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 help protect those who's financial security has been affected by exposure to the toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and lost quality of life.
Our lawyers are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a national, regional and local level. As as such, we are acquainted with the unique issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause severe medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is experienced in dealing with lawsuits that seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be complex and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma expert law firm by your side.
New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to the dangerous material. In recent years, there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases are a result of the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. These companies were aware of asbestos's dangers but did not take the time to warn their employees and customers.
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 to affect the community around it.
Mesothelioma lawyer is triggered by exposure to asbestos in direct contact and a lot of workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can lead to mesothelioma lawsuit. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
mesothelioma lawyer-related litigation can be expensive for defendants. This is particularly relevant if they've been wrongly named as defendants. A study has revealed that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. The asbestos law firms that specialize in asbestos often advertise on daytime TV and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.
The defendants may be able reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are expired or that they are only responsible for only for a small proportion of the value of the claim. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to distribute liability when the alleged exposure is within and part outside of the insurance policies.
Asbestos-related Diseases
Exposure to asbestos can trigger various ailments. The mesothelioma disease is the most serious. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques and the pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal illness is caused by asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the Pleura), chest cavity and abdominal cavity. The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring to the lungs called asbestosis, and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura referred to as plaques on the pleura, or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura known as diffused the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis reduce lung capacity as determined by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, however they are not the cause of cancer or mesothelioma lawyer.
The signs of asbestos-related illness typically are not evident until years after exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos-containing fibers to damage the lungs. People at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, laundered and removed asbestos-containing products from their workplaces and their spouses and children of those exposed to asbestos.
In addition to mesothelioma other asbestos-related illnesses include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma, and mesothelioma ovarian. The most fatal mesothelioma type is ovarian cancer, however it is less common than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma because it develops in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to other diseases.
Many companies employed asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't eliminate asbestos from their products. Now, these people have the right to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. This means that the victims can seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds established by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos companies have put profit over the safety of their workers and consumers for decades creating dangerous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now paying the price for their negligence. People who have suffered from asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.
The lawyers at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have over 25 years experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and to secure the maximum amount of compensation for our clients.
A number of states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. In addition judges have developed special procedures for evaluating and resolving asbestos cases.
New York is one such state, with its own asbestos court, known as NYCAL. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants that have been bankrupt and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has steadily increased. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to oversee NYCAL in order to keep the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review each case in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of each claim to determine the amount of amount of money each plaintiff should receive.
At present, the panel is reviewing more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to announce its final decision before the end of this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are usually complex and involve multiple defendants. Belluck and Fox's lawyers have a wealth of experience in litigating these complex matters. They are well-versed in New York's asbestos courts, including their rules, regulations and policies, as well as other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has vast experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district, complex litigation. In this role lawyers devise strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordination judges, and litigation special masters from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will decide which strategy is most effective to defend the client against a personal injury claim involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers contractors, distributors, contractors, and property owners in matters involving claims of mesothelioma lawyer and lung cancer and other asbestos-related illnesses. The firm collaborates with clients on developing internal programs to identify and deal with potential liability and safety issues.
Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice in the national level and multi-state asbestos litigation, is also the national Coordinating Counsel. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defence in coordination with the client's needs. It also plays an important role in the administration and management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' attorneys and in coordinating discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have extensive trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, including those who are claiming mesothelioma or any other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate research and technology involved in these cases, as well as specific legal issues that arise while representing companies in 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 as well as in cases that have been consolidated involving multiple claimants. She has extensive experience litigating asbestos-related lawsuits in the federal and state courts, as well as various Supreme Court and appellate courts.
During her time at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those of respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files contained SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) that contained confidential information about the claimants. The files contained medical reports and work histories, as well as a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to use a password to access these files, and she could also go through the SEAR forms of any case at her current employer.
In addition to its extensive trial and appellate experience as well as its vast trial and appellate experience, the Bowles Rice Asbestos Team is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. The firm has worked closely with plaintiffs’ lawyers to create and implement settlement agreements. The firm also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.