I love working at Weitz & Luxenberg. There’s a shared energy of really wanting to help regular people. This is particularly true when it comes to people who were harmed by large corporations. These companies put products out there that have caused so much damage. Our job is to make sure they don’t get away with it. Our clients deserve justice.”
Erin Wattley is part of Weitz & Luxenberg’s dedicated team of Appellate Unit litigators. She focuses primarily on cases involving asbestos exposure litigation. However, our Appellate Unit handles all cases involving legal appeals. These other W&L practice group areas include defective drugs and medical devices, personal injury, and general negligence.
“I was fortunate to be given the opportunity to work as a paralegal in Weitz & Luxenberg’s asbestos litigation practice area right after graduating from college. I wasn’t sure I wanted to go to law school, but it was something I was thinking about. However, after just a couple years, I knew I wanted to go to law school because I enjoyed the work here so much,” Ms. Wattley says.
“I worked full time at Weitz & Luxenberg the whole time I was in law school. It was such a great fit, my boss encouraged me to stay on. He said he thought the Appellate Unit would be an ideal fit, and he was right,” she adds.
Making Sure Our Wins Stick
“One of the main things we do in the Appellate Unit is to make sure our wins from trial stick. When juries decide in our favor, our clients are awarded compensation they very much deserve. However, some companies decide to appeal. They will fight us and do whatever they can to avoid paying out,” Ms. Wattley explains.
“They may say the court below misinterpreted the law or didn’t apply the law correctly. Our job is to go over all the related motions, filings, and other legal documents to make sure the appeals judge or panel upholds and agrees with the lower court’s decision — concluding that the trial court did interpret and apply the law correctly,” she continues.
“Every now and then, a lower court or judge doesn’t rule in our favor. In those cases, Weitz & Luxenberg prepares and files legal documents to appeal that decision,” Ms. Wattley adds.
Continuing the Fight Against Asbestos Companies
“The bulk of what we do in the Appellate Unit is handle asbestos exposure cases. I always find it fascinating that these asbestos companies are still willing to fight us,” states Ms. Wattley.
“We have known for decades that asbestos exposure can lead to mesothelioma and other severe illnesses. There are some companies that are better about settling with us. They know their actions put people’s lives at risk.”
She expands, “But there are still companies out there doing everything they can not to be held accountable. They point the fingers at each other. They say it wasn’t them, that it wasn’t their asbestos or their products. They claim it was some other company that bought them out or merged with someone else. These are all just tactics to get out of paying what our clients rightfully deserve for all the harm they’ve suffered.”
Ms. Wattley emphasizes, “All of this could have been prevented if companies just did the right thing in the first place — safeguard people’s health.”
W&L Wins Help Thousands of Clients
“One of the most meaningful parts of what I do here is feel like I contribute something that helps our clients. They deserve all the compensation possible. The defendants, because there’s usually more than one, need to know we’re going to hold them accountable. They won’t get away with their negligent actions,” Ms. Wattley says.
“A win for one client helps that person, but also potentially helps thousands. Because court decisions become part of the foundation for future cases.”
Pursuing Legal Degree to Help Regular People
Ms. Wattley is licensed to practice law in the state of New York. She earned her J.D. from New York Law School in New York City and her B.A.in environmental studies from Fordham University in the Bronx, New York. She was admitted to the New York Bar in 2026.
Outside the Office
Outside the office, Ms. Wattley loves cooking, baking, hiking, skiing, and being out in nature. She also loves reading, particularly mysteries and thrillers.
