Essington families facing mesothelioma often have a clear idea of where the asbestos exposure began. For generations, the Westinghouse turbine works at Lester was one of Tinicum Township’s largest employers. It comes up again and again in cases from this part of Delaware County. Michael C. Schafle, Esq., a Philadelphia trial lawyer, represents these workers and their families in claims throughout Pennsylvania.
Westinghouse Lester Turbine Plant Asbestos Exposure in Essington, PA
Steam turbines run on superheated steam. For much of the time the Lester plant was building them, the insulation used to handle that heat often contained asbestos. Machinists, winders, assemblers, laggers, and test floor crews may have worked near insulated casings and piping. Maintenance trades often had to cut into that material during repairs. Finished turbines also shipped out with asbestos components, so Lester equipment shows up in exposure histories from power plants and ships well beyond Pennsylvania. If you or a family member spent years at that plant, it is worth asking whether that work involved asbestos.
Delaware County Asbestos Exposure Sites: Sun Shipbuilding, Chester Refineries, and More
Tinicum is close to several other well-documented Pennsylvania asbestos exposure sites. Downriver, Sun Shipbuilding in Chester employed thousands of tradesmen who worked inside ships built with asbestos materials. Delaware County work histories often include more than one of these employers. A person might have spent a few years at the shipyard, then time at Westinghouse, plus side work in construction or at a nearby refinery. Each job site matters because each one may add responsible companies to a claim.
Filing a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas
Essington sits right next to Philadelphia, and that location can matter legally. Philadelphia’s Court of Common Pleas has run a dedicated asbestos litigation program for decades, and Mr. Schafle handles cases on that docket. Our page on the Philadelphia asbestos docket explains how it works. Still, no court is automatically the right choice. Where a case is filed depends on the facts, and that decision usually comes after the exposure history is put together. The best venue for one family may not be the best venue for another.
Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Claim Requirements and Filing Deadlines
A strong case generally starts with a mesothelioma diagnosis and an exposure history that can be traced. You do not need old pay stubs, insulation brand names, or exact dates. Those gaps can often be filled with Social Security earnings records, union and plant documents, and testimony from earlier cases involving the same facilities.
Pennsylvania law sets deadlines for these claims. How much time a family has can depend on the diagnosis date, whether the worker has passed away, and other details. Because of that, it makes sense to speak with a lawyer soon rather than trying to set a deadline on your own.
Family members exposed to dust brought home on work clothes may also have a claim, even if they never worked at the plant. Navy veterans may have another path as well, since turbines and boilers on ships often used the same kinds of insulation. A civilian asbestos claim generally does not affect VA benefits.
Experienced Pennsylvania Mesothelioma Attorney Serving Essington and Statewide
Michael Schafle handles mesothelioma cases from his South Broad Street office in Philadelphia for clients across Pennsylvania. Essington is one of the communities listed on our statewide coverage hub. He has resolved multiple mesothelioma cases for significant amounts in recent years. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. His approach stays the same from case to case: rebuild the work history, identify every responsible company and asbestos trust, and pursue each claim without putting extra burdens on the family.
How a Westinghouse Lester Work History Can Strengthen Your Asbestos Claim
In many mesothelioma cases, the hardest question is where the asbestos came from. A documented work history at Westinghouse Lester can help answer that question early. From there, a lawyer can focus on the remaining issues, such as filing deadlines and which companies may be responsible.
Free Mesothelioma Case Review for Essington, PA Families
Michael Schafle also maintains a site just for Essington families, mesotheliomalawyeressingtonpa.com. It covers local exposure history, gives an overview of filing deadlines, and offers the same free case review.
A free case review is a good place to start. It can help your family understand whether you may have a claim and what the next steps could be.