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 assist those who's financial security has been affected by exposure to the harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, as well as suffering and pain.
Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national and local level. As as such, we are acquainted with the specific issues and the complex science that go along with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is skilled in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.
New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent years, there have been more claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a link between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with this dangerous mineral, but they did not inform their employees and customers.
The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases because of its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the surrounding community.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. In addition, exposure to asbestos through secondhand sources can result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is especially relevant if they've been incorrectly identified as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could rise further. This type of litigation is typically driven by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims with the promise of huge settlements.
The defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible a small portion of the amount claimed. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to divide the liability if the alleged exposure is part of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the toxic mineral. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most serious. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural effusion.
mesothelioma lawsuit is a rare but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs and irritate the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity and abdominal cavity (the 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 referred to as plaques on the pleura, or a more widespread fibrosis of the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, however they don't cause cancer or mesothelioma.
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically are not evident until years after exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from the workplace and their children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest form of mesothelioma for women however, it is much less common than mesothelioma lawyer general. It is often diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma due to the fact that it develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other diseases.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't remove it from their products. Now, those exposed are able to sue for financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have gone bankrupt. The victims can now seek compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies put profits above the safety of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. These companies are now paying the price for their negligence. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair settlement.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Additionally, judges have established specific procedures for evaluating and resolving such cases.
New York is one such state with its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. The number of cases filed in this court has been increasing steadily as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who went bankrupt. To ensure that the justice system does not get overloaded and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has created an extra judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to accept it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine how much a plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complex and involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complex matters. They are knowledgeable of the rules regulations, rules, 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 as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district litigation that is complex and complex. In this role, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for every client. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordination judges and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is most effective to defend the client from a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters that involve mesothelioma claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients in the development of internal programs to deal with potential liability and safety 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, Bowles Rice develops litigation strategies and manages regional and local counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's goals. Additionally it plays a crucial part in the administration of asbestos dockets and negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and lead discovery for its clients.
The firm's attorneys are experienced in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses in 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 cases that have been consolidated involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related cases before federal and state courts, as well as before various supreme and appellate court bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports), which contained confidential information about the claimants. These included medical reports and work histories, as well as a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to have access to the files and was able to review the SEAR forms of any case with 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 recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm works closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.