An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense lawyer can protect the financial security of those injured through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as pain and suffering.
Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national and local scale. As a result, we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and the complex scientific aspects associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are deadly and can cause severe medical conditions like mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek financial compensation for the victims and their families due to exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be complex and it is crucial to have a reputable mesothelioma law firm by your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent times there have been more claims against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma attorneys, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies knew of the dangers associated with this dangerous mineral, but they didn't warn their employees and consumers.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments due to its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to impact on the surrounding community.
Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is particularly true if they have been wrongly identified 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. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants may be able lower some of the costs arising from these cases by argument that their policy terms have expired or they're only accountable for a small portion of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to distribute liability when the alleged exposure is part of and outside the insurance policies.
Asbestos-related illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can cause many different illnesses. The mesothelioma condition is the most severe. Mesothelioma has caused the death of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease, is caused by asbestos fibers which collect in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the the pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and, sometimes, the development of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques of pleura or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can reduce lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing however they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often do not manifest until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 and 50 years for the exposure to asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related ailments include those who handled, laundered, and removed these materials from their workplaces and their spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.
As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and ovarian mesothelioma lawsuits. The most fatal mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, but it's less common than the general mesothelioma lawsuit. It is usually diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma because it develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other diseases.
There were many companies that employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate asbestos from their products. Now, those exposed have the right to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. As a result, the victims can seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the security of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products, without warning of the risks. These companies are now facing the consequences of their carelessness. Victims of asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma attorneys and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our lawyers 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 to secure the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
A number of states have set up asbestos courts that are specifically designed so that claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also created specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos-related cases.
New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. The number of cases filed in this court has been increasing steadily as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel 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 evaluate the merits of each claim to determine the amount a plaintiff should be awarded.
The panel is currently looking at more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision by the end this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these difficult cases. They are knowledgeable of the rules, regulations, and policies of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, oversee regional and local 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 were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client from a claim for personal injury resulting from asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors, and property owners on issues involving mesothelioma lawsuit claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing potential safety and liability issues.
In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity the firm designs litigation strategies, manages regional and local counsel, and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense in coordination with client goals. It also plays a significant role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and in coordinating discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients from mesothelioma claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, as well as the unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits as well as in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple plaintiffs. She has substantial experience arguing asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information on the claimants, such as medical reports, work history, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel required an account password to access the files. She was then able to go through any SEAR forms that she received from her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is recognized nationally for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements, and it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.