Michael Schafle, Esq.Do mesothelioma lawyers in Easton work on a contingency fee basis?
Yes. Mesothelioma lawyers in Easton generally use a contingency fee, usually 33-40% of the recovery, paid only if the case wins. Michael Schafle, Esq. handles these claims for Lehigh Valley families across College Hill, the West Ward, and Wilson Borough without upfront attorney fees.
| Item | Typical terms |
|---|---|
| Upfront attorney fee | $0, nothing paid before the case resolves |
| Contingency percentage | 33%-40% of gross recovery |
| When the fee is owed | Only if money is recovered |
| Hourly billing | None |
| Case costs (filing, experts, records) | Advanced by the firm, reimbursed from recovery |
| Fee if the case loses | $0 attorney fee owed |
Contingency fee structure for Easton, PA mesothelioma claims
Do mesothelioma lawyers in Easton work on a contingency fee basis?
Mesothelioma lawyers in Easton, PA work on a contingency fee basis in the large majority of asbestos cases. A contingency fee is a percentage of the money recovered, not an hourly charge, so the client pays no attorney fee unless the case produces a settlement or verdict. Pennsylvania permits contingency fees in personal-injury and wrongful-death matters, subject to the written-fee-agreement rule in the Pennsylvania Rules of Professional Conduct (Rule 1.5). The percentage is set in a signed fee agreement before work begins. For mesothelioma and asbestos claims the percentage commonly falls between 33% and 40% of the gross recovery.
Contingency percentages for asbestos claims run 33% to 40%
The contingency percentage on a mesothelioma claim is usually 33% to 40% of the gross recovery, and the exact figure is written into the fee agreement before any filing. The lower end (about one-third) is common when a claim settles early; the higher end applies when a case is filed in court and litigated toward trial. Fee-arrangement basics are described by the American Bar Association and the fee rules are set under Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 1.5. The percentage is applied to the amount recovered, so a larger recovery and a smaller recovery carry the same percentage unless the written agreement says otherwise.
Case costs are advanced by the firm, not billed hourly to the family
On a contingency mesothelioma case the firm typically advances the case costs, court filing fees, medical-record retrieval, deposition transcripts, and expert reports from industrial-hygiene and pulmonology specialists. These costs are reimbursed from the recovery at the end, separate from the attorney percentage, and are itemized on the closing statement required by Pennsylvania Rule 1.5(c). If no money is recovered, families in the Lehigh Valley are generally not asked to repay those advanced costs. This structure lets a household facing medical bills pursue a claim without writing a check up front.
Asbestos bankruptcy trusts and lawsuits are separate recovery sources
A mesothelioma recovery can come from two tracks: lawsuits against solvent companies and claims against asbestos bankruptcy trusts. More than $30 billion has been set aside in asbestos bankruptcy trust funds, according to U.S. Government Accountability Office reporting (GAO-11-819). The same contingency agreement usually covers both tracks. Trust claims are paid on published payment schedules and scheduled percentages, while lawsuits settle or go to verdict. A single mesothelioma case for a former Lehigh Valley industrial worker often involves multiple defendants and multiple trusts, each tied to a specific product the worker handled.
Mesothelioma claims carry a Pennsylvania two-year filing deadline
Pennsylvania sets a two-year statute of limitations for personal-injury claims under 42 Pa. C.S. 5524, and in mesothelioma cases the clock generally starts at diagnosis rather than at the decades-old exposure. For a wrongful-death claim the two-year period generally runs from the date of death. Because asbestos exposure in the Lehigh Valley often dates back 30 to 50 years, the diagnosis date, not the old job date, controls the deadline. Occupational-exposure background is documented by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and by the National Cancer Institute. Filing within the window preserves access to both lawsuit defendants and trust funds.
How a contingency mesothelioma case proceeds from first call to recovery
A contingency mesothelioma case follows a clear sequence. First, an intake reviews the diagnosis, work history, and exposure sites. Second, a written contingency fee agreement is signed, setting the percentage. Third, the firm gathers employment records, union records, and product identification, and advances the costs. Fourth, claims are filed against defendants and matching asbestos trusts within the two-year deadline. Fifth, the case settles or proceeds to verdict. Sixth, a closing statement lists the recovery, the attorney percentage, and the reimbursed costs. The client receives the balance. Asbestos health facts are published by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.
Easton specifics
Easton sits in Northampton County, where asbestos exposure traces to heavy industry across the Lehigh Valley, the Bethlehem Steel works, the Dixie Cup plant on the hill above the city, foundries, railroad shops, and area powerhouses that ran through the mid-20th century. Many retired tradesmen in College Hill, the West Ward, South Side, Palmer Heights, and Wilson Borough worked those sites decades before a mesothelioma diagnosis. Pennsylvania asbestos lawsuits are frequently filed in the Court of Common Pleas, and the two-year deadline under 42 Pa. C.S. 5524 runs from diagnosis. Michael Schafle, Esq. meets families at the kitchen table across the Nazareth Road area, The Hill, Lafayette Park, and Butztown, handling the paperwork on a contingency basis so a household can focus on care rather than legal costs. Navy veterans exposed aboard ship may also hold VA claims alongside civil claims, background on veteran asbestos exposure is published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.
Related questions
How much does a mesothelioma lawyer cost in Easton?
Nothing up front. The fee is a contingency percentage, usually 33%-40% of the recovery, owed only if the case recovers money; case costs are advanced by the firm.
What is the statute of limitations for a mesothelioma claim in Pennsylvania?
Two years under 42 Pa. C.S. 5524, generally starting at diagnosis for injury claims and at the date of death for wrongful-death claims.
Can the family of a deceased Easton worker still file a mesothelioma claim?
Yes. A wrongful-death and survival claim can be brought by the estate, generally within two years of the date of death, covering both lawsuits and asbestos trust funds.
What asbestos exposure sites in the Lehigh Valley lead to mesothelioma claims?
Bethlehem Steel, the Dixie Cup plant, foundries, railroad shops, powerhouses, and Navy ships are common exposure sources for Easton-area tradesmen and veterans.
How long does a mesothelioma case take to resolve in Pennsylvania?
Trust claims can pay on published schedules in months; litigated lawsuits against defendants generally take longer, depending on filing, discovery, and whether the case settles or goes to verdict.