An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A lawyer for asbestos defense can help protect those who's financial security was affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.
Our attorneys are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local level. This means that we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex aspects of science that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can cause serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at handling asbestos lawsuits which seek financial compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be a bit complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous material. In recent years there have been more claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware asbestos' dangers but did not take the time to warn the employees and the public.
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 affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is particularly relevant if they've been wrongly identified as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to increase even more. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to submit claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.
Defendants may be able to lower some of the costs arising from these cases by argument that their policy terms expire or they are only responsible for a tiny percentage of the claim value. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly in and out of the policy period of the insurer.
Asbestos-related illnesses
A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also cause thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could decrease lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, but they do not lead mesothelioma attorney or cancer.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often are not evident until years after the initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for exposure to asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, cleaned, and removed these materials from the workplace and 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 among the most deadly form of mesothelioma for women however it is much less common than mesothelioma general. It is often diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms may be similar to those of other diseases.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century. They knew it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't eliminate asbestos from their products. They can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims are now able to claim compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies put profits above the safety of their employees as well as consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. They are now paying for their negligence. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma attorneys and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. 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 large corporations accountable and to secure the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition judges have created specific procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.
New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt the number of cases that have come through the court has steadily increased. In order to ensure that the justice system does not get overwhelmed the New York Supreme Court has established a special judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine the amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and can involve multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have vast experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are familiar with the rules regulations, policies, and procedures of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is the best way to defend the client from a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and premises owners on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability issues.
Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice across the country and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity, the firm develops strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense, in line with the client's goals. Additionally it plays a crucial role in the management of asbestos dockets and negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and leads discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients against claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved in these cases as and unique legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as the lead counsel in consolidated trials that involved multiple claimants. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in the federal and state courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports) which contained confidential data about the plaintiffs. The files contained medical reports, work histories, and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to use an account password to access these files, and she could also go through the SEAR forms of any case she had with her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in trial and appellate work, is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements for clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.