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 assist those whose financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses funeral and burial costs as well as pain and suffering and the loss of quality of life.
Our lawyers serve as national, regional and local counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As our lawyers are well-versed with the unique issues and complex science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can lead to a variety of severe medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is adept at dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek financial compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this harmful substance. These cases can be extremely complex and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma expert law firm on your side.
New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against asbestos producers from the past than before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed however, they failed to inform employees and consumers.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments due to its old structures and numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to have an impact on the community around it.
Mesothelioma is triggered by direct exposure to asbestos and a lot of workers were exposed in the workplace. In addition, exposure to asbestos through secondhand sources can cause mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The mesothelioma lawsuit is costly for defendants, especially if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. According to a study, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could increase even more. This type of litigation is typically supported by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims with the promise of large settlements.
Defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs arising from these cases by asserting that their policy periods have expired or they're only responsible for a small percentage of the total claim value. However, New York law has not established a clear rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure is outside of the policy period of the insurer.
Asbestos-related Illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can trigger various illnesses. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. Many people have died due to mesothelioma lawyer. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
mesothelioma lawsuits is a rare, but fatal illness caused by exposure to asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the ribcage, chest cavity and abdominal cavity (the 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 or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties however they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses don't manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take as long as 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned, and removed asbestos from the workplace and their children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and mesothelioma ovarian. The most deadly mesothelioma attorneys type is ovarian cancer, however it is less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma lawyers because it is found in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms may be similar to those of other illnesses.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't remove asbestos from their products. The affected people are now able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. 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
For decades, asbestos companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees and consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying the price for their negligence. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma attorney and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years of experience and have helped our clients receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and seek maximum compensation for clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. In addition judges have created specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.
New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of the states. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have declared bankruptcy and have been unable to pay, the workload of this special court has been steadily increasing. To ensure that the justice system is not overloaded and overwhelmed, the New York Supreme Court has created an extra judicial panel to oversee NYCAL.
A panel composed of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to determine whether or not to take it up with it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision by the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and include allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck & Fox's lawyers have extensive experience in defending these complicated issues. They are knowledgeable of the rules, regulations, and policies of the asbestos courts in New York, as well as the laws of other jurisdictions where they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm has also extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in multidistrict litigation that is complex and complex. In this role, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel and ensure consistent and cost-effective defenses for every client. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordinating judges and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is best to defend the client in a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and owners of premises on matters involving mesothelioma claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing any 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 capacity the firm designs strategies for litigation, oversees regional and local counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with the client's goals. It also plays a major role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets, as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and coordinating discovery for its clients.
The attorneys of the firm have a wealth of trial and appellate experience defending clients from claims brought by injured claimants, such as those who claim mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when defending companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits related to product liability as well as in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related cases before federal and state courts as well as before a variety of supreme and appellate court bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs, including medical reports, a history of work, and a list of asbestos products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to have a password to access these files, and she could also review 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 recognized nationally for its ability to reach settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. It also has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.