An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A defense attorney for asbestos can protect those who's financial security was affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and suffering and pain.
Our attorneys serve as local, regional, and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. This means that we are well-versed in the unique issues and complex aspects of science that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can lead to various 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 extremely complex and it is crucial to have an experienced mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
New York has had a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent times, there have been more claims against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are the result of the recognition that asbestos is linked to diseases such as mesothelioma lawsuit and lung cancer. The companies were aware of the dangers associated with the dangerous mineral, but they didn't inform their employees and customers.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses because of its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to impact on the community surrounding it.
Many workers were exposed asbestos at work. However, people also get diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
The mesothelioma litigation can be expensive for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. According to a study, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase even more. This niche litigation is often supported by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims with the promise of huge settlements.
Defendants may be able to mitigate some of the expenses arising from these cases by argument that their policy terms have expired or they are only responsible for a small portion of the claim value. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to divide responsibility when the alleged exposure is of and outside the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-related Diseases
A myriad of asbestos-related diseases can develop because of exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. 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, a rare, but fatal condition is caused by asbestos fibers that are found in the lung. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also result in thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They also cause breathing problems and pain however they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma attorney (page).
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is because it could take between 20 to 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to damage the lungs. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing materials from the workplace and their spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest form of mesothelioma for women, but it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other mesothelioma types, because it occurs in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.
Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate it from their products. They can now claim financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are 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 as well as consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the risks. They are now paying the price for their negligence. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain 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 maximum compensation for clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.
New York is one such state, with its own asbestos court known as NYCAL. The caseload in this specialty court has increased steadily, as more and more asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will oversee NYCAL in order to keep the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine how much a plaintiff should be awarded.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complicated issues. They are familiar with the asbestos courts in New York and their rules, regulations and policies and other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, coordinate and oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions in which they have been 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 counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors and owners of premises in cases involving claims for mesothelioma lawsuit, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients to develop internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety issues.
Bowles Rice In addition to its national asbestos practice and multi-state asbestos litigation, is also the national Coordinating counsel. In this capacity the firm formulates litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel, and achieves consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with client objectives. 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 attorneys have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, including those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved in these cases as well as specific legal issues that arise while defending companies before state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability, and in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts, as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short encapsulated Evaluative reports), which contained confidential information about claimants. This 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 go through the SEAR forms of any case she had 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 acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.