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 help protect those who's financial security has been affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.
Our lawyers serve as national, regional and local counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. We are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex scientific aspects associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can trigger a variety of severe medical conditions, including mesothelioma attorneys. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits seeking the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex, and it is critical to have a reputable mesothelioma lawyer on your side.
New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to the dangerous substance. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases arise out of the recognition that asbestos can cause illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of the dangers of the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they did not inform their employees and customers.
The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases due to its older structures and numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to affect the surrounding community.
Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma after experiencing secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
The litigation associated with mesothelioma is costly for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as defendants. A study indicates that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could grow. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.
Defendants may be able to lower some of the expenses arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods have expired or they are only accountable for a small portion of the amount of the claim. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged exposure is within and outside the policy period of the insurer.
Asbestos-related diseases
A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop due to exposure to the toxic mineral. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most serious. mesothelioma attorney is the cause of 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 condition is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.
Most of the time, symptoms of asbestos-related diseases do not appear until decades after the initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 to 50 years for inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma attorney or other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from the workplace and spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.
Other asbestos-related diseases in addition to mesothelioma, include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. The most deadly form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is usually diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma attorney since it develops in the lining of the reproductive organs, and symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other diseases.
Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they knew that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate it from their products. The affected people are now able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related manufacturers are bankrupt. This means that the victims can seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profit over the safety of their employees and consumers for decades creating dangerous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now paying for their inattention to. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma, lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and to secure the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also established specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos-related cases.
New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of the states. The caseload in this specialty court has increased steadily, as increasing numbers of asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether or not to accept it. Judges will also assess the merits of each claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final ruling before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and involve several defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are knowledgeable of the asbestos courts of New York and their rules regulations, policies and guidelines, as well as other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role lawyers devise strategies, oversee local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in the various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client against an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters involving mesothelioma attorney claims, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing risks to safety and liability.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises strategies for litigation and supervises local and region counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's objectives. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well in negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and leading discovery for its clients.
The attorneys of the firm have extensive trial and appellate experience defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, which includes those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with complex scientific issues involved in these cases, as in addition to unique legal issues that arise when defending companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability as well as in consolidated cases that involve multiple claimants. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts and before various supreme and appellate court bodies.
During her tenure 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 claimants, such as medical reports, a history of work and the list of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have access to a password to access the files. Then, she could review any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.
In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is well-known throughout the country 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. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.