PERRY WEITZ
Attorney Perry Weitz says that he got into the practice of law because he always wanted to help “ the little guy .” And as one of the foremost asbestos attorneys in the country , he has certainly achieved that goal .
Shortly after graduating from Hofstra University Law School , Weitz became involved with the AFL-CIO union when they were looking for a lawyer willing to take on asbestos companies . At the time , many attorneys were reluctant to take on such a powerhouse of an industry , and with the statute of limitations on asbestos exposure at the time being far shorter than the latency period for mesothelioma and asbestosis , handling these cases was considered an impossible task .
But that changed in 1987 when the state of New York amended the statute of limitations , leading to a surge in asbestos litigation at which Perry Weitz was at the helm . It was Weitz ’ s unyielding sense of duty to the thousands of victims that helped secure verdict after verdict , eventually leading to a multi-billion dollar federal fund to help the people who had suffered from exposure to asbestos , even to this day .
Of this work , Weitz says , “ I found it immensely rewarding to help these people change their lives by taking on powerful corporations that other attorneys were afraid to go after . I decided to dedicate myself and my career to helping mesothelioma , lung cancer , and asbestos victims .”
Challenging the norm with his asbestos litigation doesn ’ t even begin to tell the entire story of Weitz ’ s career . Over the years , he has taken on numerous Fortune 500 companies who have wronged both their employees and the public , and he has consistently been listed in “ Best Lawyers In America .” He also has repeatedly and consistently earned the title of “ Super Lawyer ” from a prestigious organization that gauges the performance of attorneys across the nation . In 2011 , the Trial Lawyers for Public Justice proclaimed him the recipient of its “ Champion of Justice ” award . In 2012 , he was New York City “ Lawyer of the Year ” in the category of mass-torts litigation and class-action lawsuits on the plaintiffs ’ side .
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