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 harmed by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical costs, funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.
Our lawyers are involved in mass toxic tort litigation on a regional, national and local scale. As as such, we are acquainted with the specific issues and complicated science associated with asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a dangerous fiber that can cause numerous serious medical conditions, such as mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in handling asbestos lawsuits which seek compensation for victims and their families for exposure to this toxic substance. 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 of asbestos litigation and many residents were exposed to the dangerous material. 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 certain diseases such as mesothelioma attorneys, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed but did not take the time to warn the employees and the public.
The New York City area is particularly susceptible to asbestos-related ailments due to its old structures and the numerous construction sites. The Brooklyn Navy Yard was a notoriously toxic location that continues to have an impact on the surrounding community.
Mesothelioma can be caused by direct exposure to asbestos, and many workers were exposed to it at work. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of exposure to harmful substances. This includes spouses of asbestos-exposure workers who were wearing their husband's work clothes and came into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The mesothelioma lawsuit can be costly for defendants, especially when they are incorrectly named as defendants. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. Specialized asbestos law firms often advertise on television during the day and encourage victims to file claims under the premise that they will receive significant settlements.
The defendants might be able to reduce some of the costs of these cases by arguing that their policy periods are overdue or that they only have to pay only a small percentage of the claim value. New York law does not provide a definitive rule on how to allocate liability when the alleged risk is within and part outside of the insurer's policies.
Asbestos-related diseases
Exposure to asbestos can cause a wide range of illnesses. The most serious of these is mesothelioma. 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 disease is caused by asbestos fibers that accumulate in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the the pleura), chest cavity, and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring in the lungs, called asbestosis. It can also lead to thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or an increased fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis can decrease lung capacity, as determined by a breathing test. They also cause breathing problems and pain however they do not lead to cancer or mesothelioma.
The majority of the time, signs of asbestos-related diseases do not show up until decades after the initial exposure. It could take up to 50 years for asbestos fibers that are inhaled to cause lung damage. The people at risk of developing mesothelioma attorney or other asbestos-related conditions include workers who handled, laundered, and removed these materials from the workplace and their spouses and children of asbestos-related exposure.
Other asbestos-related diseases, apart from mesothelioma, include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. Ovarian cancer is the most fatal mesothelioma type for women, but it is less common than mesothelioma general. It is usually diagnosed later than other forms of mesothelioma lawsuit due to the fact that it is a cancer that develops in the tissue of the reproductive organs, and the symptoms may be similar to symptoms of other illnesses.
Many companies used asbestos in the 20th century, however they were aware that it was a risk. When they failed to remove asbestos from their products, thousands of people were exposed. Now, these people are able to claim financial compensation. Many of the asbestos-related manufacturers have declared bankruptcy. The victims can now seek compensation from trust funds established by bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos-related companies put profits above the security of their employees and consumers, producing dangerous products, without warning of the risks. They are now paying the price for their negligence. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related illnesses such as mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and full compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals get the justice they deserve. Our lawyers have more than 25 years of experience and have assisted our clients to receive millions of dollars of compensation. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold accountable large corporations accountable and to secure the highest amount of compensation for our clients.
A number of states have established special asbestos courts where claims can be filed and resolved more efficiently. In addition, judges have established specialized procedures for evaluating and resolving such 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 that have declared bankruptcy and have been unable to pay, the workload of this court has been steadily increasing. The New York Supreme Court created an extra judicial board to oversee NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel of six Supreme Court Judges will review each case to determine whether it should be accepted or rejected. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine how much the plaintiff's compensation should be.
The panel is currently reviewing more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected make a final decision 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 with the litigation of these complicated issues. 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 where they have handled multidistrict litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in multi-district litigation that is complex and complex. In this role lawyers formulate strategies, oversee local and regional counsel, and ensure consistent and effective defenses for clients. They have worked closely with trial judges, coordinating judges, and special masters of litigation from various jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A knowledgeable Tulsa asbestos defense lawyer will determine the best way to defend a client against an asbestos personal injury claim. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team counsels suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, contractors and owners of premises on matters involving claims of mesothelioma, lung cancer, and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm works with clients on developing internal programs to determine and resolve potential liability and safety issues.
Bowles Rice, in addition to its asbestos practice in the national level and multi-state asbestos litigation, serves as national Coordinating counsel. In this role, the firm develops litigation strategies, supervises regional and local counsel and ensures a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in sync with client goals. It also plays a significant part in the administration and management of asbestos dockets aswell in negotiations with plaintiffs' lawyers and leading discovery for its clients.
The firm's attorneys have a wealth of trial and appellate experience in defending clients against claims made by injured claimants, including those claiming mesothelioma or other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense attorneys are familiar with the intricate science involved in these cases, as in addition to particular 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 counsel in asbestos and product liability personal injury lawsuits and in consolidated cases 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 involving respondents in the Asbestos Claims Facility in Northern California. The case files contained SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information about the plaintiffs, such as medical reports, work history, and a list of asbestos products that plaintiffs worked with or around. Vogel required an account password to access the files. Then, she could review any SEAR forms from her current employer.
In addition to its extensive 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. It also has extensive experience in defending businesses from appeals.