An Asbestos Defense Attorney Can Help Protect the Financial Security of Those Harmed by Exposure to This Harmful Mineral
An asbestos defense lawyer can assist in ensuring the financial security of those injured by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial expenses as well as pain and suffering and loss of quality of life.
Our attorneys are involved in the mass litigation of toxic torts at a national, regional and local level. As a result, we are well-versed in the unique issues and complex aspects of science that are associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos fibers are dangerous and can cause severe medical conditions such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek financial compensation for the victims and their families who have been exposed to this toxic substance. These cases can be extremely complex, and it is critical to have an experienced mesothelioma attorney law firm by your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation, and many residents have been exposed to this dangerous substance. In recent years there have been more lawsuits filed against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and certain diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer and asbestosis. These companies were aware asbestos's dangers but did not take the time to warn their employees and customers.
New York City is especially susceptible to diseases caused by asbestos due to its old structures and construction sites. Brooklyn Navy Yard is a notoriously toxic area that continues to affect the community around it.
Mesothelioma is triggered by exposure to asbestos directly and many workers were exposed to it in the workplace. In addition, exposure to asbestos through secondhand sources can lead to mesothelioma. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposed workers who had their husbands' work clothes and came in contact with asbestos dust on a regular basis.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be expensive for defendants, particularly if they are wrongfully named as a defendant. According to a study, more that 3,600 claims 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 substantial settlements.
The defendants could be able to reduce the cost of these cases by arguing their policy periods are overdue or that they only have to pay only a small percentage of the amount claimed. New York law does not have a specific rule for how to divide the liability if the alleged exposure is of the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
Exposure to asbestos can trigger various diseases. The most severe condition is mesothelioma. Mesothelioma is the cause of death of many people. Other asbestos-related illnesses include asbestosis and lung cancer. Pleural plaques and effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare but fatal illness that is caused by exposure to asbestos fibers that collect in the lungs, and can cause irritation to the lining of the chest cavity, ribcage and abdominal cavity (the the pleura). The inhalation of these small fibers can result in scarring of the lungs called asbestosis, and occasionally, the development of thickened patches on the pleura called pleural plaques or an enlargement of fibrosis in the pleura, referred to as diffused pleural fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis could reduce lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulty breathing, though they do not cause mesothelioma lawsuits or cancer.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related illnesses don't show up until decades after the initial exposure. It can take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers inhaled 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.
Other asbestos-related illnesses, apart from mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the deadliest mesothelioma attorneys type for women however it is much less common than mesothelioma lawsuit in general. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma, because it develops in the linings of the reproductive organs. The symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.
A number of companies used asbestos in the 20th century. They were aware that it was hazardous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos if they didn't remove asbestos from their products. They can now seek financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. The victims are now able to seek compensation from trust funds set up by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies put profits above the safety of their employees as well as consumers by producing dangerous products without warning of the dangers. These companies are now paying for their negligence. People who's lives have been affected by mesothelioma, cancer of the lung, and other asbestos-related illnesses are seeking full and fair settlement.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals obtain the justice they deserve. Our attorneys have more than 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars in compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawsuit lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and seek maximum compensation for our clients.
A number of states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Judges have also created specific procedures to assess and resolve these 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 gone 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 prevent the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court judges will review every case in NYCAL to decide whether to accept or reject it. Judges will also assess the merits of every claim to determine the amount of the plaintiff's compensation should be.
At present, the panel is looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected to make a final decision before the end of the year.
New York asbestos lawsuits are typically complex and often involve multiple defendants. The lawyers at Belluck & Fox have extensive experience with the litigation of these complicated cases. They are knowledgeable of the asbestos courts in New York as well as their rules and regulations in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience as National Coordinating Counsel, representing clients in complex, multidistrict litigation. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, manage local and regional counsel and ensure that they are able to provide consistent and efficient defenses for clients. They have collaborated closely with coordinating and trial judges and litigation special masters in various jurisdictions where they have been involved in asbestos litigation.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine what strategy is most effective to defend the client in a personal injury lawsuit involving asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels product manufacturers, suppliers contractors, distributors, contractors, and property owners on matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also assists 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 national Coordinating Counsel in multi-state asbestos litigation. In this capacity Bowles Rice devises litigation strategies and oversees local and region counsel to achieve a consistent and cost-effective defense in accordance with the client's goals. In addition, it plays a key role in the management of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and also leads discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients from mesothelioma-related claims and other asbestos-related illnesses. Asbestos defense lawyers are familiar with the complex science that is associated with these cases, and the particular legal issues that arise when defending businesses before federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented numerous companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, representing them as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials that involved multiple claimants. She has substantial experience litigating asbestos-related cases in federal and state courts and before a variety of appellate and supreme court bodies.
While at Brobeck, Vogel worked on asbestos cases, including those involving respondents to the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The cases files included SEAR forms (Short Evaluative reports that are encapsulated) which contained confidential information about the claimants. The files contained medical reports as well as work histories and a list asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or near. Vogel was required to have an account password to access the files. She could then go through any SEAR forms from 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 well-known throughout the country for its ability to negotiate settlements on behalf of its clients. In this capacity, the firm collaborates with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses against appeals.