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 protect those who's financial security was affected due to exposure to the hazardous mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and lost quality of life.
Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a national, regional and local level. This means that we are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can cause a variety of severe medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in handling lawsuits seeking financial compensation for those who have suffered from asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be a bit complicated, so it's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.
New York has had a long-running history of asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to the dangerous substance. In recent times, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are the result of the realization that asbestos is associated with illnesses such as mesothelioma or lung cancer. These companies knew of the dangers associated with this asbestos-containing mineral, yet they failed to inform their employees and customers.
New York City is especially vulnerable to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and many construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.
Mesothelioma can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly, and many workers were exposed to it in the workplace. Secondhand exposure can also result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses who wear their husband's clothing to work and come into contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
Litigation involving mesothelioma lawsuit is expensive for defendants. This is especially true if they have been wrongly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to rise further. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive substantial settlements.
The defendants might be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are overdue 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 distribute liability when the alleged exposure is part within and part outside of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-related diseases
Exposure to asbestos can trigger a wide range of illnesses. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most severe. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma, a rare, but fatal illness, is caused by asbestos fibers which are found in the lung. They then irritate the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura) as well as the 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 on the pleura, or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura known as diffused fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties, though they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. This is because it can take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces as well as children, spouses and other people who are exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer as well as peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most fatal form of mesothelioma attorney (read this blog article from Click 4r) is called ovarian cancer, but it's less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is often diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma due to the fact that it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases.
Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They knew it was a risk. When they did not remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. They can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies have gone bankrupt. The victims are now able to claim compensation from trust funds created by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies put profits above the security of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products, without warning of the risks. They are now paying for their negligence. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years of experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for their clients.
Many states have created special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Judges have also established specific procedures to assess and resolve such cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The caseload in this specialty court has grown steadily, as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have gone bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will supervise NYCAL in order to keep the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine whether it should be accepted or not. Judges will also consider the merits of every claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff's compensation should be.
The panel is currently looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complex matters. They are well-versed in the asbestos courts of New York as well as their rules and regulations in addition to other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has vast experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this capacity lawyers devise strategies, oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions in which they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best strategy to defend a client in an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors, and owners of premises in cases involving claims for mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to determine and deal with 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 role Bowles Rice formulates strategies for litigation and supervises regional and local counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's goals. It also plays an important part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell in negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and coordinating discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have a wealth of trial and appellate experience defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, including those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with complex research and technology involved in these cases as and specific legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as lead trial counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits and in consolidated cases involving multiple claimants. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases before state and federal courts and before various supreme and appellate court bodies.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information about claimants, such as medical reports, work history, and a list of asbestos products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to use access to these files and could look over the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to develop and execute settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.