An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense lawyer can help protect the financial security of those who have been harmed through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs as well as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.
Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national 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 is a harmful fiber that can trigger numerous serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex, so it's important to have a mesothelioma attorney to assist you.
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 stem from the recognition of a link between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies knew of the dangers associated with this dangerous mineral, but they did not warn their employees and consumers.
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 surrounding community.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of an exposure secondarily 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. This is especially relevant if they've been wrongly named as defendants. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. This type of litigation is typically fueled by specialized asbestos law firms, which advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of large settlements.
Defendants may be able to lower some of the costs arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods have expired or they are only accountable for a small percentage of the claim value. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to distribute responsibility when the alleged exposure is part of and outside the insurance policies.
Asbestos-related Diseases
A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered due to exposure to the toxic mineral. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most serious. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity, and abdominal cavity (the Pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques on the pleura, or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, however they do not lead cancer or mesothelioma lawyers.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often don't manifest until decades after the initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces as well as spouses, children and other people who are exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma lawyer.
As well as mesothelioma lawyer, other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma lawsuits and mesothelioma of the ovary. The most deadly form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's less common than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma, because it occurs within the linings of reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was a risk. If they didn't remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. They can now claim financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have gone bankrupt. This means that the victims are able to seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos-related companies have put profit before the safety of their employees and customers for a long time, producing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying the price for their negligence. 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 families and individuals receive the justice they need. Our lawyers have over 25 years experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and to secure maximum compensation for our clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. In addition judges have developed specific procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos 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 who have been bankrupt the number of cases that have come through this court has steadily increased. To ensure that the justice system isn't overloaded and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has established an extra judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine how much the plaintiff's compensation should be.
The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision before the end this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult issues. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts of New York and their rules regulations, policies and guidelines and other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, oversee local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial and coordination 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 determine what strategy is best to defend the client from a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors and owners of premises in matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients to develop internal programs to address potential safety and liability concerns.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role Bowles Rice formulates litigation strategies and manages regional and local counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's needs. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell in negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have a wealth of trial and appellate experience, defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, including those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate scientific issues involved in these cases as well as particular legal issues that arise while defending companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability and in consolidated cases that involve multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as various appellate and Supreme Court bodies.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, including medical reports, a history of work and a list of asbestos products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel required access to a password to access the files. Then, she could look over 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 company works closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the development and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.