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Disclaimers DISCLAIMERS Content Is Information Only, Not Advice Thank you for visiting the web site of Patten, Wornom, Hatten and Diamonstein, L.C., ("PWHD"). The information contained on the PWHD Web site is provided for educational and informational purposes only. The contents of this site are not and should not be construed as legal advice. The web site is not an offer to perform services on any matter. This Web site contains general information from a variety of sources and might not reflect current legal developments, verdicts or settlements. We do not undertake to update material in our web site to reflect subsequent legal or other developments. No Relationship Or Obligation Arises from Use of the Site The law differs in every jurisdiction, and you should not rely on any opinion except that of an attorney you have retained, who has a professional duty to advise you after being fully informed of all the pertinent facts, and who is licensed in the applicable state, and is familiar with the applicable law. Internet subscribers and online readers should seek professional counsel about their legal rights and remedies. You should not act or refrain from acting on the basis of any information found this site. Any actions or decisions about your legal rights should be based on the particular facts and circumstances of your situation, and appropriate legal advice from an attorney who has agreed to represent you in your particular matter. PWHD expressly disclaims all liability with respect to actions taken or not taken based upon any information or other contents of this site. Viewing the PWHD site, or communicating with PWHD by Internet e-mail or through this site, does not constitute or create an attorney-client relationship with anyone. The content and features on this site do not create, and are not intended to create, an attorney-client relationship, and shall not be construed as legal advice. This content and features of this web site, including means to submit a question or information, do not constitute an offer to represent you. Confidentiality is Not Guaranteed Any information sent to Patten, Wornom, Hatten and Diamonstein, L.C., via Internet e-mail or through the Web site is not secure and is done on a non-confidential basis. PWHD respects the privacy of any person who contacts our firm, and we will make reasonable efforts to keep information private, but because of the nature of Internet communications and the absence of an attorney/client relationship, we cannot promise or guarantee confidentiality. Additional Terms of Use Any use of this Site is subject to the complete Terms of Use . By using this Site, you agree to these Terms as well as the Disclaimer provisions on this page. DISCLAIMER - THIS SITE DOES NOT PROVIDE MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS OR ADVICE. The content provided on this site, such as documents, text, graphics, images2, or other materials, are for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a physician for diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition or for any questions you may have regarding a health concern. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen on this site. Links to other sites are provided for information only. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not constitute endorsement by Patten, Wornom, Hatten and Diamonstein, L.C.

By the 1940s, major medical journals began publishing articles linking asbestos to cancer. And by the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, reports of a previously unheard-of asbestos cancer, mesothelioma, were published. But companies continued to use the mineral in manufacturing and construction, failing to inform the public of the serious health risks associated with asbestos. ASBESTOS LITIGATION What Did Companies Know? Read More Asbestos Exposure What is Asbestos? What is Mesothelioma? Occupations at Risk Ship Builders, and Navy Veterans Asbestos Disease Claims Contact Us By the 1920s, the non-malignant disease of asbestosis, was known to kill or disable workers. By the 1940s, major medical journals began publishing articles linking asbestos to cancer. But companies continued to use the mineral in manufacturing and construction, failing to inform the public of the serious health risks associated with asbestos. Throughout 1930s, 1940s and 1950s, major journals published articles on asbestosis and how to protect workers and control the release of asbestos dust. And by the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, reports of a previously unheard-of asbestos cancer, mesothelioma, were published. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease like Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, or Asbestosis, call us at 757-223-4545 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation. Asbestos Litigation Attorneys Robert R. Hatten Contact PWHD Hugh B. McCormick, III. Geoffr ey R. Grau Adam M. Hawks

More than thirty percent (30%) of Americans with mesothelioma cancer were exposed to asbestos while serving in the United States Military. Many more were Naval Contractors, and Shipyard Workers, who helped build and service Navy and commercial vessels. Asbestos exposure is the only cause of Malignant Mesothelioma. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease like Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, or Asbestosis. ASBESTOS LITIGATION Ship Builders & Navy Veterans Read More Asbestos Exposure What is Asbestos? What is Mesothelioma? What did Companies Know? Occupations at Risk Asbestos Disease Claims Contact Us More than thirty percent (30%) of Americans with mesothelioma cancer were exposed to asbestos while serving in the United States Military. Many more were Naval Contractors, and Shipyard Workers, who helped build and service Navy and commercial vessels. Asbestos exposure is the only cause of Malignant Mesothelioma. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease like Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, or Asbestosis, call us at 757-223-4500 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation. Armed Forces Veterans and shipyard workers who served between 1940 and 1980 have a great risk of developing asbestos-related illnesses , such as: Asbestosis Lung Cancer Mesothelioma Navy personnel and shipyard workers, such as the Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, the Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Co. (“Norshipco”), Horne Brothers Shipyard, Metro Machine, Colonna Shipyard , and others from the 1930s through the 1980s, are at a high risk for developing a disease due to asbestos exposure. Navy Ships Nearly all branches of the military and commercial vessels utilized asbestos for many purposes. More than three hundred asbestos containing products were used by the military, the 1930s through the 1980s. Every Navy and commercial ship built before the 1980s employed numerous asbestos-containing materials, putting veterans, sailors and Shipbuilders at risk. These asbestos materials were used throughout Navy and commercial vessels. Personnel who worked below deck were exposed to asbestos dust consistently. All sailors, shipbuilders, and ship repair workers aboard Navy and commercial vessels are at risk for Mesothelioma , as asbestos products were used in navigation rooms, sleeping quarters, mess halls, engine rooms, boiler rooms, pump rooms, and throughout the ships. Due to the nature of ship construction, demolition and repair work that took place at Shipyards in Virginia, shipyard workers were exposed to inhaling toxic asbestos fibers provided by a wide range of asbestos product suppliers including John Crane, Inc., Warren Pumps, IMO/DeLaval, Nash, Velan, Aurora, William Powell, Byron Jackson, Ingersoll Rand, J.R. Clarkson, Crane Co., Rockwell, Edwards, Goulds, Noland, Cleaver-Brooks, Tate Andale, Milwaukee, Gardner Denver, Kunkle, Northern, Foster Wheeler, Owens-Illinois, Owens-Corning, and Selby Battersby (SB Decking), among others. Asbestos could be found in gaskets, valves, pumps, evaporators and distillers, forced draft blowers and other fans, condensers, floor and pipe coverings, clutches and brakes, among other things. Because of the extensive use of Asbestos materials and Asbestos-containing products, Virginia Navy veterans and shipyard workers are one of the most at-risk groups for developing Malignant Mesothelioma Lung Cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. Virginia Shipyards in the Hampton Roads Region of Virginia A. Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company, Newport News, Virginia The Newport News Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company (NNS), now known as Newport news Shipbuilding (a division of Huntington Ingalls, Inc.), is location in Newport News, Virginia and has been building commercial ships since 1980, and military vesserls since 1893. Newport News Shipbuilding is the only shipbuilding company in the United States that designs, builds and refuels nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. It is also one of only two companies that designs and builds nuclear-powered submarines. Newport News Shipbuilding in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia provided construction and repair services for naval and commercial vessels of all types, and in its more than 100 years of existence, has built hundreds of commercial and naval vessels. If you worked for any of these shipyards in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia, worked aboard a ship there, or were stationed aboard a vessel built in the Newport News shipyard , you may have been exposed to asbestos and be at risk for mesothelioma cancer. B. Norfolk Naval Shipyard, Portsmouth, Virginia Norfolk Naval Shipyard is a Navy yard in the Hampton Roads city of Portsmouth, Virginia. It has the distinction of being the oldest U.S. Navy Shipyard and was originally founded in 1767. When its initial founder decided to remain loyal to the British during the Revolutionary War, the shipyard was seized by the Colony of Virginia. The Shipyard subsequently became a Navy yard owned by the United States government and was renamed the Norfolk Naval Shipyard after the largest city in the area. For over 200 years, Norfolk naval Shipyard has built and repaired Navy ships. During World War II, the shipyard employed nearly 43,000 workers, built nearly 30 major vessels, and repaired 6,850 U.S. and Allied ships. During the Korean War, the shipyard completed work on more than 1,250 Naval vessels, and it has continued to repair large numbers of Navy vessels since then. C. Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company NORSHIPCO is a subsidiary of United States Marine Repair, Inc. (USMR). Located in Hampton Roads city of Norfolk, Virginia, it is the largest non-nuclear ship repair, modernization, conversion and overhaul company in the United States. From its inception in 1915, NORSHIPCO served the Navy through both World Wars, Korea, and all other conflicts. If you have been diagnosed with an asbestos related disease like Mesothelioma, Lung Cancer, or Asbestosis, call us at 757-223-4500 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation. Asbestos Litigation Attorneys Robert R. Hatten Contact PWHD Hugh B. McCormick, III. Geoffr ey R. Grau Adam M. Hawks

PWHD is excited to announce that 5 of our attorneys have been named to the 2022 Super Lawyers List. Only the top 5% of attorneys in each state are selected to the Super Lawyers List, which evaluates lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement.  Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. 2023 Best Lawyers Honorees According to Best Lawyers, "Only the top 5.3% of all practicing lawyers in the U.S. were selected by their peers for inclusion in the 29th edition of The Best Lawyers in America." Donald N. Patten Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs Robert R. Hatten 2023 "Lawyer of the Year" for Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs in Norfolk Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs Personal Injury Litigation - Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs Hugh B. McCormick, III Mass Tort Litigation / Class Actions - Plaintiffs Product Liability Litigation - Plaintiffs James H. Shoemaker, Jr. Employment Law - Individuals Litigation - Labor and Employment

In remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr., the attorneys and staff at Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, LC, extend our sincerest gratitude for the achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., our office will be closed on Monday, January 16th, 2023. We look forward to assisting you when our office re-opens on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023. In remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr., the attorneys and staff at Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, LC, extend our sincerest gratitude for the achievements of Martin Luther King, Jr. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr., our office will be closed on Monday, January 16th, 2023. We look forward to assisting you when our office re-opens on Tuesday, January 17th, 2023.

What is Mesothelioma? Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which develops in the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs and is caused by asbestos exposure. Many veterans as well as individuals who worked in shipyards, power plants, refineries, railroads, factories, and other industrial settings were exposed to asbestos... Have You or a Loved One Been Diagnosed With Mesothelioma? Let Our Team Fight for You - Local Lawyers with a National Reputation Contact PWHD Mesothelioma is a rare form of cancer which develops in the mesothelium, the protective lining that covers many of the body's internal organs and is caused by asbestos exposure. Many veterans as well as individuals who worked in shipyards, power plants, refineries, railroads, factories, and other industrial settings were exposed to asbestos during the course of their employment and are at risk for contracting mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases, including lung cancer and asbestosis. Housewives and children who lived with family members who worked in these industries are also at risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. L et our team fight for you! We have been at the forefront of asbestos litigation for the past 50 years. Our accomplishments include : The first successful consolidation of more than 1,000 lawsuits, the first national settlement program with the asbestos industry. The first Virginia punitive damage jury verdict against the asbestos industry (1991) and the largest punitive damage verdict in an asbestos case (2011). For 6 consecutive years, PWHD's verdicts against the asbestos industry were listed in the Top 10 Verdicts for the state of Virginia. These included the following multi-million-dollar verdicts for mesothelioma victims: $7,500,000 (201 6); $25,000,000 (2011); $5,977,482 (2010); $3,800,000(2009); $4,390,000 (2008); $9,300,000 (2007); $10,000,000 (2006). If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you can discuss your potential claim with us at NO COST by calling us locally at 757-223-4545 for a free consultation or fill out our contact form . We will come to you. Disclaime r: Past successes of PWHD litigation does not guarantee success in any new or future case. The information contained within this website does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. The outcome of each legal case depends upon many factors, and no attorney can guarantee a positive result in any particular case. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Mesothelioma Attorneys Robert R. Hatten Hugh B. McCormick, III. Geoffr ey R. Grau Adam M. Hawks Read More Asbestos Litigation What is Asbestos? What is Mesothelioma? What did Companies Know? Occupations at Risk Asbestos Disease Claims Contact PWHD

Contact PWHD Product Liability attorneys for asbestos, mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, medical devices, Roundup, 3M hearing Protection, Talc, workers' compensation, employment & labor, personal injury & wrongful death, and whistleblower / qui tam. Free Case Evaluation We ask that you complete as many questions below as possible, so our skilled attorneys are able to best understand your particular needs. If you require immediate assistance, please call us at (757) 223-4500 . First Name Last Name Phone Email Please select a litigation area that pertains to your issue/case: * Asbestos Employment & Labor Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Products Liability Whistleblower / Qui Tam Workers' Compensation Other What injury, illness, or issue do you have? Submit

For more information on attorneys in Newport News, call (757) 223-4500 today to make an appointment with Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein. Partners: Our Team Partners Partner Robert R. Hatten Practice Areas: Products Liability Litigation Partner Eleanor Weston Brown Practice Areas: Estate and Tax Planning Estate Administration Probate Trust Administration Business Succession Planning Partner Kenneth R. Yoffy Practice Areas: Whistleblower / Qui Tam Litigation Partner C. Thomas Turbeville, Jr. Practice Areas: Whistleblower / Qui Tam Litigation Partner James H. Shoemaker, Jr. Practice Areas: Whistleblower / Qui Tam Litigation Employment Litigation Partner Hugh B. McCormick, III Practice Areas: Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Litigation Products Liability Litigation Partner Scott L. Reichle Practice Areas: Whistleblower / Qui Tam Litigation Trial Co-Counsel Partner Nathan D. Finch Practice Areas: Asbestos Exposure Toxic Exposure Associates Associates: Our Team Associate Geoffrey R. Grau Practice Areas: Products Liability Litigation Associate Adam M. Hawks Practice Areas: Products Liability Litigation Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Litigation Employment Litigation

We will represent you zealously and to the best of our ability with Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein today by calling (757) 223-4500. PRINCIPLES & VALUES PWHD believes that everyone is entitled to prompt, courteous, accurate and ethical legal advice on fair terms. We want to partner with our clients to obtain the very best results possible for the client, depending on the client’s needs and desires. This requires direct, open and honest communication and cooperation between our attorneys, staff members and clients. We endeavor to communicate with our clients on a timely basis, return their phone calls and inquiries promptly, and keep them fully involved in the conduct of their cases. PWHD has a solid appreciation for the civil justice system and right of jury trial. We believe that all people should have the right to request a trial by a jury of their peers, and that they should be able to have their day in court. If your case is one that should be tried, we will represent you zealously and to the best of our ability. If we believe that an option other than trial may be better for your case, we will candidly and respectfully discuss that option with you. Finally, PWHD believes that we have an obligation to support our community and neighbors through various volunteer and not-for-profit enterprises. As a firm, we are constantly learning, growing and seeking ways to improve our services to our clients and community. Through these activities we hope to help at risk children and other vulnerable members of our community to grow and thrive. PWHD History PWHD News

Make an appointment with us today by calling (757) 223-4500. Soundscapes Golf Tournament 2021 Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic presented by PWHD Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic presented by PWHD Bobby Hatten and Friends Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic presented by PWHD Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic presented by PWHD Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic presented by PWHD 1/5 PWHD is proud to report that it recently presented the Soundscapes 2021 Golf Classic Tournament. PWHD Asbestos and Products Liability Lead Litigation Attorney, Bobby Hatten, played in the tournament along with other friends of the firm. Soundscapes is a local nonprofit organization that teaches critical life skills to students through music education. All proceeds from the Soundscapes Golf Classic support the student musicians, and the heart of Soundscape’s mission, which is the strong belief in the power of music to change lives and the understanding that all children have valuable contributions to make both musically and to our community. PWHD has been a supporter of Soundscapes since its inception. Bobby Hatten is a founding member of the Board of Directors of Soundscapes and has served as its Chairman of the Board since its inception in 2010. The Honorable Alan A. Diamonstein , former PWHD Partner, was also passionate about Soundscapes’ mission and served as a founding member of the Board of Directors of Soundscapes until he passed away in 2019. PWHD is dedicated and committed to supporting organizations like Soundscapes which positively impact the lives of children on the Peninsula. Learn more about Soundscapes , Bobby Hatten and PWHD here: PWHD in the Community Robert R. Hatten Products Liability Soundscapes General Litigation 16th Annual Food Frenzy to Benefit the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank 16th Annual Food Frenzy For many years, PWHD has sought to help those in need and provide help for those who find themselves in difficult circumstances. PWHD is pleased to announce our participation in the 16th Annual Food Frenzy to benefit the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. PWHD is a longtime supporter of the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. Since 1986, the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank has served those struggling with hunger throughout the Peninsula The Virginia Peninsula Foodbank also provides programs for children, seniors and others in our community facing food insecurity.. PWHD has also participated in the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank’s Legal Food Frenzy since its inception and is continuing its support by participating in the 2021 Legal Food Frenzy. Contributions to the Foodbank can be made directly here: Patten Wornom Hatten Diamonstein L C is fundraising for Virginia Peninsula Foodbank (justgiving.com) In 2021, PWHD attorneys and staff again volunteered at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank in Hampton as part of the firm’s participation in the Legal Food Frenzy. At the event, volunteers packed boxes for the Foodbank’s community food pantry partners, which totaled in excess of 3,500 pounds of food. In addition, as a result of the firm’s fundraising efforts and contributions of non-perishable food in 2021 for the Legal Food Frenzy, the Foodbank will be able to provide 11,930 meals to those in need in our community. At PWHD, we are committed to ensuring a better day for our neighbors and friends. Read more about PWHD’s community involvement here: https://www.pwhd.com/community If you need legal representation, give us a call today at 757-223-4500 or fill out our online contact form . Our attorneys handle a variety of legal matters and are available by phone, videoconference, or in-person meetings to discuss your legal needs. Rector of CNU Robert Hatten 2020 Super Lawyers Rector Robert R. Hatten, Esq. Statement on Black Lives Matter and Social Justice CNU Board of Visitors, June 4, 2020 Good afternoon. I am Bobby Hatten. I am a trial lawyer and I have the great honor to serve as the Rector of the Board of Visitors of Christopher Newport University, and I welcome all of you to this public meeting of that board. Before starting the business meeting I would like to take a moment of personal privilege to speak to everyone in the Commonwealth of Virginia who is listening: We have a crisis of structural and intractable racism in America. It is obvious and blatant to everyone who has eyes to see and a heart to understand. So obvious that the entire country has just seen a policeman murder a Black man in broad daylight, slowly killing him with his knee on his neck, while three other policemen stood by and did nothing to stop it. That crime, as well as other atrocities by police, has ignited the justifiable rage and anger of millions of Americans—Black, Brown and White—who are still marching through our cities and towns. Chanting, crying, shouting, and pleading “BLACK LIVES MATTER”—and indeed they do. One thing is certain: White people, like me, DO NOT KNOW what it is like to be Black in America, But IF this week has taught us anything, it has taught us that it is time—long past time—that White men and women in America need to start listening to Black people and standing up with them. Listen when they say: America has a crisis of impunity, immunity, and accountability for police brutality toward Black people. Listen when they say: America has a crisis of inequality in income, health care, opportunity, and education for Black people. Listen when they say: America has a crisis of justice in our courts and of leadership in our government. All over America, these cries of Black people for justice and fairness have not been answered. BUT today the whole world is listening. We—White people—should have been listening sooner – but this is not new. Systemic racism against Black people has been ingrained in American culture for hundreds of years. From slavery, to Jim Crow laws, to the Ku Klux Klan, to segregated schools, restaurants, and hotels, to the red lining of real estate, and the killing of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., this part of our American history is an ugly story. Only three years ago, as a country we shamed a Black football player who harmlessly put his knee on the ground to protest police brutality during the singing of our national anthem. He rightly believed that our national pledge of allegiance is to “one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all.” But the police killings of Black men and women has continued. Enough is enough. White people can no longer look away and refuse to confront these issues. It is long past time for broad-reaching structural and institutional changes to our laws and our culture to root out and destroy racism against Black and Brown people in America. As leaders of this great University, we have heard the voices of the Black Community and we support you. Your voices, thoughts, and feelings matter to the University– but we want you to know that we have not been waiting for this national tragedy to respond. Under the progressive leadership of President Paul Trible, Last year we instituted the Community Captains program to directly change the lives of economically disadvantaged children in Newport News, most of whom are Black. This program will ultimately provide 100 students with a totally free college education at CNU. This progressive program is unmatched by any other college or university in the state of Virginia. Last week the University Council on Diversity and Inclusion, led by our colleagues Sheriff Gabe Morgan and Brad Hunter, and including students, faculty, staff, alumni, and leaders from the community—submitted Christopher Newport’s Strategic Plan for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to the Commonwealth of Virginia. In thoughtful detail, this 25-page document outlines a bold plan of action for the University to overcome the remaining burdens of historical racism in higher education. Today, twenty-one percent (21%) of CNU’s 5,000 students are non-White, and 300 are Black. I am pleased to report that our focus on attracting more students of color has increased the number of Black students we expect to welcome to our Freshman class based on deposits received. This year we expect to welcome 91 Black students versus 78 last year—an increase of 16%. The Community Captains Program that I have just described will swell those numbers of Black students in future years. Paul Trible’s mantra and CNU’s mission is to change hearts and minds so that we can provide leadership to our community, our state, and our country. Happily, the hearts and minds of our nation are changing—yesterday thousands of Black, Brown, and White people gathered in front of the White House and their voices were lifted up in unison as they sang - Lean on ME – Lean on me when you’re not strong, I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on. CNU’s message to our students and to this community is simple: Lean on Us because Black Lives Do Matter at CNU, and we intend to play a leadership role in changing the hearts and minds of our students, our community, and our country so that we can end the crisis of racism that is so destructive to our national ideals of equality, fairness, and justice. Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein (PWHD) is Excited to Announce Our Attorneys have been Named to the 2020 Super Lawyers List. About Super Lawyers Only the top 5% of attorneys in each state are selected to the Super Lawyers List, which evaluates lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high-degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The objective is to create a credible, comprehensive and diverse listing of outstanding attorneys. Each candidate is evaluated on 12 indicators of peer recognition and professional achievement. Virginia Super Lawyers can be found by searching the directory online at superlawyers.com 2020 SUPER LAWYERS Donald N. Patten 15th time selected as a Super Lawyer Donald Patten, a Newport News attorney, has represented individuals and businesses in product liability and negligence actions, commercial contract disputes and real estate business matters for over 50 years. Patten, who represents firm clients in multi-jurisdictional asbestos related bankruptcy proceedings, has been named in Best Lawyers in America every year since 2001 and has been chosen as a Virginia Super Lawyer every year since 2006. He is a former President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and has been awarded the highest AV ranking by the Martindale-Hubbell® lawyer rating service. Approximately 10% of all attorneys hold an AV Preeminent Rating, a designation trusted worldwide by buyers and referrers of legal services. Robert R. Hatten 15th time selected as a Super Lawyer For over 40 years Bobby Hatten has been a pioneer and national leader in asbestos litigation, prosecuting cases across Virginia and the nation for shipyard workers, Navy veterans, industrial workers, and their families. His work has established landmark decisions relating to maritime jurisdiction, statutes of limitations, conflicts of law, monetary damages, and product liability. For 25 years he has been listed in The Best Lawyers in America and chosen by Best Lawyers as Lawyer of the Year for 2019. In 2010 he was chosen to be a fellow of the International Academy of Trial Lawyers. VTLA, ATLA, and Lawyers Weekly have each conferred special advocacy awards for his many contributions to the law. Jury verdict in the Top 10 Verdicts in Virginia for 8 consecutive years (2006-2013) and 2016. James H. Shoemaker, Jr. 14th time selected as a Super Lawyer James H. Shoemaker, Jr. is an attorney providing legal services covering Employment & Labor: Employee and Personal Injury - General: Plaintiff. James Shoemaker, Jr., who practices law in Newport News, Virginia, was selected to Super Lawyers for 2007 - 2020. Being chosen for multiple years is high recognition of peer and professional respect and achievement in legal practice, and other cogent factors. 20th Annual Legal Elite Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein (PWHD) is Excited to Announce Our Attorney Named the 20th Annual Virginia Legal Elite! About Virginia Business Legal Elite The Virginia Business Legal Elite recognizes the top Virginia lawyers across 20 specialties as selected by their peers. The voting is open to all lawyers licensed to practice in Virginia. Virginia Business Legal Elite Lawyers can be found online at https://www.virginiabusiness.com/article/virginia-business-legal-elite-2019/ James H. Shoemaker, Jr. Labor Employment Lung Cancer Month November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month About every two and a half minutes, someone in the U.S. is diagnosed with lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in both men and women, and asbestos exposure can cause or contribute to cause lung cancer. November is Lung Cancer Awareness Month. Individuals who worked in the shipbuilding industry, construction, railroads, and power plants and veterans often had occupational exposure to asbestos decades ago. As asbestos-containing products are cut, removed, or abraded, microscopic asbestos fibers are released. Workers inhale these fibers and they become lodged in their lung tissue. Over time, these fibers can cause cellular damage and mutations, suppress the body’s ability to fight off these mutations, and result in lung cancer. If you or a loved one have been diagnosed with lung cancer, and worked in the shipbuilding industry, construction, railroads, and power plants or served in the Navy, you may be entitled to compensation. Call us at 757-223-4500 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our contact form for a free case evaluation. Patten Honorary Degree Donald N. Patten Receives Honorary Degree Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C., congratulates PWHD Partner, Donald N. Patten, on recently receiving the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws from William & Mary Law School. Mr. Patten joined the school’s Board of Visitors in 1999 and served as Rector of William & Mary from 2001 to 2003. He also became an honorary alumnus of the Law School Class of 2018 and is an Emeritus member of William & Mary’s Business School Foundation. Mr. Patten is also an avid supporter of William & Mary Law School’s trial team. View the video of Mr. Patten here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6HZWvYzQW_c Mr. Patten’s legal career has spanned over fifty years. Since 1976, Mr. Patten has represented shipyard workers, veterans, and other workers and their families who were suffering from asbestos-related diseases. He currently serves on the C.E. Thurston & Sons Asbestos Trust Advisory Committee. Mr. Patten is a past President of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association, received the highest rating awarded by Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory for legal competence, and was selected by his peers to be included in the 2001-2002 edition of the “The Best Lawyers in America.” Mr. Patten was also very involved in his community. He served as a member of the Newport News City Council, was vice mayor, served as chair of the Newport News Planning Commission, served as the chair of the Peninsula Airport Commission, and he served on the Executive Committee of the State Council For Higher Education for Virginia. In addition, Mr. Patten served on the board of the Peninsula Alliance for Economic Development and the board for the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News, Virginia. Read more about Patten here: Donald N. Patten and the firm’s history here: PWHD History Read William & Mary’s full post about Patten’s Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws here: https://law.wm.edu/news/stories/2021/donald-n.-patten-named-honorary-law-alumnus-during-fall-commencement-ceremonies.php

Our Employment Law Practice Group approaches this critical and constantly evolving area of law with broad experience and balanced perspective. We have represented businesses of all types and sizes in nearly every kind of workplace dispute. In addition, in significant cases, we have represented individual plaintiffs and groups of plaintiffs in wrongful discharge, employment contract disputes, and harassment and discrimination cases. LITIGATION AREA Employment & Labor Our Approach Our Employment Law Practice Group approaches this critical and constantly evolving area of law with broad experience and balanced perspective. We have represented businesses of all types and sizes in nearly every kind of workplace dispute. In addition, in significant cases, we have represented individual plaintiffs and groups of plaintiffs in wrongful discharge, employment contract disputes, and harassment and discrimination cases. Business Clients For our business clients, we recognize that building and administering an effective workforce is fraught with challenge. The firm believes strongly that proactive implementation of well-crafted personnel policies and effective training is vital to achieving a productive work environment and reducing the risk of employee lawsuits. We have extensive experience drafting employee handbooks, drug-free workplace programs and the myriad policies required by the constantly evolving field of employment law. In addition, we have extensive experience crafting employment agreements, non-solicitation and non-competition agreements and provisions to protect confidential and proprietary information. Our Experience in Employment & Labor Litigation Finally, and most importantly, our experience and expertise derives from litigating employment law issues and seeing, first hand, how judges and juries react to employers who have not been proactive in their compliance efforts. We have a depth of experience representing businesses and individuals on the many kinds of employment law disputes. This gives us a perspective that is truly unique. Whether you have found yourself in a lawsuit, contemplating one, or you simply want to ensure that your business has done everything it can to reduce the risk of becoming embroiled in employment litigation, our Employment Law Practice Group has scaled the complex "learning curve" associated with employment law issues and can quickly and effectively address your needs. If you need assistance, please contact James H. Shoemaker, Jr., Esq . at (757) 223-4580 or (757) 223-4500 . Employment & Labor Attorney James H. Shoemaker, Jr. Contact PWHD

Our legal team recently secured a $3.45 million dollar verdict in a highly contested asbestos-related lawsuit. The case was filed on behalf of the family of a retired millwright who tragically passed away from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure in early 2022. The Millwright was exposed to asbestos while working with industrial equipment containing asbestos gaskets and packing manufactured by John Crane Inc. during his time at the DuPont Spruance plant between 1961 and 1979. Jury Awards $3.45M to Family in Asbestos -Related Death Our legal team recently secured a $3.45 million dollar verdict in a highly contested asbestos-related lawsuit. The case was filed on behalf of the family of a retired millwright who tragically passed away from mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos exposure in early 2022. The Millwright was exposed to asbestos while working with industrial equipment containing asbestos gaskets and packing manufactured by John Crane Inc. during his time at the DuPont Spruance plant between 1961 and 1979. The lawsuit highlighted how asbestos fibers, invisible to workers, posed significant health risks and the hazards were well-known to scientific communities by the 1960s. Despite this knowledge, John Crane failed to provide adequate warnings until 1983. The Newport News jury found John Crane liable and awarded the family $3.45 million dollars. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of holding companies accountable when their product harms individuals and families. Our team continues to fight for the victims of asbestos-related illnesses, pursuing justice and compensation on their behalf. Contact PWHD See Full Article If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, you can discuss your potential claim with us at NO COST by calling us at 757-223-4500 for a free consultation or fill out this contact form . Disclaime r: Past successes of PWHD litigation does not guarantee success in any new or future case. The information contained within this website does not constitute a guarantee, warranty or prediction regarding the outcome of your legal matter. The outcome of each legal case depends upon many factors, and no attorney can guarantee a positive result in any particular case. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Mesothelioma Attorneys Robert R. Hatten Hugh B. McCormick, III. Geoffr ey R. Grau Adam M. Hawks Read More Asbestos Litigation What is Asbestos? What is Mesothelioma? What did Companies Know? Occupations at Risk Asbestos Disease Claims Contact PWHD