For Philadelphia families, a mesothelioma case can often be investigated, filed, and tried close to home. The court that has handled the region’s asbestos claims for decades is here. So are many of the job sites behind local exposures. Michael C. Schafle, Esq., handles asbestos cases in that court from his office on South Broad Street. If you or a parent worked in this city and now faces a mesothelioma diagnosis, here is what makes your case local and why that matters.
Philadelphia Asbestos Exposure Sites: Shipyards, Refineries, and Factories
A few kinds of workplaces account for much of the asbestos disease in the city. The first is the former Philadelphia Naval Shipyard at the south end of Broad Street, where generations of workers built, repaired, and overhauled Navy ships. The second is the former refinery complex along the Schuylkill River in South and Southwest Philadelphia. The third is the industrial corridor in Nicetown and nearby neighborhoods, including the old Midvale Steel Works. For much of the twentieth century, asbestos was common in shipbuilding and in the insulation around boilers, pipes, and industrial equipment (National Cancer Institute).
These are not the only sources. Construction trades, power plants, and older buildings have produced cases, too. A fuller list is in our Pennsylvania asbestos exposure sites library. If your workplace is not listed, you may still have a case. The research simply starts with your work history.
Philadelphia Asbestos Litigation in the Court of Common Pleas
The Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas has run a dedicated asbestos program for decades under the caption In re: Asbestos Litigation. Cases move through a coordinated docket before judges who regularly handle asbestos evidence, under procedures designed for this kind of litigation. Michael Schafle handles cases in this court. You can read more about how the Philadelphia asbestos docket works. The practical point is simple: your case would be heard in a court with long experience in claims like yours, by an attorney who already practices there.
Why File a Mesothelioma Lawsuit in Philadelphia County
Venue is a legal question. It usually depends on where the exposure happened and where the companies being sued do business. For many people exposed in this city, Philadelphia County may be a proper place to file. A long-running asbestos program offers practical advantages: established scheduling, judges familiar with the medical and product evidence, and procedures that can help move cases for living patients. None of this predicts the outcome of any case. It does mean the system for handling yours is already in place here.
Secondary Asbestos Exposure in Philadelphia Families
Shipyard and refinery workers often carried asbestos fibers home on their clothes. Some patients today have never held an industrial job. They washed those work clothes, or grew up in the rowhouse where the clothes were washed. The National Cancer Institute recognizes this take-home exposure. If this describes you, the case is built from the worker’s job history rather than your own, and it is pursued the same way. Learn more about secondary asbestos exposure.
Mesothelioma Filing Deadlines and Free Case Review in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania sets strict time limits on asbestos claims, and those limits can start running sooner than families expect. Matching job sites to asbestos products takes time, so an early call helps protect your rights without committing you to anything. Meetings can happen at your home or at the hospital when travel is difficult. Michael represents families across Pennsylvania, not only in Philadelphia.
Michael Schafle also keeps a site just for Philadelphia families, mesotheliomalawyerphiladelphiapa.com, with local exposure history, general information about filing deadlines, and the same free case review.
Start with a free case review, and Michael will give you an honest look at your Philadelphia case.