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 can help protect those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and lost quality of life.
Our lawyers are involved in mass toxic tort litigation at a national, regional and local level. This means that we are familiarized with the unique issues and the complex scientific aspects that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can lead to a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits to seek financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, and it is critical to have a mesothelioma expert lawyer on your side.
New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers in the past than ever before. These cases are the result of the recognition that asbestos is associated with diseases such as mesothelioma lawsuits and lung cancer. These companies were aware of asbestos' dangers however, they failed to inform the employees and the public.
The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases because of its older structures and numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to impact on the community surrounding it.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and many workers were exposed in the workplace. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothing at work and come in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. A study indicates that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. This type of litigation is typically supported by asbestos law firms that advertise on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims, with the promise of huge settlements.
Defendants might be able to reduce some of the expenses arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods have expired or they are only responsible for a tiny percentage of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to distribute responsibility when the alleged risk is of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
A wide range of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The mesothelioma disease is the most serious. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura called pleural plaques or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, but they do not lead mesothelioma or cancer.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses don't appear until decades after the initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma attorney and other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, washed and removed asbestos-containing materials from their workplaces and their spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and ovarian mesothelioma. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal mesothelioma lawyers type for women however it is much less common than mesothelioma in general. It is usually diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma since it develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs, and symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.
A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate it from their products. Now, those exposed are able to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims are now able to claim compensation from the trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies have put profits ahead of the safety of their employees as well as consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the risks. These companies are now paying the price for their carelessness. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma attorney and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full settlement.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families get the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and obtain the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve these cases.
New York is one such state with its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. The number of cases filed in this court has been increasing steadily as increasing numbers of asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to supervise NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or not. Judges will also assess the merits of each case to decide how much money a plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complex cases. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts as well as their rules, regulations and policies and other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in the various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client from an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors and premises owners in matters involving claims of mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing any safety and liability concerns.
In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with the client's goals. It also plays a significant role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its client.
The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients from claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the particular legal issues that arise when representing companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability, and in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, including medical reports, a history of work and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password in order to access the files. Then, she could go through any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.
In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.