New York Mesothelioma Lawyer

A Mesothelioma Diagnosis Does Not Wait, and Neither Should Your Asbestos Claim

Asbestos exposure in New York usually happened decades ago. It came from shipyards along the Brooklyn waterfront, power plants, and boiler rooms. It also came from buildings insulated long before anyone posted a warning label. Mesothelioma and related cancers can take 20, 30, even 50 years to show up after that exposure ended. If you or someone you love just received this diagnosis, you need two answers right now. Do you still have time to act, and can the company responsible still be held accountable?

Wallace & Graham works as a New York mesothelioma lawyer and asbestos litigation team. Our firm has spent decades building cases against the manufacturers behind this disease. Our attorneys won a $32.7 million verdict in 2018. It is the largest single-plaintiff mesothelioma verdict in North Carolina history. Prior results do not guarantee an outcome in your case, but we bring that same trial-ready preparation to every case, no matter where the exposure happened.

Tell us where you worked, when, and what you were diagnosed with. We will tell you where your case stands and what could happen next.

What an Asbestos Company Still Owes You Under New York Law

The companies that manufactured, sold, or installed asbestos-containing material in New York knew about the risk long before most workers did. These companies rarely settle quickly. They often name many co-defendants. They argue that someone else’s product caused the disease. They slow the case down while their exposure shrinks with every year that passes.

You do not have to take on all of that alone. We work to identify every company that may be tied to your exposure, from your first employer to a product you touched 40 years ago. Then we pursue each one for its share of what the law allows, once liability is proven. Medical bills and lost income do not wait for the litigation to catch up. That is why we move quickly once your case comes in.

How Long You Have to File a Mesothelioma Claim in New York

New York gives you three years to file a personal injury claim for an asbestos-related disease under CPLR 214-c. But that clock does not start on the day you were exposed. It starts on the day you are diagnosed or the day you, with reasonable diligence, should have known about your illness. Lawmakers set the rule up that way because mesothelioma can take decades to appear after the exposure that caused it.

If your loved one died from mesothelioma or another asbestos-related illness, the rule is different. New York gives the estate two years from the date of death to file a wrongful death claim under EPTL 5-4.1.

Both deadlines are strict. Missing either one can end a valid claim before it starts, no matter how strong the case is otherwise.

This reflects New York law as of September 2026.

Where New York Mesothelioma and Asbestos Cases Get Filed and Heard

Most asbestos and mesothelioma lawsuits filed by New York City residents move through one specialized docket. It sits at the Supreme Court, New York County, and is widely known as NYCAL. NYCAL has handled asbestos litigation since 1988. It splits cases into two tracks. One is an accelerated calendar for people currently living with mesothelioma or who are terminally ill with less than a year to live. The other is a standard calendar for other claims. Cases filed outside the five boroughs of New York City follow different rules, including through the Syracuse-based Fifth Judicial District.

Many New York claims trace back to exposure at sites like the Brooklyn Navy Yard and power plants along the Hudson. Older buildings across the state also used asbestos insulation before it was restricted. Wherever your exposure happened in New York, we build the claim around where the record points.

How We Investigate Decades-Old Asbestos Exposure in New York

Finding out who is responsible starts long before a lawsuit is filed. Our firm has spent decades on asbestos and toxic exposure litigation. That includes cases built specifically around Navy veterans exposed to asbestos aboard Navy ships. Bill Graham’s work has earned him a Martindale-Hubbell Distinguished peer rating. That rating is based on how other attorneys and judges evaluate his practice, not on a paid listing. Mona L. Wallace’s work has earned her and her litigation team the 2020 Trial Lawyer of the Year recognition from Public Justice.

For a New York case, we start with your work history, your service record if you served, and your medical diagnosis. Then we cross-reference that against the manufacturers whose products were documented at those job sites and vessels. We do not wait for a company to admit fault. We build the record that proves it and zealously advocate to protect your rights and possible compensation.

Common Questions From New York Mesothelioma Victims and Their Families

Can a firm based outside New York represent me here?

Yes. Asbestos litigation is a national practice. Many of the companies responsible for exposure in New York are the same manufacturers we have pursued in courts across the country. We work with local counsel where needed so your case is filed correctly under New York procedure.

How long do I have to file a mesothelioma claim in New York?

New York gives you three years from the date of diagnosis (or the date you should have known about a diagnosis with reasonable diligence) to file a personal injury claim. For a wrongful death claim, you have just two years from the date of death. Because both deadlines are strict, the sooner we review your history the more options you may have.

What court hears mesothelioma cases filed in New York City?

Most New York City asbestos and mesothelioma cases move through NYCAL, a specialized docket at the Supreme Court, New York County. It has handled these claims since 1988. Cases involving people currently living with mesothelioma can move on an accelerated calendar built for exactly this kind of urgency. Cases in other parts of New York State are handled by other courts.

I do not remember every job site where I was exposed. Does that matter?

No. Most people cannot list every exposure source from decades ago, and that is normal, not a problem. We use employment records, union files, and co-worker accounts to reconstruct your exposure history. That work helps us identify every company that should be held responsible.

I am a Navy veteran. Does that change my case?

It can open up specific legal options. Asbestos was used throughout Navy ships for decades. Veterans exposed during service, including at shipyards like the Brooklyn Navy Yard, often have claims against the manufacturers of the products used aboard those ships. Those claims are separate from any VA benefits.

What does it cost to hire your firm?

Nothing upfront. We work on contingency. That means we only get paid if we recover compensation for you, and reviewing your case costs nothing.

How long does a New York mesothelioma case typically take?

It depends on which calendar your case falls on and how many companies are named. Cases on NYCAL’s accelerated calendar for people currently living with mesothelioma are built to move faster than a standard claim. We will give you a realistic timeline once we have reviewed your exposure history.

What if the company that made the asbestos product is no longer in business?

Many companies responsible for asbestos exposure have gone through bankruptcy. Some created trust funds to compensate victims separately from a lawsuit. We pursue both paths at once, filing claims against active defendants and pursuing available trust fund compensation. That way you don’t lose out on compensation you may be owed.

Do I have to travel to North Carolina for my case?

No. Most of the work, including document review, medical record collection, and depositions, can happen without you traveling. We handle the logistics of litigating a New York claim so you can stay focused on your health and your family.

If your question is not listed here, the fastest way to get a real answer is to tell us your situation directly.

Talk to a New York Mesothelioma Lawyer About Your Case Today

You do not have to figure out on your own whether you have a case. You do not have to work out who is responsible or how much time you have left to file. Contact Wallace & Graham today for a free review of your diagnosis and exposure history. We work on contingency, so there are no attorney fees unless we recover compensation for you.