1612 K St NW Suite 1101, Washington, DC 20006

Nationwide Case Review · 2026

Diagnosed With Mesothelioma or an Asbestos-Related Illness?
Cornerstone Law Can Help.

Mesothelioma and asbestos claims have climbed for three straight years, with Philadelphia, New York, and Illinois courts seeing the sharpest increases and more than $30 billion still sitting in bankruptcy trust funds. Cornerstone Law represents victims and families nationwide — with no upfront cost to you.

Manufacturers and employers relied on asbestos for decades despite mounting evidence of its dangers, exposing shipyard workers, tradespeople, service members, and everyday consumers to a substance now tied to mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. 2025 alone saw 4,244 new asbestos-related lawsuits, over 2,000 of them mesothelioma diagnoses. Because the disease can take 20–50 years to surface after exposure, new cases continue to be filed every week — and the trust funds set up to compensate victims are still very much active.
4,244 New asbestos lawsuits, 2025
2,035 Mesothelioma diagnoses filed
$30B+ Sitting in bankruptcy trusts
$100M+ Recent top jury verdicts

The Courts Seeing the Biggest Increases

Three jurisdictions account for most of the recent growth. Philadelphia's asbestos docket has grown faster than any other single court in the country this year. New York has also seen a sharp rise, largely tied to construction and industrial exposure claims. Meanwhile, Madison and St. Clair Counties in Illinois remain the busiest asbestos courts nationally, running dedicated fast-track trial dates for the most seriously ill plaintiffs.

+40%

Philadelphia, PA

Fastest-growing single jurisdiction in 2026

+25%

New York, NY

Driven largely by construction & industrial claims

#1

Madison & St. Clair Counties, IL

Busiest asbestos docket in the country

  • Secondary exposure claims are growing — spouses and children exposed through contaminated work clothes are increasingly eligible to file
  • Talc-related mesothelioma claims are expanding — a growing number of cases now link long-term talcum powder use to asbestos contamination
  • Verdicts have ranged from $10M to over $100M in recent trials, depending on exposure history and the defendant's conduct

Two Paths to Compensation — Often Pursued Together

Asbestos cases aren't consolidated into one federal MDL the way many other mass torts are. Instead, victims typically have two separate avenues for recovery, and Cornerstone Law evaluates both for every client we take on.

Path 1 Filing a Lawsuit

Claims filed in active state courts (IL, PA, NY, CA, MD, and others) against the manufacturers, suppliers, and employers responsible for the exposure. Verdicts in recent years have ranged from $10 million to more than $100 million.

Path 2 Bankruptcy Trust Claims

Dozens of companies that once made or used asbestos products have set aside more than $30 billion in dedicated trust funds. Claims can be filed against several trusts at once, often independent of, and faster than, a courtroom case.

Most clients qualify for both. We identify every viable defendant and every trust fund that applies to your specific exposure history, so nothing is left on the table.

Do You Qualify to File a Claim?

If you or someone in your family was diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness after exposure at work, in the military, or through a household member's job, you may have a claim — including "take-home" exposure through a spouse or parent's contaminated clothing.

Qualifying Diagnoses

  • Mesothelioma
  • Lung cancer with documented asbestos exposure
  • Asbestosis
  • Pleural thickening or plaques

Common Sources of Exposure

  • Shipyards & naval service
  • Construction & insulation work
  • Auto repair (brakes & clutches)
  • Military service, any branch
  • Power plants & refineries
  • Industrial & manufacturing facilities
  • Asbestos-containing consumer products
  • Secondary / household exposure

What Clients Ask Us Most

How long do I have to file a claim?

Deadlines vary by state and by the date of diagnosis (not the date of exposure), so it's worth having your specific timeline reviewed rather than assuming you're too late.

What does it cost to work with Cornerstone Law?

We take asbestos and mesothelioma cases on contingency — there's no upfront fee, and we only get paid if we recover compensation for you.

Can I still file if the company that exposed me went bankrupt?

Often, yes. That's exactly what the bankruptcy trust system exists for — it lets victims recover compensation even when the responsible company no longer operates.

What if my family member passed away from mesothelioma?

Surviving family members may be able to bring a wrongful death claim on the decedent's behalf. We can walk you through what that looks like in your state.

Why Cornerstone Law: Our attorneys focus on holding corporations accountable for the harm caused by dangerous products and toxic exposure — from asbestos to PFAS to talc. We handle the trust claims, the paperwork, and the litigation, so you can focus on your health and your family.

Cornerstone Law Is Reviewing Asbestos & Mesothelioma Cases Nationwide

If you or a loved one was exposed to asbestos and later diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, our team can help you understand what compensation you may be owed — from both litigation and bankruptcy trusts.

Get a Free Case Review

No fee unless we recover compensation for you. Call 1-800-928-9445.

This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case.
Cornerstone Law Is Reviewing Asbestos & Mesothelioma Cases Free, no-obligation case review — you pay nothing unless we win.
Get Your Free Case Review