An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense attorney can protect the financial security of those who have been affected by exposure to this harmful mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, pain and suffering, and loss of quality of life.
Our attorneys serve as local, regional and national counsel in large toxic tort litigation. This means that we are knowledgeable about the specific issues and the complex scientific aspects that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a deadly fiber that can lead to various serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits to seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex, so it's important to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous material. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases stem from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases like mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. The companies were aware of asbestos' dangers but did not take the time to warn employees and consumers.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses because of its older structures and numerous construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the surrounding community.
Many workers were exposed asbestos in the workplace. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
Litigation involving mesothelioma is expensive for defendants. This is especially relevant if they've been incorrectly identified as defendants. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014, and the number could rise further. This niche litigation is often supported by asbestos law firms that promote on daytime television and encourage victims to file claims, with the promise of substantial settlements.
The defendants may be able reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they only have to pay a small portion of the claim value. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to allocate the liability if the alleged exposure is within and part outside of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
A myriad of asbestos-related illnesses can be triggered because of exposure to the mineral that causes cancer. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Many have died from mesothelioma attorney. Other asbestos-related diseases include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can result in scarring of the lungs known as asbestosis and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura, known as pleural plaques or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing however they do not 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 and 50 years for the exposure to asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. People at risk of developing mesothelioma or other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, washed, and removed these materials from their workplaces and spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.
As well as mesothelioma, other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, laryngeal cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and mesothelioma of the ovary. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly mesothelioma that women suffer from, but it is less prevalent than mesothelioma lawsuit in general. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma, because it occurs in the linings of the reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other diseases.
Many companies employed asbestos in the 20th century, but they knew that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they didn't eliminate asbestos from their products. Now, these people are able to sue for financial compensation. A lot of asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. As a result, the victims can seek the money they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos-related companies have put profit before the safety of their employees and their customers for decades creating dangerous products without warning about the risks. These companies are now facing the consequences of their inattention. Victims of asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years experience and have helped clients receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and to obtain the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have established asbestos courts with specialization, where claims can be filed more efficiently. In addition, judges have established specific 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 who have gone bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has been steadily increasing. To ensure that the justice system is not overloaded the New York Supreme Court has created an extra judicial panel to supervise NYCAL.
A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine if it should be accepted or rejected. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each case to decide how much money a plaintiff should receive.
Currently, the panel is studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision before the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these complex issues. They are familiar with the asbestos courts in New York as well as their rules, regulations and policies in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district, complex litigation. In this capacity, lawyers develop strategies, coordinate and oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and cost-effective defenses for each client. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in various jurisdictions in which they were involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client in an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors and property owners in cases involving claims for mesothelioma attorneys and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs to identify and addressing risks to safety and liability.
In addition to its asbestos practice in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this role the firm designs litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel, and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense, in line with the client's goals. It also plays a significant role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and coordinating discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients from claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the intricate science involved in these cases as in addition to specific legal issues that arise when defending companies before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous manufacturers as lead counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability, and in consolidated cases that involve multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in federal and state courts, as well as a variety of Supreme Court and appellate courts.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those for respondents of the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) that contained confidential information about claimants. This included medical reports as well as work histories and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to have a password to access these files and could review the SEAR forms of any case with her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its extensive experience in appellate and trial work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to reach settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the preparation and execution of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.