The General Motors Assembly Plant in Sleepy Hollow, formerly North Tarrytown, was a major automotive manufacturing facility that operated from 1914 to 1996. The sprawling facility, which covered over 90 acres along the Hudson River, was responsible for producing numerous iconic vehicles including the Chevrolet Impala and Caprice models.
During its operational years, the plant employed thousands of workers and was a cornerstone of the local economy, producing up to 1,000 vehicles per day at its peak. Like many automotive manufacturing facilities of its era, the plant utilized various asbestos-containing materials in its operations, particularly in brake components, gaskets, and insulation materials.
Asbestos exposure can lead to several serious health conditions, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Other devastating conditions linked to asbestos exposure include ovarian cancer, laryngeal cancer, and renal (kidney) cancer, which may develop decades after initial exposure.
Settlement
Jury Verdict
Settlement
Settlement
The lawyers at the Porter Law Group have decades of experience representing individuals and families whose lives have been devastated by catastrophic injuries. We have obtained some of the largest settlements and verdicts in courts throughout the State of New York. We are a state-wide firm that handles cases with a hometown feel.
Our clients come to us looking for guidance and answers. With seasoned trial lawyers, the Porter Law Group has the resources necessary to help you navigate the most complex cases, against goliath insurance companies that will stop at nothing to prevent you from receiving the compensation you deserve.
You only get one chance to hire the best lawyer for you and your family. Hire the lawyers most recommended by former clients and local attorneys, and the firm that obtains superior results.
When you or a loved one's life has been devastated by a serious personal injury in Sleepy Hollow, don't hire a lawyer without calling the Porter Law Group to learn why so many of our clients are thankful they trusted us with their case in their time of need.
If you or a loved one worked at the General Motors Assembly Plant and have been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness, you may be entitled to significant compensation. The Porter Law Group has extensive experience in handling complex personal injury cases throughout New York State. We understand the devastating impact of asbestos-related diseases on workers and their families, and we're committed to fighting for your rights.
Don't let time limits prevent you from seeking justice. Reach out to the Porter Law Group today for a free, no-obligation consultation. We work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you don't pay unless we win your case. To learn more about our commitment to our clients, view the results we've achieved for previous clients throughout the State.
The North Tarrytown (Sleepy Hollow) GM/Chevrolet plant operated from the 1910s until its closure in 1996, assembling vehicles in a multi-building complex with extensive steam, power, and manufacturing systems. Auto-industry and occupational-exposure literature show that auto manufacturing and related operations historically used asbestos-containing friction products, insulation, and sealing materials, putting a range of plant workers at risk.
Workers in the following roles faced higher risk of asbestos exposure:
Production Workers: Those in areas handling asbestos-containing brake linings, clutches, and other friction components, particularly where grinding, drilling, or cleaning generated dust, faced significant exposure risks.
Maintenance and Repair Crews: Workers who serviced boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, and steam/condensate piping insulated with asbestos, and who worked on asbestos-containing gaskets and packing in plant equipment, encountered regular exposure.
Skilled Tradespeople: Electricians, pipefitters, millwrights, and other trades performing equipment change-outs and line work that disturbed asbestos-containing insulation or building materials were at elevated risk.
Construction and Demolition Workers: Those involved in plant modifications, roof and structural work, or removal of older asbestos-containing fireproofing and building materials experienced substantial exposure to asbestos fibers.
Concerned About Asbestos Exposure at General Motors Assembly Plant in Sleepy Hollow?
Contact our team for a free, no-obligation consultation to understand your legal rights and options.
Auto plants rely on networks of high-temperature piping and machinery, historically insulated and sealed with asbestos-containing materials. Occupational studies on brake and clutch work document significant airborne fiber levels during some operations, confirming friction products as important exposure sources.
Common sources of asbestos at the GM Assembly Plant included:
Building and Mechanical Insulation: Asbestos-containing insulation was used extensively on steam pipes, boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, tanks, and associated equipment throughout the plant. This insulation protected workers from high temperatures but posed serious health risks when disturbed during maintenance or repairs.
Gaskets and Packing: Asbestos-containing sheet gaskets and packing were standard in pumps, valves, flanges, and manways. These materials released dangerous fibers when cut, removed, or wire-brushed during routine maintenance operations.
Friction Products: Brake linings, brake shoes, and clutch facings historically contained 25-60% chrysotile asbestos. High airborne concentrations have been measured during lining attachment, removal, grinding, and beveling operations in occupational studies.
Heat-Resistant Textiles and Boards: Asbestos cloth, tapes, and boards served as heat shields, welding curtains, and protective barriers near furnaces, ovens, and hot equipment throughout the facility.
Disturbing these materials during assembly, maintenance, or rework creates respirable fibers that can cause mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases decades after exposure.
Asbestos exposure can lead to several serious health conditions, including:
The Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow facility originally opened as an auto plant in the 1890s and was later acquired by Chevrolet and then GM. The plant produced automobiles and minivans until its closure in 1996. Historical accounts of Chevrolet's New York plants state that those facilities had many possible sources of asbestos exposure, including asbestos-containing pipes, boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, gaskets, tanks, and certain auto parts.
Within the Tarrytown plant, areas with likely high exposure included:
Powerhouse and Utility Systems: These areas contained asbestos-insulated boilers, turbines, and steam lines supplying heat and power to the assembly buildings. Workers in these areas faced continuous exposure to deteriorating insulation materials.
Maintenance Shops: Workers in these locations regularly cut and replaced asbestos-containing gaskets, packing, and insulation on plant equipment, creating airborne fibers during routine maintenance tasks.
Production Lines and Repair Areas: Asbestos-containing brakes and clutches were handled, reworked, or cleaned in these spaces, with measured exposures in similar brake/clutch operations confirming significant fiber release.
These historical uses explain why former GM plant employees and, in some cases, family members with "take-home" exposures are at increased risk for mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.
Mesothelioma is a devastating cancer with a long latency period, often taking 20-50 years after initial asbestos exposure for symptoms to appear. If you or a family member has been diagnosed with mesothelioma after working at the GM Assembly Plant, you may be eligible for substantial compensation.
The Porter Law Group understands the physical, emotional, and financial toll that mesothelioma takes on patients and their families. We're dedicated to helping you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve. Contact us to schedule your free consultation.
Contemporary mesothelioma guidelines emphasize evaluation at a center with specialized expertise, because accurate diagnosis and staging shape treatment decisions and outcomes. Mesothelioma is strongly linked to prior asbestos exposure, so a detailed occupational and exposure history should be documented alongside medical work-up.
If you've been newly diagnosed with mesothelioma, you should:
Seek Specialized Care: Consult with a multidisciplinary team including oncology, thoracic surgery, pulmonology, and radiology specialists experienced in mesothelioma. This team can confirm the diagnosis, determine stage, and review options such as surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, and clinical trials.
Obtain Pathology Review: Request that an experienced thoracic pathologist review your pathology to distinguish mesothelioma from other pleural or peritoneal malignancies, ensuring accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning.
Maintain Close Follow-Up: Continue regular appointments for symptom management and monitoring of treatment response, including periodic imaging to track disease progression and treatment effectiveness.
Consult Legal Counsel Promptly: In New York, mesothelioma is treated as a latent toxic-exposure injury under CPLR 214-c, which was specifically enacted to address claims where injury manifests years after exposure. Prompt consultation with counsel allows investigation of GM and other work sites, preservation of testimony, and timely filing within the applicable limitations periods for personal-injury or wrongful-death claims.
Several parties may be held responsible for asbestos exposure, including:
Determining liability requires thorough investigation and extensive research. The Porter Law Group has the resources and expertise to identify all potentially responsible parties and build a strong case on your behalf. Contact us today to learn how we can help.
Asbestos-related diseases have an unusually long latency period, often taking decades for symptoms to appear. New York's "discovery rule" accounts for this unique characteristic in asbestos cases. Under this rule, the statute of limitations begins when the illness is discovered or should have been discovered with reasonable diligence, rather than from the date of exposure.
For personal injury claims in New York, victims have three years from the date of discovery to file a claim. In wrongful death cases related to asbestos exposure, families have two years from the date of death to take legal action. The Porter Law Group can help ensure your claim is filed within these crucial deadlines.
Victims of asbestos exposure may be eligible for compensation covering:
New York cases and commentary on CPLR 214-c stress that plaintiffs must prove both injury and a causal relationship to exposure, typically relying on employment, product, and medical evidence. Occupational studies used for exposure assessment similarly depend on detailed job histories and information about asbestos-containing materials and tasks.
For GM plant claims, useful documentation includes:
Employment Records: Personnel files, union records, pay stubs, and Social Security earnings statements showing work at the Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow GM plant, job titles, departments, and dates of employment.
Plant and Maintenance Records: Equipment lists, maintenance manuals, blueprints, and work orders reflecting asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, packing, and friction products in specific departments such as the powerhouse, assembly lines, and maintenance shops.
Medical Records: Pathology reports confirming mesothelioma, imaging studies, and oncology notes documenting onset and progression, which are central to proving injury and timing under the discovery rule.
Industrial Hygiene and Safety Materials: Any air-sampling data, OSHA-related documents, or internal safety reports concerning asbestos at the plant, if available, can strengthen your claim.
Witness Statements: Testimony from coworkers or supervisors describing dusty conditions, use of asbestos-containing brake/clutch components, or work on asbestos-insulated equipment provides crucial corroboration.
Whether a former GM worker has a viable asbestos claim depends on demonstrating significant exposure, a qualifying asbestos-related diagnosis, and timely filing within New York's limitations framework. For Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow claims, this usually means tying specific work in high-risk plant areas to later mesothelioma and identifying which companies, including product manufacturers, can be pursued.
Case evaluation factors include:
Documented Work History: A documented history of working at the GM Tarrytown/Sleepy Hollow plant or similar auto facilities during years when asbestos-containing insulation, gaskets, or friction products were in use.
Medical Confirmation: Medical confirmation of mesothelioma or another asbestos-related disease, with symptoms and diagnosis discovered within the time limits provided by CPLR 214-c and, for deceased workers, the applicable wrongful-death statute.
Evidence of Exposure: Evidence linking the worker's job duties and plant conditions to asbestos exposure, supported by records and witness accounts that demonstrate how and when exposure occurred.
At the Porter Law Group, we provide compassionate, dedicated legal representation to individuals and families affected by asbestos exposure. Our team of skilled attorneys has extensive experience in handling complex personal injury cases throughout New York State. We understand the challenges faced by asbestos victims and work tirelessly to secure the compensation they deserve while providing personalized attention to each case.
The Porter Law Group offers comprehensive legal support for asbestos exposure victims, handling every aspect of your case from initial investigation through resolution. We work diligently to gather evidence, establish exposure history, and prove the connection between your illness and asbestos exposure. Our goal is to secure maximum compensation while allowing you to focus on your health and recovery.
Accounts of Chevrolet's New York plants report that facilities like Tarrytown used asbestos-containing pipes, boilers, turbines, pumps, valves, gaskets, tanks, and other high-temperature equipment. In addition, workers may have been exposed through asbestos-containing brake shoes, brake linings, and brake pads incorporated into or associated with the plant's automotive products and processes.
Occupational studies of brake/clutch operations and auto maintenance show that workers reprocessing or servicing asbestos-containing brakes and clutches can experience airborne fiber levels up to or exceeding historical exposure limits. Combined with descriptions of auto plants' extensive insulated piping networks, this places mechanics, production workers handling friction parts, and maintenance trades who disturbed insulation, gaskets, and packing among those at highest risk.
Under CPLR 214-c, actions to recover damages for personal injury or injury to property caused by the latent effects of exposure to any substance generally must be commenced within three years of the date the injury is discovered or reasonably should have been discovered. Filing typically involves investigating exposure history, identifying responsible defendants such as product manufacturers or premises owners, and commencing suit in a New York court with jurisdiction, while any wrongful-death claim is subject to a separate, generally two-year statute of limitations measured from the date of death.
Have You Been Affected by Asbestos Exposure at General Motors Assembly Plant in Sleepy Hollow?
Reach out to our experienced team for a free consultation to explore your legal options and potential compensation.
If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness after working at the General Motors Assembly Plant or any other industrial facility in New York, don't face this challenging situation alone. The Porter Law Group is here to help you navigate the legal process and fight for the compensation you deserve. Call us today at 833-PORTER9 for a free, no-obligation consultation. Remember, we work on a contingency fee basis, so you don't pay unless we win your case.
Post Image: Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash
Avoid sharing confidential information via contact form, text, or voicemail as they are not secure. Please be aware that using any of these communication methods does not establish an attorney-client relationship. *By appointment only.
The information contained on this site is proprietary and protected. Any unauthorized or illegal use, copying, or dissemination will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. All content on this site is provided for informational purposes only. It is not, nor should it be taken as medical or legal advice. None of the content on this site is intended to substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Attorney Advertising.
We serve clients in every city and county in New York State. These include places like: The Adirondacks, Albany, Alexandria Bay, Amsterdam, Astoria, Auburn, Ballston Spa, Batavia, Beacon, Binghamton, Brooklyn, Buffalo, Canandaigua, Carthage, Cattaraugus, Catskill, Cayuga Lake, Cazenovia, Chelsea, Clayton, Clifton Park, Cobleskill, Colonie, Cooperstown, Corning, Cortland, Delhi, Delmar, Dunkirk, East Aurora, East Hampton, Elmira, Fayetteville, Finger Lakes, Flushing, Fredonia, Fulton, Garden City, Geneva, Glen Cove, Glens Falls, Gloversville, Gouverneur, Great Neck, Greenwich Village, Hamilton, Hammondsport, Harlem, Haverstraw, Hempstead, Herkimer, Hornell, Hudson, Huntington, Ilion, Ithaca, Jamaica, Jamestown, Johnstown, Kingston, Lake George, Lake Placid, Lewiston, Little Falls, Liverpool, Lockport, Long Island City, Lowville, Malone, Manhattan, Manlius, Massena, Medina, Middletown, Monticello, Montauk, Mount Vernon, New Paltz, New Rochelle, Newburgh, Niagara Falls, North Tonawanda, Norwich, Nyack, Ogdensburg, Old Forge, Olean, Oneida, Oneonta, Ossining, Oswego, Penn Yan, Peekskill, Plattsburgh, Port Chester, Potsdam, Poughkeepsie, Queens, Rhinebeck, Riverhead, Rochester, Rome, Rye, Sag Harbor, Saranac Lake, Saratoga Springs, Schenectady, Seneca Falls, Seneca Lake, Skaneateles, SoHo, Southampton, Spring Valley, Staten Island, Stony Brook, Suffern, Syracuse, Tarrytown, The Bronx, Thousand Islands, Ticonderoga, Troy, Tupper Lake, Utica, Warsaw, Waterloo, Watertown, Watkins Glen, Wellsville, White Plains, Williamsburg, Woodstock, Yonkers, and many more communities throughout New York State.
Copyright © 2025, Porter Law Group. Personal Injury Lawyers
Made with 💛 by Gold Penguin
