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 protect those who's financial security was affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.
Our lawyers are involved in mass toxic tort litigation at a national, regional and local scale. As as such, we are acquainted with the specific issues and the complex science that go along asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can trigger numerous serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex and it is crucial to have an experienced mesothelioma lawsuit law firm 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 lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies knew of the dangers associated with this hazardous mineral, but didn't inform their employees and customers.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its old structures and a myriad of construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The litigation associated with mesothelioma can be costly for defendants, especially when they are mistakenly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims 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 submit claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.
Defendants may be able to lower 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 claim value. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to distribute responsibility when the alleged exposure is within and part outside of the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-related Diseases
A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the harmful mineral. The mesothelioma condition is the most severe. mesothelioma lawsuits is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer asbestosis, pleural plaques and pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal condition, is caused by asbestos fibers that are found in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these small fibers can result in scarring of the lungs called asbestosis, and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura called plaques of pleura or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura known as diffused fibrisis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity as measured by a breath test. They can also cause breathing problems and pain but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically do not manifest until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to damage the lungs. People at risk of developing mesothelioma lawsuits or other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces and spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.
Other asbestos-related diseases, in addition to mesothelioma include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly form of mesothelioma attorneys for women however it is much less common than mesothelioma in general. It is usually diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs and the symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.
Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, but they were aware that it was a risk. When they failed to remove it from their products, thousands of people were exposed. These people now are able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have filed for bankruptcy. This means that the victims can seek the money they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies put profits above the safety of their employees as well as consumers, producing dangerous products, without warning of the dangers. These companies are now paying for their inattention to. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families obtain the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and obtain maximum compensation for clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. In addition, judges have established specialized 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 that have gone bankrupt, the caseload of this court has steadily increased. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to oversee NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to decide whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also assess the merits of each case to determine the amount the plaintiff is entitled to.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often include allegations of multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complex issues. They are knowledgeable of the asbestos courts in New York and their rules, regulations and policies in addition to other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has vast experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district, complex litigation. In this role, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for each client. They have collaborated closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions in which they have been involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is the best way to defend the client in a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and premises owners on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients to develop internal programs to address potential safety and liability concerns.
Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice in the national level and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this role the firm formulates litigation strategies, manages local and regional counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with client goals. In addition it plays an important role in the management of asbestos dockets, negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and leads discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims 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 defending businesses in state and federal courts across the United States.
Catherine has defended numerous manufacturers in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, defending them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related lawsuits before the federal and state courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports) which contained confidential data about the plaintiffs. This included medical reports and work histories, as well as an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to use access to these files, and she could also look over the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.