New York Asbestos Litigation
New York City ranked second in mesothelioma-specific case filings nationwide in 2019. Mesothelioma is a serious asbestos-related cancer with a long period of latency is the second most prevalent mesothelioma-related case in the United States in 2019.
Recent NYCAL decisions are expected to have a significant impact on the defense of asbestos lawsuits. These decisions could result in a large number of summary judgment motions based upon the defendant's fiber/cc tests and expert reports that place any exposure that can be deemed respirable below an exposure threshold in the ambient.
Expert Testimony
New York asbestos lawyers rely heavily on expert witness testimony to support their clients' claims. Expert witness fees can make up a an enormous portion of total costs involved in asbestos litigation. Lawyers for both sides could spend hours in preparation to question an expert, and experts can charge thousands of dollars per day. For this reason, it is essential for litigants to research and vet potential experts in advance. Failure to do this can result in a shaky Daubert Challenge and lost cases.
New York has a rich industrial past, and a lot of workers have been exposed to toxic asbestos. Many of these workers have been diagnosed with asbestos-related illnesses, including mesothelioma as well as lung cancer. People who have suffered from these conditions can seek compensation from the companies who exposed them to asbestos.
Asbestos suits are common in New York and the judges are knowledgeable about the issue. For example, the courts expedite trials for terminally sick plaintiffs, and they often combine cases to cut down on the cost of trial. The courts also periodically review their discovery procedure to ensure that it is effective and up-to-date.
In one notable case, Brown v. Weitz & Luxenberg in which the First Department held that conclusory cumulative exposure statements by the plaintiffs experts were not sufficient to establish the causality in an asbestos case. The defendants filed an appeal, and a decision is expected in the near future.
The court's decision is likely to impact asbestos litigation in New York. At present, mesothelioma lawyer firms saturate the daytime with ads urging victims to bring asbestos lawsuits, promising giant settlements. The niche litigation was particularly lucrative for plaintiffs’ attorneys who paid millions in referral fees to Sheldon Silver. Silver was recently convicted of federal corruption charges related to the millions he earned by the asbestos cases he directed to their firm.
New Yorkers should continue to be vigilant in their workplaces and communities to avoid asbestos exposure. Asbestos lawsuits have been on the rise and New York is one of the top jurisdictions for mesothelioma cases.
Summary Judgment
A New York asbestos attorney can help you receive the amount of compensation you are due.
Asbestos exposure often leads to serious diseases, such as mesothelioma and cancer of the lung. These diseases are extremely serious, and they have a long period of latency. This means that patients may not be experiencing symptoms until twenty or 25 years after the initial exposure. There are steps workers can take to reduce the risk of asbestos exposure and the development of a future illness. There have been a number of significant changes in the asbestos lawyer litigation landscape in recent years. The most significant development came in 2015 when the political establishment was shaken to the foundation following the conviction on federal corruption charges of the former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver. Silver's convictions for corruption were a result of his covert employment at the law firm Weitz & Luxenberg. He made millions of referral fees.
The new Albany landscape has also been shattered by the courtroom political machinations of the NYCAL docket. The long-time head of the NYCAL docket, Justice Sherry Klein Heitler, was replaced in 2021 amid reports that she gave the "red-carpet treatment" to asbestos cases brought by Weitz & Luxenberg. Justice Peter Moulton took over NYCAL in the aftermath of the shake-up. His rulings have made it more difficult for defendants to obtain summary judgement.
In Juni, the Court of Appeals dealt NYCAL with a savage dose of reality, rejecting the cumulative exposure theory that had become fashionable in the litigation and insisting that plaintiffs prove the causation of their claims with sufficient scientific explanation by their experts. This ruling gives New York asbestos attorneys a powerful weapon to defend against claims that claim they are speculative or fraudulent.
In Reid v. Abex, the Court of Appeals also gave asbestos defense attorneys a boost in their efforts to require plaintiffs to prove a specific causal link between their asbestos-related disease and the specific substances they were exposed to. This decision places plaintiffs with the obligation to prove that their condition was caused by the specific friction materials and linings that were supplied by the defendant, not general exposure to asbestos in the workplace.
Causation
The defendants will need to prove that asbestos contributed to the disease. The general consensus is that exposure to asbestos lawsuit-containing substances can lead to mesothelioma or other illnesses. However, the law requires plaintiffs be able to prove specific exposure to certain products made by certain defendants in order to be successful.
This is a difficult standard to meet, especially in NYCAL where a single judge is responsible for the entire NYC asbestos litigation. In the 16 years since Parker, New York courts have had a difficult time applying the principles of this case. In 2016 the First Department in Matter of NYC Asbestos Litigation, (Juni) decided that an expert's testimony that a plaintiff "regularly" exposed himself to friction products containing asbestos was not sufficient to prove the requirements of causality specific to Nemeth.
Juni has placed a significant burden on defendants and may force them pay an amount lower than they are entitled. A mesothelioma attorney in NYC can explain the benefits of filing a lawsuit as well as the options for restitution in the event that you're diagnosed with mesothelioma, or other asbestos-related diseases.
New York State was the second most popular mesothelioma-related jurisdiction suits in the year 2019. It handled 6% of all asbestos litigation across the country. It is estimated that as many as 13,000 patients have been diagnosed with mesothelioma within the state. The majority of the victims were contractors or employees who were exposed to asbestos when it was used in industrial processes.
Symptoms of mesothelioma are not typically apparent until between 25 and 50 years after the first exposure. Many asbestos victims are fighting for the compensation they deserve to cover medical expenses loss of wages, companionship loss, in addition to other damages.
While it is crucial to start a mesothelioma lawsuit promptly but it is also essential to work with an experienced mesothelioma lawyer who will help you obtain the maximum amount of financial compensation that you can. Contact a mesothelioma attorney in NYC today to set up a free, no-obligation consultation. Your attorney can discuss your eligibility for financial restitution from an asbestos trust fund.
Damages
If you have mesothelioma, or a similar asbestos-related condition, a successful lawsuit can compensate your family's losses. Compensation may cover medical bills, lost wages due to inability to work, home-care expenses, mental stress and suffering, loss of quality, funeral and burial costs, and other costs. A seasoned New York mesothelioma attorney will look into the parties at fault and gather evidence to back your claims. Your lawyer will then start a civil lawsuit before the statute of limitations runs out in your state.
The courts have specialized dockets for asbestos cases that streamline the process. They speed up trials for plaintiffs with terminal illnesses and also group similar cases together. In addition the judges who handle these cases are aware of the higher risks associated with asbestos exposure and are trained to ensure justice is served.
According to a study conducted recently, New York City is the national center for asbestos litigation. Asbestos-related victims have claimed billions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Mesothelioma, a deadly cancer, is caused by asbestos fibers. It is a rare, incurable disease, however lawsuits filed against companies who exposed workers to the cancer-causing chemical have led to compensation for victims for their suffering.
In addition to compensating victims of mesothelioma and the other asbestos-related diseases, these lawsuits are aimed at securing the retribution of corporate wrongdoers. The lawsuits seek punitive damages, which are given in addition to compensatory damages. They are designed to discourage the defendant's behavior in the future and discourage others from engaging in the same course of action.
The NYCAL decision gives defendants the chance to avoid punitive damage awards. They were in danger of large judgments in the past, with the theory that their conduct was so egregious, that they should pay punitive damage awards to discourage others from committing the same offense.
With the ruling in favor plaintiffs, it is likely that a lot of the companies named as defendants will be disqualified. This is because, even if they are dismissed, they will still be required to pay legal fees to defend a case they did not merit to be involved in.