An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A lawyer who is a defense attorney for asbestos lawyer can help protect those whose financial security has been affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.
Our lawyers are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts on a regional, national and local level. As a result, we are familiarized with the unique issues and the complex scientific aspects of asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can cause a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for the victims and their families due to exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be complicated and it is crucial to have a mesothelioma expert lawyer on your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent times, there have been more claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the realization that asbestos is linked to illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers of the dangerous mineral, but they failed to warn their employees and clients.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos because of its older structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to impact the surrounding community.
Mesothelioma is triggered by direct exposure to asbestos and many workers were exposed to it at work. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can result in mesothelioma. This is especially true for spouses who wear husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust frequently.
The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be expensive for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase further. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive significant settlements.
The defendants may be able reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policies are in a lapse or that they are only responsible a small portion of the amount claimed. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide responsibility when the alleged risk is of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-related Diseases
Exposure to asbestos can trigger a wide range of diseases. The mesothelioma disease is the most severe. Many people have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal condition, is caused by asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these small fibers can result in scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques on the pleura, or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, however they are not the cause of mesothelioma or cancer.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 to 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from the workplace and their spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, but it's much less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than other mesothelioma types, because it is found in the linings of the reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they failed to remove asbestos from their products. They can now claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. This means that the victims can seek the money they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos attorney companies put profits above the safety of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now paying for their negligence. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos lawsuit (Pediascape published a blog post)-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they need. With more than 25 years of experience, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and obtain the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also developed specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve such cases.
New York is one such state with its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have gone bankrupt the number of cases that have come through this court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to oversee NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to decide whether or not to accept it. Judges will also consider the merits of every claim to determine the amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final ruling at the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and involve allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in litigating these complex issues. They are familiar with the asbestos courts in New York, including their rules, regulations and policies and other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordinating judges and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client against an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors and owners of premises on matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients to develop internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety issues.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel, and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with client goals. It also plays a significant part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and leading discovery for its clients.
The firm's attorneys have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, including those who claim mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when representing companies in state and federal courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, acting as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials that involved multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports), which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs. This included medical reports as well as work histories and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel required an account password to access the files. She was then able to review any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.
In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience in addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is well-known throughout the country for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the development and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.