioma cases reach settlements. You will also benefit from one-on-one care from your asbestos attorney; your attorney will make you feel like you are his or her only client at Bailey & Glasser, LLP.
What Is Mesothelioma?
Mesothelioma is a deadly (terminal) type of cancer that is caused by exposure to asbestos. Asbestos is a group of six minerals composed of fibers that are naturally resistant to heat, corrosion and electricity. This made asbestos a popular material to use in manufacturing for many decades before its health risks were made known.
In 1987, the International Agency for Research on Cancer confirmed the carcinogenic risks of all six types of asbestos fibers. After this, the U.S. government took steps to regulate asbestos. Unfortunately, it was too late. Asbestos remains present in millions of buildings around the country, including in New York, as well as in many products.
Exposure to asbestos can cause mesothelioma due to microscopic asbestos fibers becoming lodged in the body’s tissues. Inhaling or ingesting asbestos can result in the fibers getting stuck, causing irritation and forming scar tissue in the affected areas over time. This can lead to cancerous tumors. Currently, there is no known cure for mesothelioma.
The locations that are most common for mesothelioma tumors are the thin membrane that surrounds the lungs (pleura), the heart (pericardium), the abdomen (peritoneum) and the testicles (tunica vaginalis). This categorizes mesothelioma into 4 main types:
- Pleural Mesothelioma
- Pericardial Mesothelioma
- Peritoneal Mesothelioma
- Testicular Mesothelioma
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an average of 3,128 new cases of mesothelioma are diagnosed in the U.S. each year.
Mesothelioma Facts and Statistics in New York
New York’s emergence as a hub for commerce at the height of the Industrial Revolution – the same time as widespread asbestos use – has resulted in a large amount of asbestos fibers found in the state (source: the Journal of Environmental Research). New York has thousands of buildings, factories, manufacturing and industrial facilities, steel mills, shipyards, schools, and other locations that contain asbestos. Unfortunately, this has resulted in a high number of mesothelioma cases in the state.
The latest statistics and information available on New York mesothelioma cases from data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states:
- From 2015 to 2019, New York reported 916 new cases of mesothelioma and 646 mesothelioma deaths. This equates to about 183 new cases per year.
- New York had an age-adjusted rate of new mesothelioma cancers of 0.8 per 100,000 people from 2015 to 2019 (95 percent confidence interval: 0.7-0.8).
- New York is fourth in the country in terms of new mesothelioma cases. California is in first place, followed by Florida and Texas.
- Nassau County had the highest number of cases in New York and the highest death count from mesothelioma from 2015 to 2019, with 84 cases and 55 deaths.
- The five-year relative survival rate for patients with mesothelioma in New York was 14.4 percent for the CDC’s study period.
If you lived or worked in New York and have been diagnosed with mesothelioma, it could be traced back to your time in a workplace or environment that put you in frequent contact with asbestos.
Asbestos exposure and mesothelioma do not only risk the lives of residents in New York. National statistics state that over 20 million people in the U.S. are currently at risk of developing malignant mesothelioma due to exposure to asbestos.
Mesothelioma Statistics Per County in New York, 2015-2019
| County | Age-Adjusted Rate | New Cases | Deaths | Population |
| Nassau County | 0.9 | 84 | 55 | 6,781,810 |
| Kings County | 0.6 | 81 | 50 | 12,953,717 |
| Suffolk County | 0.8 | 69 | 49 | 7,423,158 |
| Queens County | 0.5 | 69 | 44 | 11,453,955 |
| Erie County | 1.0 | 59 | 54 | 4,597,982 |
| Westchester County | 0.8 | 53 | 51 | 4,8846,780 |
| New York County | 0.5 | 49 | 20 | 8,171,104 |
| Richmond County | 1.3 | 35 | 18 | 2,374,952 |
| Bronx County | 0.5 | 35 | Data Suppressed | 7,173,617 |
| Monroe County | 0.7 | 32 | 21 | 3,720,369 |
| Niagara County | 1.6 | 25 | 23 | 1,054,720 |
| Orange County | 1.0 | 19 | Data Suppressed | 1,901,062 |
Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Locations With Known Asbestos Risks in New York
New York is home to numerous industrial plants and manufacturing companies that relied on asbestos as a product-building material or ingredient for many years. It is also the setting for thousands of buildings that were built at a time when asbestos was commonly used in construction, such as for insulation, fireplaces, cement and flooring materials.
Some of the sites that are known to contain asbestos in New York include:
- Albany Medical College
- American Standard
- Astoria Powerhouse
- Brooklyn Navy Yard
- Consolidated Edison Company
- Corning Glass
- Dresser-Rand
- Fort Drum Army Base
- General Electric
- General Motors
- Georgia Pacific Corporation
- H.W. Johns Manufacturing Company
- IBM buildings
- Kentile Floors
- Plattsburgh Air Force Base
- Shipyards in New York
- Union Carbide Company
- Vanity Fair Paper Mills
- Xerox Corporation
This is not a comprehensive list of all of the locations and sites where someone could be exposed to asbestos. According to the National Cancer Institute, people who become ill from asbestos are typically those who are exposed to it on a frequent or regular basis; for example, someone who has a job working directly with asbestos or is around asbestos through environmental contact.
Occupations With Asbestos Exposure Risk in New York – Who Is Most at Risk?
Working with or near asbestos puts individuals most at risk of developing mesothelioma. Workers are exposed to asbestos often, increasing the odds of inhaling or ingesting asbestos fibers and eventually developing cancerous tumors. Since the early 1940s, millions of workers in New York have been exposed to asbestos in multiple trades. The highest risk comes from occupations that deal with textiles and other products that contain asbestos.
Common jobs and fields that put workers at risk of mesothelioma in New York include:
- Aircraft mechanics
- Auto mechanics
- Carpenters
- Chemical processing
- Construction workers
- Electricians
- Factory workers
- HVAC workers
- Manufacturers
- Military servicemembers
- Oil refinement jobs
- Paper milling
- Pipefitters
- Plumbers
- Power plant workers
- Rescue workers and first responders
- Shipyard workers
- Steel milling
- Textile workers
Today, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulates asbestos in the workplace, with rules and administrative codes to help protect workers from exposure. For example, OSHA requires employers to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) to workers when asbestos exposure is a possibility. OSHA defines an asbestos-containing material as any material that has more than 1 percent asbestos content.
Mesothelioma and the 9/11 Terrorist Attacks
The National Cancer Institute has specifically identified individuals who responded to the scene of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City as being at high risk of developing mesothelioma, asbestosis and other asbestos-related illnesses. This includes anyone who was involved in rescue, recovery and cleanup at the site: firefighters, police officers, paramedics, volunteers, etc.
Asbestos was used in the construction of the World Trade Center’s North Tower. When this building collapsed after the attack, hundreds of tons of asbestos were released into the air. Anyone who helped rescue survivors or cleanup after the attack would have been exposed to asbestos in the hours and days following the attack. This puts them at risk of related long-term health consequences, including mesothelioma.
New York Asbestos Laws and Regulations
The New York State Department of Labor has enacted many asbestos regulations to protect workers and the public from harmful exposure to asbestos. Industrial Code Rule 56 requires all work that disturbs asbestos to be performed by specifically trained workers who obey procedures to prevent asbestos fibers from entering the air. This protects people who live and work in buildings that contain asbestos, as well as the asbestos removal professionals themselves.
The Department’s Asbestos Control Bureau enforces New York’s asbestos laws, oversees asbestos removal projects, responds to asbestos-related complaints in New York and can halt work if violations are discovered. In addition, the NYC Asbestos Control Program oversees the city’s asbestos laws and regulations. It aims to minimize the emission of asbestos fibers into the air by ensuring that asbestos is properly handled by individuals who are qualified and trained in abatement.
Other laws in New York City that were created to protect people from asbestos exposure are 10 NYCRR Part 73 (regulations for training asbestos workers), 12 NYCRR Part 56 (rules for public safety during asbestos removal projects), 6 NYCRR Part 360 (regulations for proper asbestos disposal) and 6 NYCRR Part 364 (how to safely transport asbestos waste). Building owners, employers, program heads and individuals must obey all applicable asbestos laws to prevent exposure.
Getting Compensation for Mesothelioma in New York
Mesothelioma is a preventable type of cancer. Patients who are diagnosed with mesothelioma are often entitled to financial compensation for their illnesses. Filing a mesothelioma claim against an employer, business, product manufacturer, property owner or another party for causing or failing to prevent exposure to asbestos can result in compensation being paid for several of the victim’s related losses.
The financial compensation that could be available for mesothelioma victims in New York includes:
- Present and future medical costs
- Lost wages and capacity to earn a living
- Travel and transportation costs
- Out-of-pocket expenses
- Physical pain and suffering
- Lost quality or enjoyment of life
- Emotional distress and mental anguish
- Wrongful death damages, if applicable
Getting compensation for mesothelioma is often possible through a settlement. This is an agreement made between a victim and an insurance company to resolve a legal dispute for a certain amount of money. In some cases, however, a personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit, class action or multidistrict litigation may be necessary to obtain just compensation.
Other sources of monetary relief for an individual with mesothelioma in New York may include a workers’ compensation claim for those exposed to asbestos on the job, a veterans’ claim for those exposed while in the military or a claim with an asbestos trust fund – a source of financial compensation established by bankrupt companies. An asbestos attorney can help you file the right type of claim or lawsuit in pursuit of fair financial compensation for your mesothelioma case.
Contact an Experienced New York Mesothelioma Attorney Today
If you or someone you love has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, contact Bailey & Glasser, LLP for a one-on-one consultation. Our mesothelioma lawyers can help you understand your rights, protect them, and go up against one or more parties in pursuit of financial compensation for this devastating illness. Call (618) 693-2462 to speak to case intake specialist today.
