An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense lawyer can protect the financial security of those who have been harmed by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation may cover medical costs 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 mass toxic tort litigation. As such, we are familiar with the unique issues and complex science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers can be deadly and can trigger serious medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is experienced in handling asbestos lawsuits which seek compensation for victims and their families who have been exposed to this harmful substance. These cases can be a bit complicated and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma lawyer to assist you.
New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to this hazardous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases are a result of the realization that asbestos is associated with illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer. The companies were aware of asbestos's dangers but did not take the time to warn employees and consumers.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related illnesses due to its older structures and a myriad of construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously hazardous area that continues to affect the community around it.
Many workers were exposed to asbestos in the workplace. Exposure to asbestos from the outside can result in mesothelioma. This is especially true for spouses who wear husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust frequently.
The mesothelioma lawsuit (look at more info) is costly for defendants, especially when they are mistakenly identified as defendants. According to a study, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number is expected to rise further. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on TV during the day and encourage victims to submit claims, promising they will receive significant settlements.
Defendants may be able to lower some of the costs associated with these cases by argument that their policy terms have expired or they're only accountable for a small percentage of the total value of the claim. 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 insurer's policies.
Asbestos-related diseases
Exposure to asbestos can lead to various diseases. The condition known as mesothelioma is the most serious. Many people have died due to mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related illnesses 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 cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can cause scarring to the lungs called asbestosis, and sometimes the formation of thickened patches on the pleura called pleural plaques or the more widespread fibrosis of the pleura called diffused pleural fibrisis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrosis decrease lung capacity as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause discomfort and breathing difficulties but they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases do not manifest until decades after initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos-related fibers to be inhaled to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from the workplace as well as children, spouses and others who were exposed to asbestos are at risk for developing mesothelioma.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, in addition to mesothelioma include laryngeal carcinoma and lung cancer and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is among the most deadly form of mesothelioma for women however, it is much less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is typically diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma since it is a cancer that develops in the lining of the reproductive organs and symptoms can be similar to symptoms of other diseases.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they knew that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate it from their products. Now, those exposed are able to seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. This means that the victims are able to seek the compensation they are entitled to from trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
Asbestos-related companies have put profit over the safety of their workers and consumers for decades, producing hazardous products without warning of the dangers. They are now paying the price for their negligence. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma lawsuits, cancer of the lung and other asbestos-related diseases are seeking full and fair settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma attorneys work to hold large corporations accountable and obtain 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. Judges have also developed specialized procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos-related cases.
New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL), is one of them. As asbestos victims continue to seek compensation from solvent asbestos defendants who have declared bankruptcy the number of cases that have come through the court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created a special judicial board to supervise NYCAL in order to prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to determine whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to determine how much money each plaintiff should receive.
Currently, the panel is studying more than 3,500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final decision by the end this year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are often complex and involve several defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complicated matters. They are knowledgeable of the rules regulations, rules, and policies 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 as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients across the country in complex, multi-district litigation. In this capacity lawyers formulate strategies, oversee regional and local counsel, and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with trial and coordination judges and special masters of litigation in the various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.
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 counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma lawyers and lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm collaborates with clients on developing internal programs to resolve potential liability and safety issues.
In addition to its national asbestos practice, Bowles Rice serves as the national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and manages local and region counsel to ensure a uniform and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's needs. In addition it plays a crucial part in the administration of asbestos dockets and 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 who claim mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with complex science involved in these cases, as and unique legal issues that arise while defending companies before state and federal courts throughout the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers as the lead trial counsel in asbestos and personal injury lawsuits involving product liability, and in consolidated cases that involve multiple plaintiffs. She has extensive experience in litigating asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts and before various appellate and supreme court bodies.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those at the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) which contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, 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 have an account password to access these files, and she could also look over the SEAR forms of any case with 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 acknowledged nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the company collaborates closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements, and it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.