An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense attorney can assist in ensuring the financial security of those who have been injured by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, pain and suffering, and the loss of quality of life.
Our lawyers serve as local, regional and national counsel in mass toxic tort litigation. We are knowledgeable about the specific issues and complex scientific aspects of asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can lead to a variety of severe medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos attorney is adept at dealing with lawsuits that seek the financial compensation of those affected by asbestos exposure and their families. These cases can be a bit complicated and therefore it is essential to have a mesothelioma attorney on your side.
New York has had a long history with asbestos litigation. Many residents were exposed to the dangerous material. In recent years there have been more lawsuits against former asbestos manufacturers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma and lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies knew of the dangers of the asbestos-containing mineral, yet they did not inform their employees and customers.
New York City is especially susceptible to illnesses caused by asbestos due to its old structures and construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic site that continues to have an impact on the community around it.
Mesothelioma is caused by exposure to asbestos directly, and many workers were exposed at work. However, some people are diagnosed with mesothelioma attorneys following an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who wore their husband's work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The mesothelioma litigation can be costly for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as a defendant. According to an investigation, more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed in New York courts since 2014 and the number could increase further. 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 lower some of the costs arising from these cases by argument that their policy terms expire or they are only responsible for a small percentage of the total claim value. However, New York law has not established a clear rule on how to divide liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly in and out of the insurance company's policy.
Asbestos-Related Illnesses
A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The mesothelioma condition is the most serious. Many have died from mesothelioma. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer, asbestosis, pleural plaques, and pleural effusion.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal disease caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs and cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage, and abdominal cavity (the pleura). Inhaling these tiny fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, a condition known as asbestosis and, sometimes, the formation of thickened patches on the pleura, known as plaques of pleura or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura known as diffused the fibrosis. Pleural plaques and diffused fibrisis reduce lung capacity, as measured by breathing tests. They can also cause pain and difficulty in breathing, however they don't cause mesothelioma or cancer.
The signs of asbestos-related illness typically are not evident until years after the initial exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos fibers to cause lung damage. Workers who handled, cleaned and removed asbestos from the workplace as well as children, spouses, and others exposed to asbestos are at risk of developing mesothelioma.
In addition to mesothelioma, other asbestos-related diseases include laryngeal cancer, lung cancer, peritoneal mesothelioma and mesothelioma of the ovary. The most dangerous form of mesothelioma lawyer is called ovarian cancer, however it is less prevalent than mesothelioma in general. It is diagnosed later than most other types of mesothelioma because it is found in the linings of reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to other diseases.
Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was a risk. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't eliminate it from their products. Now, those exposed have the right to sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are bankrupt. The victims are now able to seek compensation from the trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees as well as consumers, producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. These companies are now paying for their carelessness. People who have suffered from life-altering issues caused by mesothelioma and lung cancer, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking fair and full settlement.
The attorneys at Belluck & Fox are dedicated to helping individuals and families get the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience and accomplishments, we have secured millions of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold responsible large corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for our clients.
Many states have set up special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. Judges have also established specific procedures to assess and resolve these cases.
New York, a state which has its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of the states. The number of cases filed in this court has increased steadily, as asbestos victims are becoming more and more likely to seek compensation from solvent former asbestos defendants who have become bankrupt. The New York Supreme Court created an additional judicial board that will 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 decide whether or not to accept it. Judges will also consider the merits of each claim to decide how much money a plaintiff should be awarded.
At present, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to issue its final ruling before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits can be complicated and involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience in the litigation of these difficult cases. 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 also has vast experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients nationwide in multi-district litigation that is complex and complex. In this role, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure cost-effective and consistent defenses for every client. They have been in close contact with trial judges, coordinating judges, and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A skilled Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client from an asbestos-related personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises manufacturers, suppliers and distributors, contractors, and premises owners on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to address potential safety and liability concerns.
In addition to its asbestos practice across the nation, Bowles Rice serves as national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity, the firm develops strategies for litigation, oversees local and regional counsel, and provides a cost-effective and consistent defense in coordination with client goals. In addition it plays an important part in the administration of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with plaintiffs' counsel and lead 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 complex science that is associated with these cases, and the unique legal issues that arise when defending businesses in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of manufacturers in asbestos and product liability personal injury cases, defending them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience litigating asbestos-related cases in state and federal 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 in the Asbestos Claims 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, work histories, and an inventory of asbestos-related products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel was required to have an account 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 in addition to its extensive 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 firm collaborates closely with the lawyers of plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. Additionally, it has a vast experience in defending companies against appeals.