An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense lawyer can help protect the financial security of those who have been harmed through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.
Our lawyers 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 is a harmful fiber that can cause a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits that seek financial compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be complicated and it's crucial to have a 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 years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of asbestos' dangers, but failed to warn their employees and customers.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its older structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos at work. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma following secondhand exposure to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is especially the case if they were wrongly named as defendants. A study indicates that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. This niche litigation is often driven by asbestos law firms that advertise on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims with the promise of substantial settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they only have to pay only for a small proportion of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to distribute the liability if the alleged exposure is of and outside the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the toxic mineral. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos lawsuit-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease that is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring to the lungs called asbestosis, and, sometimes, the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques of pleura or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause breathing problems and pain, though they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
The symptoms of asbestos-related diseases typically are not evident until years after initial exposure. It could take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, laundered, and removed these materials from their workplaces and spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest mesothelioma that women suffer from, but it is less common than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma, because it develops within the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.
Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they failed to remove asbestos from their products. Now, these people are able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos attorneys-related companies are bankrupt. As a result, the victims are able to seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
asbestos lawyers Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees as well as consumers, manufacturing hazardous products, without warning of the dangers. They are now facing the consequences of their negligence. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they need. Our lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and seek the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also established special procedures to review and resolve such cases.
New York, a state that has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. The number of cases in this court has grown steadily, as increasing numbers of asbestos victims seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to supervise NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also consider the merits of each case to decide how much money the plaintiff is entitled to.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision by the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in litigating these complex cases. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts and their rules regulations, policies and guidelines in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district 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 role, lawyers develop strategies, oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordinating judges, and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best approach to defend a client in an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing any risks to safety and liability.
In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice formulates strategies for litigation and supervises local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's goals. It also plays a major role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell as negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and coordinating discovery for its client.
The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients against claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science involved in these cases as and unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of 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 extensive experience arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before the federal and state courts, as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the asbestos attorneys Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information on the claimants, such as medical reports, a history of work, and a list of asbestos products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel had to have an account password to access the files. She could then go through any SEAR forms from 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 well-known throughout the country for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company works closely with plaintiffs' lawyers in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.