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GEOFFREY R. GRAU ATTORNEY Geoffrey R. Grau is an associate attorney with Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C. Mr. Grau joined the firm in 2022 with a primary focus on representing asbestos victims and their families. Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Grau completed a two-year post-graduate judicial clerkship with the 7th Judicial Circuit in Newport News, wherein throughout his tenure he clerked for the Honorable Gary A. Mills, Bryant L. Sugg, Christopher R. Papile, Tyneka L.D. Flythe, Matthew W. Hoffman, Timothy S. Fisher, and C. Peter Tench. While attending William & Mary Law School, Mr. Grau externed for the Honorable Raymond A. Jackson, United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, as well as the City of Hampton Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office. He has also served as an extern with the William & Mary Law School Virginia Coastal Policy Center and as Senior Article’s Editor with the William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review, having published articles in both the former and the latter. Mr. Grau readily seeks to apply the skills necessary to effectively assist his native community in Newport News and the greater Tidewater Virginia area. Email: ggrau@pwhd.com Phone: (757) 223-4555 Practice Areas: Asbestos Litigation vCard Contact Education: College of William & Mary, Marshall-Wythe School of Law – Juris Doctor Christopher Newport University – Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, ​​ History ​Admissions: Virginia State Bar ​Honors: Senior Articles Editor, William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review Member, Alpha Chi Theta Honor Society Member, Phi Alpha Theta Honor Society Associations: I’Anson Hoffman American Inn of Court Newport News Bar Association

LITIGATION AREA Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Litigation Our Approach Our personal injury attorneys are dedicated to helping victims of car crashes and trucking crashes obtain justice for their injuries, and maximum compensation from the parties responsible in causing them harm. On average, there is one car crash every five minutes and 144 people injured per day from car crashes. Commercial trucking crashes also occur every day, and in 2020, the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles’ annual Virginia Traffic Crash Facts reported that there were 4,296 crashes involving commercial motor vehicles alone, 1,605 of which involved injury and 93 fatalities. If you or a loved one has been injured or killed because of a car crash or trucking crash, our personal injury attorneys can help. ​ Our Experience in Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Litigation Since 1954, the Virginia trial lawyers at Patten, Wornom, Hatten, & Diamonstein, L.C. have successfully prosecuted serious and complex personal injury and wrongful death actions. During the past 25 years, they have won compensation for thousands of asbestos product liability claims and have become national leaders in mass tort litigation. They are also leaders of the Virginia Trial Lawyers Association and the Southern Trial Lawyers Association. Today, PWHD's trial lawyers are at the forefront of personal injury litigation against reckless drivers, negligent health care providers and nursing homes, and manufacturers and suppliers of dangerously defective products. To view a complete list of personal injury cases accepted by the firm, please view our practice areas. For the past several decades, our Virginia personal injury law firm has dedicated its practice to helping accident victims obtain justice for their injuries and maximum compensation from the parties responsible for causing them harm. With its roots in asbestos litigation, Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein has seen the devastating effects another’s negligence can have on an individual and has dedicated its practice to ensuring those who fail to provide a reasonable level of care, whether in a hospital or on the roadway, are held accountable for their actions. Providing both aggressive representation and compassionate advice, our Virginia accident attorneys have successfully represented car crash, medical malpractice and other accident victims, building a strong and enviable track record of results. Our attorneys have successfully represented personal injury victims in the following areas: Car Accidents Motorcycle Accidents Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect Tractor Trailer Accidents Premises Liability Brain and Spinal Injury Pedestrian Accidents Slip and Fall Accidents Uninsured Motorist Claims Dog Bites Boating Accidents Maritime Litigation Jones Act Litigation ​ No amount of money can replace a loved one in the event of an unexpected accident, but there are instances in which surviving loved ones may have an outlet to pursue justice and compensation to assist with finances in an unstable time. Essentially, when an individual dies as a result of another’s negligence, certain family members may be able to pursue a Virginia wrongful death lawsuit, in which compensation for medical bills, loss of spousal services and wages and other damages may be available. ​ At our law firm, our Newport News wrongful death attorneys understand that taking legal action and recovering monetary damages will not ease the anguish that accompanies a loved one’s death. It can, however, provide some peace of mind and offer compensation for expenses that would not have been incurred if it hadn’t been for the negligence of another individual or entity. To find out if you are eligible for a Virginia wrongful death lawsuit, complete our free, no obligation case review form today. Our Virginia wrongful death lawyers represent surviving loved ones of those who passed away in the following types of accidents: Truck accidents Car crashes Motorcycle accidents Nursing home abuse Medical errors Premises liability As local Newport News attorneys, our firm has obtained a well-known reputation as providing compassionate and aggressive services to those who have suffered the wrongful death of a loved one. To find out how we can help, contact us at 757-223-4545 today or online for a free case review . There is a time limit for filing Virginia wrongful death claims, so do not hesitate to reach out to our team of experienced attorneys, who are ready to listen to your claim and outline the steps which may be possible to death with both the emotional and financial ramifications of your loss. Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Attorneys ​ James H. Shoemaker, Jr. Contact PWHD Hugh B. McCormick, III. Daniel R. O. Long Personal Injury Attorney ​

PRODUCTS LIABILITY LITIGATION Roundup Read More ​ Products Liability Home Asbestos Benzene Exposure Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit CPAP Machines Hernia Mesh Medical Devices Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease Sunscreen and Benzene Talc Zantac Contact Us Monsanto’s Roundup® contains Glyphosate and a surfactant that have been proven in multiple trials to cause non-Hodgkin Lymphoma in humans. ​ Roundup® contains a surfactant that opens the pores of the weed it is sprayed on in order to cause the weed to absorb the Glyphosate more readily. Glyphosate is a non-selective herbicide, meaning it will kill most plants. It prevents the plants from making certain proteins that are needed for plant growth. Roundup® also contains other “inert” ingredients that increase the potency of the mixture. The surfactant also works on the human body, opening the pores on human skin so that it may absorb Glyphosate that is spilled or sprayed onto the skin of a worker. The combination of the Glyphosate, the surfactant, and the other ingredients has been found to cause non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Monsanto’s warnings on this product fail to warn users of the cancer risk. Juries in recent cases have awarded millions of dollars in damages to workers suffering from non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. One jury awarded $289 million to a school grounds keeper who developed non-Hodgkin Lymphoma as a result of routine occupational use of Roundup®. Another jury awarded $80 million with $75 million in punitive damages, for Monsanto’s willful and wanton conduct. Plaintiffs in these cases and others have alleged that Monsanto failed to provide adequate warnings or other clinically relevant information and data regarding the appropriate use of its Roundup® products and the risks associated with the use of or exposure to Roundup® and the Glyphosate contained in it. They also allege that Monsanto knew or should have known of the risk and failed to properly test its product to determine the impact of the product on humans. If you have been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma and routinely used Roundup® in the past, contact us. We can help. Products Liability Attorneys Robert R. Hatten Contact PWHD Hugh B. McCormick, III. Daniel R. O. Long

LITIGATION AREA Asbestos Litigation Read More ​ What is Asbestos? What is Mesothelioma? What did Companies Know? Occupations at Risk Ship Builders, and Navy Veterans Asbestos Disease Claims Contact Us In PWHD’s hometown of Newport News, nearly one thousand people have been diagnosed with mesothelioma in the last thirty-five years. The firm has represented most of these victims and hundreds of victims who were diagnosed in other Tidewater Virginia hospitals including Hampton, Williamsburg, Virginia Beach, Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk. 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, or fill out our contact form . We will come to you. ​ Asbestos Exposure Due to its heat resistance and insulation properties, asbestos was used in thousands of products, including gaskets, packing, drywall, ceilings, pumps, valves, thermal insulation, boilers, turbines, blowers, automotive and industrial brakes and clutches, floor tiles and more. Working with these products using normal work practices caused the asbestos in the products to be released into the worker’s breathing zone to be inhaled by the worker. ​ Asbestos is the only cause of malignant mesothelioma. Unfortunately, throughout the 20th century, asbestos was very popular with manufacturers due to its heat resistance, availability, and relatively inexpensive cost. Even after learning that asbestos caused deadly diseases like asbestosis, lung cancer and mesothelioma, companies continued to manufacture asbestos-containing products such as gaskets, packing, thermal insulation and lagging, pumps, valves, distilling units, fans, generators, turbines, brakes, clutches, electrical components, plasters, mastics, and refractories. Consequently, malignant mesothelioma, asbestos related cancer and asbestosis have reached epidemic levels in Virginia. ​ Anyone who comes into contact with asbestos dust and fibers may be at risk. However, certain occupations have shown a high incidence of asbestos related disease due to their consistent and regular work with asbestos products. These include machinists and Navy machinist mates, pipefitters, pipecoverers, steamfitters, drywall and sheetrock workers, maintenance workers, automotive and equipment mechanics, electricians, boiler workers, plumbers, roofers, riggers, railroad workers and shipyard workers to name a few. Members of the same household as asbestos workers have also shown an increased risk of asbestos related diseases, and may be diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer or asbestosis, simply by coming into contact with a loved one’s asbestos-contaminated work clothing. ​ ​ Occupations at Risk The shipbuilding industry in Virginia is one of the primary sources of asbestos exposure. Because of the numerous shipyards, such as the Newport News Shipyard (the largest private shipyard in the world), the Norfolk Naval Shipyard (the largest naval shipyard in the world), the Horne Brothers Shipyard, Colonna Shipyard, Metro Machine, Norfolk Shipbuilding and Drydock Company, and others, hundreds of Virginia shipyard workers and dozens of family members have died or been severely disabled from mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, or asbestosis. ​ The many Virginia shipyards, especially in and around Norfolk and Newport News, are also responsible for exposing the crew members of Navy ships to asbestos. Many have since contracted asbestos related cancers such as mesothelioma. Whether aboard ship, while stationed in Virginia or based in Newport News, or during an overhaul in the Norfolk Navy Yard, the close quarters and poor ventilation, along with ubiquitous use of asbestos materials, have caused thousands of cases of mesothelioma, asbestos lung cancer, and asbestosis in Navy Veterans. ​ Other leading environments for exposure include large industrial plants such as the Yorktown Amoco refinery, the Yorktown boiler plant, the Hopewell Allied Chemical plant, various Virginia Power Company plants and others. ​Automobile repair shops are also sources of asbestos exposure through brakes, clutches, and gasket work. Railroad workers also routinely had direct contact with asbestos-containing products. Insulation was routinely used in the railroad industry to insulate machinery and piping, and at times, passenger cars, and asbestos-containing brake shoes and gaskets were commonly used. In addition to the foregoing environments, however, there have been many instances of “take-home” exposure through dust brought home on workers’ clothes and personal belongings. ​ If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with mesothelioma, lung cancer, or asbestosis, call us at 757-223-4545 for a free consultation. You can also fill out our contact form and we will contact you. Asbestos Litigation Attorneys Robert R. Hatten Contact PWHD Hugh B. McCormick, III. Jean nette M. Dodson-O'Connell Geoffr ey R. Grau

COMMUNITY Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein is proud to be an active member in the community. We are privileged to support and participate in many programs. CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT UNIVERSITY PWHD is a proud supporter of Christopher Newport University, a public liberal arts university located in Newport News, Virginia. ​ Robert R. Hatten, Lead Asbestos Litigation Partner and PWHD’s Managing Partner from 1991-2019, was appointed to the Board of Visitors of CNU by former Governor Terry McAuliffe in 2015. Hatten was also reappointed to a second four-year term in July 2019 by Governor Ralph Northam. He was also elected Rector of the University in September 2018, and re-elected Rector in 2019 and continues to serve in that capacity. Before that, Hatten was Chairman of the Academic Affairs Committee of the Board of Visitors from 2016-2018. PWHD Partner James H. Shoemaker, Jr. has served on the Board of the CNU Sailing Foundation, which is a non-profit to help promote development of sailing at the collegiate level and to develop the CNU Varsity Sailing Team. ​ Former PWHD Partner, the late Alan A. Diamonstein (Virginia House of Delegates 1968-2002), was also an avid supporter of CNU, who earned the nickname “Mr. CNU” as a result of his advocacy and support of the university. To recognize Diamonstein’s steadfast support, CNU named the Alan and Beverly Diamonstein Concert Hall at Ferguson Center for the Arts in their honor as a result of their incredible vision to provide a performing arts venue for students and citizens alike. BIG BROTHERS, BIG SISTERS OF HAMPTON ROADS PWHD has long been a proud supporter of the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Robert R. Hatten first became active with the Big Brothers program of the United Way in 1976, and he was an active Big Brother to three boys for five years while also serving on the Board directors of that organization. For many years, Hatten and others at PWHD also sponsored families in need at the holidays and provided holiday meals and gifts to local children and their families. UNITED WAY FOR THE VIRGINIA PENINSULA PWHD has taken an active role in the United Way for the Virginia Peninsula since the late 1970s. Robert R. Hatten first became involved through the Big Brothers program of the United Way in 1976. Since that time, he and PWHD have been actively involved in fundraising for the United Way. In 2007, Hatten served Chairman of the United Way campaign, raising a record $7.2 million dollars to serve non-profit charitable organizations throughout our community, including Hampton, Newport News, York County and Gloucester. Following his service as Chairman of the United Way Campaign, Hatten continues to serve on the Board of Directors of the United Way, including four years as Chairman of the Board. Hatten also continues as Chair of the Peninsula lawyers’ fund-raising section of the annual United Way campaigns. ​ In 2019, in conjunction with its internal United Way campaign, PWHD also held an internal toy drive and collected a variety of toys to donate to Edmarc’s Hospice for Children. Edmarc provides family-centered care for children with catastrophic illness, and it is also one of the many great organizations partnered with United Way. SOUNDSCAPES PWHD Partner Robert R. 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 late Alan A. Diamonstein, former PWHD Partner, was also passionate about Soundscapes’ mission and also served as a founding member of the Board of Directors of Soundscapes since its inception until Diamonstein passed away in 2019. ​ Soundscapes is a music education and intervention program designed to change the lives of underserved children by training them to play classical music in an orchestra with violins, horns, percussion and other instruments. Soundscapes instills transformative life skills in children in our community by using intensive music study and frequent ensemble performances. The program has been proven to improve academic performance, social behavior, self-confidence and executive functions essential for becoming a productive citizen. Soundscapes now serves 400 elementary and middle school in summer and academic school year programs in five underperforming public schools and students meet between 128 and 320 hours per year, as well as appear in 25 or more public concerts. ​ In addition, both Hatten and Diamonstein were recognized for their commitment and support to Soundscapes for the last decade at its gala on September 28, 2019, where five-time Grammy winner and Denbigh native, Victor Wooten, performed with the Soundscapes students. At the performance, Wooten stated “We often worry about the world we are leaving for our children. What about the children we are leaving for the world?” ​ PWHD is dedicated and committed to supporting organizations in our community, such as Soundscapes, to positively impact the lives of children in our community, and in addition to the contributions of Hatten and Diamonstein to this organization, the firm as well as many other PWHD partners, attorneys and staff individually support the organization’s mission, including Donald N. Patten, Hugh B. McCormick, III and others. FOODBANK OF THE VA PENINSULA For almost seventy years, PWHD has sought to help those in need and give security to those who find themselves in difficult circumstances. For this reason, PWHD has long supported the Peninsula Foodbank and the Legal Food Frenzy in its mission to end hunger and food insecurity in our community. Since 2007, PWHD has participated in the Legal Food Frenzy, which is a friendly competition amongst the legal community in Virginia to see who can collect the most food and funds to help our local Foodbanks. PWHD’s contributions have provided thousands of meals to those in need on the Peninsula. In 2019, PWHD was recognized as a Regional Winner (large law firm category) in the regional competition for the firm’s contributions to the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank. PWHD was presented the gavel award by Attorney General Mark Herring in recognition of the firm’s hard work and dedication to the Legal Food Frenzy. In addition, PWHD attorneys and staff have volunteered at the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank, packing bags of food which equated to 8,472 pounds of food and 7,060 meals provided to the elderly and those in need in our community. The firm also participates in events to support the Foodbank, such as the “Wear Orange” day to bring awareness to the Foodbank’s Hunger Action Month. GLOUCESTER COMMUNITY FOUNDATION Robert R. Hatten was appointed to the Gloucester Community Foundation (“GCF”) in approximately 2003 and served on that Board until 2011, acting as Chairman of the Board for two of those years. The GCF’s mission is to preserve and enhance the quality of life for residents of Gloucester and provides a mechanism for charitable donations to work in the local community. GCF annually provides grants of money to nonprofit charitable service organizations throughout Gloucester, Virginia, for such services as food, housing, elder care, child care, job training, public services and health to those in need, including organizations such as the Gloucester Mathews Care Clinic, Gloucester Arts on Main, Gloucester Housing Partnership, Literacy Volunteers of Gloucester, The Samaritan Group, and other non-profit charitable organizations. VIRGINIA LIVING MUSEUM The Virginia Living Museum, located in Newport News, Virginia, is a combination aquarium, zoo, botanical garden and science center, exhibiting animals and plants native to Virginia. The Virginia Living Museum has tons of wonderful, hands-on learning activities for kids and those who are kids at heart. PWHD and many of its individual partners are proud supporters of the Virginia Living Museum, including PWHD Partner Donald N. Patten, who previously served on the Virginia Living Museum’s Board of Trustees, and who continues to serve on in an advisory capacity on its Board of Advisors. ​ PWHD has long supported the Virginia Living Museum’s Oyster Roast. The VLM Oyster Roast is an official “Green Festival,” which means that the shells of the fresh Virginia oysters enjoyed by guests of the festival are collected during the event and shipped to the VCU Rice Rivers Center in Richmond, where they are later used to seed baby oysters. This results in potentially 300,000 oysters being returned to the Chesapeake Bay. In addition to the environmental impact of this event, the Oyster Roast benefits the museum and its efforts to educate the community about wildlife and aquatic culture. PWHD Partner Hugh B. McCormick, III, has long supported this eco conscious event, and volunteers as an oyster shucker at the annual event. VIRGINIA CENTER FOR INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES Many PWHD Partners and attorneys have long-supported the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, which has a long history of helping schools, businesses, and communities across Virginia to achieve success through inclusion. Several PWHD Partners have been recognized with a Humanitarian Award from the Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities, which is presented to individuals and organizations who have demonstrated a commitment to the promotion of respect and understanding among people of diverse racial, ethnic, and religious backgrounds. Alan A. Diamonstein (deceased) received the award in 1977, Donald N. Patten received the award in 1980, and Robert R. Hatten received the award in 1998. PWHD is committed to its continuing support of Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities and its work on the Peninsula and surrounding community. Disclaimer: PWHD may provide links to third party websites. These links are provided only as a convenience. Linked websites are not reviewed, controlled or examined by PWHD. PWHD is not responsible for the information, advertising, products, resources or other materials, of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. The inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by PWHD. In addition, please be aware that your use of any linked site is subject to the terms and conditions applicable to that site. Please direct any questions regarding linked sites to the webmaster of that site.

NATHAN D. FINCH Trial Co-Counsel Nate Finch has over 30 years of experience representing people who were hurt or killed by corporations that put profits over people’s health. Beginning in the late 1990s, Nate began representing victims of asbestos exposure, both in individual cases before juries and in multi-plaintiff cases in bench trials before federal district court judges when asbestos companies and/or their shareholder owners tried to use the bankruptcy process to defeat the claims of approximately 100,000 injured workers. He has extensive experience trying cases involving a wide variety of asbestos-containing products, including gaskets, automotive brakes, floor tiles, joint compounds, baby powder, and various forms of insulation. One of Nate’s more recent asbestos individual plaintiff jury trials received national attention when he reached a settlement mid-trial against Baby Powder manufacturer Johnson & Johnson. Nate is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia School of Law. He was a member of the Virginia Law Review, the Order of the Coif, and a scholarship athlete on the varsity track and cross county teams at UVA. For more information about Nate Finch and the Motley Rice law firm click here to read my bio at Motley Rice. Email: nfinch@motleyrice.com Phone: (757) 223-4500 Practice Areas: ​​ ​ Asbestos Exposure Toxic Exposure vCard Contact

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. Jean nette M. Dodson-O'Connell Geoffr ey R. Grau

Case Evaluation Form ASBESTOS LITIGATION 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) 223-4545 . First Name Last Name Phone Email Please select the Asbestos-related disease with which you or a loved one has been diagnosed Asbestosis Asbestos Related Lung Cancer Mesothelioma Other How do you believe you were exposed? (pick the one that best applies) In a Shipyard Aboard a Ship At an Industrial site At another Work Environment As a family member of an Asbestos worker I don't know Other If you were exposed at work, what was your trade or occupation? Submit

Practice Areas Patten, Wornom, Hatten & Diamonstein, L.C. is locally and nationally renowned for its excellence in multiple areas of litigation. Our team is dedicated to fulfilling the legal needs of individuals and businesses. How can we help you? Contact an Attorney What is Asbestos? What is Mesothelioma? What did Companies Know? Occupations at Risk? Ship Builders, and Navy Veterans Asbestos Disease Claims Asbestos Case Evaluation Form ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Asbestos Litigation Employment Contracts and Severance Negotiations Employment Discrimination Litigation of All Workplace Issues Non-Compete and Restrictive Covenant Litigation Racial Harassment Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault in the Workplace Wage and Hour Overtime Violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act Workplace Retaliation Wrongful Discharge ​ ​ Employment & Labor Aircraft Accidents Automobile Accidents Boating Accidents Brain and Spinal Injuries Commercial Vehicle and Truck Accidents Dog Bites Jones Act Litigation Maritime Litigation Motorcycle Accidents Nursing Home Abuse or Neglect Pedestrian Accidents Premises Liability Slip and Fall Accidents Tractor Trailer Accidents Uninsured Motorist Claims Personal Injury & Wrongful Death Products Liability Asbestos Litigation Benzene Exposure Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit Chemical Hair Straighteners CPAP MachinesHernia Mesh Medical Devices Paraquat & Parkinson’s Disease Roundup Litigation Sunscreen and Benzene Talc Litigation Zantac ​ ​ ​ ​ Whistleblower / Qui T am Contractor Fraud Education and Grant Fraud Financial Services Fraud Foreign and Corrupt Practices Act Violations General Services Administration (GSA) Fraud Health Care Fraud IRS Tax Fraud Medicare and Medicaid Fraud Nursing Home and Hospice Fraud Pharmaceutical Fraud Procurement Fraud SEC Dodd-Frank Violations Stark Violations Workers Compensation Longshore & Harbor Workers' Compensation State Workers' Compensation ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Asbestos Exposure Have you or a loved one been diagnosed with mesothelioma, asbestosis, or lung cancer? ​ Click here to learn more about your rights and option. We have been at the forefront of asbestos litigation for the past 50 years!

Governor Northam Signs LandMark Product Liability Bill Into Law Read More ​ Products Liability Home Asbestos Benzene Exposure Camp Lejeune Water Contamination Lawsuit CPAP Machines Hernia Mesh Medical Devices Paraquat and Parkinson’s Disease Roundup Sunscreen and Benzene Talc Zantac Contact Us PWHD is pleased to announce that Governor Northam signed HB 2139 into law. This bill amends Virginia Code § 8.01-249 by providing a more reasonable time limit for Virginians suffering from latent diseases caused by toxic substances and defective products to bring a claim. Delegate Elizabeth Guzman was the Chief Patron of this bill, which will go into effect on July 1, 2021. Under prior law, many victims' claims were time barred before they even knew they were injured. This bill corrects this inequity by providing that the statute of limitation in a case involving a latent disease or injury resulting from exposure to a substance or the use of a product does not start to run until the injured person knew or should have known of the injury and its causal-connection to an injury-causing substance or product. ​ PWHD attorneys have worked hard for many years to promote this change to Virginia law. During the 2021 session, PWHD products liability partner, Robert R. Hatten, testified in the House Courts of Justice and Senate Judiciary Committees about the need for this change, and the inherent injustice that existed for those suffering from latent diseases in Virginia under existing law. This bill was supported by a 2020 Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals decision, which applied Virginia’s statute of limitations to dismiss a latent disease claim filed by a coal miner against the manufacturer of a defective respirator. The court’s opinion characterized the current Virginia statute of limitations for latent disease claims as tantamount to a “get out of jail free card” for manufacturers of dangerous products because the time limit on these claims expires before the victim is even diagnosed with the disease, much less is aware of the cause of that disease. See Adams v. American Optical Corp., 979 F.3d 248 (2020). As the court observed, Virginia’s law is manifestly unfair because an individual with a latent disease or injury will never get his or her day in court. ​ This inherent inequity was based upon the 1981 Virginia Supreme Court decision Locke v. Johns-Manville Corp., 221 Va. 951, 275 S.E.2d 900, which held that the statute of limitations for latent disease claims “do[es] not accrue when the diagnosis is first made or when symptoms first occur.” Instead, the court held, the statute of limitations begins to run when any "injury, however slight" first occurs in the body, a time that “expert medical testimony may demonstrate to have occurred weeks, months, or even years before the onset of symptoms.” The Court concluded that “the adoption of a discovery rule which triggers the running of the statute only when the injury is discovered or should have been discovered in the exercise of reasonable diligence must be accomplished by the General Assembly.” ​ Following Locke, in 1985, Robert R. Hatten spearheaded the passage of statutes by the Virginia General Assembly to change the time limit for filing asbestos claims, so that the time limit did not begin to run until an individual received a diagnosis of an asbestos-related disease from his or her physician. Unfortunately, the change regarding asbestos-related diseases did not address other toxic and carcinogenic substances. ​ The new amendment to Virginia Code § 8.01-249 signed into law by Governor Northam corrects this inequity and brings Virginia law in line with the majority of other states by stating that the statute of limitation does not start to run the injured person knows or should know of the injury and its causal-connection to an injury-causing substance or product. ​ The attorneys at PWHD bring over 70 years of litigation experience to a variety of complex matters. PWHD is a local firm with a national reputation. Starting as a pioneer and champion of the rights of asbestos victims, PWHD’s product liability practice has grown over time to handle a wide variety of defective product lawsuits, including breast implants, hernia mesh, Zantac, Roundup®, Biocell, Benzene, and talc. ​ If you have been injured as a result of a defective product design, manufacturing defect, or a failure to warn of the hazards of a product, please contact us for a free case evaluation . We can help. Products Liability Attorneys Robert R. Hatten Contact PWHD Hugh B. McCormick, III. Jean nette M. Dodson-O'Connell Daniel R. O. Long Geoffr ey R. Grau

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