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 affected by exposure to this toxic mineral. Compensation can cover medical expenses, funeral and burial costs, loss of quality of life, and pain and suffering.
Our lawyers serve as national, regional and local counsel in large toxic tort litigation. As as such, we are acquainted with the specific issues and complex science associated asbestos cases.
New York Asbestos Lawsuits
Asbestos is a harmful fiber that can cause various serious medical conditions, including mesothelioma. A New York asbestos lawyer is skilled in dealing with asbestos lawsuits, which seek compensation for victims and their families due to exposure to this toxic substance. These cases can be extremely complex and therefore it is essential to have an experienced mesothelioma law firm by your side.
New York has a long history of asbestos litigation and many residents have been exposed to this hazardous material. In recent times there have been more claims against former asbestos producers than ever before. These cases result from the recognition of a connection between asbestos and diseases such as mesothelioma, lung cancer, and asbestosis. The companies were aware of the dangers that asbestos posed but did not take the time to warn 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 impact on the community surrounding it.
mesothelioma lawsuit can be caused by exposure to asbestos directly, and many workers were exposed in the workplace. However, many people are diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of an exposure secondarily to the harmful substances. This includes spouses who wear husband's clothes to work and come into contact with asbestos dust regularly.
The
mesothelioma lawsuit is costly for defendants, particularly when they are mistakenly identified as defendants. A study shows that more than 3,600 lawsuits have been filed since 2014 in New York courts. This number could increase. This niche litigation is often supported by asbestos law firms, which advertise on daytime TV and entice victims to file claims with the promise of huge settlements.
Defendants might be able to reduce some of the expenses arising from these cases by arguing that their policy periods expire or they are only responsible for a small percentage of the total amount of the claim. However, New York law has not established a clear rule regarding how to allocate liabilities when the alleged exposure occurs partly outside of the insurer's policy periods.
Asbestos-Related Diseases
A variety of asbestos-related illnesses can develop because of exposure to the harmful mineral. The mesothelioma condition is the most severe. Mesothelioma has led to the deaths of many people. Other asbestos-related diseases include lung cancer and asbestosis. Pleural plaques and pleural effusion are also asbestos-related.
Mesothelioma is a rare, but fatal disease that is caused by asbestos fibers that are found in the lungs. They then cause irritation to the linings of the ribcage (the the pleura) as well as the chest cavity and abdominal cavity. Inhaling asbestos fibers can cause scarring of the lungs, known as asbestosis. It can also result in thickened pleura patches (pleural plaques) or a more extensive fibrosis. Pleural plaques or diffuse fibrosis may reduce lung capacity as measured by breathing test. They can also cause pain and difficulties in breathing, however they do not lead
mesothelioma attorneys or cancer.
Symptoms of asbestos-related disease often don't manifest until decades after exposure. This is due to the fact that it can take between 20 and 50 years for the inhalation of asbestos fibers to damage the lungs. People who are at risk of developing mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases include those who handled, cleaned, and removed these materials from their workplaces and spouses and children of those who were exposed to asbestos.
Other asbestos-related diseases, in addition to
mesothelioma lawsuit include lung cancer and laryngeal carcinoma and peritoneal, ovarian and peritoneal cancer. The most deadly form of mesothelioma is ovarian cancer, however it is less frequent than the general mesothelioma. It is diagnosed later than other types of mesothelioma because it develops in the linings of the reproductive organs. Symptoms can be similar to those of other illnesses.
Several companies used asbestos during the 20th century. They were aware that it was dangerous. They exposed thousands of people to asbestos when they didn't remove it from their products. They can now sue for financial compensation. Many asbestos-related companies are insolvent. In the aftermath, victims can seek the compensation they deserve from the trust funds set up by the bankruptcy courts.
Asbestos Litigation in New York
For decades, asbestos companies have placed profits over the safety of their employees and consumers, manufacturing hazardous products without warning of the risks. They are now paying for their carelessness. Patients who have suffered asbestos-related illnesses like mesothelioma and lung cancer are seeking fair and complete compensation.
Belluck & Fox is dedicated to helping families and individuals receive the justice they deserve. With more than 25 years of experience in the field, we have secured a million of dollars in compensation for our clients. Our New York mesothelioma lawyers work to hold large corporations responsible accountable and to obtain maximum compensation for our clients.
Many states have established special asbestos courts in which claims can be filed and resolving more efficiently. Additionally judges have developed specific procedures to evaluate and resolve asbestos cases.
New York, a state with its own asbestos court (known as NYCAL) is one of them. The number of cases 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 supervise NYCAL to stop the justice system from becoming overwhelmed.
A panel comprised of six Supreme Court judges will review every case filed in NYCAL to decide whether or not to accept it. Judges will also evaluate the merits of every claim to determine how much the plaintiff's compensation should be.
The panel is currently looking into more than 3500 lawsuits. The panel is expected make a final decision at the end of this 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 matters. They are knowledgeable of New York's asbestos courts and their rules regulations, policies and guidelines in addition to other jurisdictions in which they have handled multi-district litigation.
The firm also has extensive experience serving as National Coordinating Counsel in asbestos litigation, representing clients throughout the nation in complex, multi-district litigation. In this role, attorneys develop strategies, coordinate and manage regional and local counsel and ensure cost-effective, consistent defenses for each client. They have worked closely in the past with trial judges, coordination judges and special masters of litigation from different jurisdictions.
Representation of Plaintiffs
A Tulsa asbestos lawyer will determine which strategy is most effective to defend the client against an injury claim that involves asbestos. The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team advises product manufacturers, suppliers and contractors, distributors and owners of premises on matters concerning mesothelioma-related claims, lung cancer and other asbestos-related diseases. The firm also works with clients to create internal programs for identifying and addressing safety and liability 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 oversees local and region counsel to ensure a consistent and cost-effective defense that is in line with the client's objectives. In addition it plays a crucial role in the administration of asbestos dockets as well as negotiations with counsel for plaintiffs and lead discovery for its clients.
The firm's lawyers have experience in defending clients against claims of mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. Asbestos defense lawyers are acquainted with complex scientific issues involved in these cases as well as particular legal issues that arise when representing companies in federal and state courts across the United States.
Catherine has represented a variety of companies in asbestos and products liability personal injury cases, acting as lead trial counsel and in consolidated trials involving multiple plaintiffs. She has a wealth of experience arguing asbestos-related lawsuits before the state and federal courts as well as various Supreme Court and appellate bodies.
During her tenure at Brobeck, Vogel handled asbestos cases for respondents, including those in the Asbestos Claim Facility in Northern California. The case files included SEAR forms (Short Encapsulated Evaluative Reports) that contained confidential information about plaintiffs, such as medical reports, work history and the list of asbestos-related products that the plaintiff worked with or around. Vogel was required to use access to the files and was able to look over the SEAR forms of any case she had with her current employer.
The Bowles Rice Asbestos Team, in addition to its vast experience in appellate and trial work, is recognized nationally for its ability to negotiate settlements for clients. In this capacity, the firm works closely with lawyers representing plaintiffs in the creation and implementation of settlement agreements. It also has extensive experience defending companies against appeals.