An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense attorney can help protect the financial security of those who have been affected through exposure to this dangerous mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, as well as pain and suffering.
Our attorneys serve as local, regional, and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. This means that we are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can trigger serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in handling asbestos lawsuits which seek compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be a bit complicated and it's crucial to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to the dangerous substance. In recent times there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are the result of the recognition that asbestos is linked to diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer. These companies were aware of asbestos's dangers, but failed to warn the employees and the public.
The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases because of its older structures and numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. Secondhand exposure can also result in mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The mesothelioma litigation can be costly for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as defendants. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could rise. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to submit claims with the promise that they will receive significant settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they only have to pay only a small percentage of the amount claimed. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to distribute the liability if the alleged exposure is part within and part outside of the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-related Illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can cause a wide range of diseases. The mesothelioma condition is the most serious. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened patches of pleura (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, but they don't cause cancer or mesothelioma.
The signs of asbestos-related illness typically are not evident until years after exposure. This is because it could take between 20 to 50 years for exposure to asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from their workplaces as well as children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and ovarian mesothelioma lawyer; related resource site,. The most fatal form of mesothelioma is called ovarian cancer, but it's less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than most other mesothelioma types, because it is found within the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other illnesses.
A number of companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was dangerous. When they did not remove asbestos from their products thousands of people were exposed. Now, these people have the right to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. The victims are now able to seek compensation from the trust funds created by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos 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 carelessness. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and seek the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Additionally, judges have established specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.
New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have declared bankruptcy, the caseload of this court has been steadily increasing. In order to ensure that the justice system isn't overloaded the New York Supreme Court has ordered the creation of an additional judicial panel that will supervise NYCAL.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it is accepted or rejected. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine how much a plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult matters. They are well-versed in the rules regulations, policies, and procedures of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions in which they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm also has vast experience in serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in multi-district, complex litigation. In this role, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel, and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and litigation special masters in the various jurisdictions where they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client in 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 attorneys and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm also assists clients to develop internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability issues.
In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role the firm formulates strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel, and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense in coordination with client goals. In addition it plays a crucial role in the management of asbestos dockets, negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and lead discovery for its clients.
The attorneys of the firm have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, such as those claiming mesothelioma attorneys or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the complex science associated with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving a variety of plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before federal and state courts, as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.
While at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that 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 use access to these files, and she could also look over the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to having extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to successfully negotiate settlements for clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements, and it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.