An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
A lawyer who is a defense attorney for asbestos can protect those who's financial security was affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs funeral and burial costs, lost quality of life, and pain and suffering.
Our attorneys are involved in mass toxic tort litigation at a national, regional and local scale. As a result, we are familiarized with the unique issues and complex scientific aspects that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are deadly and can cause severe medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at handling lawsuits to seek financial compensation for victims of asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be extremely complex, and it is critical to have a reputable mesothelioma lawyer law firm on your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent times 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, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies were aware of the dangers of the hazardous mineral, but failed to warn their employees and consumers.
The New York City area is particularly prone to asbestos-related diseases due to its older structures and numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic place that continues to have an impact on the community surrounding it.
Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos in direct contact, and many workers were exposed to it at work. Secondhand exposure can also cause 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 lawsuit can be costly for defendants. This is particularly relevant if they've been wrongly named as defendants. According to a study, more that 3,600 claims have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase even more. Specialized asbestos law firms typically advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to file claims, promising they will receive significant settlements.
The defendants may be able lower some of the costs associated with these cases by argument that their policy terms have expired or they are only responsible for a small percentage of the amount of the claim. New York law does not have a clear rule on how to divide responsibility when the alleged exposure is part of and outside the insurance policies.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
Exposure to asbestos can lead to various diseases. The most serious condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal condition, is caused by asbestos fibers which accumulate in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling these fibers can lead to scarring in the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity, as measured by a breath test. They also cause pain and difficulty breathing but they don't lead to cancer or mesothelioma lawsuits.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often do not manifest until decades after the initial 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 the workplace and their children, spouses and other people who are exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related diseases, apart from mesothelioma, include laryngeal cancer and lung cancer, peritoneal, ovarian, and peritoneal cancer. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, however it is less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is typically diagnosed later than other kinds of mesothelioma lawsuits because it is a cancer that develops in the tissues of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms can be similar to those of other diseases.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos because they failed to remove asbestos from their products. They can now claim financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have filed for bankruptcy. 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 and consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the risks. They are now confronting the consequences of their carelessness. People whose lives have been disrupted by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and seek maximum compensation for our clients.
A number of states have set up special asbestos courts, where claims can be filed more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed special procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.
New York is one such state that has its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. The number of cases in this court has been increasing steadily as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent former 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 comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to determine whether or not to accept it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine the amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
The panel is currently examining more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected issue its final decision before the end this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often include allegations of multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in defending these complicated issues. They are familiar with the asbestos courts of New York, including their rules regulations, policies and guidelines and other jurisdictions where they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in multi-district litigation that is complex and complex. In this capacity, attorneys create strategies, coordinate and oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and cost-effective defenses for each client. They have worked closely with coordinating and trial 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 advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, 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 in the national level, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises 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 needs. In addition, it plays a key role in the management of asbestos dockets, negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and leads discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers are skilled in defending clients against mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with complex science involved in these cases, as in addition to unique legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in arguing asbestos-related cases in the federal and state courts and before a variety of appellate and supreme court bodies.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports), which contained confidential information about plaintiffs, such as medical reports, a history of work, and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel had to have an account password to access the files. She could then look over any SEAR forms provided by her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in trial and appellate work, is widely acclaimed for its ability to negotiate settlements for clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs' lawyers to draft and implement settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.