New York asbestos lawyers Litigation
New York City ranked second in mesothelioma-specific case filings nationwide in 2019. Mesothelioma is a serious asbestos-related illness with a long latency is the second most prevalent mesothelioma patient in the country in 2019.
Recent NYCAL decisions will 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 test results of the defendant's fiber/cc and expert reports that put any respirable exposure under an exposure threshold in the ambient.
Expert Testimony
New York asbestos attorneys rely heavily on the testimony of expert witnesses to support their client's claims. Asbestos litigation is expensive and expert witness costs represent a significant proportion of the total cost. Both sides can devote hundreds of hours preparing to question an expert. Experts can charge thousands of dollars per day. Therefore, it is crucial for litigants to thoroughly examine and verify potential experts prior to their appointment. Failure to do this could result in a failed Daubert contest and a loss of cases.
New York has a rich industrial past, and a lot of workers have been exposed to asbestos, which is toxic. Many of these workers have developed asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma and lung cancer. People who have suffered from these ailments can recover compensation from the companies that exposed them to asbestos.
Asbestos lawsuits are a common in New York, and judges are well-versed in the issues involved. The courts, for instance expedite trials in cases of terminally ill plaintiffs and consolidate cases when needed to reduce the cost of trial. The courts also review their discovery process to ensure that it is effective and current.
In a case that is notable, Brown v. Weitz & Luxenberg in which the First Department held that conclusory statements on exposure cumulatively made from plaintiffs' experts were insufficient to establish the causation in asbestos cases. The case was re-argued by defendants, and a ruling is expected soon.
The court's decision is expected to have an impact on asbestos litigation in New York. The mesothelioma lawyers are currently bombarding television during the day with ads which encourage victims to file asbestos lawsuits, promising massive settlements. The niche litigation has proven particularly lucrative for plaintiffs' lawyers who have repaid millions of dollars in referral fees to former Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, who was recently found guilty of federal corruption charges that relate to the millions of dollars he made from directing asbestos cases towards his firm.
New Yorkers must continue to be vigilant at work and in their communities regarding asbestos exposure. Asbestos-related lawsuits are on the rise and the state is one of the top jurisdictions for mesothelioma verdicts.
Summary Judgment
A New York asbestos attorney (top article) can assist you in receiving the amount of compensation you are due.
Asbestos exposure could lead to serious diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These diseases are extremely serious, and they have a long period of latency. This means that victims may not have started developing symptoms until 20 or 25 years after the initial exposure. Fortunately, there are ways for workers to safeguard themselves from asbestos exposure and prevent future illness. In recent years the asbestos litigation scene has seen significant changes. In 2015 the political establishment in New York was shook to its foundation by the conviction of Sheldon S. Silver for federal corruption charges. Silver's convictions for corruption stemmed from his secretly working for the law firm of Weitz & Luxenberg, which he used to earn millions of dollars in referral fees for the firm.
The courtroom politics on the NYCAL docket have also impacted the new Albany landscape. Justice Sherry Klein Heitler was replaced as the longtime manager of the NYCAL docket in 2021 amidst reports that she had provided the "red carpet treatment" to asbestos claims brought by Weitz & Luxenberg. Justice Peter Moulton took over NYCAL in the wake of this shake-up. His rulings have made it difficult for defendants to get summary judgement.
In Juni, the Court of Appeals gave NYCAL an ominous dose of reality, rejecting the cumulative exposure theory that was prevalent in the litigation. Instead it demanded that plaintiffs establish specific causation with sufficient scientific expression from their experts. This decision gives New York asbestos attorneys a powerful weapon to defend against claims that claim they are fraud or speculative.
In Reid In Reid Abex the Court of Appeals supported asbestos lawyer defense attorneys in their efforts to require plaintiffs to prove a causal link between asbestos-related diseases and the products to which they were exposed. The decision imposes plaintiffs with the responsibility to prove that their illness was caused by specific linings and friction materials that were provided by the defendant, rather than general exposure to asbestos in the workplace.
Causation
The defendants will have to prove that asbestos contributed to the disease. There is a consensus that exposure to asbestos-containing materials can cause mesothelioma or other diseases. However the law requires plaintiffs to demonstrate specific exposure to the products manufactured by certain defendants in order for their claims to be successful.
This is a challenging standard to achieve, particularly in NYCAL, where a single judge is responsible for the entire NYC asbestos litigation. In the 16 years that have passed since Parker, New York courts struggle to apply the principles from that case. In 2016 the First Department in Matter of NYC Asbestos Litigation, (Juni) ruling that an expert's testimony that a plaintiff "regularly" exposed himself to friction products that contained asbestos was not sufficient to satisfy the requirement of specific causality under Nemeth.
Juni has placed a significant burden on defendants and may make them to settle their claims for an amount lower than they are entitled. A mesothelioma attorney in NYC can explain the advantages of filing suit and your options for financial compensation if you have been diagnosed with mesothelioma.
New York State was the second most popular state for mesothelioma suits in 2019. It was the sole handler of about 6% of the asbestos litigation across the country. Up to 13,000 people have been diagnosed with the disease in New York. Most of the victims have been workers or contractors who were exposed to asbestos when it was being employed in industrial applications.
The symptoms of mesothelioma don't typically apparent until between 25 and 50 years after the initial exposure. Many asbestos victims are now battling to obtain the compensation they require to cover medical expenses and lost wages, as well as loss of companionship and other damages.
It is important to file your mesothelioma lawsuit promptly, but it is also vital to work with an attorney for mesothelioma who can assist you in seeking the maximum financial restitution. Contact a mesothelioma lawyer 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 suffer from mesothelioma or a similar asbestos-related condition A successful lawsuit could compensate your family's losses. Compensation can cover medical bills, lost income from being unable to work and home care expenses as well as pain and suffering, mental anguish, loss of quality of life, and funeral and burial costs. A seasoned New York mesothelioma attorney will look into the parties at fault and gather evidence to back your claims. Your lawyer can then file a civil lawsuit before the statute of limitations expires in your state.
The courts have specialized dockets for asbestos cases in order to speed up the process. They expedite trials for terminally-ill plaintiffs, and also group similar cases. The judges who are handling these cases have been instructed to ensure justice and are aware of the increasing risk of asbestos exposure.
According to a recent study, New York City is the national center for asbestos litigation. Asbestos-related victims received billions of dollars in settlements and verdicts. Mesothelioma is a cancer that can be fatal caused by exposure to dangerous asbestos fibers. It is a rare and incurable disease, however lawsuits filed against companies that exposed workers to asbestos cancer-causing chemical have led to compensation for victims for their suffering.
These lawsuits seek to punish corporate wrongdoers as well as compensating victims of mesothelioma or other asbestos lawsuit-related illnesses. The lawsuits seek punitive damages, which are given in addition to compensatory damages. They are intended to discourage the defendant's behavior in the future, and discourage others from taking part in a similar course of action.
However, the NYCAL decision offers defendants a glimmer of hope in their battle to stay out of punitive damages. They faced the prospect of massive judgments in the past, on the basis that their conduct was so egregious, that they would have to pay punitive damage awards to deter other people from following suit.
Now, with the ruling in favor of plaintiffs, companies named as defendants in NYCAL cases could be dismissed in a substantial proportion of their cases. Even if they were dismissed, they would still have to pay legal fees to defend a case they didn't have a right to be in.